Coleman

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Coleman

61 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 28, 2025

  Best air mattress (inflatable), which one should I buy?

  I’ve tried a few air mattresses before and was never fully satisfied for different reasons. A friend suggested, try a camping style air mattress, they hold weight better and don’t collapse at the edges. I’m using a Coleman now and haven’t had those issues anymore. It works great for camping and I also use it at home.

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• #2Dec 3, 2025

  With a new style of water bottle popping up every year, Which one have you stuck with?

  Wish I could reply to everyone on this thread, but I found the best replacement imo with the Coleman Autoseal FreeFlow 🤙

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• #3Dec 3, 2025

  With a new style of water bottle popping up every year, Which one have you stuck with?

  I was ruined by the ease of my old standard, the Contigo Autoseal (discontinued). After a ton of searching and trial and error I found my forever replacement in the Coleman Autoseal FreeFlow. It’s pretty heavy duty, but I highly recommend it. I have one of each size!

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• #4Dec 3, 2025

  With a new style of water bottle popping up every year, Which one have you stuck with?

  My favorite, by far, is the Coleman Autoseal Freeflow

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• #5Dec 2, 2025

  With a new style of water bottle popping up every year, Which one have you stuck with?

  Contigo water bottles and Coleman with the contigo lid. And I still have my Nalgene for 15 or more years for when I don’t want an Insulated bottle all of them have been BIFL

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• #6Nov 5, 2025

  Looking for Cooler Recommendations

  Yeah, I have been through the same problem. Yeti's is great, but unless you go camping for days, that price tag makes zero sense. On the beach, it's mostly just something that keeps ice through the day and isn't burdensome to carry. I have been using a Symphony personal cooler at home, not the same as an ice chest, obviously. If you mean air cooler for outdoor use, then Symphony's tower ones actually do okay for patios or garages. Take a look at either Coleman or Igloo MaxCold for storage coolers. They hold up well, clean easily, and aren't too expensive. Pay attention to insulation thickness and a good drain plug. It is these things that matter, not the brand name.

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• #7Nov 4, 2025

  I have to spend $150 at amazon this week

  Coleman 50 quart cooler, pelican cases or seahorse cases, or any various clones. All very handy to move things, and keep them from getting wrecked. Most of these cost 300% as much or are just not available abroad.

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• #8Nov 4, 2025

  Plastic-free water bottle, REALLY watertight, can be used with one hand, 750ml

  Coleman Autoseal FreeFlow. Awesome!

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• #9Oct 8, 2025

  Is there such thing as a “good” tent?

  I like my coleman instant tent. I use an 8 person for 1-2 people just cuz its so easy to put up and take down Its withstood 20mph constant winds with gusts higher for 2 weeks straight for me as well as other windy dusty rainy situations I use 16 inch tent spikes for the tent and rain cover

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• #10Oct 8, 2025

  Is there such thing as a “good” tent?

  I’ve been camping for about 50 years. I’ve got tents for every purpose and situation- from solo backpacking to car camping with kids and pets. For a few times a year car camping, I will always recommend a Coleman tent. They are tried and true and generally thoughtfully designed. Ive never had issue with zippers, leaks (I keep them clean and seam sealed after a few years), or poles.

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• #11Oct 7, 2025

  I analyzed 80+ Reddit threads to find the best water bottles

  Yeah, according to thorough testing by Project Farm Coleman should at least make the list https://youtu.be/a6j1NJkNzwI?si=xgwlvSDPpqV1fzqt

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• #12Oct 4, 2025

  Best BIFL Camping Chair

  I’d definitely recommend the Coleman Portable Camping Chair if you’re looking for one that lasts way longer than those Walmart chairs. It’s tough, weatherproof, and comfy enough to hang out in for hours. Another awesome option is the Winlice folding chair, these things are really strong and can hold a ton of weight. Also, here’s a thread with the best folding chairs for sports and camping if you want to check out some detailed reviews and comparisons.

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• #13Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  My old Coleman camping stove. Simple, crucial, and over 30 years old

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• #14Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  Coleman cooler, it's probably 30 at this point. Baffin boots, they're probably 15? I wear them daily in the winter.

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• #15Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  I have my dad's Coleman stove. He bought it in 69 or 70. I've had to replace the leather in the pump once but that's all. He used it for 35 years before I took it full time. And now in 20 years in.

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• #16Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  The new Coleman stuff is garbage, but if you can get your hands on an old one they will last forever

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• #17Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  Have a 40 yo Coleman ice chest. Some trim has cracked, but it keeps going.

