The Msr Bag Rocket Two Vs. The Soto Amicus

Recently, I've reviewed 2 pocket-size upright canister stoves, the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 together with the Soto Amicus.  Which is the ameliorate stove?

The Soto Amicus, left.  The MSR Pocket Rocket 2, right.

Well, it depends.

I endeavor to locomote pretty fifty-fifty handed amongst the brands. If a given build puts out a company stove that is reasonably good executed, I'm mostly going to give them a skillful review, but this doesn't hateful that they're necessarily my overstep alternative for that degree of stove.

With honour to the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 ("PR2") together with the Soto Amicus, they're pretty much inward the same class:

• About the same cost – $40 (without ignition) or $45 (with ignition) for the Amicus* – vs $45 for the PR2.
• Roughly the same weight, 73 g/2.6 oz for the PR2 vs 78 g/2.8 oz for the Amicus.
• About the same bird of compactness together with packability.
• Both convey needle valves – every bit opposed to a regulator valve which tin sack grip mutual coldness weather condition ameliorate (see:  Canister Stoves inward Cold Weather – Regulator Valves together with Inverted Canisters).

So, which is better? Well, I approximate that depends on what 1 values. The Soto is clearly the to a greater extent than sophisticated, together with for the same price*, yous larn a piezo ignition, ameliorate air current resistance, together with ameliorate pot stability.

But the PR2 is dead simple. It's genuinely beefy, together with there's trivial to larn incorrect amongst it. It's most vulnerable indicate is its aluminum threads which tin sack apparel out amongst heavy use. The Amicus has a brass insert which volition apparel ameliorate – but which tin sack soundless apparel out.  Note soundless that in that place are many people who convey done multiple long distance through hikes amongst stoves that convey aluminum threads together with convey reported no problems.

With all canister stoves, always:

• Keep the stove's threads clean.  Do NOT laid a stove base of operations downwards inward the dirt!
• Keep the canister's threads clean.  You powerfulness genuinely desire to proceed that trivial cap.
• Thread the stove on carefully
• Gently tighten; never over tighten

Dimensions

Soto Amicus, folded:  1 9/16" x 1 9/16" x 2 7/8" (40 mm x twoscore mm x 73 mm)

Soto Amicus, unfolded: 4 1/8" x 4 1/8" x 3 5/16" (105 mm x 105 mm x 84 mm)

MSR Pocket Rocket 2, folded:  1 11/16" x 1 11/16" x 3" (43 mm x 43 mm x 76 mm)

MSR Pocket Rocket 2, unfolded:  4 3/4" x 4 3/4" x 3 9/16" (121 mm x 121 mm x ninety mm) 

The Amicus is slightly to a greater extent than compact inward terms of width together with a fleck shorter when packed.  

The Pocket Rocket 2 has a wider bridge to its pot supports when unfolded, but every bit I tell inward my write ups, the Amicus genuinely has ameliorate pot stability amongst it's 4 pot supports compared to 3 for the Pocket Rocket 2.  

When unfolded, the Pocket Rocket 2 is slightly taller than the Amicus.

The MSR Pocket Rocket 2, left.  The Soto Amicus, Right.
Note spark indicate on the Amicus' ignition.

Conclusion
So, sophisticated amongst lots of features for the same price – or dead simple? Both are pretty skillful stoves. One has to create upwards one's heed what is most of import to them. For me... in all likelihood the Amicus. I genuinely similar the improved pot stability together with the air current resistance. The piezo is squeamish too.

But I know a lot of people – especially through hikers who typically desire simple, strong, together with reliable – are going to larn amongst the PR2.  The PR2 has everything yous ask but zippo yous don't.

Advantages of the Amicus vs. the PR2:

• With no ignition, lower cost – $40 for the Amicus* vs. $45 for the PR2.
• With an ignition, the same cost but a to a greater extent than sophisticated stove.
• Better pot stability
• Better air current resistance overall, quite a fleck better
• Better simmering, especially inward air current (although the PR2 mostly simmers really well)
• Threaded brass insert (vs. aluminum for the PR2)
• Simpler, quicker ready than the "rotate out together with around" pot supports of the PR2

Advantages of the PR2 vs. the Amicus

• Simple
• Strong
• Reliable (not that the Amicus is unreliable but there's trivial to larn incorrect on the PR2)

If yous would similar to read my detailed reviews on each stove, hither are the links:

• The MSR Pocket Rocket 2  
• The Soto Amicus. 

I give cheers yous for joining me,

HJ

*There are to a greater extent than or less screamin' deals on the Amicus correct now:

• Backcountry Gear is selling the Amicus amongst ignition for $45 – but they're including a costless cookset inward the deal.  I've never used the cookset, but for free, hey, why not?
• Campsaver has the Amicus without ignition for $32 together with amongst ignition for $36.  Tough to musical rhythm out that.  Supposedly, if yous sign upwards for their e-mail list, yous tin sack larn an additional discount.

Unfortunately, the PR2 is a novel stove simply coming out, together with thus it may locomote a piece earlier yous tin sack observe discounts on it.

The Soto Amicus, left.  The MSR Pocket Rocket 2, right.

Disclosures:  

• I don't intend I've ever purchased anything from either of these 2 sites.  They hold back reputable, but these links produce non found an endorsement.  Friends convey bought materials at Campsaver together with had a skillful experience.  I can't tell either way.
• I have no remuneration posting these links or writing this spider web log post.
• I have no produce goodness if yous buy something at either of those 2 sites
• I convey no fiscal human relationship amongst either site.  I'm non fifty-fifty a client every bit of this writing.

Considering the inward a higher house disclosures, yous in all likelihood convey realized that I know a lot almost stoves, but I don't know much almost making coin on the internet, lol.  Have a squeamish day, together with leave of absence there.  

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