Classic camp gear

Coleman has been creating innovative camping gear for more than 120 years

“Coleman has never lost sight of the most important thing: connecting friends and families with the best of the outside.”

— JIM PISANI CEO of the Coleman Company

Pulling out my trusty Coleman tent is always a sign that good memories are about to be made. Whether it’s spending a relaxing weekend outdoors or gearing up for livelier times at a park or campsite, Coleman products always remain steadfast and stand the test of time.

Making quality products for lasting memories is the cornerstone of the Coleman Company. “It all started with a lantern [more than] 120 years ago, and Coleman has never lost sight of the most important thing: connecting friends and families with the best of the outside,” says Jim Pisani, CEO of Coleman.

If you don’t like the look or idea of plastic or polymer, the company also offers wood garden beds, made from lumber and sustainable bamboo (for indoor beds) certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. “We do things right so that our products last,” adds DeJong.

Coleman, who had poor eyesight, was so impressed that he set up a company call the Hydro-Carbon Light Company through which he rented out these lights. In 1900, Coleman relocated to Kingfisher, Oklahoma Territory, to sell the lamps. Business took off, and Coleman eventually purchased the patent for the Efficient Lamp and moved his company’s headquarters to Wichita, Kansas.”

Birth of a brand

In 1903, Coleman renamed the Efficient Lamp the Arc Lamp, and by 1905 it was being manufactured in Wichita. In 1913, he renamed his business the Coleman Lamp Company and the iconic Coleman Lantern was born.

In 1914, Coleman released a more powerful 300-candlepower lantern that provided light in every direction for 91 metres (300 feet). It could light up all four corners of a barn, which lengthened the workday for farmers. According to Pisani, “This boosted productivity and changed the work dynamic in rural North America.”

Throughout the early part of the 20th century, Coleman began releasing even more powerful lanterns and creating compact stoves for troops during World War II.

After World War II ended, North America entered an era of prosperity and families had more money to spend. This in turn increased the consumer demand for Coleman’s fold-up camping stove, as veterans had become familiar with its versatility on the front lines. Coleman subsequently began tailoring all of its products toward camping, creating approachable products intended for the everyday outdoors person.

Coleman added tents and sleeping bags to its lineup in the 1960s, battery lighting in the 1980s, and camping furniture and accessories during the 1990s.

Company ethos carries on

The current line of Coleman products lives up to the high standards the brand was built on, crafted to be rugged, efficient and reliable to stand the test of time. From durable Kompact™ sleeping bags to Skydome™ tents for the whole family, Coleman provides great value without sacrificing quality.

“The company’s core values are a great fit for our company,” says Costco buyer Gabriel Poirier. “Coleman consistently makes innovative, rugged gear that you can rely on.”

Today, it would be a challenge to outfit yourself for outdoor fun and not have something from the Coleman family of products. “Coleman ignites human connections in the outside with the power to restore, redefine and reimagine a better tomorrow—for everyone,” says Pisani.

The outside is calling; it’s time to answer the call.

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