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• #18Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  Here's a few family ones. Fur coat that's been passed on from my grandmother now down to my sister. Coleman cooler from the 1960s. Folding chairs from the 1950s. Utensils from the 1970s. Some Cuisinart machines from the 90s.

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• #19Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  Coleman stove is a good one. Such a simple but crucial mechanical device.

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• #20Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  I just checked and they are Coleman brand. Can't find a model. Just basic camp chairs with arm rests.

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• #21Oct 1, 2025

  What’s something you’ve bought once and never had to replace?

  Double burner coleman camping stove  Seiko Mechanical Watch.  

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• #22Oct 1, 2025

  Looking for a new headlamp for $30 and under

  https://a.co/d/1EnC3si My favorite headlamp ever. I gift these sometimes too. 

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• #23Sep 6, 2025

  Is there any water bottle that's truly buy it for life and won't leak or smell even after years of use?

  Coleman Autoseal freeflow stainless. I've had two of them for years, and put them through lots of abuse. Any water bottle will start to smell if you don't clean it once in a while.

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• #24Sep 3, 2025

  I see a lot of Contigo travel mugs like this at the thrift store. Just popularity or are they problematic?

  To piggy back off of this, I switched from Contigo to Coleman. Same great auto seal, lifetime warranty, and quite durable. The plastic on the mouthpiece got damaged from a drop and wasn't really able to be cleaned properly after. Made a warranty claim and they sent me a whole new bottle.

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• #25Sep 3, 2025

  Best Dentproof Waterbottle

  Coleman Freeflow. Lots of kids, lots of drops, lots of years, dent free.

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• #26Aug 10, 2025

  What's the best BIFL item you own?

  Coleman stoves and lanterns And my Tacoma.

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• #27Aug 8, 2025

  What exactly is the difference between injection molding, roto molding & closed cell foam coolers?

  Nobody needs an expensive roto molded cooler for weekend camping. If you can't keep ice for a 3 day weekend in just about any hard cooler, that's on you. I have a 17 year old plastic igloo roller that still keeps beer ice cold from Friday until Sunday. That being said, I've been very happy with my newer Coleman extreme coolers. The roto molded coolers are generally built better and insulate a little better, but unless you're an outfitter letting randos use your coolers week after week for 5-7 days away from a way to get ice, they're over kill.

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• #28Aug 7, 2025

  What products used to be well built back in the day but now are low quality?

  Coleman outdoor gear North Face

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• #29Aug 7, 2025

  Insulated water bottle that does NOT use a threaded cap, but some other closing mechanism like a swing-top etc.?

  In my case, I specially love the coleman freeflow mechanism, stainless steel on the inside, and the mecanism is a button that you have to press to drink, and when you release it it closes, so it will never leak if you drop the bottle

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• #30Jul 11, 2025

  Looking for a stand up tent for 2 adults and a baby

  We had a Coleman Evanston 8 for about a decade, From when our oldest was 6 to when she was 15ish. Three kids, several cross country road trips, one tornado. It did us proud.

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• #31Jul 9, 2025

  A metal thermos with a fold away straw where you can clean every piece?

  No straw, but worth considering..... Coleman Autoseal FreeFlow are the easiest to clean, longest lasting drinker we have found. We bought these for us and all of our kids over 6 years ago and we are still at zero leaks, zero functional breaks, and zero mold. (My handle broke off after a particularly terrible tumble, and we did have one that got stolen.) The spout is big and lets you drink freely without taking the lid off, you can drink even quickly/controlled if you tip it up and suck on the spout, and it even pours very nicely without making a mess. Added bonus I think some of them are on sale for prime day if that is your jam.

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• #32Jul 7, 2025

  What is the best quality camp chair like the type in this image?

  I’m obsessed with my Coleman. It has a cooler in the arm and a phone pocket

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• #33Jul 6, 2025

  What is the best quality camp chair like the type in this image?

  I had a Coleman set that lasted us a long time. They were built way better than the cheapies. I know they make a wide variety but ours were nothing fancy very similar to the one in the picture just a basic chair but built well.

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• #34Jul 6, 2025

  What is the best quality camp chair like the type in this image?

  I've had the Coleman Big and Tall chair for almost 10 years now. Pretty sturdy.

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• #35Jul 6, 2025

  What is the best quality camp chair like the type in this image?

  No. These sag. Sure, they’re like $2.99 on sale but you get what you pay for. Find a Coleman that’s has a little side table. The metal is twice as thick, and the design is such that after 18 years it still has not sagged and is still quite comfortable.

