Almost 2 years ago, I ordered a brand new Sturmey Archer SRF3 from my LBS and had them build a 26" wheel up around it. As best as I can tell, the gearing on the SRF3 seems comparable to my old Shimano 333 hub. Unlike some of the classic 3 speed hubs, this one has a larger housing that fits over all the connections at the hub (it's that black, horizontal plastic thing in the photo I have attached). It appears as though I could have a barrel adjuster in the end of that housing assembly, but because of the way I ran my cable through the braze-ons I cannot use a barrel adjuster there (maybe when I get a new cable I'll look at doing that). So, if you don't get a barrel adjuster (I didn't have one come with it) it can be a bit finicky to adjust.

But otherwise, I don't have any complaints about this hub. I have somewhere between 2-3000km on it and it has been great thus far. However, if you are looking for something that is fixed (that is to say, something that you cannot coast with), then this probably won't fit the bill as it appears to have a ratcheting type mechanism inside.