Stove

Ok... My next purchase is going to be a stove. I know you ultralighters out there will tell me to go alcohol, but I just don't even want to go there. I just want a simple, yet reliable stove to boil water and cook some simple meals on while I am backpacking it. Definately not a basecamp stove.

I need small, light (but not ultralight), and reliable.

I am looking at either the MSR Pocket Rocket http://www.rei.com/product/660163, the Optimus Crux http://www.rei.com/product/769473, or the Jetboil system http://www.rei.com/product/760622.

Thoughts or ideas? Anything else that you guys have that works well for you?

Colt,

I have a old Primus Yellowstone, simular to the pocket rocket. I like it and I guess I will use it
till it quits on me. If you want a simple stove other than alcohol I would stay with a canister stove.
I have canister, alcohol (yes I have made some) and have a whisperlite for winter use. But for
your purposes I would stay with the canister stoves. The pocket rocket is good and I have read
some good reviews on the Gigapower stoves.

colt,
i have the pocket rocket and love it. it boils quick, very lightweight and dependable. I have had it for five years and never had one problem with it. Couple it with a msr titan kettle and you have a very lightweight cooking system. I think msr now sells the pocket rocket and titan kettle as a set. The stove fits right in the kettle. Snow peak giga powers are nice but more expensive. I have used both and would say the pocket rocket is just as goog.

snowsurfer1973 wrote:colt,
i have the pocket rocket and love it. it boils quick, very lightweight and dependable. I have had it for five years and never had one problem with it. Couple it with a msr titan kettle and you have a very lightweight cooking system. I think msr now sells the pocket rocket and titan kettle as a set. The stove fits right in the kettle.

Yep. Can get them at REI Outlet for a great price together. http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/770295 Apparently the kettle will also hold a 4oz MSR IsoPro fuel canister as well. Pretty cool.

You are right, as a UL backpacker I would like to tell you to undertake one of the easy stove projects I've done, but I won't . I will only second (or third) other people on here who have suggested the Pocket Rocket. You can now buy the MSR Pocket Rocket and Titan Ketle for around $58.00. A small canister and the actual burner will fit in this ketle. Hope this helps and maybe you'll come around to alcohol stoves, Haha good luck!

Is the pocket rocket only compatible with the MSR fuel canisters?

no it is compatible with many, primus, snow peak, generics... like I said it is a great stove and a great buy. I think we have now convinced you.

In my experience, no. I have not come across a canister that won't work for them. It seems like the same fitting is used on every stove, and thus the same fitting is used on every canister.

Yeah, I would consider myself convinced. Just made the purchase from REI for the stove and 1 4oz canister. Can't beat their price on this combo anywhere else online.

Since I have never had a canister stove like this, I am not sure what to do with the empty fuel canisters. Are they refillable? Can they be recycled?

They can be recycled but not not worth refeuling if possible. Probably cost as much as to by new one. They are about 5 bucks a piece and last quite a while. Your local outdoor center should take the empties, at least they did where I come from.

Thanks for all of the responses, information, and help guys!

Sadly, I don't know of any recycling or refilling methods that are in use in my area. Some other people may know more than I do, but as far as I know (and I checked a few years back) there is nothing out in this area to reuse the canisters. Seems kind of ironic doesn't it? I don't know if Conway has a way to recycle them either, but I'm sure someone somewhere has a way. However, maybe someone else knows more about this than I do.

Lewis and clark does not take them I know, Pak Rat in Fayetteville does but that doesn't help you in Marion. I would try a propane dealer,they might know of someone who would take them maybe. A recycling place maybe. I am sure you will find something.

There is a Bass Pro Shops in Memphis (not terribly far from where I work) so I may check in with them to see if they take them.

If you didn't buy the system already Backcountry edge.com is selling it for 84.95 with free shipping. A great site for many ul goers too.

I actually got it at REI-Outlet. It was on super special there for $57.93. http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/770295

Thats unbeatable I suppose, good find. It seems buying anything in a store these days is not to economical. I recently bought a new digital camera. I spent weeks researching different kinds and going to stores to sample products. When I made my choice I found it on line in a bundle that came with about $200 dollars in extras for the same price if I bought the camera only in the store. Just doesn't make much sense to purchase most things in stores anymore.

Ever since I switched to freezer bag cooking, I found I wasn't doing anything but boiling water. I can't even remember the last time I cooked something in a pan.

Thus, the alcohol pespi stove works for me. On those trips where I think I might need a larger volume of boiling water (for whatever reason, usually in the winter), I still use a multifuel stove.