Coleman products

[steelrain82]

So i was at target the other day and i was just browsing and saw all the coleman stuff. now, i know coleman was pretty good many moons ago, but is it still a good buy? im looking for camping equipment and temporary shtf scenario type stuff. im looking at the whole product line such as tents,sleeping bags, lanterns, stoves, etc.

[cannon]

I have new and old lanterns, stoves & ice chests. Both are good to go. Sorry, I'm no help for the fabric side.

You can pick up the old (50's through 70's) stoves, heaters and lanterns at garage sales all day long in the $10.00 range and they still work as good as ever. You will probably be passing them down to your children too.

[Cokebottle]

I have not been impressed with Coleman products in about 30 years.

Their sleeping bags are warm and comfy if you are indoors or if it's not below 35 in your tent.
Picnic coolers? The old metal coolers used to be hot stuff. I've had 3 different Coleman coolers in the last 20+ years and they've all been crap... even with blocks of ice inside, drinks were not cold.

Now... I've been sticking with Igloo coolers for 10 years or so... MAYBE Coleman has improved.

[G-Man WC]

They still work fine compared to all the overseas crap on the market now. -g

[Tanner68]

For car camping, in which I am very space conscious, I love their Peak 1 stove. Their hardware is pretty good. The fabric goods are low end.

And I agree with Cannon on the garage sale points.

[damon1272]

Love the duel fuel lanterns and stove. Fabric products are low quality in my opinion.

[11HE9]

I do a lot of camping, most of my gear is Coleman. I currently use their propane two burner stove, propane lantern (on occasion), tent and sleeping bags. My gear gets beat around in the back of a 4x4 in the Sierras most of the time and has never failed me.

I want to get my hands on the white gas versions of my stove & lantern, I'm sure the propane bottles could become hard to find in a SHTF scenario.

I have a Optimus 8R "Backpacking" stove from way back, I'm going to start testing to see what I can use in it for fuel as a last resort (normally uses white gas)

[buckwheat]

You can't beat any Coleman Lantern or Stoves built from the early 20's thru the mid 70s
I've found Lanterns from the 20s thru the early 80's and they just fire up with a little TLC. MADE IN THE USA - keeps on ticking. I know, I got close to 100 lanterns (mostly Coleman's) and close to 60 Stoves. In most cases I just fuel and fired them up with no problem. I got a Coleman lantern with a 1928 date stamp and it just fired up with the original fuel in it. AGAIN - USA made baby!!!
My stoves are a collection of Military Coleman, PreWay & Rogers WW2 Stoves (pocket & mountain stove), SVEAs and Optimus. If they are all made prior to 1980s they're good. They range from a single burner, 2 burners and 3 burners. The Milsec Coleman stove can used any gas and sounds like Jet Engine - they Rock and Roar!!

For modern ones, I have 2 Coleman propane Lanterns and stove, That's it since they don't really work as good as a Coleman Gas especially when COLD. I figure if the SHTF - I will used the propane 1st then the CF Gas...

Dual Fuel are OK, you have to clean and maintain them just like we do with our toys after coming from a range. The generator gets gummed up or the cleaning tip gets burned up. Gasoline leaded or unleaded are hard on this especially on newer ones.
I have enough lanterns that I can convert my user/beater lanterns or stove if the SHTF.. My suggestion as well as others is to go to garage sales or swap meets and buy them for $10 or less. Look at the year of manufacture at the bottom of the founts for lanterns. For stove its on the gas tabs or bottom of stove. Look for anything prior to the 1980s. NO eBAY - you'll pay more and you don't know what your getting.

When you buy a Lantern or a Stove - make sure it holds pressure and the Fount (tank) is solid - pump it and listen to the hiss as if you are lighting it. If empty take a look inside the tank for rust or crap..shake it for loose stuff = rust

YES!!! I have the addiction.... LOL!!

[Scout2Diesel]

You can't beat any Coleman Lantern or Stoves built from the early 20's thru the mid 70s
I've found Lanterns from the 20s thru the early 80's and they just fire up with a little TLC. MADE IN THE USA - keeps on ticking. I know, I got close to 100 lanterns (mostly Coleman's) and close to 60 Stoves. In most cases I just fuel and fired them up with no problem. I got a Coleman lantern with a 1928 date stamp and it just fired up with the original fuel in it. AGAIN - USA made baby!!!
My stoves are a collection of Military Coleman, PreWay & Rogers WW2 Stoves (pocket & mountain stove), SVEAs and Optimus. If they are all made prior to 1980s they're good. They range from a single burner, 2 burners and 3 burners. The Milsec Coleman stove can used any gas and sounds like Jet Engine - they Rock and Roar!!