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• #36Jul 6, 2025

  Disaster preparedness that actually is useful

  Generally, you want a shelter in place plan and a bug out plan. There are prepper subs you may also want to visit but watch out for getting drawn into paranoia.  I have not (yet) used my Berckey water purifying filters, Coleman camp stove, or battery /crank radios. I have used my Coleman battery powered lantern multiple times. I like it better than a flashlight for power outages as it’s more like a lamp.  Also used my window A/C unit when my central air went on the fritz.  Other than that, it’s mostly rotating consumables vs BIFL stuff.

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• #37Jul 6, 2025

  What is the best quality camp chair like the type in this image?

  I’ve had my Coleman chairs for years and never had any issues

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• #38Jul 6, 2025

  What is the best quality camp chair like the type in this image?

  Basic Coleman has treated me well.

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• #39Jul 6, 2025

  What is the best quality camp chair like the type in this image?

  If you're a, uh .... heavier gentleman, and you've got a budget, then maybe [the Coleman Outpost Breeze Folding Camp Chair](https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Outpost-Breeze-Folding-Chair/dp/B00VTJLSMA) might be your speed, Light, very sturdy, and supports up to 300 lbs ... Sells for about $50

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• #40Jun 9, 2025

  Water bottle suggestions?

  I switched to double wall stainless water bottles to avoid plastic. Contigo and Coleman are my favorites

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• #41Jun 7, 2025

  What is your most unintentional BIFL item?

  I am 50 years old and have inherited the two burner, white gas Coleman camping stove my parents got in the 60s. Still going strong, although I have a second one that uses propane that gets more use.

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• #42Jun 5, 2025

  What’s one item you bought that way outperformed its price?

  A Coleman brand 1/4" socket set, ratchet, and toolbox. I've had that whole set for close to 20 years, bought at O'Reilly's as my first tool kit. I don't remember what I paid for it then, probably $30 to $40, but I'll be damned if I haven't gotten my use out of it. And I still have the 10 MM socket.

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• #43Jun 3, 2025

  Water bottle that keeps water cold?

  I’ve been a big fan of Contigo, they keep water cold and I prefer their lids for drinking out of. (I hate bottles with straws. Coleman has a new bottle with lids that are so similar to Contigo I bet it’s a joint venture. I’ve been using them for 6 months and they are great as well. (All 24oz)

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• #44May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  I mostly see coleman and maglite as good old car camping gear, reliable enough that I can pass gear onto a younger relative, so they can go on a trip. The problem for maglite is that many of us buy that specifically for very old features. As long as they aren’t marketing it as part of a new and advanced line, it doesn’t have to be either. A maglite should be enough to give a shy person the confidence to get up on a dark and rainy night, and shoo away a noisy animal that’s curious about the cooler. That gigantic shiny tube full of batteries is a desirable asset in this situation, as long as they make it sturdy and water tight.

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• #45May 2, 2025

  Best Air Mattress? One that doesn't break like my last one did!

  Coleman! I had several Intex air mattresses and they all ended up deflating slowly overnight. Got a really nice Coleman one and it's excellent. Fills up fast, cord tucks away, feels nice and sturdy, and DOES NOT deflate overnight.

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• #46Apr 12, 2025

  Coleman Lil' Oscar cooler (1981)

  I still have one I bought in the Summer of 1982.

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• #47Apr 9, 2025

  What is your current BIFL item you recommend to everyone?

  A coleman camping stove. Had one since boy scouts 28 years now, my dads is from 1965. Couple cans of white fuel and you can have a working stove anywhere. So simple its impossible to break.

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• #48Apr 5, 2025

  Does anyone have BIFL options for a camping stove?

  Coleman. I have a new one and still regularly use one from 1987

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• #49Apr 4, 2025

  Does anyone have BIFL options for a camping stove?

  Are you looking for a camping stove or more along the lines of a tailgaiting stove? Propane or white gas? Want it to work from the jump from a 1 lb bottle or a 20lb tank? Lotta options. Coleman, Primus or CampChef all make some decent 2 burner stoves in my experience.

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• #50Apr 4, 2025

  Does anyone have BIFL options for a camping stove?

