Peak 1 Feather 400

Review Date
April 26, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Whitworth1609 ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $20.00 at Army Surplus

Summary:
Owned Feather 400 since mid 80's, never had one problem through 100's of burn time hours and Boy Scout abuse. I've bought and used other stoves but the Feather 400 just always works. When I've been with those who use other stoves, mine is first and last running and does major portion of cooking (my own and sometimes theirs). My stove is beat up but still on the job. About the weight, What extra weight? Fuel canisters of other liquid fuel stoves may not be permanently attached to the burner but they do have weight. Initially I carried my Feather 400 as a backup for my MSR Pocket Rocket, because the Feather 400 has never failed. Neither has the Pocket Rocket but that's another review. My sons carry canister stoves but I still hang on to old reliable.

Customer Service:
Never used

Similar Products Used:
Optimus

Review Date
November 1, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: cooler(Unregistered User) ,  Car Camper

Price Paid:  $40.00 at A store in CT

Summary:
I had this stove since sometime in the 80's. I do not remember. It worked quite well, until the generator gave me trouble. At the time I did not know it. The authorized service guys in Hamden sat on it for a month, before I took it back and wrote to Coleman a lengthy letter. They replaced the generator (Aha!) and enclosed a new one. I thought that was nice.

Then a few years later it developed a leak around the lock nut that tightens the generator cleaning lever. It happened a few times, but I learned to tighten it with a wrench. After one stout torque, it never leaked again.

It puts out impressive heat. The fuel tank can get a little hot, however, after a long boiling session.

I bought the Coleman brand windscreen (rather unsightly and bulky) designed for it, but I do not use it. Too inconvenient. I prefer the paneled one that you can place it on the table or stake it into the soft ground. Just be careful with overheating, when you use windscreen with this type of stove, as well as with Svea 123.

The only grumble I have is that it gives off that nasty stench, after you shut it off. It is just unavoidable. That smoke gives me a headache. That was the main reason why I switched to canister type stoves, until I discovered Primus Omni.

Peak 1 400 is a great car camping stove for two. It takes little room and weight in the trunk. I would not take it on a hiking, because it is rather too heavy in the backpack. I would rather take my Svea 123. And I learned to take a backup stove always.

Customer Service:
Coleman did okay in responding to my indignant letter. I never needed any services after that.

Similar Products Used:
Optimus Svea 123, 8R, 99; Primus Omni Fuel.

Review Date
August 12, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Jeff Legato(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from San Luis Obispo, CA USA

Price Paid:  $10.00 at REI

Summary:
I got this at an REI garage sale. Someone returned it saying that it leaked. I pumped it up and couldn't detect any leak so, at a steal for $10, I had nothing really to lose.

I have to say, this stove is almost TOO easy to use! I have had ZERO problems with it. Fill it up and your good for two people for at least 3 days, probably 5 if you were efficient with it. I have considered purchasing a lighter stove but the feather is just too good to give up on.

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
April 23, 2001

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: Russ Mead(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Seattle WA

Summary:
This is the only real simmer stove I like. It is a bit heavy, and in wind can blow out 1/4 of the flame. (

Ok, now the real bad part. I have had mine catch on fire twice. The fuel line needs to be tight. Mine leaked and was a disaster on a week long trip in Alaska.

It went up in flames a second time, and I retired it for a while. Then I fooled with it and found the leak and cranked down on the line to fix the problem.

Customer service wanted to sell me parts, but not fix the thing. I was not pleased with them.

It is a good canoe stove if working properly. I do not use it as a backpacking stove because of the problems I have had with it and the extra weight. I do use it for making coffee on car camping trips, but that is about all.

For backpacking I like my 30 year old Svea 123, or the workhorse msr XGK. These two stoves have yet to let me down.

For out and out car camping I still like the big brief case Colemans. The base that holds the fry pans on these old dogs is stronger than my commercial stove at home.

The Peak one feather is in no mans land. Not light or dependable enough for backpacking. Not strurdy enough for a big pot of car camping stew.

Makes great coffee however (when it is not engulfed in a ball of flames.)

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
March 19, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: S. Velthuis(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Summary:
Preheating is very easy, never had any problems with it, not even with unleaded car fuel. Just pump a few times and light. Preheating at low temperatures is possible wtih alcohol. But: no preheating cup, so you've to wet the burner itself. A little bit flare is possible as long as the burner isn't hot, but as long as you don't cook in your tent, that's no problem. Burner is placed on top of the tank, so as long as you don't overfill the tank, you can't get any liquid fuel (= reason for flaring) in the burner
Power? No problem, the first time I used the burner I put a dry aluminium pan on the fire. It was bended in 5 seconds....
The pump makes it even more powerfull, especially when the tank is almost empty.
Large pans aren't also a problem. I'm a tourguide for a travel organisation, so I often use large pans for groups. Once I cooked 20 chicken drumsticks for a bbq with a group in one 6 liter pan, no problem. Last year I baked during 1.5 hour 55 pan cakes for 18 persons....
By the way: cooking in the dark looks nice with a red hot burner!

Taking apart the burner is a little bit more difficult as, for example, an Optimus.

The burner I use is a very old type (early 80's, not even sure it's a 400, but is is a Feather, I've got it second hand from my uncle) and officially not appropriate for car fuel, but it's always used with car fuel. No problems, especially not when you use it often at full throttle. Possible clogs will be horrified by the heat!

Customer Service:
Just changed the leather cup of the pump. After 20 years that's not a shame.

Similar Products Used:
Optimus 111 Hiker, a real tank.