Optimus 8R

[TobyH]

Anyone used or have experience of the Optimus 8R. How much do they sell for? Got a mate that has bought one and was wondering what they're like. he's debating about selling it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSIFxpTZ280

 

[Andy BB]

Ah - the 1980's biker's friend! Most of my mates had one for bike rallies - great little stove.

 

[rik_uk3]

Sale price is whatever you can get on eBay really depending on condition but around £25 and more. They are a very solid, stable and reliable stove. Burn time at full power is about 45-50 minutes, the simmer is OK but not great and they need a windshield of some sort, folded tin foil is OK but not tight around the stove as you can overheat the fuel tank.

 

[widu13]

It's my favourite stove. Well, my £19 Russian clone from Germany!

 

[tommy the cat]

I've got a brand new combine harvester......why am I singing that after watching that you tube video?
d

 

[johnboy]

Hi,

I've got a couple.. They are very good stoves. A little heavy by modern standards I suppose. But dead simple to use.

Value...? We'll it depends on a lot of things...Condition of the stove, exactly which model of 8R it is, it it currently working, which way the wind is blowing on ebay on the day..etc...

 

[TobyH]

Cheers, as suspected stove built how they should be!

Will pass on the info.

 

[Nonsuch]

Without wanting to trigger a stovie debate, I don't like mine and much prefer my 111s. Mine was brand new about three years ago and was pants. It was OK with a mini-pump to get it going but apart from that never did it for me. New they are about £50 and still available (just)

NS

 

[Hugo]

I think they are great.
Had mine for some years now, when I purchased it, it was called The Hunter, and it's the self priming type.
No need for a windshield for me as I just put the lid back to the wind.
A very fast brew.

 

[wizard]

Had one some years ago with the mini-pump. The pump is almost a must. The one thing I didn't like was it can overheat the tank if using a larger diameter pot. It can reflect a lot of heat on the tank and blow the safety valve. Not really desireable.

Much prefer the 111B, used one on some long trips part of a group and they handle large pots and are much more robust overall. Also HEAVY to carry. Once used one as part of a 6-man group the did an around the mountain traverse of Mt. Rainier, the division of weight and the reliablity of the stove at altitude were a good trade off. We pretty much stayed between 10,000 and 12,000 feet and it took 5 days. I should doubt that an 8R would have worked out. The 111B was excellent.

 

[forestwalker]

Back in the days (70's) winter fanatics modded a civy trangia to take the guts of an 8R. A sheat of thin plywood underneath on the snow.

 

[rik_uk3]

Without wanting to trigger a stovie debate, I don't like mine and much prefer my 111s. Mine was brand new about three years ago and was pants. It was OK with a mini-pump to get it going but apart from that never did it for me. New they are about £50 and still available (just)

NS

If you can get new 8's for £50 I'll have ten off you, or do you mean the Russian copies (£30) ?

No real need for the mini or midi pump in the UK, don't get cold enough, just a little extra prime with meths.