NOTE: According to Coleman, this is a DISCONTINUED PRODUCT!!! It's not a bad stove, but you should be aware!
Original review follows:
The Coleman Feather 442 inspires a little love, a little wariness, and some real dislikes.
The good points of this stove include: The sharing of many parts with other dual-fuel Coleman stoves, such as the 533 Sportster (generator, windshield, generator base, etc.); its light weight, good performance and a clean, hot burn when using naptha (AKA white gas, Coleman fuel); ability to burn unleaded (but only in an emergency as you will eventually clog the generator); and smooth pump system, another part universally shared with nearly every Coleman stove and lantern of the recent memory and current production.
Bad points of this stove include: The fact that you *must* extend the feet for a more stable platform - it won't sit flat otherwise (unlike the Exponent Multi Fuel); the base does not adjust for slope (again, unlike the Exponent Multi Fuel); the extended profile is very high, perhaps an unsafe height for large pots for a portable, backpacking stove; and the number of pumps required to achieve operating pressure both before a running prime and after the stove gets started.
The ugly points of this stove are not to Coleman's credit, truly heinous, IMHO, of this company and could jeopardize what little of its reputation is left with some consumers: Chinese import junk-like manufacture, assembly and quality control! For example, the stove I received had poor underspray of the paint coating around the pump and fill cap seals; the generator was mis-aligned and twisted, possibly as the result of massive torque applied to the generator nut at the valve seal (interestingly, while Coleman states that 'only generators for use with kerosene have notched seal nuts,' the generator nut on this stove had notches); the fill cap had a poorly stamped, and slightly mis-aligned clamp for the pressure washer, resulting in a poor seal (no pressure) without undue tightening; and a mis-intalled rubber 'lanyard' for the stove and filler cap.
The result of the poor cap seal was that I was initially stymied when attempting to pressurize the stove for the first time as a fill with fresh Coleman fuel - kinda fooled me, since i used the same pressure as when using my Coleman Exponent Multi Fuel. However, upon tightening, pressurization (about 25 pumps), and lighting, the stove provided a nice blue controllable flame after the first minute of firing.
Considering these initial impressions and the very reasonable cost for this product, I think the stove is OK. And another good point, if you carry three large-headed nails, is that you can anchor the stove in soft ground by using the hole perforations in the stove's extensible feet - adding a bit of safety and stability. I have not tried this stove in 20mph+ winds as yet, but i'd bring along a windscreen just in case. Coleman Exponent Feather 442 Dual Fuel Stove
This is a good lightweight stove. I use it with the white gas. I wouldn't recommend unleaded gas except for emergencies. It's dirty and you really don't want to cook with and handle it if you don't have to. Plus Coleman's white gas is very cheap at camping stores.
I had this out and burning all night recently when I had a party. I put it in the middle of a large round table outside and got some cocktail franks, marshmellows, and shish kabob sticks for a mini cookout. It was the hit of the party and burned all night without a problem (except refilling). Easy to start and maintain (though it will get a bit dirty after using it a while). I recommend this and one or two extra bottles for fuel. It's a good size for one or two people camping.
This thing just works.
I've taken it on 3 backpacking trips so far, and it is a little heavy for that, but not too much. You can store the fuel in the stove, and it is easily enough fuel for four 2-person meals. It is low-to-no maintenance. The fact that it runs on unleaded gasoline is awesome, too. It's a bit pricey, but it works very, very well. - Stove - Accessories - Camping Stove'
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