I just read Frank's review and went to my closet to see if the Optimus stove that I have is the same. It sure is. When I was a kid in Alaska we won this little stove at the Rod & Gun. It has never been used. But after reading Frank's review, I'm going to make it a point to use it next month when I go backpacking. I know this is not a review, but I will review it for value, because we won it and it is still something that is not obselete.

I bought my 8R in 1965 in Southern California. It has really never needed repair. I have the light blue color box, with the red plastic knob on the chrome shaft.It came with a small wrench that clips into the inside of the top lid. It has been lit as high as 12,005 ft on the top of Medicine Bow Peak in Wyoming. After years of using the warm-the-tank with the cold hands, I bought the MiniPump from Optimus,and recommend it. Ive been thinking about a small blended fuel stove, but it would be tough to part with this old friend!

stole this stove from my father, who inherited it from the mists of time. although stone age technology, and heavy, this is a bomproof stove. lighting usually involves warming the tank (by pouring white gas all over it, and lighting) to build up pressure, but once there is pressure, the stove runs smoothly.

Similar Products Used:

None

The optimus 8r is by far and away the best backpacking/mountaineering stove i've ever owned, I've had several from GAZ to MSR, I still keep going back to old faithfull, this unit will always light and burn like a dry pine tree at 8000 ft. I do however always use the pump, this really helps in lighting and full power, the pump will easily take 4 minutes off 1-quart boiling time, great product, I purchased mine around 1978.

Customer Service

Own one of these stoves and the customer service department will not be needed.

Similar Products Used:

svea 123, most other optimus stoves of the same style burner

I've used the russian version of the 8R for about three years. Paid about $60.00 Canadian. Bought from Home Hardware. I also installed a Coleman lantern sparker so I don't need matches. I've used the stove down to minus 20 in a tent and have never had a problem. Obviously cooking in a tent is risky, but the stove design is basically safe. Aside from being a bit heavy, the stove is flawless for 1 - 2 people. If cooking in the wind an extra windscreen becomes a real plus. This is one stove that I'll never be without.

Customer Service

Never have needed any.

Similar Products Used:

Primus Himalaya- also a nice stove
Trangia Westwind-OK in tent,but useless in the wind.
Coleman Green Box- Old reliable
Various assorted others

Bought my 8R in 1982 for a trip through some of the Californian National Parks. Since then it travelled through Canada, Mexico, Spain, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, New Zealand, and will go to Patagonia in December. NEVER let me done once and used up to 4,700 mts (15,400 ft)! I'm carrying around a spare parts set since 1986, but it's still unopened... Bought the pressure pump recently which does help when it's cold. Used petrol - unleaded, leaded and worse (in Africa). A bit heavy, but I wouldn't swap it for a micro-wave on solarenergy.

Customer Service

Sorry, have never had to contact them.

Similar Products Used:

None myself, but have seen many friends cursing their Colemans and have you.

I bought my Optimus 8R back in 1974 from REI in Seattle. Actually, I think mine is just an "Optimus "8", as their is no internal cleaning needle thingy - you have to use the little cleaning needle than came with it and manually clean the jet. My stove is actually not my stove anymore - I gave it to a nephew of mine a year ago who has been drooling over it since he was a little kid. I kind of regret that, and I'm casually looking for a replacement. In the meantime I've purchased a used (but unused) SVEA 123 (always wanted one) and when that old stove roared to life it brought mist to my eyes as I remembered my old blue clamshell Optimus. Like the previous reviewer (Dan?) I keep a newer butane type of stove (Peak 1 Micro) for going light, and for really-really light I carry an Esbit stove. But these older stoves are the workhorses of my gear. I 've never owned an MSR-type of stove and probably never will, as these Optimus style of stoves work so well. Priming these stoves is no problem at all. The priming "cup" on the Optimus 8R is a little deeper and wider than the SVEA and is easier to light. My experience with the 8R is to regularly clean the jet, and you'll have no problems with flame control. Do heed the instructions about filling the tank only 3/4 full - something which should probably be done with all stoves. Also, even though the stove's metal container is "bombproof", that's not to say it's "corrosion" proof. The metal case can rust just as easily as anything other metal. Just be smart about it and keep it dry and clean. I had a flooded basement a number of years ago and the stove came in contact with water and the case rusted pretty badly. Still works like a charm, but the bottom of the case looks bad.

I have never been able to afford a good Volvo, but I can say the Optimus 8R is at least as reliable as the 69' Volkswagen beetle I once owned. Just as cool, too. I would highly recommend this stove to anyone who cares a fig about classic backpacking equipment. It's a little heavier than a new high tech stove, and probably boils water a little slower, but I believe they are much better stoves.

Customer Service

I've never had to contact the company for service.

Similar Products Used:

SVEA123, Peak 1 Multi-Fuel, Esbit stove.

A classical burner, undestroyable. A little bit heavy, but all the weight is used for quality. Easy to light, even without the optional midi pump. Just put a little bit alcohol in the cup under the burner, open the fuelline en lit. Wait for about 30 seconds and the burner burns well. No relighting needed. Without pump, it takes 2 minutes tot build up pressure in the tank. After 3 minutes the burner burns best.
Unfortunately, the metal box can soon be a little bit rusty.
Good simmer, but not very powerfull at full roar (only 1250 Watts without pump ). The tank is a little bit small, at full blast it is empty within 45 minutes.
Very stable, even with bigger pots on top of it.
Looks very nice in combination with a Optimus 111 Hiker: father and son, burning nicely together!
Good burner for people who never used liquid fuel burners before: it's completely fool proof.

Similar Products Used:

Optimus 111 Hiker
Coleman 440 Feather
Camoing Gaz 206

Bought my funky little cooker seven years ago, and yes, it is a little heavier than a gas stove. But it's also made of brass, dammit, with no plastic bits. And it's really comforting to know it can always be relied on to fire up when it's needed.
Also, it folds into a real handy shape - easy to pack into a backpack.
No sign yet that it's going to let me down.

Similar Products Used:

What we Kiwis call gas stoves - with butane and stuff. Various American and Asian crap.

No lie...I bought this stove for $7 cash at a flea market. It is originaly Optimus with all of the necessary nomenclature on it to prove authentic.

What a classic bomb proof stove. If we ever get hit with a nuclear bomb, the only thing left with be roaches and 8R's.

It is a bit on the chunky side, even though it is dimunitive. I prefer to use the little brass pump, that wound up costing more than the 7 bucks I paid for the used stove. This stove has been on quite a few travels, and while I enjoy my Apex II which I deem more practical, I find the 8R to be very classic, dependable, and is rock solid.

If I had to think of anything negative, all I can say is that soot can develop quite a bit on it, but that is not such a big deal as it comes with its own metal case.

Similar Products Used:

MSR Piece of Junk Whisperlite Trash Shaker Jet