I bought a Coleman lantern just before our July 4th trip, and halfway through our weekend the switch broke internally on it, couldnt use the lantern. Took it back to Gander Mountain when we got home, exchanged it for a new one, now this past weekend, halfway through the trip the handle popped off the switch rendering the lantern useless and stuck "on". I also bought a Coleman compression sack for our pillows and went to pull the straps and 2 of the 3 came off the sack in my hand. Its not like I was hooking them up to the truck to tighten, they didnt even get tight around the pillows yet, just came off for no reason.
Is anyone else having issues with Coleman products? I remember years ago as a teen in Scouts, Coleman was a quality product, but it seems that has changed. Just wondering if anyone else has complaints too, or if it may be just my good luck? Thanks-Dan
Coleman does not make products anymore. The sell the use of their name to other companies. Sorry you have purchased some faulty products.
What tlhdoc said. Most of the Coleman items now days are made in China like everything else. Just a name that is placed on the product to sell more.
Yeah, I figured. I emailed their customer service, I'm sure it wont do any good, it made me feel a little better anyway.
Actually a few years ago when I emailed Coleman Customer Service, they were VERY good about replacing the defective item. Had the new item within seven days.
Hopefully that hasn't changed!
We have purchased Coleman lanterns which have both failed quickly; a propane single-mantle that I used for fishing and bicycle camping, and a butane "patio" lantern. The valve on the single-mantle wouldn't close well, draining an LP bottle with a slow leak even when the lantern was off. The butane deal never did work well new, hardly putting out any light at all. The cheaper Century brand two-mantle lantern keeps on working dependably, however, and it even fits in a plastic Coleman carry case.
Coleman used to be a popular 'inexpensive, family use' brand for camping equipment - they were aimed at the occasional family camper who would use an item a few to a dozen times a year and not put alot of hard wear on it. it was a balance between cost and usefullness that many people were satisfied with. it was also a brand that was carried by most retailers - like k-mart & sears, etc when inexpensive camping equipment was hard to find anywhere else. I also grew up with alot of coleman quipment in the '70's camping with my family and scouts.
I work in a store that carries Coleman today, and for the most part, I tell people not to waste their money on Coleman produts.There are so many other lower-price point items that are much better in features, wear and price - and I've used or owned most of them that we sell.
Any 'Coleman fuel', stove, lantern, etc is almost guaranteed to leak or not hold pressure after 1 season or less. Coleman has the most fragile mantles I have ever seen. On scout trips we ALWAYS have to replace a few. On the other hand, the propane stoves and lights are passable, if you protect them while transporting. their hard plastic lantern cases are bad - they always come apart/open when the boys use them - we break ALOT of mantles and globes. Wenzel brand tents and sleeping bags are almost always a better buy and better quality than Coleman for a similar range of price and features. Coleman coolers? junk. My scouts and I have had some really nice 'Target' brand tents - with all the latest features and very reasonable prices. With Tents, I always warn people to put up a cheaper tent at home FIRST - make sure there are no sags or seams that twist or don't line up, before you take it camping. Mass production makes them cheap - but sometimes they also get put together sloppily.
I had a really cheap $25 6 person, no-name tent from Sam's Club, that lasted me for over 20 yrs, before I finally wore it out enough that it wouldn't repel water anymore. I've seen our boy scout troop destroy really expensive, tough ($300) Timberline tents in one season with only a few campouts, because they destroy zippers, tear screens, don't always dry the tents properly, and they always smell like gym socks! We've learned to buy Cheap tents for the scout troop - for the same size 4 man timberline @$300, we can replace that tent up to SIX times with a cheap $50 Wenzel or Target tent - and it weighs less for backpacking. too.
here's something I think is weird - Boy Scouts of America does not allow scouts to use 'propane' equipment - I think - because of the high pressure tanks - but they have no problem with the 'fuel' stoves and lanterns - yet every 2-burner Coleman fuel stove, old or new, that our troop has had over the years, leaks and is very difficult for the boys to get up to pressure and keep under pressure. not to mention the fire hazard of fuel dripping outside the tank or soaking the cases they are stored in, or having to use a funnel to fill them!! I think the small propane tanks are much safer!
