Have owned Svea 123 since the early 70s. Has never failed me, whether in snow, mud, ice or dry land. It shows the signs of age, but continues to function dependable. Just wish that they still made the 123 in the non-self-cleaning model (123 not the 123R) and the little priming pump was still available. I purchased one of these (with a modified tank cap) from REI many, many years ago. It is wonderful device -- if you find one, snag it. As far as wind screening, buy old newspaper printing plates and make your own! This little workhorse of a stove is highly recommended. It is fast and efficient. The one thing that may be of concern to new or perspective users is the noise as it burns. However, after you have finished cooking, the silence is wonderful -- you rediscover the sounds of the area you are in. (TIP: Cut a 9 or 10 inch square out of an old closed cell sleeping pad and use it insulate the base of the 123 in adverse conditions.) For those that dislike the small base (stability), plan ahead when you place it. (Brain -- Don't leave home without it!)

All below reviews apply. Ditto. I inherited this stove from my father who bought it back in 1967 when I was a figment of his imagination. It keeps on going and going and going. I bought the pump attachment to prime it. If you can't find one, try using an old Visine bottle or fuel bottle to dribble some gas into the primer cup on top of the stove body and light it up. Beats holding the thing. Sitting it on a warm rock by the fire works pretty well, too. The cleaning tool broke, but I've found that an individual strand of braided speaker wire reams this sucker and gets it cranking. I've rarely had it clog in the field. I've never replaced any rubber grommets, though I imagine I could match them up at a hardware store. It's sort of heavy but it does simmer. It's loud, but that really makes you notice and appreciate the serenity of the woods when you turn it off. It's very durable. A windscreen is a must.

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These little stoves are a beatifully simple, and lasting design. They really don't have any parts that wear out all the time (Like generators), They work great, and burn just about anything.
If you are planning on cooking in high elevations, or extreme cold, I would suggest you buy the auxillary pump so you can put pressure in the tank. Did i mention that they are tough? As long as you don't drop it down a ravine, or lend it to some buddy (who says he will return it next weekend) you can bet that it will last you a lifetime. The only problem with the SVEA is that they cost quite a bit (for a little stove-though they are quite nicely made) and arn't overly adjustable (flame wise).

Since the SVEA was my brothers, and he has it back now (he never stopped hunting for me until he had it back in his mitts) I want one. Maybe I will get one of those Russian copies... though they lack the elegance of the brass SVEA.

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The SVEA 123 is such a winning design that it's actually been successfully ripped off! The Russian "Ogonek" (Tourist) stove is a steel version of the Optimus. It comes with a protective cap instead of a boiling cup, but otherwise functions the same. I acquired mine in Bosnia in 1999 when I ( US Army) spent several months with the Russian contingent of the peacekeeping forces. They loved my Coleman 440, I loved the Ogonek, so we switched. It burns anything! From Diesel ( yes, diesel) to Naptha! It sounds like an afterburner and it simmers like a champ. It also has a throttle setting the SVEA doesn't: full clockwise keeps the flame going at a minimum, little waste between cooking jobs.
So, if you can't afford the original ( which is still my favorite) I reccomend the Ogonek. It went thru hell and I still turn heads with it when I bring it camping.
But, here's the great part: They're available commercially for $29.00 from www.sovietski.com .

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This stove rules!!!! I have decided to buy a stove for backpacking/canoeing and was looking at various options when I remembered that my mom had this old "Svea" stove from the seventies, which she used when X-country skiing. So she digs out this nifty little contraption, the Svea 123, complete with a little pump, and cookingpot/cap (with handle) and I decide to see if I can get it to work. I got it fired up and realized what a complete winner I had on my hands!! I was so impressed that I decided to see if the company still existed, and eventually found this site, after almost giving up. After reading all of the great reviews, I had to tell this story.
It hadn't been used in over 15 years. The only problem was that the filler/pump valve was frozen, probably because it was stored empty, so I couldn't use the pump. Little did I realize, until after reading these reviews, you don't even need the pump! Anyway, I freed the rubber valve insert, and I was in business. I pumped that sucker about 20 strokes, thinking more was better, and had enough pressure to squirt a column of fuel about 8 feet high! Lesson: About 5 strokes seems to be fine! Then I let fuel pour down into the bowl surrounding the valve stem (the way I remembered mom doing it,) and lit her up. Lesson: Less fuel is better! After reassuring my girlfriend that I did know what I was doing, I got everything down to a manageable inferno -- sounded like a jet and heated like a torch. And I boiled a quart of water in under 10 minutes. She got all heated up, but was cool to the touch 15 minutes later. No soot, no mess, no cuddling required. It was instant love. I am so enamored with my new swedish flame, "Svea," that my girlfriend made me promise to only bring it on guy trips. We'll see.
I gather that one simply needs to heat the tank to pressurize it, or pump it, but not both (but oh how she rages!) I can't wait to take her out -- I know she can cook, and she has already met mom. I have an idea for a windscreen and if anyone has any other tips please let me know. I used Coleman fuel; what other fuels can be used, and can it take unleaded gasoline?

