Coleman Outdoor Products: You'll Find Them Useful For Much More Than Outdoor Camping...

When you think of Coleman you automatically think of camping. However, we want to let you know that Coleman products are useful in many more situations other than camping. They're great for all kinds of outdoor fun.

W.C. Coleman was taking a stroll after a hard day’s work selling typewriters, and spotted a new type of lamplight in a drugstore window in Brockton, Alabama. This new light burned with a strong, steady white flame and was fueled by gasoline. The standard lamp of the era burned kerosene and produced a smoky, flickering, yellowish light. W.C. was stricken with very poor eyesight, and was very interested in this new, steady white light that enabled him to read even the smallest print in books and on medicine bottles. Coleman saw potential in the new light, and through his vision a new company was born that would put America’s farms and ranches in a new light, and would eventually make his name synonymous with outdoor fun.

In 1905, W.C. Coleman wanted to demonstrate just what his new gas lamps were capable of. He strung his lamps around the football field at Fairmount College in Wichita, Kansas and the first night football game west of the Mississippi occurred that evening under Coleman gas lights, resulting in a 24-0 shutout of Cooper College by the Fairmount College Wheatshockers.

Since electric service wasn't an option in most places, when the sun went down, the work day ended. In 1909, W.C. Coleman started selling a portable table lamp that would became a staple in rural homes, and five years later introduced a product that would help transform the company from a local concern into a national necessity. The new 300 candlepower lantern provided working light in every direction for 100 yards and could light the far corners of a barn. The Coleman lantern lengthened the time farmers and ranchers could work. This significantly boosted productivity, and fundamentally changed the work dynamic in rural America. And the U.S. Government declared this lantern an “essential item” for the troops serving in World War I in Europe.

World War II swept across the globe and the Coleman Company did its part to support the war effort. Coleman was sending parts over but in June of 1942 the Army Quartermaster Corps issued an urgent request to the Coleman Company. Field troops were in dire need of a compact stove that could operate within a wide range of conditions in multiple theaters, weighed less than five pounds, could be no larger than a quart bottle of milk, and could burn any kind of fuel. And, the U.S. Army wanted 5,000 of the stoves delivered in sixty days.

Work commenced immediately to design and manufacture a stove that met the Army's strict specifications. The end product far exceeded anything that the Army had requested: the stove could work at 60 degrees below and up to 150 degrees above Fahrenheit; it could burn all kinds of fuel; it weighed a mere three and one-half pounds; and it was smaller than a quart bottle of milk. Journalists considered it one of the two most important pieces of noncombat equipment in the war effort, the other being the Jeep.

When the war ended, Coleman's business boomed. American families had money, a new interstate highway system, and fancy new cars! Families started to travel and explore. Car camping was all the rage. Travelers loaded up the station wagons and took off. Roadways were improving, but hotels in those days weren’t on every corner. Instead of check-in times, Vacationers simply pulled off the road and made camp on the roadside.

A fold-up camp stove that W.C. Coleman had first developed two decades earlier quickly found favor with the auto camping crowd. To retailers, the two-burner stove was billed as a "keen cooker and a quick seller". It found its way onto front porches and into hunting lodges, vacation cabins and camping trailers. Along with the lantern, the camp stove made an ideal traveling companion and was a must have for the family getaways.

In 1954, a Coleman engineer saw a child blowing soap bubbles, and came up with the concept that is basically the same process used today for insulated coolers. A plastic “bubble” could be formed out of heated sheet plastic, and then molded into the shape that is needed for the cooler, and finally is snapped into place. The product revolutionized the Cooler industry in 1957, and the cooler that Coleman manufactured as a result of this groundbreaking process is lighter and more efficient, and easier to clean than any cooler made to this date. This is basically the same process that has been used ever since.

In the decades following, The Coleman Company adapted to the changes and trends in the business of outdoor recreation. They added tents and sleeping bags to their outdoor line in 1962. Coleman battery lighting hit the market in the ‘80s, and the ‘90s saw an even more comprehensive catalog of Coleman products, such as camping furniture and accessories, along with award-winning backpacking stoves with innovative fuel systems.

The Coleman Company, Inc. added many recognizable brands to their family of goods after the dawn of the new century. Under the Coleman tent, you’ll now find Sevylor floats and towables, Stearns life vests, Mad Dog Gear ATV accessories, Helium sports vests and AeroBed airbeds. It’s a challenge to outfit yourself for outdoor fun and not have something from the Coleman family of products with you.

