MSR PocketRocket Deluxe vs Coleman Classic Propane Stove

Buy the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe if you carry your stove in a pack and cook for one or two. It weighs 2.9 ounces, lights with a push-start piezo igniter, and its pressure regulator keeps output steady as the canister cools, so it boils a liter in about 3.3 minutes. The Coleman Classic is a car-camping stove: 11 pounds, two independently adjustable burners, 20,000 BTU total, and WindBlock panels, but it needs a propane tank and a table. Owners of the MSR praise the regulator and igniter and grumble about the cost; Coleman owners value the two burners and steady simmer and accept the bulk.

• Choose the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe if you backpack, travel light, and want fast boils and reliable lighting in wind and cold.
• Choose the Coleman Classic Propane Stove if you camp from a car or base camp and want two burners and a wide cooktop for real meals.