The most important feature of Pocket Rocket 2 (see image) is its wind protector design, it has a 3-direction wind clip to offer protection from the wind.
Having the handiest and the most convenient gear is essential when backpacking, carrying a stove can be a big burden if it isn’t selected properly.
Jetboil MightyMo and MSR Pocket Rocket 2 are the most compact and efficient backpacking stoves on the market, one is not better than the other, each one is superior in different functions, therefore, I will help you pick the most suitable one for you.
Firstly, I should mention that MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is the new and improved version of the old MSR Pocket Rocket, therefore this comparison will focus on Jetboil MightyMo vs Pocket Rocket 2.
- #A sidenote here: I'd highly recommend you to check out REI's informative meal planning chart before you read further.
In summary, MightyMo boils quicker, uses less fuel to boil the same liter of water, offers better heat adjustability, features an ignitor and comes with fuel stabilizers.
On the other hand, Pocket Rocket 2 is lighter, features wind clips for wind protection, offers better pot support and comes with a rigid case.
Specs: Jetboil MightyMo vs MSR Pocket Rocket 2
JETBOIL MIGHTYMO | MSR POCKET ROCKET 2 | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
Stove Weight | 3.3 oz | 2.6 oz |
Packed Weight | 3.7 oz w/o fuel stabilizer | 3.7 oz |
Ignitor | Yes | No |
Boil time (1 liter) | 3 minutes | 3.5 minutes |
Water Boiled 1 oz fuel | 3.4 liters | 2 liters |
Package type | Cloth Sack | Rigid Carry-Case |
Fuel Stabilizer | Yes | No |
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JetBoil MightyMo Review
MightyMo (see image) boils quicker, uses less fuel to boil the same liter of water, offers better heat adjustability, features an ignitor and comes with fuel stabilizers.
Jetboil MightyMo is the best friend of ultralight gear lovers. Not only it’s one of the lightest backpacking stoves on the market but it’s also the only stove that features a fire starter (compared to other ultralight stoves).
There are some complaints about fire starters going bad after a while, but even when it’s broken you can still ignite the stove with a match or lighter like any other stove on the market.
It features a “4 full-turn” regulator to adjust the heat and gives you great simmering control.
MightyMo boils water in less than 3 minutes.
Another plus of Jetboil MightyMo is; it comes with fuel stabilizers to use it even on uneven surfaces.
Check the latest price of Jetboil MightyMo.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Review
Pocket Rocket 2 is the lightest stove in the market. But When packed it weighs the same as Jetboil MightyMo (due to its hard-shell carry case).
The most important feature of Pocket Rocket 2 is its wind protector design, it has a 3-direction wind clip to offer protection from the wind.
As I’ve mentioned before, it comes with a small rigid plastic case to keep the stove safe, and there is enough room in this plastic shell to store a lighter or a match to start the fire.
It also features a regulator to adjust the heat for simmer control.
Pocket Rocket 2 boils 1 lt of water in roughly 3.5 minutes.
Check the latest price of MSR Rocket Pocket 2.
Features: MightyMo vs Pocket Rocket 2
Fuel Efficiency
Jetboil MightyMo is the clear winner when it comes to fuel efficiency, with 1 oz of fuel it boils 3.4 lt of water, on the other hand, Pocket Rocket 2 can boil only 2 lt of water with the same amount of fuel.
If you are fellow who likes numbers we can also put it this way: Jetboil MightyMo performs %70 better when it comes to fuel consumption.
Weight
For the weight department, MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is the winner.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 (2.6 oz) weighs 0.7 oz lighter than Jetboil MightyMo (3.3 oz).
Due to Pocket Rocket 2‘s rigid plastic-case for protection, both stoves weigh equally 3.7 oz when packed.
Jetboil MightyMo also features a fuel stabilizer that weighs 1 oz (carrying it is optional).
Packed Dimension
Both Jetboil MightyMo and Pocket Rocket 2 are highly compact, they both pack down to approximately 2″ x3″. So there is nothing to compare compactness-wise. Since we’re talking about the packing down, it’s important to mention, DAMAGE PROTECTION.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 comes with a rigid carry case which protects the stove from getting harmed, on the other hand, Jetboil MightyMo comes with a cloth-sack which provides no protection at all.
Boiling Time
When it comes to boiling speed, MightyMo is a little bit faster with the ability to boil 1 lt of water in 3 minutes. But Pocket Rocket 2 isn’t bad either, it can boil 1 lt of water in 3.5 half minutes (which is better than most of the backpacking stoves on the market).
Heat Level Adjustability
To be honest, both stoves are great for adjusting the heat from light simmer to a full boil. BUT if I’ve to choose one I would go with the MightyMo, it features a 4 full-turn regulator which gives you very good simmering control.
BUT in windy conditions, MSR Pocket Rocket 2 offers a better simmering control due to its wind clip above the torch.
With that being said let’s dive into the next section.
Wind Protection
Using an ultralight canister stove can be a big burden during high-windy conditions. When the regulator is adjusted to full heat (for boiling water for instance) it shouldn’t cause a problem. BUT adjusting the heat to a light simmer in windy weather might be a pain in the ass.
Due to the reasons above, MSR Pocket Rocket 2 features a wind clip to allow simmering even in windy conditions. But MightyMo doesn’t perform that well in windy conditions.
Ignition
JetBoil MightyMo comes with a push-button fire starter that works down to 20 °F, on the other hand, with MSR Pocket Rocket 2 you need to start the fire with an external ignitor such as a match or a lighter.
Pot Support
You shouldn’t expect great pot stability from a backpacking stove but they both do the job well. Nevertheless, I can say that Pocket Rocket 2 performs better compared to Jetboil MightyMo. Due to its longer pot supports it can hold pots that have a small base diameter as well.
Verdict: Jetboil MightyMo or MSR Pocket Rocket 2
Jetboil MightyMo is the superior one when it comes to:
- Boil Speed, it boils 1 lt of water roughly 30 seconds faster than Pocket Rocket 2
- Ignition, it comes with a push-button fire starter, while Pocket Rocket 2 lacks an ignitor
- Fuel Consumption, it boils 3.4 lt of water with only 1 oz of fuel, therefore, it’s %70 more efficient than Pocket Rocket 2
- Heat Level Adjustability, although they both offer great simmering control, MightyMo is slightly better
- Stabilization, it comes with a fuel stabilizer to be steady even on uneven surfaces
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is the better option for:
- Weight, when only the stoves compared, it weighs 0.7 oz lighter than MightyMo
- Durability, it comes with a rigid carry case for extra protection
- Wind Protection, it features wind clip to allow simmering even in windy conditions
- Pot Support, it features longer and sturdier pot supports for better pot stabilization
Check out the latest prices of:
One important note I should mention is, neither of the stoves comes with the canister, you should purchase it separately.
Check out the latest prices of Jetboil Jetpower Fuel and MSR Isopro Canister Fuel.
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