Personally, I LOVE my little no-name 1lb propane lantern and stove. I have one propane colman lantern, and one no-name-brand propane stove/ lantern combo I picked up at Gander Mountain one year for about 25 bucks. The lantern has better light adjustment than the Coleman, and you just twist off the lantern top and replace it with the 'stove' burner, and the same propane tank can switch between light and cooking. It included a padded case for all the pieces.
Coleman is NOT a 'quality' name anymore, if they ever were - but other inexpensive or 'store' brands aren't so bad - if you watch what you 're getting and take care of them, there are some great bargans out there.
Laura
Quote from: ScouterMomColeman used to be a good 'inexpensive, family use' brand for camping equipment - they were aimed at the occasional family camper who would use an item a few to a dozen times a year and not put alot of hard wear on it.
I would have to disagree Laura, I still use the same Coleman Stove and lantern that my dad bought some 40 years ago and have used them countless times over the years. The lantern has lit campsites accross the country and the stove has cooked hundreds of meals without missing a beat. Also no leaks. Once upon a time Coleman ruled by producing quality dependable camping gear, today may be a different story.
CajunCamper
I have had Coleman products for the last 30 years and no problems here. I have a Coleman NorthStar lantern that we bought 5 years ago and I have yet to replace the mantle, and we use it a lot! Our older (30 years old now) 2-mantle lantern that was blown off the hanger into a bunch of brush during a thunderstorm and the mantles did not break nor did the globe. It is still in use today. I have never replaced the globe on it. My old Coleman stove has been passed on to someone else and is still going strong. I love my new one, purchased just this year. It is strudy and designed to be much easier to clean than the old one.
I have just this year retired our Coleman tent that is 20 years old. The only reason for that is because the stress on the seams is finally starting to show and some are beginning to tear.
If you are having trouble with broken mantles and globes, leaking propane, etc. then the equipment is not being maintained or handled properly. Sounds like your scout troup needs to learn how to properly care for, maintain, and handle their equipment.
Oh, and I have always used Coleman coolers without problems. I have tried other brands and have gone back to Coleman. JUNK? I just camped in 99 degree heat, 99 during the day and upper 80s at night and only had to add one bag of ice to a Coleman Extreme 5-day cooler on a 4-day trip. If it had been cooler during the day/night, I wouldn't have had to add any! I have seen folks with the Rubbermaid and Igloo brands of "5-day" coolers comment on how disappointed they are in them because they don't keep ice for more than a couple of days at most.
I have to agree with scoutermom about coleman mantles, they are garbage. But to say that older coleman products weren't good is totally wrong. I still have and regularly use a fuel coleman lantern and 2 burner stove that I bought in the early 70's. Have I had to replace some parts in them over the years? Yes, but show me anything over 35 yrs. old that doesn't need maintenance. Also, I have a coleman steel cooler that I won at a baseball game in 1988 that gets used all summer long every year at home and on camping trips. The bottom line used to be MADE IN AMERICA not this garbage made by the finest craftsmen in China.
I have also never had a problem with coleman products I own 5 propane lanterns could not tell you how old 2 of them are but i do know they all work fine also very seldom have problems with mantles i have extras that i have had at least 2 years coleman propane stove i bought one when we first started tent camping many many many years ago never had a problem with leaking knobs falling off or anything like that wife finaly decided she wanted bigger so i gave that one to younger brother and i bet he gets several more years out of it we bought a new coleman stove that came with free griddle for69 dollars from academy this year have only used mabey20 days so far this year but no problems with it also own coleman tent that is retired only reason for that is wife finaly talked me into buying pup thas year now about customer service i orderd legs for stove from coleman websit got very fast but one leg the threaded end was a little loose worked but was a little anoying since brand new emailed cust service over holiday weekend didnt get a response fast enough so i called spoke with a lady told her of problem she said sorry and imediatly sent another one out asked her if i needed to return loose one told not to worry about it recieved very quick then recieved response to email they sent another one customer service was exalent if you are in a hurry i suggest you call instead of email i will definantly pay a couple of extra dollars for coleman and thier cust service evan though i have only needed it once since i started camping 30 years ago
Own several Coleman products from propane lanterns to road trip grills and have never (so far) had a problem with any of them. Our coleman single mantle lantern has been used several times this season and haven't replaced the mantle yet.