  I have an off brand stove from the '90s, it's basically just two burners in a stamped metal frame. I got it on clearance sale at K-Mart. It really doesn't have good controls. Keeping it lit in the wind is a problem. But the thing is - it has been working just good enough that I don't pitch the damn thing for the last 30 years. Even though it was still working just fine, I did buy a Coleman Classic propane stove last year. It's perfectly fine. It works great. I have no doubt that it will last 50 years, easy. Of course, my old one doesn't seem to be going worse anytime soon, either. Now, on the other hand, a Coleman Dual Fuel stove will be an annoying pain in your butt for the rest of your life, and for your children's lives, and their children's lives. It will be hard to pump up, you'll need to carve a new leather gasket for it every 3-4 decades. I have my grandfather's. It's like 70 years old at this point. It would work fine, except someone bent the generator, so I need to get that replaced. Coleman still stocks parts for it. I mean, honestly, buy a Coleman Dual fuel stove, buy a Lodge dutch oven, buy a Lodge skillet, possibly buy a gridle if you're feeling funky, take care of it all, and that should take care of your heavy car camping cooking requirements for the next 100 years or so.

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• #51Apr 4, 2025

  Does anyone have BIFL options for a camping stove?

  I have a modern Coleman, I’m 5 years in and I beat it up and it’s still going strong!

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• #52Apr 4, 2025

  Does anyone have BIFL options for a camping stove?

  The Coleman two burner is still affordable and completely bulletproof. There really is no need to look elsewhere

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• #53Apr 4, 2025

  Does anyone have BIFL options for a camping stove?

  If modern Coleman is even 50% of what they used to be back in the 80s, one of their two burners will last a lifetime

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• #54Mar 11, 2025

  What is the longest lasting item you've bought?

  Coleman cooler. Bought it in the mid ‘70s. Replaced the hinges and drainage plug a few years ago. It will last for generations.

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• #55Mar 9, 2025

  The classic Coleman Powerhouse lantern

  They are still nice to have on the cooler night, they can keep a tent warm on low, CO and CO2 are a concern but unless you have an airtight tent a small draft will be fine. I still use a coleman burner (both a single and double burner) for camping though, a few .5 lt soda bottles of fuel and your good for a weekend. Yes they will dissolve/damage PET plastic over time but it takes months to happen.

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• #56Mar 6, 2025

  What's the oldest appliance you own?

  i have a coleman propane camp stove that my dad bought in the late 70s. Lots of use and still running great.

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• #57Feb 5, 2025

  Going back to before electricity

  I lived without electricity for more than a year in Colorado. I pretty much was working from the time I woke up till I got home and went to bed so I didn't really stay home much other than to sleep though. For lighting. Coleman lantern or Aladdin lamp with a mantle. These put out super bright white light that's good for fine print reading. Regular oil lamps with a wick even the double wicks only put out a soft glow which is enough for general things but you do need one good bright light source that doesn't need batteries. For entertainment, books, magazines, browsing the Lehman's catalog which used to have much higher quality off-grid type items than they do now. Kitchen. I used a Coleman stove to cook and a cast iron skillet. Eggs do not need to be refrigerated if they have not been washed in processing. I ate a lot of eggs and shelf stable dry goods like oat meal, rice, beans and pasta, malt-o-meal etc. I paid for a day pass at the pool to take a shower, this was cheaper than a membership unless you went every single day.

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• #58Feb 4, 2025

  Best water bottle to take everywhere? One that can last very very long?

  I have a Coleman Metal that is going on 6 years of heavy use and above. It's not trendy but it's amazing. Never spills. Leakproof valve.

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• #59Dec 6, 2015

  Coleman Lantern

  I have a bunch of the kerosene lanterns. They are expensive, but reliable as hell and will work forever.

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• #60Dec 5, 2015

  Coleman Lantern

  The propane ones are pretty sweet too. The kerosene ones don't buzz as much, and if you get the dual fuel ones you only have to carry one gas tank with you camping since both they and the quads can run gasoline.

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• #61Dec 5, 2015

  Coleman Lantern

  15+ years on my gas one. One tank will burn at full brightness two nights easily and mine came in a plastic case. something like should be the last one you buy if they are still half as good as 15 years ago. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=58545296&camp=CSE:GooglePLA:58545296:20716995:CORE%20CAMPING&CAGPSPN=pla&CAWELAID=120138600003017848&catargetid=120138600002989887&cadevice=c Got an old liquid "coleman" kerosene stove. Probably from the 60's, got it at a garage sale. They still sell parts for it. The pumping gasket rubber went bad, and new one was like a dollar. Their classic items like this are still very high quality. They are one of those where a lot of crap companies use their name, but real coleman stuff is very well made. It wont be the lightest or most advanced, but it will outlive you.

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