MSR SimmerLite Stove

Advantages: Powerful, easy to use, good run time
Disadvantages: Can be unstable

...To some, bigger is better. If however, you have to fit your tent, sleeping bag, clothing, food and cooking equipment into one small bag, then bigger can be a pain. It's here that stoves like the MSR PocketRocket come in. The stove packs down into a small plastic container, 4" by 2" without the gas canister and weighs in at a mere 85 grammes. As this is without fuel, you'll need to find space in your pack somewhere for a gas canister, coming in at around 3" by 1.5" and costing about £3 on top of the £30 for the stove itself. Having bought the stove plus a couple of gas canisters, the only thing to do was try it out. Steadfastly ignoring the warnings not to try it out indoors, I attached a canister and stood back. All I can say is, they don't call this the PocketRocket for nothing. Inside, the stove boils water in no time... Read review

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Advantages: Will burn well just about any fuel you can find to use, good at altitude.
Disadvantages: Not as good looking a stove as others in the series! Keep a spares kit.

...If you really do want the latest, most fancy, up to the minute backpacking stove then look at the rest of this great manufacturers range!!! There will most certainly be an MSR stove there just for someone just like you! If however, just like little old me, you really want a go anywhere and do just about anything stove, to backpack all around this world with, then PLEASE do look no further. Your journey for finding a perfect backpackers stove is over, and you have arrived at your requested detination, right on time!!! I own two of these excellent stoves, both bought from Field and Trek, if I recall correctly. I got my first of these when Chris Townsend reccomended them in Trail magazine, or was it TGO??? Being a bit of a CT fan I wanted the same stove that the old master backpacker had!! I was later often glad that I did have... Read review

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Advantages: lightweight, hot, cheap, simple
Disadvantages: gas pricey, not that stable,

...A petrol stove isn't really necessary for camping/moutaineering/bike touring/backpacking in the uk. The pocket rocket is cheaper to buy, lighter, more simple to use and the gas is widely available. However, petrol probably works out cheaper than gas, especially abroad. I really strongly advise that everyone who drives anywhere, gets a stove and a mug and small pot and a book of matches. Then, instead of spending £2 or more on a coffee in a horrible motorway service station, you can park up next to a beautiful river somewhere, or in some picturesque woodland, and put up a deck chair and brew up your own drink, and enjoy your rest. This is the ideal stove for taking on a bike tour, but for walking I would suggest not bothering with a stove at all, save the weight and eat cold food. I raced this stove against my kettle at home... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful