Quickest Stove Battle - Japanese VS American - SOTO Windmaster Vs MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ม.ค. 2025
- In this episode of TOGR, Luke is comparing what many believe to be the Best of the Best when it comes to backpacking stoves.
In one corner, we have the SOTO Windmaster and in the other, we have the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe.
Which stove is lighter, which one is faster and which features a better design?
Find out in this head to head battle.
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Versus - Soto Windmaster vs MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
--- Soto Windmaster ----
Agenda Free Link : www.amazon.com...
Price : $65
Weight with 4flex supports : 3.1oz
BTUS : 11000
Includes Ignitor -
Burn Time : Approx 1.5 hours with an 250g gas canister
Dimensions :4” Tall, 5.7” wide
Windscreen :
Designed for wind resistance; concave burner head sits close to your pot or cup.
Regulator : Pressure regulator maintains stove's fast boil times even in cold weather & with low fuel. - While I haven’t tested this stove in conditions below 40F so far, I have used it with a canister that is low on fuel and it performs better than the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe.
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--- MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe ----
Agenda Free Deluxe : www.msrgear.co...
Price : $70
Weight : 2.9oz
BTUS : 10,400
Includes Ignitor -
Burn Time : Burn time (MSR IsoPro) per 227-g - 60 minutes
Dimensions : 3.5” tall - 3.75” wide
Windscreen : Improves wind resistance and combines with simmer control for excellent cooking versatility; wind-blocking burner lip.
Regulator : Pressure regulator maintains stove's fast boil times even in cold weather & with low fuel. Susie and I have used this stove around the country in a wide variety of conditions; hot, freezing cold, high elevation, low elevation and so on; the regulator works well but in all situations with the exception of low fuel canisters - we’ve had rather poor performance with a canister that is getting close to being empty.
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Results :
Boil Time of 500ml of Water :
Thoughts on Size : While the Soto is slightly larger and heavier I feel that the weight and size is justified in that it offers a more stable platform to cook/heat.
Regulator Thoughts :
Ignitor Thoughts : While no Ignitor is perfect I have had more issues with the MSR Ignitor than the Soto, in fact, I have been in situations where I simply could not get the MSR to ignite. I’ve never had the Soto not fire up.
Cook : Both stoves in general are awesome for boiling water for meals and for cooking. You can easily adjust both, you can simmer, you can do what you want.
Adjuster : I have never liked the MSR adjuster; it is very loose and when I first received this stove after buying it, I thought that it may be broken as it was so loose. A friend of mine has the stove too and his is just as loose. The Soto adjuster in my opinion is better as there is a bit more resistance to it while not being too stiff.
Size and Weight : There is virtually no difference with these two stoves - the Soto offers wider pot supports which makes for a slightly more stable cooking experience if you are using large pots/pans.
Overall Run Times : While I haven’t thoroughly tested this aspect, overall run times are going to be within the same ballpark based on the BTU rating of each stove and the information which both companies have stated. For 99% of users, they won’t notice a difference in burn times. For those who analyze every single detail, they might.
Which Stove Would I Choose?
I like both stoves but after spending a substantial amount of time with each, I like the Soto better. Again i haven’t tested this stove in cold conditions so I will be updating my review and may even do a cold weather vs episode.
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Ah, been waiting for this one. Awesome review Luke!
Had my SOTO for about 15 years now. Above the bush line, winter, low canisters, it's a beast. 73 g, even though it's "old". My favorite bit of kit
which.?
I ordered that Soto yesterday. Glad to see I picked a winner, but I don’t think you could go wrong with either one.
I only have MSR Deluxe and love it. It has always ignited with no problem. I heard early versions of Deluxe units had igniter problems, but it was corrected. Soto has really great customer support with a no questions asked return policy (I had problems with my Soto Pocket Torch XT extended and they replaced it after 3 months.) I think both stoves are market leaders. Thanks for doing a fine job comparing them.
I have both stoves, having purchased my MSR first. Situation arrived in which I had to purchase a new stove (my kids “borrowed “ my MSR for a trip). Purchased the SOTO Windmaster and absolutely fell in love with it! Now all I carry is the SOTO Windmaster or the SOTO Amicus stove. Both are excellent stoves and an essential part of my field kit and Fieldcraft Survival gear.
I bought the Soto Windmaster a few weeks ago but haven't really had the chance to use it. I've done one boil and was very pleased with the heat output and low boil time. Glad to see it faired well in this test!
At my age (70) I have all the camping gear I will ever need. Yet I eagerly watch your videis and reviews - they are so informative and entertaining. And who knows, if something might break/fail/get lost, I can always check your reviews fir a replacement. Good work, thanks 👍
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the support, it really means a lot.
S&H
- Luke
I am a Huge fan of MSR stoves. I chose the Windmaster over the Pocket Rocket Deluxe though. I watched several different reviews trying to convince myself the MSR was better simply because I love MSR stoves. I couldn’t find a single review where the MSR came out on top over the Windmaster though. Ultimately I decided to give the Windmaster a try. I’m glad I did. It is an excellent little stove. It is a lot quieter than other stoves I have used as well.
I have the SOTO and am very pleased. The larger, more stabile pot support was a deciding factor for me.
How does it handle support for a small pan ( to cook eggs/bacon and maybe a small steak :) ) on. Thanks in advance for the advice.
@@keemo008 I'm sure it could handle a small fry pan but I would be more concerned about adding some sort of base for the gas can to add stability. My friends with jetboils have these plastic legs that attach to the bottom of the gas can. I'm pretty sure that's an accessory you can find separately.
I watched sooooo many reviews of these two stoves a few years ago before I finally bought a Windmaster (under $50 on a Black Friday sale!). Nothing I've seen since has made me second guess my decision either. The interchangeable pot supports that remove completely were the deciding factor for me. Thanks for the review, Luke! You and Susie stay well.
Your the man Grumpy 🤟
Thanks for the great review Luke, very to the point but still thorough. I own both these stoves and found the niche for both in my kits. I originally bought the PRD but the smaller pot supports didn't work well with my favorite pot, the Primus ETA 1L with heat exchanger. Later I bought the WM for it's wider supports and they're an excellent match. The PRD goes awesome with my GSI Minimalist 2 pot/mug. Both stoves work incredibly well with narrow pots and cups due to the reduced flame velocity/volume so you get very little flame wasting up the side of a narrow pot. But the PRD is better suited to those both due to the smaller pot supports and also it's smaller packed size. The WM is noticeably bigger when packed and fits better in larger pots. I haven't ran a canister empty with the PRD but I did with the WM and it definitely maintains performance right till the very end. The PRD still outperforms non regulated stoves with ease. The ignitors on both have been great for me. The WM is incredibly solid with no play at all. It's very stable when stirring food or flipping things in a frying pan. The PRD insn't bad but not as good. Both simmer very well. So in a nutshell, my own opinion of both is that they're excellent and the best canister stoves on the market when you want performance first. The deciding factor is your intended pot size. Small and narrow = PRD. Large and wide = WM.
this is an incredibly useful comment for me, thank you 👍🏼
Thanks for sharing that. I have a question if you don’t mind. I don’t quite understand. It looks as though the shape and size of the burner head is the same. Why do you say the difference is pot size?
@PedroDeLlama the pot support size is the determining factor for me. Both burners are efficient with a small diameter pot but only the PRD is small enough to nest inside one and still fit anything else. The flip side is the narrower pot supports on the PRD aren't terribly stable with bigger pots and especially a frying pan. The WM with the 4 way pot support however is very stable with larger cookware. It has a much larger diameter and the extra support. Paired with its larger packed size it just fits better with larger pots. Hope that makes sense. Also noticed this was 2 years ago. I still have both stoves but I use the PRD a lot more then the WM. It just fits great in my smaller pots.
You can get the 3 prong head for the soto windmaster which is a lot smaller than the 4 and fits nicely in smaller pots, bit of a heads up in case you haven't seen it yet
@fletcher0601 yup, 100%. It cuts the packed size down some but the MSR is still a fair bit smaller, especially in length. It doesn't seem like much difference until you're trying to stow everything in a small pot like a toaks 750 or the gsi minimalist. Even in a 1l pot it can get difficult to pack everything in with the WM.
When I started solo backpacking in my teens, I had an MSR Whisperlite that worked for everything I needed. On a trip, I had a cap for my spare fuel bottle works its way loose and soak the inside of my pack with white gas...and it was not a good situation at all. Decided to shift to a canister stove and bought the original MSR Pocket Rocket. It still works to this day after a few decades of service, but after playing around with a friend's Soto Windmaster, again find myself in the market.
I have always used MSR stoves, primarily because it is what I was brought up with...but the Soto's are now really taking the top podium in just about every review and test. Will be purchasing a Windmaster and will be shelving my MSR's.
Thank you for the review!
I have a Soto windmaster and I love it. The only time it failed to ignite was when I forgot to store te stove during unexpected rain during the night. The next morning I poured out the water and used a lighter to ignite the stove. After a minute or two the stove was operating like before. A good and reliable product in my opinion.
I've had my original pocket rocket for like 25 years. Still works perfectly.
Just getting started out making my packing list and went with the soto windmaster. Worked well of course testing it in my backyard. Can't wait to try it in the field!
Never tried a Soto stove, but I have the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe, and the height difference is a dealbreaker. the PR Deluxe is just small enough to fit in my Toaks pot (same/similar as Luke's in the video) with a 100g small fuel cannister. With an extra 0.5", that's wasted space to carry the stove separately, especially when I'm rocking a small day pack.
I might pick up a Soto one of these days, but the MSR PR Deluxe is a winner for me (plus I've been pretty pleased so far, although I don't have much cold weather testing thus far).
I've read and heard other reviewers say that the piezo igniter in the Soto goes back really quickly, whereas the MSR PR Deluxe doesn't seem to have that issue. I own the MSR, and I'm satisfied with it so far. I'm pretty new to camping and hiking and had never even heard of the Soto until long after I purchased my stove. I did my research though and made sure I wasn't buying a piece of junk. The Soto is faster, and in reviews where they've measured fuel used to bring water to a boil, the Soto is always more efficient as well. I really don't care for the 3 pot supports. I'd much prefer longer fold-out legs like the Soto, but if and until something happens to the MSR, I see no reason for me to rush out and replace it. Thanks for your videos!! I absolutely love your videos. You're love of the outdoors and your positive attitude at all times is quite an inspiration! I really appreciate all the time you put into your videos - especially having to set up a camera just so you can walk past it, and then do it a few more times until you get to where you're going. lol I would have lost patience with that idea a long time ago!! 😂It is cool though!
I did buy the soto based on your previous video, now I just need to get out there ;) thanks for al the great videos
I am a huge MSR fan, and have every stove they have offered for sale, back to the outstanding #9. I have both of these stoves, too, and I have to say, the Soto Windmaster is my most favorite between the two. In my experience, the Soto not only out-performs the MSR, but is also quite a bit more fuel efficient, too. So, though I love MSR stoves, in this case, I'd take the Soto without a second thought. Thanks for the excellent video, and God Bless! - Doc
I’ve got the Soto it’s everything I need and it’s never let me down, it uses only 10g of gas for my boil of approx 600ml of water enough for a meal and a drink it does this in less than 3 minutes, I can’t comment on the MSR never used one. Soto for me gets a 9.9/10 (nothing’s perfect).
I have had my Soto Windmaster for many years & it is my 'go-to' stove. I recently purchased the PocketRocket Deluxe and took it on one trip. No qualms w/ the MSR on that trip. My $0.02: With the TriPlex pot support, my Soto is lighter than the Deluxe (2.6 oz vs 3.1 oz on my scale; use to get both pot supports from Soto). Also, the distance between the pot supports of each stove also differs: 10mm (Soto) vs 13mm (MSR). Further distance = more opportunity for heat to be swept away from the bottom of the pot.
I purchased the Soto based on your review last week. Ordered it Sunday night was waiting for me on Monday after work. That was fast. I took it out this past weekend to the White Mt of NH and it worked great. I love the wider pot stands. I have been using a BSR which also works good but its pot stands are not so great. I don't think you could go wrong with either the MSR or Soto.
Hi I have had the Soto windmaster before the Msr version came out, it has always been reliable and fast, I have both stands for the pots and generally use the tri stand, there is only one down side to the Soto and that is its length when putting in a small pot with you gas and other things to put in as well, I use a Titan kettle to put all mine in. Thanks for an honest review.
Hi from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for sharing your thoughts and adventures and your family brother
Great work, Luke. I have had the Soto Windmaster for a couple of years now and I don't have anything bad to say. I find the Windmaster will continue to work down to a few degrees below freezing, I've never used it colder than that. The Windmaster also has a budget version, the Soto Amicus. The Amicus does not have a regulator and it's louder. On the other hand, it's half the price.
