Coleman 425 Camping Stove

About Coleman

The Coleman Company, Inc has a 106 year history. What eventually evolved to one of the highest quality brands in the outdoor sports market, all started with one simple gasoline lamp. This lamp design led to the creation of the first outdoor lantern launched by The Coleman Lamp Company in 1914. The amazing success of the Coleman outdoor all-weather gasoline lantern was the humble beginning of Coleman’s emergence into the outdoor supply business.

Due to the quick popularity of their lantern, the Coleman Company released their first camp stove in 1923. These two items, a lantern and a camping stove, established the company’s sales into the family camping realm as well as the big business of wartime gear.

Coleman Camp Stoves

The infamous 425 stove is amazing similar to this first Coleman stove creation. What Coleman produced were some of the best quality products with a basic functionality that was stable in the marketplace. Although there are a variety of camping stoves in the camping gear world today, both from Coleman and many other manufactures, you can count on this stove to stand the test of time – both from the past and into the future.

The Vintage Coleman 425 Camping Stove

When the 425 line of camping stoves was first generated, its basic design included a small suitcase style stove, complete with a dual burner powered by gas. If you search sites like eBay or even your local garage sale, you are likely to still find these historic stoves – often in like-new condition.

The New 425 Camping Stoves

Relatively little has changed with the basic 425 design, except for multiple numbers and letters incorporated into the model number. You will find the 425G499 currently on sale at www.coleman.com. The nostalgia of these stoves in part is what makes them so attractive even amongst the new technology involved in camping today. If you went camping as a child, no doubt your family had one of these timeless stoves.

Current Features

Whether you opt for the less expensive used model or the shiny new version, the Coleman 425 camping stove will offer you the same consistent features you would expect from any basic car camping stove.

• Two Burners

Although there are two burners with the 425 model, one is considered the main and the other the auxiliary. The main burner receives the most gas, as it is first along the fuel line. Therefore it also generates more heat and is the best one to use for boiling or high heat cooking. Overall this stove provides 21,000 BTUs with one burner, or when using both, 11,500 BTUs on the main and 9,500 BTUs on the auxiliary.

• White Gas Powered

The advantage of white gas over propane is usually only obvious to those who have given the Coleman stove a trial run. The gas fuel is widely available and inexpensive to buy. One gas canister will provide ample high heat for two hours or low heat for 7.5 hours.

• Consistent Hot Flame

You can count on this stove to deliver a consistently hot heat source for cooking. Expect it to boil one quart of water in four minutes on high heat. The white gas functionality also enables this stove to keep a high heat even at very high elevations. The 425 stove does require a match to light.

• Pump Up Operation

Most definitely the challenging part about this style of Coleman stove is the slightly complicated pumping operation. In order to enable the gas to flow nicely, ensuring adequate heat and flame, the canister must be pumped – creating the necessary pressure. Although this process is a bit tricky for the first time user, it is easy to master after a few attempts. Luckily, Coleman was thoughtful enough to place easy-to-follow instructions securely stuck to the inside of the stove’s lid.

• Compact Design

Although this is definitely a car tent camping style stove – too large and cumbersome for backpacking – it is fairly lightweight and compact. The suitcase style design, complete with carrying handle, makes it an easy stove to pack with the rest of the gear in a car, van or RV. The removable fuel tank, along with any other necessities such as a fuel funnel, matches, hot mitt or cleaning pads, tuck nicely inside.

• Windscreen

The cover along with two side flaps help to keep the flame lit under most mild wind conditions.

• Stability

Once you find a solid surface, such as a picnic table or tailgate, this stove provides an incredibly stable set up for hot cooking pots.

Conclusion

You can easily find this durable stove designed with Coleman superior standards as a vintage model for around $10 to $40 or brand new for closer to $90. Either way you go, you are certain to find a reliable workhorse to pass down from generation to generation. Who could beat that with an item such as a camping stove? Certainly the Coleman 425 camping stove is the kind of product tradition you would like to find from all camping, hiking, backpacking gear and equipment.