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Coleman 5038-850 BlackCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with Instastart Technology
By: Coleman       Average Rating: 4.5     Total Reviews: 19
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Performed Very Well     On: 2008-11-12

I recently used this product in Yosemite. At night, in a heavy rain, the temperature dropped to under 40 degrees f. On the high setting, after about 10 min, I was able to relax comfortably on top of my sleeping bag in a t-shirt and sweat pants ( I was in a 7x7 dome tent). I accidentally fell asleep for about an hour while the unit unit was on. No ill effects, but not recommended. A full canister (16.4) lasted around 6 hours on the HIGH setting. The supporting legs of the unit seemed a bit fragile. The automatic ignition switch sometimes took several (20+) clicks before lighting. All in all, the Black Cat Propane Heater was very useful, and made my trip to Yosemite all the more comfortable!
Very Cool! Yet Very Warm!     On: 2008-10-30

We used the BlackCat up in the NC Blueridge Mountains. Kept our tent very warm at 36 degree temps, only had to keep it on low heat and lasted all night on one bottle, used the rest for our Coleman lantern the next 2 nights. Would very much recommend this product.
Keeps you warm     On: 2008-08-27

This heater is awesome. It really keeps you warm when weather is around 30+ degrees. We borrowed one from a friend when we went camping at 11,000 ft in Colorado. We ended up having to buy our own one we liked it so much. We were always die hard campers but when you throw kids into the mix, we really wanted to make sure they stayed warm. I highly recommend it!!!
I survived the 60's, twice.     On: 2008-02-02

I read all of the comments on tent heaters and apparently none of you are old enough to remember drive-in theaters. In the winter months, the drive-in operators put a similar propane heater on your car that hung on the inside of your window. This gave off enough heat to keep me and my gal warm enough to be able to get cozy enough to make our own heat.
Coleman BlackCat Heater     On: 2008-01-27

The Coleman 5038-850 BlackCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with Instastart Technology is great for the cold first days of the Division I college baseball season. It keeps the toes toasty warm and enough heat radiates upward for body warmth.
Great little heater.     On: 2007-12-19

I used this a lot last camping season. For the first several uses there was a strange toxic smell in my tent. I thought something was wrong with the heater. Now I realized I think it was the toxins coming out of the plastic of my tent! Now it doesnt make that smell anymore. It has low and high settings which are really great. I turn it off before I go to sleep. I like that it has an electric start. I was considering another model but reviews said that sparks came out upon lighting it! With this model, Ive felt very safe each time I lit it. Its true as others say, the legs are kind of cheapy, but once they got loose and the thing collapsed, I realized I just needed to tighten the screws and it was fine. Now I just keep a screwdriver in my tent.
Decent little heater     On: 2007-07-12

Works as advertised, but its all about how you use it. The bigger your space, naturally, the less effective this is. In our experience, youve really got to have this thing within 3-4 feet of you to feel it. Again, with a smaller tent, more heat will likely be trapped.
great little unit     On: 2007-06-19

Works great, compact, no frills, but it just works.
Had an older model with fan on it, but the outer bezel broke and would have cost more to get replacement parts than to buy this one. It works well. Ive used in tents, sleeping in a vehicle, camper, and its performed well. Small spaces only.
great little unit     On: 2007-06-18

Works great, compact, no frills, but it just works.
Had an older model with fan on it, but the outer bezel broke and would have cost more to get replacement parts than to buy this one. It works well. Ive used in tents, sleeping in a vehicle, camper, and its performed well. Small spaces only.
ProCat Tent Heater: Great Product!     On: 2007-01-31

Ive only had the opportunity to use the Procat 3000 BTU heater once when it was 25 degrees overnight in middle Tennessee in a two-man tent. The heater worked great with minimal odor and maximum warmth. I warmed up the tent before I went to bed (never leaving it unattended) and turned it off after snuggling into my sleeping bag. The electronic ignition was great! In the morning I simply reached out of my sleeping bag with one hand and turned on the heater about 30 minutes before I arose. It did take several clicks of the switch to ignite the heater as described in the instructions. It also takes a few minutes for the whole pad in the heater to begin to glow but it was worth the wait! While there is no open flame, per se, the heater gets HOT so you must ensure you have adequate space in your tent for all of your `stuff to be clear of the front of the heater to reduce the risk of fire. This heater is made to use safely inside a tent, however, carefully read the instructions regarding proper ventilation of your tent while using the heater to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. I left a small opening in the front and rear tent flaps to allow adequate airflow. I read one review on another site that said you had to use Coleman fuel as recommended by the manufacturer; however, I used the cheapest fuel I could find with great results. If love camping but you hate the cold, this product is for you!
Good for a Soccer Mom     On: 2007-01-12

I bought this for my wife to used at those winter soccer games. The electronic ignition was the main reason for getting this heater. It takes about 5 or 6 pushes on the button to get it to "fire up". My only complaint is that the plastic tabs that hold one of the legs when standing snapped off the second time I used it. It doesnt throw out a lot of heat, but works well for our needs.
Really Works     On: 2007-01-10

I used this in a deer blind and it worked well. Plenty of heat and very quiet. Only problem was one of the plastic tabs that hold one of the legs when standing snapped off the first day. I will repair it (and the other side also as it will brake im sure)with a screw before next winter. The built in lighter is pretty loud, but you can always use matches if thats an issue.
Great for the tree stand during hunting season     On: 2007-01-09

We bought this for my husband and son to take hunting. They are very happy with it. It has been used it for other things besides hunting. Our children are scouts and we are sure this item will see plenty of use in the future. It was a better deal (even with shipping) through Amazon than from several of the local chain stores and I dont mean by one or two dollars. It was a twenty five dollar difference. Yes, it was the exact same item.
Coleman Tent Heater     On: 2007-01-05

Tested upon receipt. The push button start worked like a charm. No matches needed and puts plenty of heat out. Would definitely buy it again if needed.
Coleman BlackCat Portable Heater     On: 2007-01-05

Works great, I use it in my boat for steelhead, & duck hunting... Great when hands need warming up. The downside... The little nubs that keep the feet in place broke off when I was pushing down on the starter button. May want to hold onto the unit while igniting then sit it on the ground...
chris     On: 2007-01-03

We really like are blackcat heater. We took it hunting with us in oct. it was really cold out and we slept in are tent, it didnt take it long to heat up the tent.At night we would stay in our tent to play games the temp outside was 36 degress. Well worth the purchase.
Makes a miserable situation pleasant!     On: 2007-01-01

I also have the older model of this. The key feature I like on this new one is the ability to adjust the output. I havent yet decided whether to buy the new one for the adjustment feature, as the old one works great. But I am about to set out on a 30 day winter camping trip, and the ability to run it at a much lower rate is tempting.

We originally got the old one to use in a boat for winter overnights in our MacGregor 26X. It was so WONDERFUL!! It took a would-be miserable situation of being cold and dark in early evening at anchor, and wanting to play a game rather than trying to read or sleep through a bunch more winter hours. This warmed the cabin of our little sailboat up in about 20 mins to where you could take off mittens to hold cards.

We would then let the heater run for about an hour, get it fairly toasty, then turn it off and head off to bed and reading in the sleeping bag only after it got to cold to hold cards again.

If I didnt aready have an older model that works perfectly, I would buy one of these instantly. And guys, if you want your gals to do more camping and be happier doing it, get her one of these.
Great heater!     On: 2006-12-19

I have the older version of this heater without the auto lighting feature. Ive used this heater for about five years and cant say anything bad about it. Originally I bought it for tent camping in a small tent. During a cool rainy spell we stayed in the tent and were as snug as a bug in a rug. (We being myself and my cocker spaniel). I then went up to a popup camper and used it there as well and was pleased with the heat it put out for such a small heater. This winter Ive been using it in my small computer room and it has really warmed up the area if I keep the door closed except for about 6 inches. I would recommend this heater to anyone. Dont expect it to heat a large room or large tent. But, for the price and the operating cost, you cant beat it. I also recently ordered an adapter that allows you to refill the 1 lb bottles from a 20 lb tank. You cant refill them indefinitely, but 3-4 times, which will save a bunch of money and you put less of these bottles into the landfill. If there was a 10-star rating, I would give this a 10!
Pleased with performance.     On: 2006-12-08

I took this heater camping in Delaware on Columbus Day weekend (October). I used it in a well-ventilated 4-person (medium-sized) tent. The first 2 days were cold and rainy, and I was VERY glad to have brought it.

Now, this heater is not going to make your tent into a sauna on a very cold day, so dont expect to get in the tent and lounge in your skivies like you might do at home! But after burning for about 10-15 min, it should raise the temperature in your tent several precious degrees making it bareable; even comfortable. For instance, it did keep me from having to wear my heavy coat while inside the tent, which pleased me.