Can I use this indoors in case of power outage
@@soniadowney7427I believe it's all about the ventilation. I test boil time indoor. In a small enclosed room with poor ventilation, I would not use it
Hey Luke I use Coleman gas for freezing conditions and I paid about 10 pounds for for my stove on Amazon years ago. I must admit I've always prefered the click together wood stoves as they are lighter to carry and you can find the fuel all over the floor in the woods and they support my pan as the stove I have is square exactly the same as your's LIXADA.
I've used both. I started off with the Pocket Rocket Deluxe and with limited use the igniter stopped working, the button won't click and generate a spark. So I got the Windmaster. The igniter has worked first time every time and hasn't broken yet. Like you I noticed the performance of the MSR stove would drop when the canister was getting empty. I also like the fact that I can switch between the Four Flex and Tri Flex stands with the latter being lighter and more packable for when I just want to take a small pot to boil water, and the former being better to support larger pots like my MSR Ceramic Solo. The arms on the MSR also tend to loosen up over time, needing a hex key to tighten them back up. No such maintenance needed on the Soto. If you're somebody trying to choose between these stoves, get the Soto Windmaster. It's considerably better, and considerably cheaper.
Soto: (all outside some wind no screen)
two eggs and bacon 6-7g gas,
fast boil 700ml 13g,
1000ml some wind 15g,
pasta rehydrate boil slow 7g,
4x cups, 2x meals windy 55g,
2x cups coffee 12g...
hope it helps, it depends on what you do and what conditions outside.. all around 10-15 C (spring)
This is really valuable information. Thank you! Gas usage g/l for boiling 1 l water is as important or by ultralight through hikes, even more important than boiling time.
Just bought the soto stove today. I’m happy with my purchase!
Thanks! I was looking at both of these. Great details and insights.
Soto is my first choice! Love it! In combination with the cook set, unbeatable!
I switched from the MSR to Soto about a year ago. I’ll never look back. Peace from Atlantic Canada.
Another selling factor for the SOTO for me with the pot supports is they are replaceable if one breaks etc. On the Rocket they are part of the unit itself and not so easy to get a replacement or to carry a spare without a toolkit also to install it.
I have the MSR pocket rocket deluxe. It is great so far! Very happy with it. I mainly use it for boiling water
looks like I'll be buying the soto, thx for the honest rev
I have the MSR and its never failed me.
But I think I'll will buy soto as a good back up.
Great vid as always
👍👍👍
Just got my Soto yesterday in the mail. More than impressed ! Love the 4 flex system to support larger pots/pans etc. I paired with a Toaks 750ml pot and Jet boil
Fuel Can Stabilizer, jet boil 230g fuel. Packs away great. A perfect setup imo.
Just got my windmaster yesterday. Haven't gotten it out yet, but am planning to take it out this weekend. Personally I think if you choose either of the stoves you'll have a winner.
I find that Japanese designers are often a little more thoughtful when it comes to function.
I have been watching some of your older posts (just watched your 2019/2020 New years hike with Suzy), little did we know, what was waiting for us in 2020.
Keep doing what you're doing. I can't wait to be out and about again.
Time to order a few Soto stoves, because I believe in truth. This channel is probably the only place left on Earth that gives you that.
When I was researching stoves, the larger support on the Soto was the tipping point. I like the stability and the construction seems top notch. That being said I don't think you would go wrong with either of these stoves.
Yep, that’s what I lean toward...more stability, WHERE it might make a difference
Inner diameter on the 4 flex and tri flex is the same, so I can deal with the tiny difference in weight and folded size. Great review. There are a lot of fans of Jetboil our there, and they're awesome with speed, simplicity and synergy but if you go beyond just boiling water these two stoves offer so much more flexibility and more than fast enough boil time.
I have had the Windmaster for a while now and just picked up the Amicus simply for the smaller footprint. Curious what the cool weather performance will be for the Amicus since there is no regulator. Time will tell
Good stuff. Thanks for keeping it both informative and to the point. Excellent review, actually.
Awesome I've been waiting for review
Just what i was looking for !!
Thanks
More of this content would be nice 👍🏼 thanks for the help
im relatively new subcriber of your channel and I really enjoy all of your adventures and reviews. I also really enjoy your camera quality, its really good with good focus and crisp color.
Picked up a soto from the REI garage sales, someone who did not know how to use it brought it back and I had to pay only 18 dollars for it, works flawlessly. Win every day in my book.
I bought a Windmaster based partly on your earlier review and I am very happy with it. I also bought the Triflex pot support, which made the total cost more than the MSR, but I like the added versatility.
I don't understand how the triflex support makes the Soto more versatile. Increased versatility means you can do something with the triflex that you can't do without it. What would that be? Want to boil something in a 5.5 oz juice can (2.1" diameter) using the 4plex? Flip the pot supports inward. Can't do that with the triflex. The circle formed by the inner edges of the siupport arms is larger than the base of a juice can, and the base will rock on the stand.
Now, to the credit of the triflex, when is the last time anyone tried to heat anything in a 5.5 oz juice (or 6.5 oz Starbuck's) can? I never have.
If you want to say the triflex stores flat, therefore takes less space, that is valid. But only if your main cook pot is a 12 oz soda/beer can. I can't think of an actual cooking pot you couldn't put the Soto with 4plex into.
@@xenaguy01 Specifically, you can pack it into a smaller space if you're only going to use smaller pots. (Also a couple of grams weight savings.)
@@mikevandebunt811
I go back to my last sentence. I can't think of a pot I can put the Solo+triflex into that I can't put the Solo+4plex into. (Plus a lighter/flint-steel combo.)
@@xenaguy01 Sure, if you pack everything loosely. I tend to cram everything I can into a pot. So, FOR ME, the Triflex taking up half the space gives me versatility when I want it. Your mileage may vary. Use only as directed. Consult a physician if condition persists. Have a nice day. (Sometimes I pack heavy and don't care about space. I never asked you to fall in love with the Triflex, I just said that IN MY OPINION it added versatility that I liked. You should make your own decisions about equipment, not complain about other people's choices.)
Thank you for the information Luke.
Great review!
Hello Luke. Love the channel. I just have to repeat what I had mentioned in an earlier Windmaster video of yours. Don't know if you saw it. Please make sure you get that Windmaster support is on properly. It needs to wrap a little further around the center shaft to clip on as designed. (When viewed from above, you should see a true cross shape, with 90° between each of the legs, not an "X".) It probably wouldn't fail or fall off, but at the very least you'll be giving yourself more stability. Better safe than sorry, even if it's just a lost meal and not a burn.
Cheers. Stay well.
Thank you Luke, appreciate you👍 Strength and Honor my friend 🇺🇲
You've missed out on the most important part of this review: efficiency per boil. Boiling time is not as important as efficiency when you're through hiking and you need to extract the maximum from one gas canister.
efficiency per boil is very difficult to test accurately and will be affected by numerous factors
Pretty sure more people use these stoves for non thru hiking so I'm not sure it's the most important part. ;) However it would be good to know!
@@ciarangale4738 you can still get fairly accurate results if you are using the same pot and are testing within a short time of eachother to have almost identical atmospheric conditions. Main thing that would affect the results would be wind gusts if he did the test outside.
@@whenindoubtgohiking8074 Testing them indoors (under a vent hood of course) and weighing the cannisters before and after the boil might make it possible to see the difference. But you'd have to be very accurate on timing to keep the test error low enough.
Yeah, I don't think this is exactly very fuel efficient models. The whole point is cooking speed. So obviously flame power. This eats gas in comparison to a tiny thing
Both excellent options that are out of my budget. Good video tho. I really enjoy people actually testing/comparing gear vs just saying x is the best
I have the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe kit with a pot but I haven't used it yet and I got it on sale about 3-4 months ago from REI.
First rule is always carry a Boyscouts handbook. It will tell you what plants are edible and other hints on survival. I was a Boyscout for almost decades. And the book helped save my life when I broke a lower ball joint going off roading in the mountains of Colorado. When I wasn't home in 3 days my dad came looking for me. I always leave a map of where I'm going. I am a big fan of the MSR Whisper Light 600 International. I know it's old but I can burn a lot of different fuels like White gas, gasoline, alcohol, diesel. The bad thing is I can't use the pressurized cans of fuel. Plus I got it for free. I used to sell camping gear and I got great deals on gear. I still use my Camptrailes Wilderness xl internal frame back pack and my Eureka Timberlite 3 with the vestibule. I'm a big guy and I can still fit 5 days worth of gear in it.
