Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater Review

Specs:

Catalytic heating technology delivers flameless heat

Provides 3,000 BTUs for up to 7 hours on one 16.4-ounce propane bottle (not included)

Easy-grip handle for convenient carrying

Legs fold up for easy storage 

 I have to admit that when we first got this little heater I was skeptical about how well it would perform. With a $60 price tag at Walmart I wanted to make sure that we got our money's worth. We got lucky one day and saw one on sale so we figured that was a good opportunity to grab it and test it out.

After two weeks of using it nearly daily, here is a list of the pros and cons:

PROS:

• light weight and easy to carry 
• puts out a decent amount of heat
• easy to use design
• collapsible
• propane canisters are cheap
• can use it indoors or outdoors

CONS:

•  propane doesn't last very long (one canister lasted typically 8 hours on high. not too bad, but it can be expensive if you use it constantly)
• legs are cumbersome to rotate and don't stay in place well if you adjust the height
• metal ring around the back of the face is unprotected and close to the handles (use caution when it's on and you want to move it or adjust it as not to burn yourself)
• propane canister gathers a lot of condensation on it when in use so it can get pretty wet (this does not affect the performance in any way)

CONCLUSION:

All in all it was a great buy! It's kept us very warm and comfortable, both inside and outside the tent. It feels like you have a little fire going next to you (hopefully that puts it into a bit of perspective). Despite how quickly the canisters run out when in constant use, 1 canister a day is still cheaper than a heating bill :) Although I am not sure we would have purchased it at the price of $60, which is a bit high for what it is, especially at Walmart.

Notes: 
 1. Be careful when lighting the heater. You need to hold a lighter at the bottom of the face plate and wait for the propane to ignite on 'high'. It can create a bit of a fireball but as long as it's clear of any fabrics or the like it's perfectly safe.
2. The face plate takes a little while to cool off so make sure you turn it off in advance of when you want to pack it away.