What started out as a lamp that could light up four corners of a barn has become a company that has helped light all four corners of the globe. Coleman products have journeyed deep in the Sahara desert, and been along on treks all the way to the South Pole. Coleman lanterns guided aircraft to safe landings in the Andes Mountains in South America in the 1920s, and helped climbers reach the top of Mt. Everest in the next century. Hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, four-wheeling, relaxing, tailgating. Being in the outdoors has so much to offer, and Coleman has everything to help you get out there.

A few staples for your outdoor adventures:

FyreMajor 3-in-1 Propane Stove. Comfortably serve up a family feast in no time with this stove. Revolutionary 11,000-BTU burners utilize HyperFlame technology to provide even heat distribution across the pan and wind resistance to cut boiling time in half. Wind Block pan supports provide 360° of wind protection and eliminate needing side panels so you can use a 12" and 10" pan at the same time. Its DripTrap water pan catches grease for easy cleaning in the dishwasher. The sturdy telescoping legs let you adjust the height to cook comfortably. Just hit the Instastart push-button ignition and dial in your heat with the two independently adjustable burners. The built-in handle and latching lid make for easy carrying back home until you're ready to create your next camping culinary masterpiece.

55-Quart Rugged Wheeled Cooler. Blaze a trail to anywhere and take along some cold food and drinks with this all-terrain cooler. Go far off the beaten path with its telescoping handle and 8" over- sized, off-road wheels and rugged EZ-Lift swing handles that make it easy to carry your cooler in the roughest of conditions. It's large enough to hold 84 cans and plenty of space for refreshments for a whole group of people, and they'll stay cold for up to 5 days. Once you arrive, the Have-A-Seat lid will ensure you always have a place to sit and relax, and the cup holders molded into the lid will keep your cold drink close while you enjoy the day. After you've trekked your way back, the leak-resistant drain makes it easy to empty any excess water, so you're ready for your next off-road adventure.

Quad Pro 800L LED Lantern. Get the convenience of multiple lights in one with this lantern. When you need to take some light with you without taking the whole lantern, simply pop one of the take-along light panels off the base to use as a personal light. Each panel also has a built-in flashlight providing the options of directional or area lighting whenever you leave the main area. The magnetic attachment system on each panel lets you stick them to toolboxes, car hoods, the steel frame of your shelter, or other metal surfaces for hands-free light. Or, you can flip out the fold down panel handle and use it as a stand to prop the panel up on a table. When you return the panels back to the base, the batteries will automatically recharge. If every panel needs to be removed, a light on the base will stay lit to help you find your way back to the main campsite. Plus, with the mobile charging output, you can keep your phone and other mobile devices charged if you're not around a power source or if the power is out. When everything is together the lantern shines up to 800 lumens on high for up to 20 hours or 100 lumens on low for up to 400 hours, so you can enjoy good times with friends and family long into the night.

CT-70F Tactical Light Flashlight. Be prepared for any situation and eliminate the darkness with seven hundred lumens of light for up to six hours with six AA batteries. Simple, single-button operation lets you keep your mind on your surroundings. Just click once for high, double click for strobe, click and hold for electronic dimming, then easily adjust your beam with the focusing bezel. Rugged. Reliable. Powerfully bright. The heavy-duty tactical flashlight you can trust.

Multi-Color 150L LED Headlamp. Whether camping, fishing or hunting this comfortable, lightweight, water-resistant headlamp allows you to get the job done hands-free. With five modes: high, low, flashing, red for enhanced night vision, and blue sportsman's light. With up to 150 extra-bright lumens, this compact headlamp delivers up to 55 meters of light on the highest setting. LEDs also run cool never need to be replaced. When you've got a tough job, the pivoting head allows you to point light where you need it.

Airbed Cot. Take the comfort of an indoor bed with you when you sleep outside on the this awesome airbed cot. Just connect the included 4D pump to the Double Lock valve for easy, leak-free inflation. Once you find the perfect firmness, the AirTight system will help keep it there, since it's factory-tested to be leak-free. The ComfortStrong coil system provides all-night support. It is more than a place to sleep with two side tables with cup holders to easily place your drink, a snack, a magazine or personal items on both sides of the bed. A sewn-in cover keeps the airbed in place on the strong steel frame. When you’re ready to pack up, the Double Lock valve lets you deflate the bed just as easily, and it folds up into a carry bag for easy transport and storage.