I have a Soto Amicus and an MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe. One interesting little thing I noticed is that Soto stoves use a double O-ring seal setup. Particularly on the smaller 100g-110g canisters, a lot more gas squirts out when screwing in the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe than with the Amicus. What's a bit weird is that neither of them squirt out any gas when screwing them onto the 230g canisters. Not sure what's going on there (maybe the stem is shorter on the smaller canisters?). Anyway, I do also like that double seal setup on the Soto stoves. Thanks for the review!
👍🏻 I have both and your test is spot on.
I have the SOTO. It works great, even in cold conditions.
Ive been using the Soto Microregulator (OD-1R model) for over 12 years now. It's one of the most consistent gear pieces I have
I’m not as impressed with boil times as I am with fuel efficiency.
Would love to see how much fuel, by weight, each stove takes to boil.
At the end of the day, which one is going to stretch your fuel the longest, thus saving weight overall?
Fair point mate. I just take the approach if you're outta gas, it's time to make a fire.
Cheers Duke.
If you worry about the weight of an extra gas canister, I’d be worried for your health & safety being out overnight anyway! 😉
@@stetomlinson3146 G'day mate, yep with ya, I don't count grams either, just don't have a need for a night or two. I take the larger 450 g, only downside is if you happen get a dodgy valve there's no back up as you would have with 2 x 220 g jobs. Haven't had one yet, but I've been told it can happen. I don't go anywhere without a ferro rod anyway, so no great drama. Cheers Duke.
@@eyeofthetiger4184 Same here! Ferro rod is inside my stove bag. Never leave home without it! Good idea about the two smaller gas, I’ll take that one on board. My Windmaster is class! I combine it with a Fire Maple pot with the heat ring. 600 mls of water boiled in just over 2 mins. Ideal for long hikes. But for one/two nighters it’s a Trangia burner with a Firebox Nano for me every time. Stay safe.
@@stetomlinson3146 Cool mate. My Windmaster came with both the 3 & 4 flex supports, did yours ? Luke says not so in the US. Like the idea of the burner with a firebox, more options again in a small form factor. Good stuff !!!
Soto Windmaster FTW. Never failed me on during past three years. Silent and super efficient when not on bull blast. With the three prong pot support lighter than MSR. On EU side you get both pot supports in the package.
Been very impressed with the soto thermal cookset after I picked it up after your review.
I like your reviews. Very informative. Subscribed just now.
I think I would go for the Soto.
It seems like ages since a Vs episode.
Love it. ❤️❤️
I haven't used either, but was going to get the MSR. Now I think I'll get the SOTO!
I have both stoves, at 4500ft AMSL regardless of temp, the SOTO boils water faster/quicker than the Pocket Rocket Deluxe. 15-20 sec difference in boil time is no deal breaker. Surprisingly both stoves use virtually the same amount of fuel to boil water. Both are great stoves, cost about the same, burn about the same, piezo units can be replaced, both have concave burners, regulators on both. Yep, I think MSR saw the light and copied the SOTO. Can't go wrong with either one. Thanks Luke👍👍
Great vs test. For me the wider arms for stability wins me for the Soto.
I am an admitted stove geek. I have all the MSR "Pocket Rockets", the Soto Wind Master, and Amicus, and I have used canister stoves by Primus, Coleman and others. So far I have yet to find one that ticks as many boxes as the Wind Master. If I am not running with one of my alcohol/wood combos like my Trail Designs sidewinder or Firebox Nano/Trangia combo, it's Wind Master all day, everyday.
G'day Luke, I've had the Windmaster for approx 3 years, (there was no PR Delux back then).
Flawless in my usage; though as you mentioned previously, the fold out support legs on the 4 prong could be tighter, but certainly does not affect operation. You could give the rivets a whack with a hammer if it really bothers you.
Note: the 3 prong is a completely different design and the legs don't fold out on a pivot. Its more of a sprung piece that flattens out when not installed, (and feather weight too).
At the end of the day, both great units IMO, with the Windmaster keeping its nose in front.
Cheers Duke.
