Review Date
June 25, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: hudjim ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $80.00 at Base-camp in UK

Summary:
Bought this new in April 2007. Always fun! to light. It doesn't boil as fast as a modern liquid fueled stove, but is small and easily stored inside a Vango Titanium mug, (a little bit of the stove can be seen).
It isn't the lightest, 550g fully fuelled, but in sub-zero and in warm weather, (it's never hot in the uk!!)it works really well.
I like the style of this stove - looks, sound and performance. A genuine classic.

Similar Products Used:
Primus omnifuel, optimus crux.

Review Date
April 19, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: John(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer

Price Paid:  $0.00 at hand-me-down from da

Summary:
This stove is a collector's item for sure and (like your '69 corvette or wooden-shaft ice axe) would be best left in the garage. The technology behind its legendary reliability has evolved into modern stoves that are just as reliable but weigh less, burn hotter and (most importantly) more efficiently. Additionally, the contemporary offspring of this stove use remote fuel canisters that do not share the SVEA's propensity to explo- I mean "overheat."

Customer Service:
n/a

Similar Products Used:
MSR: XGK, Dragonfly, whisperlight, whisperlight inter'l, simmerlight

Review Date
January 18, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Taylor Lapham ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $50.00 at EMS

Summary:
Had the Optimus 123 since 1985 and has never failed me. Just keeps on burning.
The stove simmers well and has a sound of it's own. You know who is using one if you here it.

I have see many hikers with there 3-4 minute boiling time stoves have problems and some even cought on fire.

The Optimus 123 is a real "Die Hard" and I would never consider ever using anything else.

Review Date
June 21, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: jim Estep(Unregistered User) ,  Paddler

Price Paid:  $30.00 at REI

Summary:
I bought a Svea 123 in 1970 and have used it (at least once) every season since; in trip canoeing, car camping, and backpacking modes. It is aggravating to prime and star in very windy or very cold weather, but it does start, and burns with a cheery ferocity that brings joy to the tired soul. I have burned Coleman fuel and unleaded gasoline with equal ease. My only major problem with the stove was once at high altitude, the fuel bled out of the tank (internal relative pressure) and I had a cold, hungry night and morning. In summary, if a better piece of gear exists , I have not used it.

Similar Products Used:
Coleman and MSR stoves.

Review Date
February 24, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Bob Agnew(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $0.00 at unhappy previous own

Summary:
Received my SVEA 123 in 1963 from previous owner who over-filled and over-heated it. I rebuilt it and bought a second repair kit that I carried but never used. Added the Optimus pump in 1978 that makes starting in very cold wx much easier. This stove has a very rich history: Royce Lake area west of Bishop, CA; Kennedy Meadows, CA; 10-Lakes north rim Yosemite; Cherry Lake area, CA; most of the Pacific Crest Trail; Circle Hot Springs, AK; Chitna, AK; Horsetail Falls, AK; Gazos Creek, CA; Little Belts, MT; Glacier, MT... the list goes on and fun to remember. Never a problem. As indispensable as my Snow Lion sleeping bag (who remembers them?).

Customer Service:
Never needed it after first rebuild...

Similar Products Used:
Haven't needed another... I could cook when others couldn't