I am looking for recommendations on a dependable lightweight, backpacking stove that will only be used to boil water for Dehydrated/Ramen meals on backcountry trips. In the past few years I've purchased some cheapies off Amazon that work for about a season and a half but go out for various reasons.

Not concerned about how fast it'll boil, I'd just like something that can boil up to a liter (or slightly more) at a time and also have an ignitor attached. I've been bouncing back and forth between the various options Jetboil and MSR each offer. Cant decide on the whole stove system Jetboil is best known for vs the MSR pocket rocket-type I've been accustomed to.

Thanks!

I have a Soto Windmaster 4Flex and I highly recommend it. It's kind of in the middle of the range price-wise, and it's been super reliable for me. The ignitor also works every time, although I still take matches and a lighter as insurance.

I have a pocket rocket, and I really like it. Small, light and dependable. They make one with an igniter, but I would not both with that as it just seems like something that could malfunction, and I always have matches and a lighter along anyway. Use a titanium pot (I think it is an MSR .5 liter). Cannot speak to the Jetboil system.

For trips when I'll just be boiling water, I take my Pocket Rocket 2. Has worked great for me. Lightweight, easy to use, and has lasted several years so far. I think the deluxe version has the igniter if that's the route you want to go. Like Frenchy, I prefer a lighter or matches. It seems like the deluxe version also allows for some simmering abilities but if I'm going to be doing anything besides boiling, I use the msr dragonfly.

I've used the jet boil system and it works well - cool system and plenty of people really like it. I haven't tripped with it over time so I can't speak to much else.

Another vote for the Pocket Rocket. Works well for me although I refuse to buy anything from MSR anymore due to reasons I won't get into here.

+1 to Soto stoves. The Windmaster is highly regarded. I have the Amicus and it is also great.

I prefer this style of stove over the Jetboil because 1) they weigh less, 2) they take up less space, and 3) you;re not stuck in the ecosystem of products for pots and pans.

I've been using my Jetboil Sol system for about 10 years now. Before that I used another canister stove that wasn't a "system" stove. I prefer the system stove for a couple of reasons - the pot is attached to the burner and is not as easily knocked off as one where the pot does not. This is even more advantageous on less level sufaces. It also provides a certain level of wind resistance not generally found with the others and I do not carry the windscreen that I carried with the other. Another plus is that I do not need to carry a "pot gripper". The system stoves are designed to pack together which makes it effortlessly simple and compact. I'm not a fan of the ignitors either although I used it sometimes until it needed "adjusted", but it's generally just as easy and reliable to use my lighter.

I use it to boil water like you are planning and am quite happy with it. I like the canister stoves for their simplicity, low maintenance, reliability, and quickness of use. On average it takes me about 3 grams of fuel to boil enough water for a meal or coffee. I usually calculate my fuel needs @ 3.5g per boil and a 10% margin. YMMV

BRS - 3000T titanium stove

Tomcat: " BRS - 3000T titanium stove "

+1

I also have been taking the Olicamp Kinetic recently - better for simmering than the BRS.

Primus Esential 1.3 Liter

Something different. Not as small for the pack but a full versatile cook kit. Windscreen stand burner in one unit, 2 pots, frypan, gripper. I owned this for a while and used it, cooked quite well. Only misses the piezo sparker built in. Piezo Igniter

I had an early 1 pot version.

butthead

I wasn't going to chime in but since someone already brought up the lack of an igniter here it is...

Primus Classic Trail Stove. A legend. Very affordable, what you save will buy you many butane canisters. Very rugged and reliable, bulletproof is the term often used. Wider flame pattern than many stoves to eliminate hot spots. Not the smallest or the lightest but still quite compact. Been used by hundreds if not thousands of folks with good results. My buddy and I used to have the more trendy stoves but each bought one of these and never looked back. Often bring them both to setup on level ground, put a griddle over both of them and enjoy a nice pancake breakfast or fish fry for a group.

Here is the Amazon link:

Primus Classic Trail Stove

A 4.7 rating out of 5 by 565 reviewers. It does not have an igniter, bring a couple Bic lighters. Lights very easily, simmers well, can throw out plenty of heat if needed and we have found it to boil quickly and be pretty economical. Comes in a nice black mesh bag and fits easily into a small pot or teakettle for travel. Not the trendiest or sexiest stove out there but at 25 bucks it can't be beat. We have had ours for about 10 years now and they still work like a charm.