Customer Service

No experience -- does it even exist?

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Sterno -- compact, not enough heat
Coleman stoves -- too bulky for backpacking

I've used the Svea for over 20 years, and it still works great. I do recommend the cooking set that used to be available (it sits inside a large aluminum wind screen and the large pot fits on top). The one that comes with it is not nearly as nice. Anyway, this stove has saved my buns on more than one occasion. You can't go wrong with it.

Customer Service

No need in over 20 years.

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MSR and Peak 1. The Dragonfly is great but the 442 was for the birds.

I just bought an unused 30 year old SVEA 123 stove off Ebay and love it. I just fired the stove up for the first time on my deck and played around with boiling times. Without a windscreen I boiled a litre of cold faucet water in 7 minutes, and it seems to simmer fairly well. The stove was has never been used, and I was quite impressed with the fact that it sat on a shelf for 30 years then fired up on the first try. The noise is deafening - I love it. My very first backpacking stove was the clamshell Optimus 8 I bought back in 74', and the 123 reminds me a lot of that stove. One thing that kind of bothers me is how hot the tank gets. I know it's safe, but man that thing gets hot. You'll need a hot pot mit or something else to handle it in the field. Overall, I am really happy with this stove. I may just dig out my old blaze orange external frame pack and go hiking....

Customer Service

None so far.

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Optimus 8R, Peak 1 Duel Fuel, Esbit stove.

I have the older model SVEA 123 which I have revamped and added the optional midi pump. Having used one 22 years ago, it's a pleasure to still see them for sale.

Good side: It is an attractive (a piece of art!), sturdy, and reliable stove. It's easy to take apart. Although the priming looks difficult, it's really quite easy. It fires right up and burns well. It's reasonably light and economical on fuel. With the pump it boils 1 pint if water in 4.5 minute, 6 minutes without the pump.

Bad side: A little bulky. The burner plate and pot supports can come off easily with the potential to get lost. The fuel comsumption with pump is high.

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Peak 1 Feather 400

I purchased this, my first stove, in 1971. It is completely original and has never needed repair despite years of reliable, trouble free use in all seasons. I always store it partially filled with fuel, and believe this has kept the insides from dry rotting. It is a bit tarnished to say the least, the bottom blackened from preheating by burning a small scrap of tissue or whatever under the fuel tank. Can't imagine trying to preheat by warming with my hands. The stove slips inside a baggie and this keeps the soot from transferring to my other gear. The simple cleaning of the nozzle is all that is needed to keep the flame hot and roaring like a blowtorch. Every year I'm pleasantly surprised to find it still functioning when I fire it up before the first trip of the year.

Customer Service

The best service is that which is never needed.

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Coleman Stoves

I think I bought it in 1971, maybe '72, I know I had it in '74, but hey, for some of us those years are a little blurry. It still works just fine, thank you. I lent it to my teenaged daughter and her boyfriend for a camping trip on Vermont's Long Trail and all that I told him came to pass. Fire it up and you draw a crowd. Everybody thinks it's cool because of the old-timey brass look and the jet-engine sound. It will be a family heirloom. It has never failed to perform, although you have to develop a set of lighting tricks. I hold a lighter underneath, but the visine bottle mentioned in a previous review merits a look, and this business of a pump is news to me. Sometimes I do actually just hold it in my hands to warm it. It's can be a meditative action/nonaction because it's like a prayer posture as I sit with the stove cupped in my hands, waiting.

Customer Service

Never failed to perform, has never required any replacement parts.

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