But like anything else, nothing is 100% and certainly there are bad products out there that get missed in quality control.
Yeah, I have had the same propane Coleman lantern for 20 years now, works just fine. Its just these stupid battery powered lanterns that are junk.
Coleman never emailed me back.
Quote from: BadAss88GTYeah, I have had the same propane Coleman lantern for 20 years now, works just fine. Its just these stupid battery powered lanterns that are junk.
Coleman never emailed me back.
I wish that I had one of your 20-year-old lanterns. We purchased a Coleman propane lantern about a year ago. The glass fit so sloppy that we have to dismantle the entire thing after every camp-out.
We had it a few weeks and the glass broke in transit (new, in the box). We took it back to Walmart and they gave us a new one. It is a pathetic thing compared to the old ones. The glass is paper thin. If you have to buy a new glass, it's 75% of the price of a new lantern. Very greedy engineering and marketing IMO.....they design something so that it is sure to fail then charge up the kazoo for the replacement part. Something basically dishonest about that, I think.
I won't buy another Coleman product with a thorough examination of the quality and checking the price of any replacement parts.
As stated above, Coleman doesn't really "Build" anything. They simply sell the use of their "Brand Name". The problem is, something seems to have changed in the protection of their brand name. All that does is degrade what people are willing to pay for that name. That's exactly the same thing that happend to "Sharper Image". They started out being very careful about the products that bore their name. In the last few years, they let anything have their brand name on it. Now they are out of business. So sad.
Sorry to disagree with you Scoutermom on almost every point regarding Coleman products.
I was/am an Eagle Scout, and worked on my Woodbadge years ago. My son is now a Bear Cub and we frequently attend his Pack's overnight family camping trips, (and use propane appliances).
You will find the official BSA Policy (http://www.scouting.org/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss07.aspx) has no restrictions on the use of propane, (item 4 in the guidelines mentions changing cylinders). In the 1970's my Boy Scout troop in Los Angelus upgraded ALL of our camping gear from white fuel to propane, specifically because it was safer. No flare ups with the stoves, and no fuel spills or handling.
Since I purchased my PopUp in 2004 I have purchased virtually EVERY Coleman camping product! ;) Here is my "Coleman Stuff" inventory:
- 50 quart Ultimate Xtreme Cooler
- 40 quart Powerchill Hot/Cold Cooler
- Vela six person tent
- 2 Burner Electronic Ignition Propane Grill Stove
- Northstar Lantern
- Lantern Reflector accessory
- Mutipurpose Lantern Stand
- Two Oversize Quad Chairs with Cooler - Gold
- Two Young Adult Quad Chairs
- Retro Remote Control Family-Size battery powered fluorescent lantern
- Remote Control Tent Light
- Widebeam Dual Action Light
- Two Kids Flashlight / Nightlights
- Dog Collar Coleman Lantern LED
- Stainless Steel French Press
- Toast making stovetop Device
- Combo Am/Fm radio/fan/lantern
- Portable Power Kit solar cell phone charger
- Hot Water On Demand
- ProCat Catalytic Heater
- Refillable bendable butane lighter
- Drip Coffee Maker
- And a 4 person rubber raft from BigLots
Yes, most of it is made in China. Yes, it was all very inexpensive stuff compared to "better" equipment from REI or the Bass Pro Shop. Some of the obscure stuff was found on clearance at Target, Camping World, and online.
But, it ALL works!
And, it all works rather well considering it's cheap stuff from Coleman. No broken parts, no leaks.
