Optimus

Latest Reviews

8R

Brilliant in the sort of way that makes people affectionate for the item, in the manner of Tellus vacuum cleaners and the Volvo cars of the time—well engineered, made to last, with sturdy design ethics. I include the instructions that came with the unit, for anyone out there that may find them useful. To prime the unit, I use the shell of an old de-needled syringe that I dip in the tank, place my finger over the hole in the top of the syringe hole to extract the Fuelite, place this in the priming… Full review

Svea

Have used my 123R since 1974 everywhere from the Appalachian Trail to winter camping in Yellowstone (true about insulating from snow) and only one problem. Early on I had leaks from the self-cleaning pin. I just removed the pin and it has never leaked again. It is now on the inheritance list for the kids. Setup: EASY. If you can't do this you have no business in the back country. Ignition: Using your hands does really work, but the eye dropper is the best. Ignition: Boiled water and cooked just… Full review

8R

Quality, heavy, bullet proof. This stove during its glory days should probably have deserved a four-star rating. Now days with lightweight liquid fuel stoves common, it takes a hit of half a star. This was the first liquid fuel stove I ever owned and I agonized long and hard before making the choice. The deciding factor was a simple one. I wanted a stove that sat low to the ground and was stable under every possible condition. I feared that the more common Svea 123 would be tippy in use if the ground… Full review

Crux Lite

Small, not expensive, with plenty of heat. I chose the Optimus because the platform for holding a pot is larger than other brands, making it less top heavy. Everything about this stove ranks near the top. It is small, not expensive, easy to use, is not top heavy, and the flame control works well for a canister stove. In the wind there is some benefit to setting it up behind a wind break or making a windscreen. It is very light and dependable. I have used it on my boat during winter fishing trips. Full review

Crux

I brilliant idea that has its drawbacks. Suited for summer conditions in sheltered areas. This seems like a stroke of genius—make use of the dead space at the bottom of the canister to stow the stove. In principle it is but manufacturing something this compact comes at a price. The designers at Optimus were clever to spot the dead space at the bottom of a gas canister and consider if a stove could be made to fit in it. In this respect it is a brilliant idea. It certainly fits in larger canisters,… Full review