I lived with a Coleman 425 stove for many years and it served me well. Unfortunately, my wife found it "inconvenient" to have to pump it up to make coffee when I'd leave her for a morning hike when camping. To make life easier on her, I bought propane stuff (tank, tree, lantern & electronic ignition stove), and she made me sell my 425... While the propane kit is convenient for group camping and longer stays, I miss my 425 for a quick solo overnighter or when Jeepin' and space is an issue. My question is whether the newer models have reduced BTU output compared to the older ones. My old one was vintage 1978, and I seem to remember it producing 13500 BTUs (or better) on the main burner while it seems the newer ones are rated at 11500 BTUs. There seem to be quite a few older ones available on ebay. Inquiring minds want to know - is there a difference?
I find coleman suitcase stoves at yard sales all the time.They are usually in need of nothing more than a good cleaning,and can be had for anywhere from $5 to$15 . I have about a dozen of em and the most I paid was $15 for a new in the box 421 . I do agree that the new ones do not seem to produce as much heat as the olde ones but they still work very well , and besides ,when your camping ,cooking shouldn't have to be a speed challenge There's nothing like the sound of a Gasoline camp stove
Yes, there is a slightly lesser output. However, what concerns even more is the thinner gauge of metal Coleman has been using in recent years
"There seem to be quite a few older ones available on ebay. Inquiring minds want to know - is there a difference?" If there is a difference, it would be difficult to measure in practical terms. Ambient temperature, wind direction and velocity at the point of use will have a great deal more effect on cooking times than any differences in BTU output. Putting a "field expedient" wind screen around the stove will help a great deal. Anything from erecting a canvas fence to simply getting on the lee side of a building or vehicle is helpful. Another small thing that I think helps is not scrubbing the durable soot off the outside of one's cooking utensils. I have measured boiling times in shiny and "dirty" pots and dirty ones boil more quickly. If you are concerned about getting your gear sooty, simply make or buy some cloth bags to protect the equipment and clothing in your pack. Gerry
Thanks for the replies. I've noticed the difference in build quality in the newer version(s) only in that I currently own a newer propane stove in the same (425) case size. It's definitely a lighter gauge steel than my old gas version. The reason that I'd like a higher BTU output on the main burner is I have a tendency to camp in sub-freezing weather, and I've noticed the propane version to be pretty wimpy in this environment. Given that any gas stove will produce better output than my propane version, does anyone know when Coleman switched to the lighter-gauge case construction? I rebuilt/repainted my old 425 many times in the 25 years I owned it. Basically, i'm just looking for info to try to find a good deal to replace it. On a side note, if you're ever looking for a good case to keep your stove in, check out these guys: http://www.kirkhams.com/tabs/specialty/lantern_stove_griddle.html .