OK, one of the adult quad chairs had a rip in the bag that I didn't notice when I purchased it. I called Coleman's customer service 800 number and they shipped a new replacement bag within two days! Not bad.
you may say i am "partial" to Coleman stuff seeing how i collect the lanterns and stoves. I have 6 of the Coleman fuel stoves and 4 of the lanterns. 2 propane lanterns and 1 of the propane stoves, and one of the old Coleman fuel catalytic heaters. I will agree that i like the older Coleman products over the newer ones. I have to admit the newer Coleman stuff is not made as bulletproof as the older stuff. but still, i have never had a problem with any of the Coleman products. and the Coleman customer service has always been great. I have had friends tell me when looking at an old beat up coleman stove that i just got, "that thing will never run" but it always does.. :-()
Quote from: BadAss88GTYeah, I have had the same propane Coleman lantern for 20 years now, works just fine. Its just these stupid battery powered lanterns that are junk.
Coleman never emailed me back.
Use thier 800 number I got much faster service that way
The problem I had with Coleman was with a Road Trip Stove Griddle and they responded with a new one right away. I've never had a problem with my Coleman Propane or Battery Lanterns, Coleman Extreme Coolers or other Coleman products.
When dealing with Customer Service, I wouldn't call their products junk though! I would suggest that the item slipped through quality control.
(Even if in YOUR opinion they ARE junk!)
Good Luck!
Yes, We bought a Coleman tent with a "pet den" and took it out on Spring Break last year. There was a large T-storm and it leaked bad at all the seams. I understand some moisure making its way through but not dripping and puddling like we had. Needless to say, we returned it, got our money back and purchased our pop-up. Now, we are all glad that it happened or we still might be tent camping.
Quote from: fun4all5Yes, We bought a Coleman tent with a "pet den" and took it out on Spring Break last year. There was a large T-storm and it leaked bad at all the seams. I understand some moisure making its way through but not dripping and puddling like we had. Needless to say, we returned it, got our money back and purchased our pop-up. Now, we are all glad that it happened or we still might be tent camping.
Did you water proof the seems before you used the tent the first time? You always have to water proof the seems no matter what brand tent you buy. Any time we bought a new tent in the past (before our PUP) we would set it up in the backyard when we new it wouldn't rain for 2 days. It taught us how to set it up and then we water proofed the seems. 2nd day we did another application of the seem sealer and when dry took the tent down. Never had a leak. :)
Anyway, enjoy the PUP, they are the way to go.
The last Coleman tent I bought (or any brand for that matter) comes with a bottle of seam sealer. The setup instructions tell you to seal the seams before first use. No wonder it leaked.
Quote from: sewseriousThe last Coleman tent I bought (or any brand for that matter) comes with a bottle of seam sealer. The setup instructions tell you to seal the seams before first use. No wonder it leaked.
The Manufacturer should seal the seams! Gimme a break! Throwing a bottle of seam sealer in the package is crap. The tent should come ready to use.
I've bought many tents, still have and use them. None have come with seam sealers and my tents have not leaked. At least not until they have aged many years. Then I've bought seam sealer and applied.
Side note to sewserious:
Your replies always seem a bit rude to me. Ease up on the coffee. :morning:
Most tent manufacturers recommend that you use a sealant to seal seams and zipper areas whether it's a $40 tent or a $1000 tent. We've always done so and have never had a leaky tent. Your supposed to re-seal after washing the tent as well.
CajunCamper
Quote from: CajunCamperMost tent manufacturers recommend that you use a sealant to seal seams and zipper areas whether it's a $40 tent or a $1000 tent. We've always done so and have never had a leaky tent. Your supposed to re-seal after washing the tent as well.
CajunCamper
Exactly. Just the way it is tenting.
I apologise, I guess I wasn't being clear....
the coleman stuff that my family and I used in the '60's and 70's was fine - in fact, I think the cookset that I am still using is a Coleman set - the 'teflon' coating on the frying pan is shot, but after 40 yrs, I'd expect anything with teflon on it to be scratched up, so I only use the frying pan as the large pot lid. Everything else is aluminum, and it's still the best fitting, lightest, and most complete nesting set of cookwear I've seen.
But when my son joined his scout troop in 2000, the troop had a few old coleman stoves left, and they needed alot of new equipment. We got quite alot of new equipment, and the coleman stuff just really did not stand up to the boy's using it. I agree that the boys need to be taught how to better care for their equipment - but that's an issue I've been fighting with the troop leadership for years. Some of the older boys, once they start buying their own equipment and borrowing from other scouts and scouters, DO take good care of stuff - but the young ones are hard on things until they learn.
