In a couple of days, MSR is set to release their new MicroRocket stove.

The MicroRocket will be MSR's first entry into the lightweight, high-end gas stove market. (The existing PocketRocket is more of an entry level stove).

Yesterday, I took the stove out on the trail for the first time.


Please join me on an another Adventure in Stoving: The New MSR MicroRocket -- Trail Report #1

HJ

One small critique for consistency and to avoid confusion: In the 9th and 10th photos (right after discussing the piezoelectric ignition), you show the stoves folded in the first pic and then unfolded in the second. It took a couple seconds to realize you swapped the two stoves. Left to right between the two shots. They're labeled correctly under the pics so this is really a non-issue, but for us neanderthals who don't read fine print under photos, continuity helps.

Other than that minor non-issue, nice trail test. I really like that the MicroRocket simmers -- very cool (pun intended)

Oh, sorry Russ.

My basic protocol is to test stoves like I'd actually use them on the the trail. I guess I'm more worried about the cooking (and the eating!) than what order things are. I was pretty hungry and so was my wife and my daughter. I may have just done whatever was fastest to get lunch ready.

HJ

Jim..i made a comment at CCS but looking again at the close up of the stove/burner head i see that it's a "heavy"duty item.the castings,nut,bolts,flame spreader attachments and so on look like they are made to last and not a knock off thats made to look like a stove with a short working life.i have one of those small burners in the orange box that i carry in my PFD thats a "use once and toss" survival item like a foil blanket.

lol It seriously only took a couple seconds to realize the order was reversed in the pics, NBD. The important point of that post was that the MicroRocket simmers. Any question as to whether or not I'll wait buy the MR went away with that review. Thanks.

Regard your comment on how the burner is lower on the micro, I'm wondering if that's the possible cause of CO, would it be possible to unscrew the stem from a PR, cut some off, retap the thread and drill the air hole, and achieve the same thing? Would make the burner lower and easier to shield from wind too.

I don't know enough about adjusting the air/fuel and lack the equipment to drill it, so I can't try it.

Yes, my impression exactly.

I took it out again today. I dragged the pot around on the pot supports. On the old PR, I got "chatter" from the thin pot supports as the weight of the pot moved them and then let go.

I got no "chatter" from the MicroRocket.

HJ

I took it out again today. Same results. ULTRA low flame was possible.

I left the lid on a pot of noodles and walked away. When I came back, NO burnt noodles. I had a hard time telling if the stove was on, and I was there.

HJ

You could do it, and it might or might not work. But why go through that when the professionals who have state-of-the art carbon dioxide monitors have done it for you?

Messing around with flammable gas burners isn't necessarily the best thing unless you really know what you're doing.

HJ

No, it's definitely not. I'm a born tinker but I know when to stop when my butt is on the line.