Snow Peak Litemax or MSR Micro-Rocket

Are you asking about the Pocket Rocket or the Micro-Rocket?

–B.G.–

As far as wind is concerned all will perform about the same. The wind blows the heat and flames away from the pot which means you need to burn more fuel to get water to boil. All would need a wind screen to perform well in wind. The tinny wind screen attached to the burner of the MSR stoves is too small to make any big difference. The shape of the pot and flame pattern is not going to make a big difference in fuel economy.

As to your pot it is only about 4 inches in diameter. On the pocket rocket which I own my pot (also a snow peak kit about 4" in diameter) the round edge of the pot will be between the tip and bottom edge of the slopped pot support. The round edge of the pot will slip off the pot support easily. Even If you get the pot perfectly centered it will be extremly unstable. Any small bump or a gust of wind to tip it over. The micro rocket has similar pot supports and probably would not perform any better. When the pot has a larger diameter than the MSR pot supports work much better. The Litemax would probably perform much better with smaller pots like yours. I am currently considering purchasing the Litemax due to my experience with the pocket rocket and snow peak solo cook kit.

If you are just boiling water the all will work well. However if you are cooking food you might prefer the widder flame pattern of the Litemax. It might be a little less likely to burn the food in the center.

One other additional item the litemax is 1oz lighter than the MDR models and might pack better in your cook kit with a fuel canister.

For boiling water they are all virtually the same unless you go wlikely integrated solution like a jetboil or reactor. Those are much more efficient.

All said, I think the litemax is my favorite. Folds smaller, light, and dependable.
The gnat is another option, but mine is weird. Sometimes half the burner goes out.

I”ve been looking at these two little stoves for awhile now. I’ve exhaustively read the existing comparisons between the Litemax and the classic Pocket Rocket but I’m wondering about people’s thoughts on this scenario. The listed (on REI) fuel economy of the LItemax is better but given that it has been noted to not perform too well in windy situations I’m wondering if the Pocket Rocket may outperform it in that category both with, and without a windscreen.

Also, the pot I generally use is the larger pot (34fl oz) from the Snow Peak Titanium Multi-Compact kit. I’ve read that the different flame patterns are more advantageous to certain shapes of cookware and can help on fuel economy. With all that in mind, what does everyone think?

Ryan,

I own both stoves, and I have the same SP pot that you do. I’d say the LiteMax is definitely the better stove. It’s lighter, more compact, and has stronger pot supports. Not only are the pot supports going to hold up better, they have a wider span, and a pot is more stable on the LiteMax. I think the LiteMax with your particular pot is going to be a good combo.

If you’re concerned about wind, there are ways to safely use a Windscreen with a canister stove.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I ended up going with the SP Litemax, seems to be a wonderful little stove. I can't wait to get out and test it a bit.

They’re good stoves. Let us know how it works out.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving