The Rocket Stand Z-23 OD from Camping Moon provides a stable platform that converts a favourite canister top stove to a remote canister stove. It also allows you to use two stoves from a single canister. However, it isn’t a particularly lightweight option and may not suit everyone.

Backpackers and campers that want to use a gas stove essentially have one of two options. A stove that screws into the top of a gas canister (a canister top stove), or one attached to a canister via a flexible hose (a remote canister stove). There are a couple of other less commonly used methods, but for those wanting to use an EN417 screw thread lindal valve gas canister, these are the two most usual types of stove. Each has its pros and cons.

• Canister top stove:
  • pros– lighter than a remote canister stove, smaller pack size than a remote canister stove, simpler, less to go wrong
  • cons– inherently unstable (without support feet for canister), pot on top has a tall centre of gravity, thermal transmission of heat to canister, can be awkward to access valve control between canister and pot, flame more susceptible to side breezes, canister cannot be inverted
• Remote canister stove:
  • pros– stable, pot on top has a low centre of gravity, no thermal transmission to canister, easy access to valve control, flame is less susceptible to side breezes, canister can be inverted to provide a liquid feed, if the stove supports this.
  • cons- heavier than a canister top stove, bulkier than a canister top stove, more complicated, more to go wrong,

MSR addressed this slightly with a handy little accessory. Their 176g Lowdown Stove Adapter has a flexible hose that can be attached to a gas canister valve, leading to a very low profile remote support with wide stable legs, this has a screw thread on to which a canister top stove can be screwed.

The MSR adapter very much agrees with its name. It would be difficult to design a stove support that was lower in profile. It is almost the best of both worlds, other than additional cost, additional bulk, and additional weight. As I write this, it is available on Amazon for around £47 plus whatever shipping you have to pay. It is more expensive on eBay, but can be found a little cheaper elsewhere with a bit of searching. The MSR product was remarkably similar in design to the now discontinued Brunton Stove Stand, that I believe preceded it, however the taller profile of the Brunton is more similar to Camping Moon’s subsequent design.

There is an alternative to the MSR adapter. This is the Rocket Stand Z-23 OD, from Camping Moon. I ordered the Chinese made Rocket Stand OD via AliExpress and paid £16.86 plus shipping and tax, with a small discount found online, this cost me a total of £21.32 delivered to my UK door. It comes in a small card box with a single sheet of instructions, printed in Chinese. When delivered it comes with a thin silicone ring around the body to stop the closed legs from scratching the finish, I immediately disposed of this. The Camping Moon adapter is very much not a clone of the MSR. It has very different support feet that are not spread so wide as the MSR adapter, stands taller than the MSR, and comes with a potentially usual addition. It retains a screw on lindal valve on top of the canister so a second appliance can be fitted there, be it stove or lantern. The MSR has an additional valve control at the canister connector, while the Camping Moon offering relies on the valve control on whatever stove you attach. But because it stands taller than the MSR, there is plenty of room for a (gloved) hand beneath a pot. So if you were using a windshield around this, the MSR adapter would be easier to control gas flow because the valve is set away from the stove. The Camping Moon offering, while lower and more stable than a canister top stove, is something different to what the MSR provides.

When coiled for storage, the canister connector can be partly screwed to the burner connector. This not only has the advantage of keeping it coiled but also prevents debris from entering either otherwise open end.

The Camping Moon Z23-OD Rocket is primarily made of duralumin (an aluminium and copper alloy) and stainless steel. It weighs 177g (advertised weight is 175g), which compares favourably with the more expensive 176g MSR alternative. But as I said, the two adapters really do two different things so it perhaps unfair to directly compare them too much.

The fuel line is around 260mm long and is made of 2.2mm thick high temperature flame retardant rubber covered with a stainless steel flexible protective braid. There is a brass swivel connector joining the line to the canister valve connector.

As mentioned, one of the advantages with a remote canister stove, or adapter stand, is the low profile that is inherently more stable than a high centre of gravity canister top stove. Adding a particularly tall stove does to a remote adapter such as the Camping Moon removes some of this advantage but the Camping Moon adapter doesn’t become unsafe with these, just taller.

The fold out legs are friction tensioned and do not flop around at all. I confess to being pleasantly surprised at how well made this adapter appears to be. While I much prefer the very low profile of the MSR adapter, the added capability of having a second appliance fitted to the Camping Moon adapter appears to be a unique feature amongst the various gear manufacturers. It doesn’t have to be used of course, but does provide options. Now if someone can produce a design that combines the low profile of the MSR Lowdown with the second attachment point of the Rocket Stand, now that would be a welcome offering.

Folding out the support legs is a simple two-part process, first unfold them parallel to each other, then fold out completely to the support position. Both lindal valve attachment points are brass and self sealing. The 8g threaded removable cap has an O-ring in it as added protection from leaks. This connector has knurling for improved grip, if removed, a gas fed appliance such as stove or lantern can be screwed on. The cap can be screwed on to either of the valve connectors.

Be aware that Camping Moon make another type of remote canister adapter that can instead be attached to a bayonet connector type butane cartridge. This type of adapter is called the Rocket Stand Z23-VC. It is cheaper, lighter and less bulky when packed.

Many of the stoves shown above have been looked at in greater detail, links for these can be found here: