Soto Micro Regulator Stove

Rated: 4 by 8 reviews.

REI

Tipping the scales at a mere 2.6 oz., the Soto Micro Regulator stove rivals the competition for top honors as the world's lightest single-burner stove with a built-in igniter!

  • Micro regulator creates a consistent flame in cold temperatures and throughout the life of the fuel canister
  • Piezo igniter runs through the center post of the stove, protecting the igniter from impact and creating reliable lighting performance
  • Built-in piezo igniter sends out an electric spark that starts the flame once the gas is turned on; no matches required!
  • Pot supports fold down underneath the burner head for an extremely slim profile when stowed
  • Fuel canister sold separately
  • Weight includes stove, not the canister

Ability to simmer:Unavailable
Average boil time:4 min. 7 sec.
Burn time (max flame):1 hr. 40 min.
Cold weather use:Unavailable
Dimensions:3.9 x 3.4 inches
Ease of operation:Unavailable
Fuel:Isobutane
Fuel capacity:227g canister
Pot stability:Unavailable
Stove stability:Unavailable
Suggested use:Backpacking
Water boiled per 100g fuel:Unavailable
Weight (without fuel):2.6 ounces

These are products that have been indicated being comparable to this product:

Snow Peak Giga Power Stove with PiezoSnow Peak Giga Power Stove with Piezo
Hiking & Camping > Stoves & Fuel
$49.95
Vargo Triad XE Alcohol/Fuel Tab StoveVargo Triad XE Alcohol/Fuel Tab Stove
Hiking & Camping > Stoves & Fuel
$32.95

Soto Micro Regulator Stove Reviews Summary:

RatingNumber
of Reviews
53
43
31
21
10

Positive Reviews:

Unique and Impressive

Rating:*****
I bought this stove after reading the review of it in a recent issue of backpacker magazine. I was interested to see if the stove worked well in the cold and if the heat was consistent through out the life of the canister as the Backpacker testers reported. I tested and compared it with a primus stove by attaching both the soto micro regulator stove and the primus to two full snow peak canisters and by setting both in water filled with ice up to near the top of the canisters, compariable to what I'd seen in a youtube video. The Soto out performed the primus from the start in boil time and as both canisters emptied on repeated trials the performance gap widened dramatically.

What was unique and impressive about the performance of the Soto Micro Regulator was that the flame burned hot to the very end of the canister's life. On two separate trials with nearly empty canisters two cups of cold water were brought to a rolling boil (while the canisters were in the ice water) in under 3 minutes. The stove's flame burned very hot as the water boiled and then in less then 10 seconds it would dim and go out. At that point both canisters were completely empty. There was no gradual loss of heat as the flame slowly dimmed over an extended period of time as is the case with other canister stoves I own.

The stove weights in at 2.5 ounces, produces the most consister flame I've seen, (I own 5 different canister stoves) and outperformed the other stove. Botom line: The Soto folks are on to something with this micro regulator technology. It's my new favorie stove.
South Wind Hiker at REI on 06/06/2009

Great little stove

Rating:*****
I was quite skeptical at first because I haven't heard of this company and couldn't find anything online about it. What the hell, REI has a very good return policy, couldn't hurt to try it out.

I bought this to have a lighter weight alternative to my Primus Omnifuel in the CO high country. Gas stoves are notoriously bad in the cold and at high altitude. First trip out was camping at 12k ft in the snow with temps in the 20s. The stove performed fantastically, especially compared to the Pocket Rockets that people had, much better heat output on a cold canister. Then the piezo stopped working, I was quite mad and was ready to return it to REI on the way back from my trip, but upon getting back to 6k ft, I tested it out again and it was working hmmm... Did some more research, turns out that the piezo igniters just don't work at high altitude, just something to keep in mind.

I have very high hopes for this little guy for when winter comes and looking forward to using it when temps are below 0.
martynda at REI on 08/08/2009

Nice stove for the price!

Rating:****
I actually purchased 2 of these units over the past 3 months after reading some of the reviews. The first was for my BP trips and the second as support for larger 4+ group cooking . The stoves have performed quite well and I am impressed with the weight to price ratio. Light weight usually = $$$ I too thought there was a problem with the regulator like another person wrote (takes several turns of the control to actually get a flow of gas) however this might be due to the micro regulator inside this unit? Both of my stoves are identical in function and both maintain good flame throughout the life of the canister unlike my rapidfire. I would definately recommend this stove. The only drawback I would hit it on is the size of the fold out pot supports, they could be a little wider. Also as with all stoves always bring a second source of lighting. Get out and have fun!
backcountry nut at REI on 09/09/2009

Light Stove Packs Small Piezo Not Good

Rating:****
Stove is very compact. Small enough to fit into my cup. Perfect stove to take up on a hike to cook oatmeal or coffee for breakfast. It is very lightweight. Accepts the common MSR fuel canisters.

The piezo igniter stopped working 1 day after I first used it. Wiggled a wire in the mesh and it works again, but I would not rely on the piezo set up for lighting it. Bring matches or a lighter.

A little heavier than the SnowPeak LiteMax, which might be a better choice since it is .7 ounces lighter.

Overall a good stove that packs well.
Summer Hiker at REI on 08/08/2009

Solid small stove

Rating:****
Tough super light stove with amazing adjustability. Boils water very fast and is efficient with fuel; better than most in the ultra-light stove category. I've never used a stove that could adjust to such a small flame; great for baking and simmering at low temps. Its small so expect less stability than larger stoves.
The only strange thing is that the stove needs numerous turns on the control valve to release enough fuel to ignite. No big deal just a little odd.
gudda at REI on 07/07/2009

Works in the cold.

Rating:*****
Used on Mount LeConte at minus 2 dgrees, slept with canister to keep it warm, the stove lighter worked perfectly and lighted right away. My new go to stove.
Wasabi Don at REI on 12/12/2009

Negative Reviews:

Cool Weather not so hot

Rating:**
Recently just finished up a 3 day trip on the App Trail in N. Virginia to Maryland and thought I would try this stove out. Well I must say that I was very disappointed in it's performance in cooler weather. The low temps on the trail were only in the high 30's (not even below freezing). On the second night I resorted to putting the stove and fuel canister in my sleeping bag and that didn't help either.
The reason for my sharp criticism is that my buddy had a primus stove and a thru hiker the MSR pocket rocket and both were humming along fine. I an not sure if the performance was tied to to the fact that I was using a sno peak cannister but the sputtering and tepid output were disappointing. Especially after watching the SOTO video of the stove running in cold water.
The Piddler at REI on 11/11/2009

Neutral Reviews:

An OK stove, nothing special

Rating:***
This stove does its job. Your food gets hot as long as the wind doesn't blow and as long as you don't tip anything over. I do not see much difference in performance as a fuel can goes dry from other stoves of this type. Noise is about average for a sit-on-top canister stove.

The striker only works when stove is warm. In my kitchen at home it works first time every time. On the trail I need matches. Once the stove is warmed up (for example, if I turn it down and the stove goes out) it will light. Otherwise it takes a match.

Stability is helped a lot by stove feet made by Primus and others that give it a wider base. Otherwise, like all stoves of this type, it tips over very easily with a pot on top.

On a recent 4 day 3 night trip a 230 gram canister ran dry about half way through breakfast the last morning. This is cooking for two with extra hot drinks at breakfast and supper. All suppers and breakfasts needed some simmer time. We were not trying to conserve fuel. We had another canister.

This stove is well made and works fine. But given that it doesn't do anything any other canister stove does I'd probably recommend a less expensive model. I have yet to see a sparker that works reliable for very long so I would not spend the money for one.
Bill at REI on 09/09/2009