Pocket Rocket or Giga Power??

Jeff,
I have both, along with a dozen or so other stoves, but we won't go there.
Folks will tell you that the pocket rocket has flimsy pot supports… I've never heard of a failure.
Folks will tell you the Giga Power won't simmer… kinda touchy, goes out easy, but it will simmer. Takes practice like anything else. Another complaint about the GP is that the pot supports are complicated to fold in. They aren't. Crack the valve open a bit, fold opposite legs in, you're done.

Both are light, both are nice stoves. The Giga Power generates far lower amounts of CO. I'd take the Giga if I thought I'd be rained in (cooking in a tent).

For performance… flip a coin. My Giga Power is a goto stove for me. Buy the Ti manual ignition (you can add it later) and you have about the lightest stove out there (canister).

Just enjoy the learning experience. Fire is soooo much fun!

ps: Maryville near Loudon? I've done work in that area if it is.

I second the Giga Power. Works just as well and less CO. Try folding the legs from opposing sides, a little at a time. Watch how the tips interlock. A little practice and it is no sweat. A really great stove. See the Food thread and learn how to trail bake.

Jeff, I own them both. The PR is lighter than the Giga piezo, and it holds a simmer setting so low the flame will actually flicker. Those Gigapower valves creep open very slowly on all three I have owned (2 Gigas and one lantern). The valve is the same part number on the stoves and lantern. Therefore simmering for more than a few minutes is not possible, In My Experience.

Therefore, if you are only boiling water for 'cook in a bag', drinks, etc, get one of the Gigapowers; maybe the Titanium; if you are actually cooking, I recommend the Pocket Rocket. It is quite stable even though it has only three supports.

It is difficult for me to recommend MSR over SP, because I really like Snowpeak products and own many; but in this case, they just dont have a good valve, and don't seem to care to fix it.

I own both stoves, and pretty much agree with the other posters comments who own both stoves. I have found that the Giga is better for simmering for the reason that it does not direct the flame to a single point on the pot. I use an Evernew 0.9 liter ti pot, and the Giga distributes the flame better over the bottom of the pot for simmering. For just boiling water either one works fine. I personally prefer the Giga, and that is the one I normally carry.

I have owned both MSR PR and SP Giga. Both are fantastic stoves. Both can simmer, although my 'cooking' is really just boiling 1-2 cups of water at a time.

I replaced my PR with the Gigapower because it compacts down way better: I can fit a Gigapower stove, small fuel canister, BIC lighter, and small towel all inside my SP 600 mug/pot. I can't do that with the PR even using the bigger SP700 pot, never mind the 600.

But I have one caveat with the Gigapower. When the valve is in "closed" position, the wire handle can jut out as much as 90 degrees, which makes compacting down the stove annoyingly awkward. For most people, that means they have to leave the valve in "open" position to compact the stove down fully. More than once, I have forgetten to close up the valve before screwing the stove onto the fuel cansister — resulting in a quick fuel blast on my hand. No big deal, but annoying.

SO, if you are looking for both ultralight and ultra-compact kitchen setup, then go for the Gigapower. However, DON'T order one online. Instead, go to REI or similar place where they stock a lot of Gigapowers. Open them one by one — until you find one where the wire valve is in "0 Degree" position when closed, rather than jutting out to "90 degree". The "closed position" and wire angle are different for each stove, so just try them out.

Hi Jeff,

I'd like to offer one other option:

The Coleman F1 Ultralite
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=9741A700&categoryid=2005

While Coleman isn't known for it's ultralight gear they seem to have their stoves dialed.

It's $40 and only .2 ozs heavier than the Ti Giga Power. I've owner both the Giga Power and the Coleman and I like the Coleman significantly more. I like the pot legs better and it puts out 50%+ more btu's than the Giga. (In "outdoor" conditions water boils in almost half the time.) It also consumes slightly less fuel than the MSR. Check out the BPL review:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_canister_stoves_review_summary.html

They are all great stoves. You wont go wrong with any.

– Jon

The main interest with UL stoves should be how little fuel will be used to boil an amount of water so less fuel needs to be carried not which stove has the most power, the highest BTU’s or how fast it boils water, these have very little to do with its actual performance in the field. Very fast and big power is macho perception that is fuelled by the manufacturers to sell more stoves. Most stoves will produce much more power or heat that can be transferred to the pot, using them on maximum power is a complete waste of fuel (see graph below of efficiency curve for Pocket Rocket). Most canister stoves will have similar performance curve, unfortunately I do not have a performance curve for the Ti Giga power as the stoves are not available in OZ I am hoping to obtain one soon as well as a Xtreme powermax stove I will post the performance curves for these stoves when I can. Out of the few stoves I have tested the JetBoil is the only one that does not use considerably more fuel when the valve is fully open. Please note that the most efficient time to boil 0.5L and 1L of water 6 minutes and 12 minutes respectively.

Brett, Thanks for the information on the valve problems with the Giga power stove

>I can fit a Gigapower stove, small fuel canister, BIC lighter, and small towel all inside my SP 600 mug/pot.

Benjamin, what fuel canister have you found that fits inside the SP 600 cup? Or, do you invert the canister and let the bottom ring rest on the lip? A SP 110 can won't go into my cup… well maybe I could get it in, but you'll never get it back out;)

Using the SP600, I first put in my BIC lighter, alky stove or Gigapower stove, and a small towel. I then put in an SP110 fuel canister upside down. The canister sinks down far enough that my home-made pot lid sits securely on top — with nothing jutting out at all.

Sam, I had this same issue. I also anticipated that the cannister would get stuck in the pot. Ben helped me out.

Put the folded up GP in first and your lighter (if applicable). Then put in the canister, inverted.

I made a homemade lid, too, per Ben's suggestion on jason klauss's website http://www.freewebs.com/jasonklass/benslid.htm

Hmmm, I've probably had this mug for close to ten years. Never tried that! I normally carry a Trek 700 with my stove and it's made for up to two cans. Learned a new trick.

Thanks Michele and Benjamin.

I have gotten a canister STUCK in my SP 600 mug. It slipped into the mug inverted and went too far. It went past the lip and would not come back out. I dented the mug and never did get the canister out! I packed it without anything else in the mug so this may have been the problem. I am sure it is pilot error on my part, but be careful.