What is everyone's go-to canister stove?

I'm looking for one I'd bring for mostly boiling water on Cascade/Northwest peaks and outings. Probably most frequently for myself, maybe 2 people.

I've been looking at the MSR Pocket Rocket and Optimus Crux.

I like the Crux because of how it folds down and is slightly lighter. Overall - they appear to be pretty similar.

I love my Pocket Rocket. Simple, light, functional, durable and cheap. What more can you ask for? Lots of friends like the Jet Boil, and they are light and efficient, but in my experience they can be somewhat delicate. I know The Chief will hold my feet to the fire on this one so here are the exact issues I have experienced:

-Broken ceramic on igniter wire thingy.

-Bent mechanism that holds pot to stove base.

Neither one a deal killer, but I personally don't mind sacrificing a little eficiency for improved durability and lower cost.

Like Chief I'm a Jetboil guy.

My buddy has an MSR Reactor; it's insane!!!

http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/stoves/fa ... or/product

Nothing but good to say about both the Pocket Rocket and the Reactor. Pocket Rocket is lightweight, simple, and cheap. If you expect you might go on longer trips an want something more efficient, go for the Reactor. Did the Ptarmigan Traverse last year with four people, and in six days burned less than two MSR canisters.

Reactor is all I use anymore for melting snow. The heat output is insane.

And it's more wind-resistant than any other stove I've ever used.

Kai wrote:Reactor is all I use anymore for melting snow. The heat output is insane.

And it's more wind-resistant than any other stove I've ever used.

It puts out so much heat It really could be used as a campfire.

ExcitableBoy wrote:I love my Pocket Rocket. Simple, light, functional, durable and cheap. What more can you ask for? Lots of friends like the Jet Boil, and they are light and efficient, but in my experience they can be somewhat delicate. I know The Chief will hold my feet to the fire on this one so here are the exact issues I have experienced:

-Broken ceramic on igniter wire thingy.

-Bent mechanism that holds pot to stove base.

Neither one a deal killer, but I personally don't mind sacrificing a little eficiency for improved durability and lower cost.

Have had mine going on five years now and use it well over 75 days per year. I have had absolutely ZERO problems nor failures... none! I had a REACTOR and dumped it. Found that my JETBOIL melted and boiled a 1/2 liter faster, took up less room in my pack as was over all more efficient.

Below are the Manu's Specs:

REACTOR weight: 19 ounces Water boiled per 100g fuel : 10 liters Dimensions 6 x 6 x 7.5 inches
Average boil time(1/2 liter): 3 min. 45 sec.

JETBOIL weight: 14 oz Water Boiled per 100g fuel: 12 Liters Dimensions 4.1" x 7.1"
Average boil time(1/2 Liter) = 2 minutes

Not really answering the OP's question, but having owned both the jetboil and the reactor, there's no comparison in my mind: the reactor is far better stove. Its superior resistance to wind makes a huge difference.

First time I agree with Chief.

Jetboil is lighter, smaller, and more efficient. Most important for me: it's real easy to use it as hanging set-up in a tent. Just tie an elastic cord around the top of the pot, attach a thin cord to it and hang. Adds maybe 1/2 oz?

bdynkin wrote:First time I agree with Chief.

Jetboil is lighter, smaller, and more efficient. Most important for me: it's real easy to use it as hanging set-up in a tent. Just tie an elastic cord around the top of the pot, attach a thin cord to it and hang. Adds maybe 1/2 oz?

Yup! Great point.

Great WALL stove as you can not hang the REACTOR (Safely) nor use it on a ledge, enclosed (inside the fly) or not.

You can even use a Jetboil while holding it in your hands, even in a tent or tent vestible. The corporate lawyers probably wouldn't approve of thisd\, but I've done it with mine and I've seen others do it with theirs. This (IMO) makes up for any difference in the windproofness of the Jetboil vs. other stoves, because it's much harder to use those other stoves in a tent (where windproofness isn't so important) safely.

I've used jetboil's hanging kit with the reactor. It's not a perfect fit but definitely works (just put some tape around the rods). The cords keep the pot from falling over.