Marc Kitteringham
While this particular piece of gear is not technically a bike part, it has played an important role on many a bike trip. Coffee outside would not be possible without this little bit of folding metal, neither would most bike camping trips or mid-ride cookouts. Even though I can’t mount it anywhere on my bike, the humble little camp stove remains a vital piece of gear for whenever I venture out past the limits of the city.
Since people have begun camping for fun, they have wanted a way to cook food that was easier than lighting a fire. While I will always take the chance to start a fire from scratch, and have a powerful appreciation for magic of a campfire, sometimes having a stove is necessary. This ubiquitous piece of hardware comes in many variations, ranging from a simple beer can chopped in half and filled with isopropyl alcohol to a pressurized high-altitude ultralight titanium cook system. I’ve opted for something somewhere close to the middle of the range of camp cookery and it has made my rando trips much more satisfying.
There is nothing better than finishing a climb and stopping to make yourself a shot of espresso. Knowing that the reward of a fresh coffee cooked on the road awaits at the top of a hill gives your legs that extra jolt of speed to make it. The MSR Pocketrocket Camp Stove fits into a saddlebag or seatbag and sets up quickly. With suitable wind blocking, it lights fairly easily and takes relatively little time to boil water. During that short time, you can look out over the view and admire the fact that you’re on top of a mountain that you conquered, then look down to see your coffee pot percolating happily on your stove.
The Pocketrocket is insanely light, spec’d at 85 grams and made of solid aluminum and steel. The boil time of 3.5 minutes is right on the money, though in the wind it may take a bit longer to reach a boiling temperature. It is also nice and convenient since it comes with a burner control that is easy to grip even with gloved fingers.
I would reccommed the MSR Pocketrocket to someone who is interested in taking a few friends out into the woods for a cup of coffee, or enjoying a hot breakfast at the crack of dawn on a long tour. The lightweight stove, light fuel canisters and quick boiling time coupled with the ease of use make this one of the best outdoor stoves that I’ve tried.