Pocket Rocket in Cold Weather

B

brians

Joined
Apr 22, 2006
Messages
1,375
Everyone in the east knows it's cold. 0 degree F today with not a whiff of a breeze and a beautiful sunny morning. So I thought I'd test my MSR Pocket Rocket on this day hike. First leveled a more visible platform for the test with my Barker :) (shameless):
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Here's my day hike light kitchen - rocket, titan kettle (with isopro nested), and Sea-to-Summit pocket towel for clean-up:
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There have been complaints about it's cold weather performance, but that wasn't an issue today. Without screening it lit easily and boiled water in about 4 and a half minutes. Here it is heating the water for my hot chocolate:
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...and then lunch was served:
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Great little stove, relatively quick, very compact when nested with the proper kettle. Helped make for a great morning to be out :) Now it's playoffs time !
 
Leave it in the bitter cold for a for a day and see what happens? Some work some dont. White gas works all the time.

Skam
 
i have the pocket rocket...i like it alot.
i have a new one i got for christmas..the brunton raptor..
its very similar except it has a self igniter and a much more stable pedestle for the pots and pans...much smaller package folded down as well.... just dont try and scramble eggs with it...they burn fast....
 
That Brunton is very nice and does look more stable.

Skam, as long as I can warm the cannister in my coat, i've not had problems to date.
 
skammer said:
Leave it in the bitter cold for a for a day and see what happens? Some work some dont. White gas works all the time.

Skam
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Why would anyone do that?

You know you don't always have to slam things you don't like.
 
ilbruche said:
Why would anyone do that?

You know you don't always have to slam things you don't like.
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I am not slamming things I am bringing up valid points I have experienced with gear and equipment. This weekend comming I am teaching a winter survival course and the past has dictated that canister fuel stoves sometimes crap out when in a cold environment for a while.

Dont believe me google it, its well documented. I like canister stoves for quick hikes they are fast and convenient but they dont burn as long and you have to deal with the canisters so they are not perfect.

I dont set out to hurt delicate feelings I just provide and opinion based on experience. What you do with it is entirely up to you.

Skam
 
I have been in Upper Michigan in the winter and no stove would light, including white gas stoves. They had to be carried on the body to light, preheating was even difficult. We has a large group and no two stoves were alike. The only one that would light cold was an old US Army Coleman one burner stove. We learned fast to keep the fuel canisters and stoves warm before they would work. I know people who still use Svea stoves which are difficult to use any time and have no problem with them when they are carried on the body in the winter.
 
zman308 said:
I have been in Upper Michigan in the winter and no stove would light, including white gas stoves. They had to be carried on the body to light, preheating was even difficult. We has a large group and no two stoves were alike. The only one that would light cold was an old US Army Coleman one burner stove. We learned fast to keep the fuel canisters and stoves warm before they would work. I know people who still use Svea stoves which are difficult to use any time and have no problem with them when they are carried on the body in the winter.
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I use the svea 123 exclusively. I pour gas over it and light it on fire in winter. When the fireball is out I light it. Works every time. The Svea once you learn its ins and outs is probably the most reliable stove on earth.

Skam
 
My wife and I are so laughing at this whole thread. We work in the adult industry (retail sales) and the Pocket Rocket is a mini vibe that has been VERY POPULAR for over a decade! (small,, one AA battery and purse sized ) - just loved seeing this one!
 
Reference my previous post - my wife just said and I quote ( "different things warm up different people!";)
 
zman308 said:
I have been in Upper Michigan in the winter and no stove would light, including white gas stoves. They had to be carried on the body to light, preheating was even difficult. We has a large group and no two stoves were alike. The only one that would light cold was an old US Army Coleman one burner stove. We learned fast to keep the fuel canisters and stoves warm before they would work. I know people who still use Svea stoves which are difficult to use any time and have no problem with them when they are carried on the body in the winter.
Click to expand...

I hunt in northern Michigan and the U.P. and one thing is for sure, It gets cold enough up there to make most things quit working. I use a MSR international and the only time I have had a problem was in Menominee a few years ago - the actual temperature was -7 and the wind chill was -30 below for the whole day. I cooked on an open fire that day as it was easier than getting my stove to light.
 
i guess it shows us that dependence on any one source of heat or fire is really a pointless affair...i love my pocket fuel stoves... i also love my little wood stove...i also like fire pits and keyhole fires....so i guess you choose your fire like you choose your clothing...use what fits the occasion...:cool:
 
White gas ain't all that either----ate a few cold meals while deer hunting in NE because the white gas stove would never get hot enough.
 
zman308 said:
I have been in Upper Michigan in the winter and no stove would light, including white gas stoves. They had to be carried on the body to light, preheating was even difficult. We has a large group and no two stoves were alike. The only one that would light cold was an old US Army Coleman one burner stove. We learned fast to keep the fuel canisters and stoves warm before they would work. I know people who still use Svea stoves which are difficult to use any time and have no problem with them when they are carried on the body in the winter.
Click to expand...

The US Antarctica Program uses nothing but liquid fuel stoves (generally the Optimus 111 and MSR XGK). They will work down to -40 F and beyond. If you couldn't get yours to light, you didn't prime it properly. I'll take a white gas or kero burner over a cannister stove in the cold any day.
 
Liquid fuel stoves are the only route for me when it gets properly cold. I Like the light weight and convenience of gas stoves when I can afford convenience, but even improved canisters with a good amount of propane are no match in proper cold / altitude. This one fares a bit better because you can keep the remote bottle warm and it has the essential pre-heater tube, but still...

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