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Camco Olympian Wave-6 Catalytic Safety Heater
A flameless catalytic heater built for RVs and tents, producing 6,000 BTU of radiant heat with no open flame and no fan.
Best for: A mid-size tent or RV wanting flameless catalytic heat
- Flameless catalytic design, no visible flame at all
- Silent operation, no fan noise
- Designed specifically for enclosed RV and tent use
- Fixed 6,000 BTU output with no adjustment
- Needs a hose connection to a tank rather than a small cylinder
- Lower peak output than the Buddy FLEX
Mr. Heater Buddy FLEX (11,000 BTU)
A radiant propane heater rated for both indoor and outdoor use, with a flexible hose connection and the option to run on a 1 lb cylinder or a larger tank.
Best for: Campers wanting one heater that works indoors or outside the tent
- Rated for both indoor and outdoor use
- Runs on 1 lb cylinders or hose-connects to a larger tank
- Higher BTU ceiling than the Wave-6
- Has a visible flame, unlike the catalytic Wave-6
- Heavier than the Wave-6
- Costs somewhat more in most listings
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Factor | Camco Olympian Wave-6 Catalytic Safety Heater | Mr. Heater Buddy FLEX (11,000 BTU) |
|---|---|---|
| BTU output | 6,000 BTU (fixed) | 11,000 BTU (adjustable) |
| Design | Flameless catalytic | Radiant, visible flame |
| Rating | RV and tent use | Indoor and outdoor use |
| Fuel connection | Hose to a tank | 1 lb cylinder or hose to a tank |
| Noise | Silent | Silent |
| Best for | Flameless RV/tent heat | Flexible indoor/outdoor camping heat |
If you searched for a Coleman propane heater, it’s worth being upfront: Coleman doesn’t currently sell a dedicated, indoor-safe portable propane space heater. Coleman remains a major name in camping propane gear through its stoves, lanterns and fuel canisters, but the heater market developed differently — Mr. Heater built the indoor-safe radiant heater category and still dominates it. This page compares the two real, verified products campers actually choose between: Camco’s Olympian Wave-6 and Mr. Heater’s Buddy FLEX.
| Product | Best for | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Camco 57341 Olympian Wave-6 Catalytic Safety Heater, 6,000 BTU | Best flameless catalytic option | Check Price |
| Mr. Heater Buddy FLEX 11,000 BTU Radiant Propane Indoor/Outdoor Space Heater | Best flexible indoor/outdoor option | Check Price |
Top 3 Recommended
Why "Coleman Propane Heater" Doesn’t Lead Where You’d Expect
Coleman’s own catalog historically included some space heater products in past years, but current listings focus on stoves and cooking equipment rather than a dedicated indoor-safe radiant heater. If you already run Coleman’s propane canisters for a stove, they’re compatible with any heater that accepts standard 1 lb-equivalent disposable cylinders — which covers the Buddy FLEX directly. Camco is the other major camping-adjacent brand with a real heater in this space, which is why it’s the fairer comparison against Mr. Heater.
Flameless Catalytic vs. Radiant Flame
The Wave-6 uses catalytic combustion — there’s no visible flame at all, just a heated pad that radiates warmth. This design was specifically engineered for enclosed RV and tent use, where a completely flameless heat source has real appeal. The Buddy FLEX uses a standard radiant burner with a visible flame, the same basic design as the rest of the Mr. Heater Buddy lineup, just rated for both indoor and outdoor use with a flexible hose connection.
Fixed Output vs. Adjustable, Indoor/Outdoor Flexibility
The Wave-6 runs at a single fixed 6,000 BTU with no adjustment — simple, but with no room to dial up for a colder night. The Buddy FLEX offers more output at 11,000 BTU and, more importantly, is rated for use both inside a tent and outside it, which the RV-and-tent-specific Wave-6 isn’t explicitly built around in the same way. For campers who want one heater that works whether they’re in the tent or sitting around outside it, that flexibility matters.
Fuel Connection: Hose-Only vs. Cylinder or Hose
The Wave-6 connects via a hose to a tank. There’s no small-cylinder option built in. The Buddy FLEX runs on a 1 lb disposable cylinder out of the box, with the option to hose-connect to a larger tank as well. For a car-camping setup where a tank is already part of the plan, this difference matters less. For anyone who wants to grab a small cylinder and go without carrying a tank at all, the Buddy FLEX’s built-in cylinder support is the more flexible option.
Weight and Pack Size
The Wave-6 is a flat, low-profile unit designed to sit against an RV wall or the floor of a tent, and it packs down easily for storage between trips. The Buddy FLEX is bulkier, closer in shape to the rest of the Buddy lineup, with a stand built in for use outside a tent as well as inside it. For backpackers counting every ounce, neither is truly lightweight compared to the smallest Buddy models, but car campers and RV owners will find either one easy enough to store and transport.
Winner by Use Case
RV or trailer wanting flameless, catalytic heat: Wave-6 — purpose-built for this exact setting.
Tent camping, want one heater that also works outside the tent: Buddy FLEX — its indoor/outdoor rating covers both.
Grab-and-go trip with just a small cylinder, no tank: Buddy FLEX — built-in 1 lb cylinder support.
Already running Coleman propane canisters for a stove: Buddy FLEX — compatible with the same disposable cylinders.
Want the simplest possible fixed-output heater: Wave-6 — one setting, nothing to adjust.
Pick the Camco Olympian Wave-6 If…
- You want completely flameless, catalytic heat for an RV or tent.
- A fixed 6,000 BTU output is enough for your space.
- You already have a tank and hose setup for your RV or camper.
Pick the Mr. Heater Buddy FLEX If…
- You want one heater rated for both indoor and outdoor use.
- You want the option to run on a small 1 lb cylinder without a tank.
- You want a higher BTU ceiling for a colder night.
Read the Full Reviews
For complete specs and owner-reported detail, see our full Camco Olympian Wave-6 review and our full Mr. Heater Buddy FLEX review. See also our camping-brand propane heater guide for the fuller picture on which camping-gear brands actually make heaters.