( and the propane thing must be something passed word-of -mouth in our area - and it doesn't suprise me that I was told wrong, that BSA DOES allow the use of propane. I have an ongoing argument that our boys CAN use power tools in service projects and Eagle projects, according to how I read the Guide to Safe Scouting - yet I was constantly told by our troop committee, local district people and our old unit commisioner that they are not allowed to use power tools, even with adult supervision.)
I do work in a retail store that sells moderately priced camping equipment, including coleman, and one thing that can't be argued is how often we see Coleman products come back to our store as defective or with 'unsatisfactory performance'. Yes, tents should be waterproofed before taking them camping, but alot of people don't read the instructions, much less waterproof the seams! People often buy the lanterns without the cases, and the mantles and globes break - the glass is thin. I DO have a Coleman propane lantern - and it's worked fine for the past 3-4 yrs I've had it - but a lantern/stove combo I paid the same price for, and bought the same summer, has many more features and works just as well.
I'm just saying that people expect something from the NAME because they remember it from when it was a good make in the 60's and 70's, and that the names that are not as well known and are newer, can often be better.
Laura
I also have over the years had many Coleman products and have never had a problem. Yes things have broken but really that seems to be an issue of wear and tear rather than poor quality. My biggest problem wiht these items, lanterns, stoves, ovens, have been getting them back from the kids after they had borrowed them! I have broken a globe on a lantern recently, but that story involves beer :! and a late night trip to the outhouse, though humorous probably does not qualify for this discussion.
Overall, I'm a Coleman fan. However, I, like many have mentioned, am overall dissapointed with the latest generation of products.
I went to Sportsman's Warehouse last weekend to buy stuff for my upcoming trip. In particular, I wanted to buy a Coleman LP lantern (the type which utilizes the 1lb LP canisters).
I'm the type of person who will pay extra for quality. I typically try to buy something that will be in my camping arsenal until I'm gone. With that in mind, I began to look at Colemans lanterns.
When I picked up the Coleman lanterns from the shelf, I was immediately put off by the 'Made in China' label. OK, I'm used to this. And what can I do. It's tough to find anything not made in China these days. I got over the label and started to play with the lanterns. Immediately, the look and feel screamed...'CHEAP'!. Plastic base, loose fitting/feeling plastic knobs. I pictured my current battery operated Coleman lantern where the base falls off everytime we use it. I became dissapointed and set them back on the shelf. I left the store without a lantern.
:(
I'm a Coleman camping fan who is becoming disillusioned (sp?). I believe there are plenty of products still labeled Coleman which are good products but my list of bad ones continues to grow. I am finding myself looking more and more at the competitiion when I buy camping items, rather than counting on Coleman.
In case anyone from Coleman is listening, it's time to stop coasting and resting on long past successes. It's time to get back to work. A great place to start would be with those folding trailers you're about to put your name on.
wg :compumad:
I am amused by the new essential Coleman product:
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5998-412&categoryid=26006
Quote from: sacrawfI am amused by the new essential Coleman product:
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5998-412&categoryid=26006
OH Please!!!! :rolleyes:
I'm an avid user of Coleman products. I still use the three burner stove and chrome plated kerosene lantern that my Dad bought way back in 1963. I also have another lantern that I bought at a yard sale that is over 40 years old and after replacing the gasket on the fuel cap, it works like a new one. I also have a NorthStar propane lantern that I have had for over 5 years that still works perfectly.
Quote from: sacrawfI am amused by the new essential Coleman product:
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5998-412&categoryid=26006
I'm truly amused that Coleman is manufacturing a "MAX" line of products exclusively for sale at WallyMart. Why WallyMart?
For the price , the stuff isn't too bad compared to the "regular grade" non-MAX products sold for a little more at other stores.
I like their value-priced
Exponent line of products, (can be purchased for much less through other retailers compared to their website). They are truly expedition grade items, yet they cost much less than similar MSR, Kelty. NorthFace, REI type equivalents.
.