Snow Peak or MSR for compact backpacking stove?

Sufler

Sufler

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MSR Pocket Rocket or the Snow Peak GigaPower?

Any preference for one over the other? I see the Snow Peak GigaPower, for $10 more, also comes with the built-in (Piezo) igniter.

Input appreciated.

Thanks
 
Although the Snow Peak Giga has a smaller burner head, the shape of the head and the way it burns allows it to spread the flame better than the Pocket Rocket. It is better for simmering, too, because it can be turned down and doesn't focus the flame as much.

The piezo igniter on mine works fine at home (300' elevation) but for some reason does not work at all above 10,000'. I can't come up with a logical explanation for that, but that is what my stove does. I have a few friends who have one and they don't have this issue.
 
I have no experience with the Giga, but I do own a pocket rocket.
If you are a boil water kind of guy, you will be hard pressed to beat it or something similar. Lots of heat, boils quickly, doesn't guzzle fuel, either. Don't expect to simmer with it. There is not much more you can say about the pocket rocket. Get one of the folding bases for it. They only weigh a few grams and help keep everything a little bit more stable. I didn't go with a stove with piezo ignition just because...well, just because, I guess. I am sure they are fine for most people, but I always have other flame/spark sources. I've got other stoves (emberlit ul, vargo decagon, etc) but the pocket rocket isn't going anywhere. It is just too good.
 
If you do decide to go MSR, I would recommend the newer micro-rocket. there are a few improvements over the pocket-rocket. That said, it is a laser, so either heavy bottom pans or boiling. the Giga might be better for cooking, but the micro-rocket is very light and compact.
 
I have the Giga and can recommend it, works very efficiently and never had a problem. I've not got the piezo ignition on mine and simply use a lighter or firesteel so can't comment on how good it is on the stove.

hth, John
 
I've got the pocket rocket and I've been very happy with it. It pretty sensitive to wind, but all gas burners are. I just use my foam pad as a wind shield. I have no experience with the Snow Peak, but I don't think you can go wrong with either.
 
I've used an MSR Whisperlite International/multifuel for about 20 years now. Great stove
 
We used a gigapower (mine) and a pocket rocket (my friends) side by side this summer for a week in the wind river range in Wyoming. Both were just fine. I do think the gigapower is more stable with larger pots but nothing fell off either one. I might give the pocket rocket the edge in wind but it is not by a whole lot. Both were pretty much equal far as heat output and both simmered though for large skillets the gigapowers bigger flame pattern helps a bit. We did everything from boiling to simmering to making fish and pancakes in a skillet. Neither had a peizo lighter. I got the gigapower without the lighter specifically because I have seen them fail or just be too dang fiddly on a lot of stoves.

Either one will serve you just fine. If my gigapower breaks I will get another though.
 
My Giga has been fine up to 12,000 regarding auto igniting. Yes you have to click it a few times. I have 3 currently, and all have been 100% reliable.
 
I use the Snow Peak LiteMax, which, at 1.9oz, is about half the weight of the Giga with piezo, and works great.
Either of the ones you're looking at are good, popular stoves, though. I'd go with the Micro version of the MSR 'cause I only use a stove to boil water, and it's lighter and more compact.
 
I have the Snow Peak GigaPower and have been pleased. I have the piezo option which has worked fine. If it fails to work so what, we all have a lighter or ferro rod anyway. I liked the fact that it had four legs for pot support as opposed to three for the pocket rocket. They also have a wind plate accessory to allow use of wind screens without overheating the gas canister.
 
I've got the Giga, and bought the pocket rocket for a buddy for Christmas a few years ago. The Giga has 4 arms as opposed to the 3 the PR has for pot stability. Stability goes to the Giga. My piezo start broke the first weekend we went out. I went ahead & replaced it, but It works fine without it. No piezo on the PR. Kinda a draw there. Giga simmers & PR don't. Giga wins there too, but it don't simmer for crap in wind. Size of both is similar, but if you keep 'em packed in their plastic cases, I've gotta give size to PR. The red plastic case is longer than the white box the giga comes in, but it's thinner too. Burn time's are about the same so that's a tie. All in all, I'm slighty partial to the Giga. Especially after I bought the little windscreen they make for it (which you should also if you get one). With it on, the giga really shines. It'll almost double your gas life, and allow you to really cook on it. As in sear a small steak.
 
Agree. The windscreen rocks. Here it is. Makes a given fuel canister last that much longer since it heats more efficiently with it.


Without it.
 
The windscreen really helps with my Gigapower. It's pretty shallow, though, and I got bored and cut up a small titanium bowl to use as a larger windscreen. Both the Snowpeak windscreen and the one I made really do increase fuel efficiency, making up for any extra weight the stove may have on longer trips. It's stable and simmers relatively well too. The Piezo acts finicky sometimes at very high altitude, but I always carry a Bic anyway. Holding the lighter beneath the windscreen and letting the flame come up through the hole by the Piezo protects your hand from flareups. The Piezo is definitely nice for when your hands are too cold to comfortably work a lighter though (assuming it works).
 
KDucky's brother said:
Agree. The windscreen rocks. Here it is. Makes a given fuel canister last that much longer since it heats more efficiently with it.


Without it.
Click to expand...
Where ya @ in Western NC? Hickory area here.
billygoat162 said:
The windscreen really helps with my Gigapower. It's pretty shallow, though, and I got bored and cut up a small titanium bowl to use as a larger windscreen. Both the Snowpeak windscreen and the one I made really do increase fuel efficiency, making up for any extra weight the stove may have on longer trips. It's stable and simmers relatively well too. The Piezo acts finicky sometimes at very high altitude, but I always carry a Bic anyway. Holding the lighter beneath the windscreen and letting the flame come up through the hole by the Piezo protects your hand from flareups. The Piezo is definitely nice for when your hands are too cold to comfortably work a lighter though (assuming it works).
Click to expand...

Good idea on the titanium windscreen. I always thought they shoulda made the windscreen titanium as well. Please post pics if ya can!
 
For light weight and versatility, I like my Jetboil. Can and have cooked streaks in a pan on it too and real quick for boiling water.
 
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