I have been looking for a stove and pot for a while now and have done a "lot" of searching. I decided to go with a Fire-Maple pot and stove combo. They had decent reviews and a 20% off coupon. I am excited to use it and try it out over the next several months before I head into the BWCA. Now I am just waiting on my dehydrator to try making my own meals.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YXZB8F5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

(sorry adding a link isn't working for me)

I've found the flexibility of a regular stove and choosing the best pot for a specific trip outweighs the efficiency & cool factor of the Jetboil system. They sell adapters but they're not great.

I have one (two now, one never used) of these cheap little stoves and have had it for 5 years. It goes to BWCA and it goes on car trips for making a quick cup of coffee at a rest stop. Very light weight and it comes with its own container that is easy to find in a pack because it is orange. It's a bit less expensive than the MSR offering. It never fails to light unless I leave it out in the rain and then once I blow the water out of the top it lights fine. Cheap isobutane burner

I've used the same MSR Pocket Rocket for around 20 years with zero issues. Lights first try every time and performs well in windy conditions.

I have yet to see a better designed backpacking stove.

Hard to go wrong with the MSR, Primus or Soto. All quality stoves. I've used a Markill Devil stove for over twenty years. It's bombproof. Can turn it way down for simmer where some of my other canister stoves struggle. No peizo but they do, I think, make one that has it. I get about 70 to 80 minutes of burn time out of the small 110 canisters.

Now...one of my experienced camping brohammers has the jetboil system and thinks its the cat's meow. It's very efficient. If your only boiling water for dehydrated meals and coffee/tea, I'm not sure you can beat it.

I do like the canister stoves with the external fuel line if it's cold. I feel like the ability to turn the canister upside down helps.

Appreciate the opinions. Its funny, I bought the same little stove twice and each broke after the first year or so of use, one of the recommendations here says to buy a third lol, I'll pass. I should have mentioned cost isnt a concern in my initial post.

My biggest concern with the pocket rocket-type builds is having the little wings/leg deals get caught and not fold out properly. That was the main issue I had with the last few I had. They were cheapies, so I got what I expected. I assume the MSR would be constructed much better.

The thing I appreciate most about the jetboils is how the whole build fits right into each other when its not in use. I've got everything I need right there. Dont have to dig around in the pack for the stove, then a canister, pot, and lighter. Like how its a little more sturdy and wind protected, but also wish they took up a little less space in the pack.

What I appreciate most about the pocket rocket deals is how compact they are, even though they come in multiple little pieces. As mentioned, I also like how I can bring a different size pot for each trip, based on what I think I'll need.

Feels like one of those things that I'll be happy with whatever I choose. In the end it doesnt really matter, just helps pass time in these late-winter blues.

tbro16: "Appreciate the opinions. Its funny, I bought the same little stove twice and each broke after the first year or so of use, one of the recommendations here says to buy a third lol, I'll pass. I should have mentioned cost isnt a concern in my initial post.


My biggest concern with the pocket rocket-type builds is having the little wings/leg deals get caught and not fold out properly. That was the main issue I had with the last few I had. They were cheapies, so I got what I expected. I assume the MSR would be constructed much better.


The thing I appreciate most about the jetboils is how the whole build fits right into each other when its not in use. I've got everything I need right there. Dont have to dig around in the pack for the stove, then a canister, pot, and lighter. Like how its a little more sturdy and wind protected, but also wish they took up a little less space in the pack.


What I appreciate most about the pocket rocket deals is how compact they are, even though they come in multiple little pieces. As mentioned, I also like how I can bring a different size pot for each trip, based on what I think I'll need.


Feels like one of those things that I'll be happy with whatever I choose. In the end it doesnt really matter, just helps pass time in these late-winter blues. "

My stove, canister, backup lighter, and reflectix pot gripper all fit inside my Tokes pot, so that's about as compact and efficient as you can get. But like you said, I don't think any of the higher quality options will let you down.

My stove, canister, backup lighter, and reflectix pot gripper all fit inside my Tokes pot, so that's about as compact and efficient as you can get. But like you said, I don't think any of the higher quality options will let you down. "

I have basically the same setup. With a 100g canister full of fuel (total about 7 oz), this whole package weighs 14oz.

I have both the Soto Windmaster and MSR pocket rocket 2 and a discontinued MSR stove of some forgotten name.

The windmaster is a much more refined stove, imo. The flame looks cleaner, it runs quieter than both MSRs. I find it more satisfying.

tbro16: "Appreciate the opinions. Its funny, I bought the same little stove twice and each broke after the first year or so of use, one of the recommendations here says to buy a third lol, I'll pass.

Which one is that?