Since it would certainly heat a smaller, less-vented tent better than a larger, more-vented tent, your results may vary. As for me, the results were not dramatic, but certainly noticable, and well worth the money spent.

Note: This kind of catalytic heater requires those mini propane tanks. It works by a chemical reaction between a meshy platinum filter and the burning propane gas, so while theres no obvious propane smell and no open flame, theres still a very hot surface that could catch objects on fire if they are placed directly in front of it for too long. FYI, when you first light it, you may indeed see an igniting flame, but that is just upon start up. Once the starting flame vanishes, put your hand gently over the heater - if you feel it eminating warmth, youll know youve started it successfully.

Warning: Just as the instructions warn you, I do NOT recommend leaving this heater on through the night when you and your family are asleep. It is both a carbon monoxide hazard, and an obvious fire hazard. But warning stated, I did just that and I didnt have a problem. I slept very comfortably on a couple cold nights and I didnt die in my sleep. Again, your results may vary.

However, I should note that my own tent is extreamly well ventilated, with the entire ceiling being mesh under the rain fly. In addition, the night was windy, and I could actually feel a breeze of air circulating in my tent. In truth, if I had brought a less-ventilated, cold-weather tent with me that weekend, the heater may not have been needed at night, but since I was stuck with a drafty tent, I took the calculated risk that this would also lessen the carbon monoxide threat. In addition, I took every possible precaution to ensure that nothing was near the heater before going to sleep. Even so, its a risk that I could not blame anyone for not wanting to take. Also, if you do this, expect the propane tank to be empty by morning.

All in all, other than the obvious handle-with-care factors, I could not find a downside to this product. In fact, I could not imagine cold-weather camping without it. P.S. They also sell a slightly cheaper version, which is the same in every way, except it does not have the self-starting switch, and you start it manually with a lit match.
Pleased with performance.     On: 2006-12-07

I took this heater camping in Delaware on Columbus Day weekend (October). I used it in a well-ventilated 4-person (medium-sized) tent. The first 2 days were cold and rainy, and I was VERY glad to have brought it.

Now, this heater is not going to make your tent into a sauna on a very cold day, so dont expect to get in the tent and lounge in your skivies like you might do at home! But after burning for about 10-15 min, it should raise the temperature in your tent several precious degrees making it bareable; even comfortable. For instance, it did keep me from having to wear my heavy coat while inside the tent, which pleased me.

Since it would certainly heat a smaller, less-vented tent better than a larger, more-vented tent, your results may vary. As for me, the results were not dramatic, but certainly noticable, and well worth the money spent.

Note: This kind of catalytic heater requires those mini propane tanks. It works by a chemical reaction between a meshy platinum filter and the burning propane gas, so while theres no obvious propane smell and no open flame, theres still a very hot surface that could catch objects on fire if they are placed directly in front of it for too long. FYI, when you first light it, you may indeed see an igniting flame, but that is just upon start up. Once the starting flame vanishes, put your hand gently over the heater - if you feel it eminating warmth, youll know youve started it successfully.

Warning: Just as the instructions warn you, I do NOT recommend leaving this heater on through the night when you and your family are asleep. It is both a carbon monoxide hazard, and an obvious fire hazard. But warning stated, I did just that and I didnt have a problem. I slept very comfortably on a couple cold nights and I didnt die in my sleep. Again, your results may vary.

However, I should note that my own tent is extreamly well ventilated, with the entire ceiling being mesh under the rain fly. In addition, the night was windy, and I could actually feel a breeze of air circulating in my tent. In truth, if I had brought a less-ventilated, cold-weather tent with me that weekend, the heater may not have been needed at night, but since I was stuck with a drafty tent, I took the calculated risk that this would also lessen the carbon monoxide threat. In addition, I took every possible precaution to ensure that nothing was near the heater before going to sleep. Even so, its a risk that I could not blame anyone for not wanting to take. Also, if you do this, expect the propane tank to be empty by morning.

All in all, other than the obvious handle-with-care factors, I could not find a downside to this product. In fact, I could not imagine cold-weather camping without it. P.S. They also sell a slightly cheaper version, which is the same in every way, except it does not have the self-starting switch, and you start it manually with a lit match.
New & Improved     On: 2005-09-20

I have the first model that came out, without stability, without the electronic ignition. I think the heater is a decent item to have if youre planning on camping during the cold months. It beats the frozen fingers & toes option. Plus a good zero degree bag always helps. Heck, even some Spring or Fall nights can be pretty chilly in higher elevations. Make sure to leave a cross ventilation!

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