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jerry adams
(retiredjerry) - MLife

Locale: Oregon and Washington
 		Re: Looking forward on 12/29/2011 13:57:12 MST Print View

2.57 oz for micro Pocket Rocket vs 3.03 oz for regular Pocket Rocket

Not enough difference to hardly think about

Micro $60 vs Regular $40

Gnat stove - 1.6 oz and $60 - better
David Thomas
(DavidinKenai) - M

Locale: North Woods. Far North.
Re: Re: The old Pocket Rocket... on 12/29/2011 14:05:00 MST Print View

>"I don't have the means to test for CO."

Jim, Is that of interest? I can think of a couple of ways to do that. Let me know if that would be an interesting discussion and we can kick off a new thread.
Hikin' Jim
(hikin_jim) - M

Locale: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Re: Re: Looking forward on 12/29/2011 14:34:55 MST Print View

2.57 oz for micro Pocket Rocket vs 3.03 oz for regular Pocket Rocket

Not enough difference to hardly think about

Micro $60 vs Regular $40

Gnat stove - 1.6 oz and $60 - better
Exactly, Jerry. The PR is pretty competitive at $40, but is the PR II (oops, I mean MicroRocket) competitive if you raise the price 150%? Now you're competing with a different class of stove. There's some pretty nice stuff out there when you're willing to spend $60.

The MR looks like a good stove... but will it fly at $60?

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

Edited by hikin_jim on 12/29/2011 14:35:55 MST.
Hikin' Jim
(hikin_jim) - M

Locale: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Re: Re: Re: The old Pocket Rocket... on 12/29/2011 14:37:32 MST Print View

>"I don't have the means to test for CO."

Jim, Is that of interest? I can think of a couple of ways to do that. Let me know if that would be an interesting discussion and we can kick off a new thread.
Really? Yes, it is of interest. Now, is this something a lowly apartment dweller can do? (and does it involve flaming clouds of methane?) ;)

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Eric Blumensaadt
(Danepacker) - MLife

Locale: Mojave Desert
Micro Rocket v.s. (former) Vargo Jet-Ti? on 12/29/2011 14:51:07 MST Print View

I had a Vargo Jet-Ti that I gave away as a present to a friend. Would the MR be better? Lighter? I kinda doubt it.

Sadly the Jet-Ti is no longer made.
Bob Gross
(--B.G.--) - F

Locale: Silicon Valley
 		Re: Re: Re: Looking forward on 12/29/2011 14:55:17 MST Print View

"but is the PR II (oops, I mean MicroRocket) competitive if you raise the price 150%?"

The price was raised approximately 50%, not 150%.

--B.G.--
Hikin' Jim
(hikin_jim) - M

Locale: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Re: Re: Re: Re: Looking forward on 12/29/2011 15:13:33 MST Print View

Yes, the price is 150% of the old price, an increase of 50%. Thank you for the distinction, Bob. :)

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin' Jim
(hikin_jim) - M

Locale: Los Angeles, CA, USA
MSR MicroRocket -- Release Date on 12/29/2011 16:19:13 MST Print View

Just got a note from MSR:
The official release date is January 3, 2012. We already have them in stock and are shipping to retailers.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

Edited by hikin_jim on 12/29/2011 17:43:38 MST.
Hikin' Jim
(hikin_jim) - M

Locale: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Re: Re: Looking forward on 12/31/2011 11:44:32 MST Print View

Not enough difference to hardly think about

Micro $60 vs Regular $40
I've been thinking about this. Maybe I've got in inkling as to what MSR is up to: Quick, what is MSR's high end, lightweight gas stove? They haven't got one (before the MicroRocket).

They're not replacing the PocketRocket; they're filling in a hole in their product line.

For those who want a more entry level, low price point stove, there's the PR. For those who want something nicer, more durable, lighter, and more compact, there's the MicroRocket. MSR has just entered the high end market space that stoves like the the Soto Micro Regulator, the Primus Express, etc. have occupied unchallenged (by MSR) heretofore.

At first, when I viewed the MicroRocket as essentially a PocketRocket II, it almost didn't make economic sense. But if one views the MR not as a replacement for the PocketRocket but rather as a new addition to the line up, I think it's a calculated move by MSR. They mean to compete. Now, as whether or not they'll be successful, that remains to be seen. It is a nice stove... but so are a lot of other ones out there.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
jerry adams
(retiredjerry) - MLife

Locale: Oregon and Washington
 		Re: Looking forward on 12/31/2011 12:09:33 MST Print View

Not enough difference between canister stoves to make any significant difference.

