MSR PocketRocket 2 vs Soto WindMaster: Weight, Wind, Price
Buy the SOTO WindMaster if you cook in wind or cold, and the MSR PocketRocket 2 if you want the cheapest reliable stove for sheltered three season trips. The PocketRocket 2 weighs 73 g and costs under $50. The WindMaster weighs 87 g with its 4Flex support and costs under $100, and for those 14 g and the higher price you get a pressure regulator, a built in igniter and a recessed burner that holds its flame in wind.
PocketRocket 2 vs WindMaster: the published specs
Weights and claims are the manufacturers' figures from MSR (Cascade Designs) and SOTO. Prices are what Amazon listed when we checked in 2026.
| MSR PocketRocket 2 | SOTO WindMaster with 4Flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 73 g (2.6 oz) | 87 g (3.1 oz) with 4Flex, 67 g with the smaller TriFlex |
| Maker's boil claim | 1 L in 3.5 minutes | 2 cups in under 2.5 minutes in strong wind |
| Output | Not a headline figure | 3,260 W (11,000 BTU/h) |
| Burner | Exposed | Recessed, concave head |
| Regulator | None | Micro Regulator |
| Ignition | Match or lighter | Built in igniter |
| Pot support | Three folding arms | Four arm 4Flex, more stable |
| Budget | Under $50 | Under $100 |
Choose the MSR PocketRocket 2 ultralight stove if…
Choose the PocketRocket 2 if most of your cooking happens below treeline in the warmer months. It is lighter, cheaper and mechanically simple, with nothing to break but the valve, and it folds small enough to nest inside a Toaks 750 ml pot with a canister. Carry a mini lighter, because there is no igniter, and shelter it from wind with your body or a rock rather than a full windscreen.
Check MSR PocketRocket 2 ultralight stove on Amazon
Choose the Soto WindMaster stove with 4Flex if…
Choose the WindMaster if you camp exposed, above treeline or into the shoulder seasons. The recessed burner keeps the flame seated in a breeze, so less of the canister goes into heating the air, and the regulator holds output as the canister cools and empties. Over a long trip in windy country that fuel saving can pay back the extra 14 g. See our SOTO WindMaster review for the full picture.
Check Soto WindMaster stove with 4Flex on Amazon
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Sources: MSR PocketRocket 2 and PocketRocket Deluxe specifications from Cascade Designs, and SOTO WindMaster with 4Flex specifications from SOTO Outdoors. Prices are the Amazon listings when we last checked in 2026 and change often. We have not tested these stoves side by side. This is researched, not professional advice. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Deciding on a specific model? We review the SOTO WindMaster backpacking stove review and MSR PocketRocket 2 review in full.
Frequently asked questions
What about the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe vs the SOTO WindMaster?
The PocketRocket Deluxe closes most of the gap. MSR lists it at 83 g with a pressure regulator, a push-start igniter and a broader burner head, which is very close to the WindMaster at 87 g with its 4Flex support. The WindMaster still has the more recessed burner for wind, and the Deluxe usually costs more. If you are choosing between those two, buy on price and on which pot support suits your pot.
How fast does each stove boil a litre?
MSR claims 3.5 minutes per litre for the PocketRocket 2 in still conditions. SOTO does not publish a one litre figure for the WindMaster and instead states two cups in under 2.5 minutes in strong wind. Independent tests tend to land around 4 minutes for both in calm air. The real difference shows up in wind, where the exposed PocketRocket 2 burner loses far more heat.
Does the WindMaster work in cold weather?
Better than an unregulated stove. Its Micro Regulator holds output steadier as the canister cools and empties, which is exactly when an unregulated stove like the PocketRocket 2 starts to fade. Below about freezing, any canister stove benefits from keeping the canister warm in your jacket or sleeping bag before cooking.
Can I use a windscreen with either stove?
Not a full wraparound screen. Enclosing a canister stove can overheat the canister, which is dangerous. A partial screen that shields the burner but leaves the canister open, or cooking in the lee of a rock or your pack, is the safer approach. Follow the manufacturer instructions for your stove.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, listed weights, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every weight quoted here is the manufacturer's figure unless we say otherwise, so weigh your own kit before you trust a total. Going lighter also means carrying less margin, so treat insulation, navigation, water treatment and an emergency plan as fixed costs rather than places to save grams.
Weighing your own kit item by item? The Base Weight Reduction Planner is the paid version of these pages: 11 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, two filled-in examples, a companion spreadsheet and the full PDF, $29.
