Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Our 21 year old Coleman stove, model 424, from 1991 (the date is stamped on the bottom, along with "Made in U.S.A."), has been on many camping trips, and has been extremely reliable over many years and through all kinds of weather. It has never been repaired, and still works fine to this day. This summer, we're taking a group camping, so I decided to get a second Coleman stove to augment the first one. But after reading the reviews here, I almost didn't buy a new one. Don't let the negative reviews scare you from buying it. It's important to read and follow the instructions that come with the stove. I compared this one with our 21 year old model, it's the same good quality. The latch is the same as the old one. The gas tank holds in its slots just fine. The wind guards are strong, flexible, and lightweight. The burners are exactly the same as the ones on my old Coleman stove and work wonderfully. The only real difference I see between my old Coleman and this one is the pump of the new one uses some plastic parts, and might not be quite as sturdy. But the rest of the unit looks and works just fine. The gauge of the steel may not be what it was 50 years ago, but it's the much the same as 21 years ago, with an added feature: the steel is textured, which adds strength and resists scratching. You cannot make a dent in it with your thumb. Yes, pressing down on the cover moves it, just like pressing on the side of your car does, but it does not dent it. This stove is made in the U.S.A. Those who complain about cheap Chinese manufacturing may have a counterfeit, not a real Coleman. Are there counterfeit stoves out there? This is a great stove. I recommend it. I've been using Coleman stoves for more than 50 years. The oldest one I now have is 21 years old, and this new one which I just received, looks and works just fine.