Budget vs Expensive COOK KIT // for Backpacking & Camping

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

What the “spoons bring to the table” pun intended? Awesome video. Just bought the BRS 3000. This makes me wonder how well it is going to preform compared to my old school original pocket rocket.

[@JustinOutdoors]

100% intended, haha. The BRS does pretty well still! I was actually blown away by how much better the PRD did in the wind. I think I am going to do a wind test for all my stoves, including the BRS, so see how they do.

[@GIRLplusDOGAdventures]

For some reason, I've always had a regulated stove and didn't realize there was SUCH a difference until I got an unregulated one and I hate it. Glad you pointed it out in this video.

[@DoseofDirt]

Love the way you do your comparisons! I will say that I'm a proud budget stove user... 🤣 I'll admit that it probably doesn't perform the same as one that is 10 times the cost, but it's one area in my gear I've chosen to go budget (all personal choice, right?). So far it's lasted about 18 months with no issues, so we'll see how far it goes! Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!

[@JustinOutdoors]

Thanks! 100% personal preference on what gear to bring as long as you're having fun and safe. I really tried in this video to just present the facts and my experience and people can decide what might work better for them and fit their needs!

[@DoseofDirt]

@@JustinOutdoors I think you crushed it! You must have because you had me considering the expensive stove, which is not usually my style! The wind performance was eye opening. I’m always hiding my stove behind a big rock and now I know why! 😂😂😂 Seriously excellent video!

[@stephenbouchard8075]

Always enjoy watching your videos Justin! Thanks again

[@flg72]

Hey Justin I just saw your video! I love these video but was curious if you have tested the budget cup for lead especially after heating up the water. Apparently it is very common for these cheap pots to have lead in them. I saw this in the bluu jetboil knock off

[@JustinOutdoors]

I haven't

[@SeniorHiker77]

Nice comprehensive comparison Justin. 👍

[@articus5134]

Great comparison Justin! Your gear videos are among my favorites; you always have a lot of helpful information! I started with a Soto Amicus (which I still love), but went to a BRS stove and that hasn't failed me yet!

[@stevezelazny9946]

Great review. I would have liked to also hear a bit about packability. I'm using a stanley cookset with the brs stove now and find I can fit the stove, fuel canister, aluminum mug all inside the stanley cookset. do these stoves fit in the pots with the fuel canister?

[@JustinOutdoors]

They do

[@garrycollins3415]

I have both of those stones and the BSR. I find all 3 are reusable and have their uses. A lesson learned, I lost my first pocket rocket brewing coffee on a rock outcrop on a mountain top waiting for sunrise. The wind took my setup over the edge. I now use the BSR in those conditions.

[@pix4307]

The “lid” on the less expensive set is often used as a mug, ie for coffee. Add the weight of your mug to the expensive set for an improved comparison.

[@JustinOutdoors]

It's just a fun comparison to look at the different options and provide an overview of features to help people with picking a cook kit - the take away for weight is that titanium cooking gear is usually lighter than aluminum.

[@dj-kq4fz]

Thanks Justin! Keep the great info coming our way. Have a great summer season! Dave J

[@brenttesterman1198]

Excellent overview as always! I bought the decathlon jacket because you reviewed it. No regrets, thanks.

[@BackpackingwithBuckley]

Great job dude! This would have been handy about 5 stoves ago! 🤣 I've never heard of that titanium pot. My toaks is getting ready for replacement so dammit, now I guess I have to look at that.

[@bigpat989]

I had the budget stove got 5 years and only got rid of it after I accidentally left it outside and it rusted other wise it worked great. Also the “lid” on the budget pot is a mug and only fits on time so you can store your stove inside the pot and you can put the whole cool kit into the bag that comes with the pot

[@thebman712]

I've "replaced" that pot lid with a piece of pie tin i have cut to shape and weighs a whole 3 Grams and cost about $1.25 at the dollar store. Could likely use aluminum foil too for the same thing.

[@kenttheboomer721]

I use a Snow Peak 900ml pot. For me it came down to whether I trusted Chinese manufacturing for something that I ate out of. That's why I bought Japanese.

[@StrikeFromTheSkies]

Made perhaps in the same factory as all the Chinese pots you cross-shopped against.

[@jeromebullard6123]

I love snowpeak stuff. Evernew is just as good and also made in Japan.

[@stefaniegalvan]

I have that budget stove (or at least one that looks and functions similarly). Can confirm there were issues with pot stability and efficiency. Great overview between high-end and low-end. Thanks!

[@bertman4]

When you are young and full of piss and vinegar but empty in the bank accounts, the budget option totally makes sense. But when you're older, had a few injuries, cartilage wearing thin in the knees, you are willing to pay for that weight savings and higher performance and efficiency.

[@aussiehiker]

Love these budget vs expensive comparisons.

[@haroldson5]

Ever since getting a cheap BRS stove, I rarely bring anything else. It's waaaay lighter than anything else and works like a charm.

[@JustinOutdoors]

It's an awesome stove! I use a Toaks pot and the BRS. it's a nice middle ground between these two setups.

[@justincase7661]

MSR is a Reliable source of gear and kit. Lasts long & worx gr8! thx Justin!!

[@draekko_]

You used to be able to get the Alpha Light long handle spork from Sea To Summit for half the price of titanium ones but its now cheaper to get the toaks or generic titanium one at most places or Amazon. The only place i know that still lists it in Canada is Atmosphere on their website.

[@colwild]

I'm guessing that with the cheaper pot, the lid might work as a second pot and maybe could stack as a second pot on the top of the main one? If true, that's sort of cool (although I would prefer a titanium or stainless version version over aluminum because I am not sure about cooking with aluminum). Thanks for this great video!

[@things_are_iffy]

Check for anodized aluminum to prevent with leeching and even better, get hard anodized aluminum for better reinforcement and it's naturally nonstick. The msr trail lite 1.3L pot is 4.5oz I think and is $30. Very comparable in weight to titanium pots at smaller volume, it's cheaper, and more versatile cooking.

[@_68niou1]

Cool comparison. I had never heard of that budget stove before and am curious how the BRS titanium stove would fare in this comparison instead.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I plan on doing a boil and wind test with a bunch of stoves!

[@katieochs7870]

I have the one from Amazon. It's a find stove for starters, worked fine for me. My only complaint is that the coating on the pot started coming off during the third use

[@dpear3]

It’s interesting to me that titanium and steel spoons are the two most common materials on either end of the weight spectrum. Aluminum is actually lighter than titanium, just less strong and heat resistant - properties that aren’t super necessary on a spoon. Plus aluminum is LOADS cheaper.

[@micbernier6403]

What about the MSR PocketRocket 2 vs the MSR PocketRocket deluxe?

[@JustinOutdoors]

The PR2 has been a go-to for me for awhile but since getting the PRD, the PR2 is gathering dust on the shelf.

[@micbernier6403]

@@JustinOutdoors Thank you :)

[@mobilewintercamp7515]

I have the cheap set. My igniter has been reliable and I love the cook set. I can make cowboy coffee or hot cocoa with the bottom and use the top as a cup. I wonder about the efficiency. If the cheap set uses more fuel, the expensive set will be more economical over time.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Good point on the cost of fuel!

[@JuanRamirez-jm9bp]

Awesome Gear review as usual !

[@murphyoregon]

Titanium is actually heavier than aluminum. If you made the an aluminum pot the same specs as the titanium in your video, it would be about 1/3 lighter. On your aluminum set the lid is a another pot and adds a lot of the weight difference between the two sets. The large pot also looks thicker. I have a similar set and just leave the "lid" at home unless I need it for some reason. As far as the stoves go, there are so many good options that are way less expensive than the Pocket Rocket Deluxe under $50 and work very well. I use a Soto that was $45 from REI that has been great. Peace

[@JustinOutdoors]

Lots of options out there and way to compare things :)

[@petitehiker754]

Oh Justin, this video was pure brain candy 😁 I have been waiting to see this ever since your instagram rant about that “budget” gear blog post. After that I went full on researching mode and done a whole excel with calculations to compare my expensive setup vs a budget setup. Conclusion was I couldn’t conclude on the results as both companies provided their information based on tests they did in completely different (weather) conditions. The boiling test you did was a perfect comparison. However did you only use the budget pot on both stoves? Or did you do the same test with the titanium version as well? I am curious what the difference in cooking time would’ve been as the titanium is supposed to be thinner and lose heat more quickly. What if the perfect combo would’ve been the budget pot with the expensive stove? Also, taking into account that the budget setup takes longer to cook, you’ll probably need to carry more fuel as well, which makes it even heavier and more expensive in the end and that takes away from the price difference? 🤔

[@JustinOutdoors]

I did only use the budget pot on both stoves. I have a few of those budget pots for testing purposes (for obvious reasons, I don't have multiple of the expensive ones 😂). I am curious about titanium vs aluminum boil times but it might be hard finding comparable pots.

[@Mustafa-cr4hm]

You should consider comparing the jet boil minimo to the budget option

[@everyoneknowsadave3580]

nice comparison between the two systems …. i didn’t know about all the features on the pocket rocket deluxe …. 🤔 might be on my christmas wishlist 😂 i actually have the budget stove and had that same problem with the piezo igniter but after a bit of light sanding on the stove top and the electrode it fixed it … i did a little 2 minute video on my channel on that fix if anyone else has that same problem ( bit of mooching there sorry but just passing on info) anyhoo awesome video justin thank you for doing all that work and passing on some great information… atb Dave Mc

[@rotaaable]

I'd love to see Soto and PR Deluxe compared

[@thedaddyjames]

Justin, great video. I also love your hat, where did you get it?

[@JustinOutdoors]

I made it!

[@thedaddyjames]

@@JustinOutdoors Well done! It's a beauty. I love both the Maple Leaf and the color orange, so it caught my attention right away. If you ever offer it as merch, I would jump on that. Have a great day and thanks for responding.

[@GetUpTheMountains]

I have the PR Deluxe and I thought it was pretty good... until my buddy showed up with his el-cheapo unregulated stove. His spits out fuel and the flame is just not even and proper. Almost like water blasting out of a garden hose. PR Deluxe burns so measured and even, and feels more like a nice spray nozzle on the garden hose. Its tough to describe, but I'm really glad I ponied up the extra few bucks for the Pocket Rocket Deluxe. Works great in colder temps too due to that regulator.

[@Oldsparkey]

Lets see ??? A top line Lexus ( Expensive ) or a regular Toyota Corolla ( Budget ). They both will get you there. Which one is the best for you. Back to stoves, the less expensive has a pot which can be a lid or a mug. The other is lighter , better made and will last for a long time. They both will provide the same service. Myself , Backpacking I walk a different path , I use a titanium alcohol / wood burning stove. My spoon is a Humangear Go Bites Duo. ( I have a Pocket Rocket & Evernew Pot here at the house for power outages & Hurricanes. )

[@JustinOutdoors]

Everyone has different needs for sure and you gotta use what works for you :)

[@ironpig701]

For a cheaper kit use a grease pot off Amazon. They cost about $6 and work great. Also need long spoon its mandatory.

[@lowercasedan9910]

You can get a titanium spork at rei for ~$10

[@yummy7372]

Nice info justin👍👍❤️

[@sunset6908]

Great vid :)

[@The_real_dennis]

Soto windmaster - best stove

[@JustinOutdoors]

Who is more fanatical? Durston X-Mid users or Soto Windmaster users? 😂

[@The_real_dennis]

@@JustinOutdoors 🤣

[@Casual_BackPacking]

bsr 20$ toaks 750l 35$ toaks titanium spork 9$ = 64$

[@JustinOutdoors]

Yup, a nice middle ground!

[@JeremiahBlasi]

You’d cut 2.5 oz out of the budget kit if you traded the stove for a BRS-3000 titanium stove for the same cost.

[@natea1042]

I think you mean additional cost. The whole junky chinese kit is $28 where the junky BRS titanium alone is $16.

[@JustinOutdoors]

I have a BRS3000 and love it but it's almost the same price as the whole budget kit. I look at a couple of extremes in this video, TONS of middle ground with various titanium and aluminum stoves and pots.

[@powarless]

Past…a. Dialectics are crazy.

[@JustinOutdoors]

What are the other ways to say it? haha

[@swaewithme]

Looks like you use the expensive one more often

[@JustinOutdoors]

I do!

[@ericvasquez6018]

It hurts to hear Canadian's say "pasta"

[@genesnyder2985]

People talk differently even in parts of the USA or in parts of Germany so it hurts you means you have a very low tolerance to pain

[@petitehiker754]

I’m kinda digging the Canadian accent though. Gets me every time they say “about”.

[@PrimeReal]

@@petitehiker754 or “out”

[@petitehiker754]

@@PrimeReal yeah more like ‘bout haha. I think that is the Irish influence in Canada, as my Irish colleagues pronounce it in a very similar way.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Sometimes I like eating pasta when out and about