Svea 123 Stove
Here is an in-depth review of the Optimus Svea 123 stove. I go over the features of the stove, do a boil test, and compare the weight with a more modern backpacking stove. The Svea 123 is my favorite white gas stove. It is the only stove in its class that I can truly depend on to fire up and cook my meals every time. I’ve never had to fiddle with it in the field, it has never failed me. It may be an older than me, but if I take care of it my kids will be able to use it one day. If you’re in the market for a new liquid fuel stove, I think this one deserves a serious look.
August 5th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Thanks for the kind words.
August 5th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
5k is enough for a portable small cooking pot application. the 10k is more suited to heavier uses
August 5th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
it will also fit inside smaller cookware for nesting purposes. The Coleman has a pretty large base
August 6th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Awesome review brother! You’ve got a nice clean flame going on that stove, no yellow tips that I could see. Nice! Thanks for taking the time to put up these great videos.
August 6th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Thank you for taking the time to watch them.
August 9th, 2012 at 11:29 am
Nice interesting and informative review and I thank you for it. I have one suggestion. If you ever decide to bake with it the little pot would be a perfect fit inside your other pot. Just a thought and since the burner can simmer so well it would be a good match for baking. Jim
August 9th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Interesting idea. The little cup would indeed be perfect size for baking. I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.
August 23rd, 2012 at 8:41 pm
I’ve got a 123R. Like yours, sounds like a jet engine when she’s cooking hard.
September 20th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
I have a nova and just got a svea … Just like you seamto have..
It of the two which do you prefer
September 25th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
I prefer the svea, hands down. In fact, I’ve sold my nova. Nothing wrong with the nova, but the svea sets up faster, packs up faster, takes less room in my pack, simmers just as well, and burns almost as hot. But the biggest factor in choosing the svea is reliability. I have had to occasionally tinker with my nova, which was very frustrating. The svea has never acted up, and I doubt it ever will.
Let me know what you think after you’ve had time to compare them both. Cheers.
September 26th, 2012 at 8:20 am
thanks for the reply .. i was on my phone so my spelling wasnt that great (its not much better on a computer) .. i do like the svea but im worried about only being able to burn white gas/unleaded, thats why i think im gonna keep the nova but not use it unless i have a fuel that the svea wont burn
November 1st, 2012 at 1:48 am
I liked this video so much, I bought a svea! I got the new “R” tho. Been thinking about it for ages since i think my Optimus 8R is a bit clunky to carry around.
November 1st, 2012 at 9:36 am
I think you will enjoy the 123R quite a lot. It is still a bit clunky, but much better than an 8R, and should be just as bomb-proof. Enjoy the new toy!
November 11th, 2012 at 2:46 am
One of the best things about the SVEA/PRIMUS/OPTIMUS old brass stoves they are going to last you a lifetime if you take care of it “Not baby it” But just regular care and cleaning now and then. You will literally hand the thing down to your own kids. Owned one for 30 years now. It still works. Others joked about how old it looks then they are fettling with their pumps and clogged jets and to cold canisters and mine always has fired up without hitch..
November 12th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
I agree with everything you said. People can joke all they want, but when a piece of gear lasts decades, even generations, it commands respect.
December 9th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
What a great thorough review of this piece of history still in use. I have only used the MSR Whisperlite and it is difficult to set on a level without a full pot partly due to the tension of the fuel line connected to the bottle. Thanks.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Thanks! The Whisperlite is a fine stove, it’s the one my brother uses.
December 12th, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Have you seen or heard about the
QUIETSTOVE SILENT MUTER DAMPER CAP for SVEA 123/123r? I want to purchase the 123r version & I kind of interesting that silent cap too. What do you recommend?Thanks for sharing outstanding video! Paul.
December 13th, 2012 at 9:19 am
Yes I’ve heard of those. I think they would be very nice since the Svea is a loud stove. But the cap costs more than the stove itself, which seems a little outrageous to me. You could keep your loud Svea and buy a quieter stove and still have money leftover. But it depends on what’s important to you.