Even Gnat at 1.5 oz vs PR at 3 oz - who cares?

When the PR and several others weigh only 3 oz, there is no room for innovation.

But, if MSR is making a new stove, it should weigh 1.5 oz to be as good as anything else, makes no sense at 2.5 oz.
USA Duane Hall
(hikerduane) - F

Locale: Extreme northern Sierra Nevada
Different strokes on 12/31/2011 14:32:42 MST Print View

I can't see how an item has to be lighter to be better? :)
Duane
Bob Gross
(--B.G.--) - F

Locale: Silicon Valley
 		Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 14:44:04 MST Print View

"I can't see how an item has to be lighter to be better?"

Duane, are you sure you are at the right web site?

--B.G.--
jerry adams
(retiredjerry) - MLife

Locale: Oregon and Washington
 		Re: Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 15:03:26 MST Print View

"I can't see how an item has to be lighter to be better?"

Duane, are you sure you are at the right web site?"

Duane - with super heavy archaeic Svea 123 Avatar : )
Bob Gross
(--B.G.--) - F

Locale: Silicon Valley
 		Re: Re: Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 17:32:11 MST Print View

"Duane - with super heavy archaeic Svea 123 Avatar"

No, it is not a Svea. It is one of the MSR burners from GK or XGK vintage.

--B.G.--
Hikin' Jim
(hikin_jim) - M

Locale: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Re: Re: Re: Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 18:23:37 MST Print View

It is one of the MSR burners from GK or XGK vintage
Oh, you guys don't know what that is? That's one of the holy grails of stovedom. That is the stove that started the modern era of stoves. That stove is the Model 9, the original Model 9, from MSR. That stove represents the dawn of the modern backpacking age boys and girls. OK, well, maybe that age actually started with the Svea 123 in 1955, but if you look back, that stove launched nothing short of a revolution in stoves, a revolution whose repercussions are still being felt to this day.

You think that stove is heavy? You should have seen what serious mountaineers were carrying before that. Things like old brass Optimus 00's and Optimus 111's. If you think an XGK type is heavy, you should have seen what came before.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Bob Gross
(--B.G.--) - F

Locale: Silicon Valley
 		Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 18:43:06 MST Print View

"If you think an XGK type is heavy, you should have seen what came before."

I did a trek in Nepal in 1983, and it was supported by Sherpas, so we had porters and everything. The Sherpa cook was using two of the biggest and ugliest Indian-made brass stoves that I had ever seen, burning kerosene. However, I can't complain since I didn't have to carry those heavy suckers, and the cook kept hot food on the table.

--B.G.--
USA Duane Hall
(hikerduane) - F

Locale: Extreme northern Sierra Nevada
Thanks on 12/31/2011 20:18:40 MST Print View

Thanks HJ for steering everybody right/left.?
Duane
jerry adams
(retiredjerry) - MLife

Locale: Oregon and Washington
 		Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 22:30:29 MST Print View

I have both a Svea 123 and a couple MSR stoves, I guess I have them confused in my head : )

I couldn't get the Svea to work at 10,000 feet on Mt. Rainier (but that was because I didn't know what I was doing).

The first MSR had some yellow plastic and something melted a little after a few years.

The MSRs are heavy, you get fuel on your hands which stinks, the jets clog, and when you prime it it singes your eyebrows. The good old days...

I like canister stoves.
Bob Gross
(--B.G.--) - F

Locale: Silicon Valley
 		Re: Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 22:38:08 MST Print View

"The MSRs are heavy, you get fuel on your hands which stinks, the jets clog, and when you prime it it singes your eyebrows. The good old days..."

Wow. Those sound like the words of an MSR beginner.

--B.G.--
jerry adams
(retiredjerry) - MLife

Locale: Oregon and Washington
 		Re: Re: Re: Different strokes on 12/31/2011 23:05:01 MST Print View

"Wow. Those sound like the words of an MSR beginner."

Maybe a slow learner.

Okay, I'm exhagerating a little.

Is your MSR lightweight? Never got fuel on your hands? Jets never clogged? Had a flame-up when you're priming it?