No. 1 is the SOTO WindMaster. With the 3-prong pot support it's 67g and 2,800kcal/h, far ahead on output per gram among the six. The lightest is the Primus Femto Stove II at 64g, but the gap is 3g and its output is 700kcal/h lower.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
Gas takes heat from the canister as it turns from liquid to gas, so the more you use it, the colder the canister gets and the weaker the flame. Boiling water in the mountains is usually done on a cold morning or a windy ridge. So when the weight differs by just a few grams, I take the one whose flame holds up as the canister cools.
Key points
- The 6 stoves weigh 64–116g. The median is 74g, and up to the 70s is on the light side
- Output per gram is 29.4–41.8kcal/h. Only the WindMaster tops 40, and the other 5 cluster at 29–34
- An igniter is listed officially on 2 SOTO stoves and 2 Primus stove. For Snow Peak's "Chi," the version with an igniter is a separate model, ¥1,870 more
For a lightweight hiking stove, take firepower over saving 3g
The lightest, the Femto Stove II, is 64g, and the WindMaster is 67g. The gap is 3g, the weight of 3 ¥1 coins. For that 3g, output rises from 2,100kcal/h to 2,800kcal/h.
This covers 6 integrated single-burner stoves that screw directly onto an OD canister (the round, short gas canister for hiking).
How I chose
The first thing I looked at was weight. But 5 of the 6 fall within 64–81g, so weight alone couldn't rank them. So I divided output by weight and re-sorted by how much firepower each gram gives. Close ranks I split by whether the build holds its flame in the cold, whether it has an igniter, and the price.
- Up to the 70s is on the light side. Don't chase a few grams
- If you'll use it on cold mornings, first check for a regulator (a valve that evens out gas pressure)
- For models without an igniter, choose on the assumption you'll carry a lighter
Quick table of the 6 OD canister stoves
| Model | Weight | Output | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 SOTO WindMaster SOD-310 | 67g | 2,800kcal/h | ¥9,350 |
| No. 2 Primus Femto Stove II P-116 | 64g | 2,100kcal/h | ¥8,800 |
| No. 3 SOTO Amicus SOD-320 | 81g | 2,600kcal/h | ¥6,270 |
| No. 4 Snow Peak Giga Power Stove "Chi" GS-100R2 | 75g | 2,500kcal/h | ¥6,380 |
| No. 5 MSR PocketRocket 2 | 73g | 2,143kcal/h | ¥9,020 |
| No. 6 Primus Ultra Burner P-153 | 116g | 3,600kcal/h | ¥8,800 |
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
SOTO WindMaster SOD-310
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥9,350 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it at L-BreathSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanI calculated output and price per gram
| Model | Output per gram | Price per gram |
|---|---|---|
| WindMaster | 41.8kcal/h | ¥139.6 |
| Femto Stove II | 32.8kcal/h | ¥137.5 |
| Amicus | 32.1kcal/h | ¥77.4 |
| Giga Power Stove "Chi" | 33.3kcal/h | ¥85.1 |
| PocketRocket 2 | 29.4kcal/h | ¥123.6 |
| Ultra Burner | 31.0kcal/h | ¥75.9 |
Only the WindMaster tops 40, and the other 5 cluster at 29–34.
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Why it's ranked here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOTO WindMaster | 41.8kcal/h per gram stands alone among the six, and it also has a regulator |
| 2 | Primus Femto Stove II | The lightest of the six at 64g, but its output is 700kcal/h lower than No. 1 |
| 3 | SOTO Amicus | The lowest price at ¥6,270 and it has an igniter, but it's 17g heavier than No. 2 |
| 4 | Snow Peak Giga Power Stove "Chi" | 6g lighter than No. 3, but the version with an igniter is a separate model at ¥8,250 |
| 5 | MSR PocketRocket 2 | Light at 73g, but its 29.4kcal/h of output per gram is the lowest of the six |
| 6 | Primus Ultra Burner | Its output of 3,600kcal/h is the highest of the six, but 116g is 35g heavier than the next heaviest |
No. 3 and No. 4 are close, and if you light it with a lighter, the "Chi" is the better one.
No. 1 SOTO WindMaster | 67g and 2,800kcal/h
I'll say this with some heat. 67g and 2,800kcal/h, and SOTO explains that it holds the same firepower at an outside temperature of 20°C or −5°C. Here's the weak spot. The price is the highest of the six, and the supplied 3-prong pot support is small, so a big pot needs the separately sold 4-prong one.
It suits people who boil water on cold mornings or on ridges.
I judged the new model with a 4-prong support as standard in the WindMaster SOD-311 review.
No. 2 Primus Femto Stove II | the lightest at 64g
64g, and it even has an igniter, so on lightness alone it tops the six. What to watch is the 2,100kcal/h of output, the lowest of the six. The pot support is 12cm across, so you pair it with a slim solo cookset.
It suits people who want to cut every gram and only boil water.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Primus Femto Stove II P-116
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥7,370 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥8,800, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 3 SOTO Amicus | 4-prong pot support, ¥6,270
For ¥6,270 you get an igniter and a 4-prong pot support. It's ¥3,080 cheaper than No. 1. Here's the weak spot. The official page says "model without a micro regulator," so firepower when the canister gets cold won't match No. 1.
It suits people looking for a first stove for day hikes and hut stays from spring to autumn.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
SOTO Amicus SOD-320
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥6,270 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 4 Snow Peak Giga Power Stove "Chi" | 75g and ¥6,380
33.3kcal/h per gram is the number after No. 1. What to watch is ignition: the one with an auto igniter is the separate "Chi Auto" model (¥8,250).
It suits people who want to stow it, canister and all, in the same Snow Peak cookset.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Snow Peak Giga Power Stove "Chi" GS-100R2
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥5,898 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥9,350, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it at L-BreathSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 5 MSR PocketRocket 2 | 73g, 1L in 3 minutes 18 seconds
By the maker's own listing, it boils 1L of water in 3 minutes 18 seconds, and burns for 60 minutes on 1 IsoPro 227 canister. Here's the weak spot. The price is ¥9,020, only ¥330 different from No. 1.
A choice for people already matching MSR canisters and pots.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
MSR PocketRocket 2
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥9,020 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 6 Primus Ultra Burner | 3,600kcal/h of firepower
It's ranked 6th, but its firepower tops the six. The pot support is 14.8cm across, and a larger pot sits on it too. What to watch is the 116g weight, 49g heavier than No. 1. Its gas consumption is also 245g/h, more than the Femto Stove II's 170g/h.
If you cook for two, it moves up the order.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Primus Ultra Burner P-153
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥6,780 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥11,550, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it at L-BreathSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanMy solo cookset pick is the Titanium Trek 900
I settled on 1 pot: the Snow Peak Titanium Trek 900. The pot is 900ml with a 250ml lid, 175g, and ¥5,940. It can hold 1 250-size gas canister and the "Chi" inside.
The aluminum Trek 900 in the same shape is 265g and ¥3,564. Cutting 90g costs ¥2,376, or ¥26.4 per gram (2,376 ÷ 90), far cheaper than a stove's grams.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Snow Peak Titanium Trek 900
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥5,680 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥7,300, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it at L-BreathSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanIf you buy the pot together, the Jetboil Stash is what you compare against. Stove and cookset together are 200g and ¥17,000. Add the "Chi" and the Titanium Trek 900 and it's 250g and ¥12,320, so you pay ¥4,680 for 50g. Its output is a low 1,134kcal/h.
What to eat from this pot is decided by the amount of hot water you need to rehydrate, in the tent-camping meals article.
Why an OD canister's flame weakens in the cold
The gas in the canister is a liquid, and it takes heat from its surroundings as it turns to gas. As you keep using it the canister cools, the pressure pushing the gas out drops and the flame shrinks. SOTO writes this as "loss of firepower from the canister cooling during continuous use or in the cold," and explains that its micro regulator resolves it.
A regulator is a valve that keeps the amount of gas it sends the same even when the canister pressure changes.
On stove safety, go by the makers' own words
Snow Peak writes on its official page, "This product is for outdoor use only. Do not use it indoors, in a vehicle, in a tent and so on," and cites the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and oxygen deficiency. For canisters too, SOTO specifies its fuel as "a SOTO dedicated container (OD canister type)."
Who is it for?
This suits people who boil water in the mountains to eat meals and have hot drinks.
If your day hikes get by on trail food and bread, or your current stove is around 80g and you've no complaints about firepower, what you have is enough.
FAQ
How many grams makes a hiking stove lightweight?
The 6 here weigh 64–116g, with a median of 74g. Up to the 70s is on the light side.
Should I get one with an igniter?
The official pages say they have an igniter for the WindMaster, Amicus, Femto Stove II and Ultra Burner, 4 stoves. For the "Chi," the version with an igniter is a separate model, ¥1,870 more.
Can I use another maker's OD canister?
The official premise is a canister from the same maker. SOTO specifies its own dedicated container as the fuel to use.
Gear in this article
Ad · Images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- SOTO official: Micro Regulator Stove WindMaster SOD-310
- SOTO official: Amicus SOD-320
- SOTO official: Micro Regulator Stove SOD-300S (explanation of canister cooling and firepower)
- Iwatani-Primus official online shop: Femto Stove II P-116
- Iwatani-Primus official online shop: Ultra Burner P-153
- Snow Peak official online store: Giga Power Stove "Chi" GS-100R2
- Snow Peak official online store: Giga Power Stove "Chi Auto" GS-100AR2
- Mochizuki official (MSR's Japanese general distributor): PocketRocket 2
- Snow Peak official online store: Titanium Trek 900 SCS-008T
- JETBOIL Japan official: Stash
- mont-bell official online store: JETBOIL product list (price of the Stash)
