Hello everyone, I am thinking of buying one of these Optimus Svea stoves. I can't seem to find a used one but I can get a new one here in the UK. It is smaller than my Optimus 8R hence my interest. Does anyone own one of these and what is their opinion on it? Regards, Alan
The Svea 123 is a very highly regarded stove, more or less worldwide. The original 123 is generally held in higher esteem than the modern upstart with built-in cleaning needle, the 123R. Check out US ebay - 123s come up there all the time and even with postage taken into account you should be able to get a reasonably good example for less than the cost of a new 123R in UK Svea 123[/url]
I've got a 123 and an 8R. I've used the 123 a couple of times, but I'm wary of 'vertical' stoves ever since I lost a dinner once with a Primus 71. IMHO the 8R is far more stable and little heavier. Jim Ford
Hi Alan, Like Ian said, they are a well respected stove, and a firm favourite with me. If you do a worldwide search on eBay they often show up in the states. Optimus / Svea are marketed by Braunton over there as in http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16036&item=5215664060&rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=62117&item=5191881712&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V Postage on the last one I had from the states was about $17, check with the seller before you bid. If you can get one with the SIGG Tourist cookset, you will have a great all in one cooking solution. My SIGG and stove combined postage was under $30 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=87144&item=5215303182&rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=87136&item=5215576332&rd=1 You can also buy them new from the site sponsor, www.base-camp.co.uk for ?59.99 and a few quid postage
Look at buying these and I can send you a flame spreader. Shoud get them cheap since there are incomplete. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=87136&item=5216329853&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW Rob
Except the seller doesn't do Paypal so an overseas buyer would have a headache in paying. I love the 123 (both new and old versions), I think it's a superb bit of kit... that's why I've now got four of them, but the wife still thinks it's the same one moved around a lot :-) GC
Haven't found a US seller yet who won't accept cash US$ by registered post. Failing taht there's always WU (expensive but quick(with the time difference a US seller can have the money 'before' you've sent it!)) OK, so they're not such secure methods as paypal but its not as though its astrobucks is it? You could also ask nicely to see if a US contributor would do the biz by MO then settle up later. Only a headache if you let it be one.
Hello again, Thanks for eveyone's posts on my question. I have decided to buy a brand new one from the UK. Mainly because I found ?50.00 in my travel wallet which I had left in there and forgot about after my motorcycle holiday in Switzerland last month By the way my friend's all singing all dancing all multi fuel everything MSR would not work well at altitude whilst my old 8R was cooking away while he was still swearing! Buying from the US is no problem for as I still have a bank account (I have lived there, In Tucson, AZ) and so I can easily send money. I had some great camping holidays in the mountains of Arizona. I do miss the climate and ability to roam with no troubles... Thanks again, Alan
Hi Alan, If you can wait, you can get a 123 and SIGG Tourist Cookset for not much more than ?50. Well worth the wait. The set and stove pack within each other, and you end up with two good size pots and a fry pan lid, more than enough two cater for two easily, and a very stable, purpose made, cooking platform. I've been nagging Henry to buy one for months, but he's a kerophile and lives in denial of his real need for one of these superb outfits, but times on my side, I'll just keep nagging till he snaps and buys one
Rik, a.k.a. a 'petrophobe', presumably Anyway, if you've got to suffer from something, you could do a lot worse than kerophilia
lol David, I meant it with a good heart. I will burn any fuel, its the stove that counts. As to petrol stoves, blame our American moderator, he sent me a 123,,,,,, its all Chuck's fault When I think about it, I use mainly meths, they work so well and are ideal for my lad and I when we go for our 1 or 2 nighters. This week we go for a 2 nighter so I'm taking a Trangia 25 and the 123/SIGG Tourist. I've a couple of recipe ideas I want to try out, butter bean, chicken and red peppers in stock with rice, and stove cooked Welsh cakes (home made cakes in a bag, water and eggs added on site and cooked on a dry pan, don't you just love zip lock bags); wish us luck