For modern ones, I have 2 Coleman propane Lanterns and stove, That's it since they don't really work as good as a Coleman Gas especially when COLD. I figure if the SHTF - I will used the propane 1st then the CF Gas...

Dual Fuel are OK, you have to clean and maintain them just like we do with our toys after coming from a range. The generator gets gummed up or the cleaning tip gets burned up. Gasoline leaded or unleaded are hard on this especially on newer ones.
I have enough lanterns that I can convert my user/beater lanterns or stove if the SHTF.. My suggestion as well as others is to go to garage sales or swap meets and buy them for $10 or less. Look at the year of manufacture at the bottom of the founts for lanterns. For stove its on the gas tabs or bottom of stove. Look for anything prior to the 1980s. NO eBAY - you'll pay more and you don't know what your getting.

When you buy a Lantern or a Stove - make sure it holds pressure and the Fount (tank) is solid - pump it and listen to the hiss as if you are lighting it. If empty take a look inside the tank for rust or crap..shake it for loose stuff = rust

YES!!! I have the addiction.... LOL!!

Holy Moly Buckwheat... yes you likem!
How bout some pics?

I picked up an 1965 A200 single mantel (with the original bubble pyrex). For 5 bucks. And it came with most of the box and a two burner stove of the same vintage.

The old stuff is great. I have a propane converter for the stoves. Its nothing like the white gas -less btu's.

The cheap butane can stoves aren't bad for the money either (don't pay over $1 per can & 13-15 for the stove). Just gave one to my Mom. Easy to work with her vision. Now she wants another one.

I got a real nice sleeping bag from Sportsmans Guide on special... ymmv.

[problemchild]

Bought 8 pre-80's stoves off Fleabay. Sent 6 to in-laws in the Phils and kept 2 for myself. The older coleman is better quality and you can still buy spare parts. Search Fleabay for stoves at a fraction of the new cost and better made.

You do NOT need a fancy dual-fuel stove as any stove will run on unleaded gas just fine.


Heres one for $10.00 dollars

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-COLEMAN-CAMP-STOVE-425B-Made-Witchita-Kansas-/400267356421?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d31cb2905

Buy a spare for $14.00 dollars

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150730532301&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Get yourself a mint 242 and you are GTG

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coleman-2-Burner-Stove-413E-1979-/110802232889?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cc53e639

[Sanderhawk]

I have my duel fuel lantern and stove from 25 yrs ago and they fre up first time everytime. The tents and and air matresses are getting really cheap though. Used a coleman air mattress once and it started leaking I had to exchange it.

[rsrocket1]

I have a dual burner white gas only stove that I bought just as they were coming out with the dual fuel version in the late 80's (I think). My parents used one for many years on our family camping trips since the 60's so I got one myself. Same operation, maybe slightly cheaper quality but it's worked fine for 20+ years on white gas only.

The good thing about white gas is that it can be stored forever and doesn't deteriorate or cause rust like gasoline. A gallon can last many years of camping and it doesn't stink to high heaven if you spill it while filling or emptying the tank. Keep a filter with each stove/lantern and a bag of extra mantles and your good to go for any trip or "event".

[problemchild]

I have a dual burner white gas only stove that I bought just as they were coming out with the dual fuel version in the late 80's (I think). My parents used one for many years on our family camping trips since the 60's so I got one myself. Same operation, maybe slightly cheaper quality but it's worked fine for 20+ years on white gas only.

The good thing about white gas is that it can be stored forever and doesn't deteriorate or cause rust like gasoline. A gallon can last many years of camping and it doesn't stink to high heaven if you spill it while filling or emptying the tank. Keep a filter with each stove/lantern and a bag of extra mantles and your good to go for any trip or "event".

White gas = $13.00/gal
Unleaded = $3.50/gal

Gas will burn for 5-6 years easy. Use funnels and you wont spill it.

[OnTheTrail]

I have mostly Coleman gear for car camping. I like their stuff.

When first time campers ask where to buy their camping gear, I send them to Target or Walmart and not REI. That way if they didn't enjoy the experience they didn't drop a lot of coin.

[Iknownot]

I've had good luck with the newer coleman stuff I've bought. It's lasted. Lanterns, black cat heater, tents, stove, etc. That being said, I still have my dad's coleman stove and lantern the was using for camping in the 60's, and they still work like new.

If we are talking coolers, nothing beats the igloo max cool, coolers. Nothing.