P.S. oh yeah, I've found that a fallen log or a rocky feature make for an adequate shield unless it really is blowing a gale. Perhaps stating the obvious but I'm really trying to avoid carrying a shield unless absolutely necessary.
I've owned both stoves I prefer the wind master overall the pot supports are just a little bit better in my opinion and the igniter seems to fire a better spark and seems to be more consistent. The MSR also tends to stay hotter after you are done useing it.I do like the bag material and construction of the msr. they both are really similar stoves.
I think that they are both superb stoves. For me, it depends on which is on sale, as you'll get similar results where it really counts.
The Soto, it’s burner is closer to the pot. I have both! The Sotos awesome.
I still have my MSR pocket rocket from the 90s. If I had to choose I my think of support after seeing the review.
I just got a MSR pocket rocket I like it, can't wait to get out to camp before the snow flies.
You r awesome because of you and watching your videos I have saved myself from purchasing a lot of bad gear thank yo for what you do my friend you r the man .
Problem with boil test times is that it does not tell you anything about the fuel efficiency of the stove. I tested my Jetboil Stash against a friend's simliar Kathmandu Stove system. It boiled about 25 seconds faster, but also used 8 times the amount of fuel, so it was not a well designed piece of gear, it just blasted the pot with massive amounts of fuel to boil quicker.
What was the fuel consumption, did the one that boiled faster use more fuel?
Been leaning hard towards the soto foe while, I have a cheap ozark trail stove now works great but it's the only one I've used lol, an only used it a couple of times
Oh my GOSH that camera is LUSH! Easily broadcast quality. Fantastic
I recently purchased the less expensive Soto Amicus. At home testing is amazing but have yet to take it in the back country to really see how I like it. Have a trip planned for next month so we shall see.
Personally, not having used either before, I’m liking the SOTO’s ‘4-winged’ supports (for the container) VS the 3 on the MSR stove. STABILITY matters as I think it could be more advantageous in the real world. As for “how fast” to get a ‘rolling boil’..not a big deal to me. but I suppose it’s a selling point Idk...my .02. Great vid...
I have the same style carabiner "key chain" had it for years mine is also is almost completely silver. It started life black.
Massive msr fan, the windburner msr stove is brilliant with the radiant heat element vs open flame. That said the Soto would be my pick too, still love my gen 1 pocket rocket.
Can you please do an updated comparison/review of current headlamps, thank you,
I have the Soto and love it, both are great stoves.
Both look awesome, I already have the msr so not enough reason to upgrade
Hello from rochester NY, i have the soto windmaster and am CERTAIN you will favor this over the MSR
What stove used more fuel in the test???
One metric I would like to see more reviews touch on is loudness. I swapped from an MSR PR2, to a SOTO because the PR2 is sooo freaking loud. Like obnoxiously loud. The SOTO is waaaay quieter by comparison, and has better performance in wind. Maybe it's just me, but when I sit down and camp to enjoy the wilderness and conversation, it really ruins it for me when all anyone can hear is the roar of my stove across the camp.
I just bought the MSR POCKET ROCKET DELUXE. DAMNIT MAN Now I'm forced to go out and buy THE SOTO. I feel so used, Whaaaaaaa
Great comparison there . I'm trying to decide between the soto and msr pocket rocket 2 , weighing up performance and value . Leaning towards soto but not 100 % yet . Atb 👍
Luke great test, next time try to measure the canister to see fuel consumption.
The Soto Windmaster barely fits sideways in a Snowpeaks Trek 700 on top of a 110g fuel canister with a 1/2 LightLoad towel lining, but it does. I’m using the triflex and it fits too when removed and placed at 90˚. Haven’t had a chance to have it out yet but I have that and the tiny BRS. Might use use the BRS on minimal heating summer trips, but for anything even slightly windy or cold, or where I’ll be cooking more frequently then I’d the Soto for sure. Could even leave the mini Bic behind unless solo. The Amicus might be the ninja value stove though when running at above freezing temps.
Do you have a page where you show all the gear you recommend?
Did you try those them in high altitude where barometric pressure as lot of influence on your stove , do you think these stove have a mecanism to compensate high altitude ?
I've used an MSR canister with my SWM at 9,500' on several occasions. The only thing I noticed is the added time to boil water.
I have the pocket rocket deluxe, love that thing. So small and light