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Lanterns: What do you use?
- Thread starter msiley
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2008
- Messages
- 2,422
I use electric when I can but when I need something brighter mainly just use the good old Coleman propane.
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2007
- Messages
- 244
I have a little battery powered Rayovac one. It about the size of a large drinking glass and could light a tent/room/path to relieve ones self. Wasn't too expensive either. Runs on a few AAs
I use a candle lantern like the above photo. They have a long burn time and they are almost no maintenance. They not as bright as a Butane lantern but
in the dark woods they give you a fair amount of light. The lantern and 4 candles is very compact and lightweight to carry. :thumbup:
in the dark woods they give you a fair amount of light. The lantern and 4 candles is very compact and lightweight to carry. :thumbup:
For car camping
I have an old cantankerous Coleman dual mantle - if you don't prime and light it right, you WILL get a very good portrayal of Mt. Vesuvius. Impressive, but it makes the natives restless. Properly done, it does through a gawdawful lot of light. It has a soft spot in my heart. Though it may be from the heat and sun-like presence.
I have a wally-world kerosene lantern. Not nearly as much light, and no pyrotechnics. I drain the reservoir before packing, to ensure no spilling of fuel through where the wick comes through. It works, does the job, and kerosene or lamp oil is available in many places. Good kit.
I have a Coleman battery powered fluorescent lantern. It takes 8 D (yikes) or two of those large square batteries. It has two settings, kinda high and not so kinda high (can you tell there's not much difference?). For the weight, cost and output, I'm not impressed.
For packing:
I have one of the UCO candle lanterns. Neat little thing. Classy.
I had a Brunton LED Glorb, but have no idea where it got to. 250 hours on 4 AAs. Booyah. I miss it. Cylindrical, even light.
My in-laws just gave me a Coleman exponent LED lantern that i will be using at PWYP next month. It has a square shape, slides up out of a housing, takes 4 AAs and weighs half a pound. The square shape gives the light an interesting effect that I'm not totally sold on. It has two levels of light, but can be further attenuated by closing the light some (but not all the way, as it will extinguish the light). Coleman also makes a smaller, triangular version marketed more for backpackers. Jury is out.
I have used the candle in a pop-can. It worked for what I needed it for - light at the dinner table, but the candle wax did make a mess. Caught several bugs in the wax (take that bugs!).
I have used headlamps and flashlights as tent lights, including a Photon with a gator clip attachment that I think I lost. The Photon with a clip was pretty good - just a little light in an otherwise pitchy blacky kinda place goes a long way. With the clip, I was able to place it in a couple different spots. I have a Fenix L1D that I can't wait to see how it compares, with and without that goofy little diffuser.
I've also used cyalume sticks. Hate the green and yellow glow. They make white, but the white don't last as long.
Pros and COns:
White gas is versatile, if you also have a stove that uses it. Ditto for propane, so include that in your planning.
I do not know that comparative flammability of Kero to White Gas.
There is a caution about carbon monoxide, but most tents are ventilated enough for this to not be an issue - but think about it.
The candle in a can trick worked nicely, but I didn't set it up right and it wouldn't stay put in the wind. So I used it sitting on a table.
The UCO has Citronella candles (I have not tested these yet), 9 hour candles (they do last that long - verified on a trip to the Fingerlakes area of NY in the fall), and bees wax that cost more. I have not used the bees wax, but the advantage is that the higher the bees wax content, the less wax buildup you will have in the lantern. It can be a bit of a pain to pry, scrap and clean - but it's what you get. Alternatively, UCO also makes a tealight version and while I have not yet tried, I have heard you can rig a tealight into the larger lantern. Burn time is about 4 hours for most tealights.
Batteries - cold affects them negatively; lithium helps negates this, are lighter than alkalines, but cost more. NiMH can be nice, reserach the consumption curves in the product you're using it in. Additionally, if you are away and can standardize all your equipment to, say AA, then look at either a car adapter charger, or a solar charger for those longer trips. Costlier, but guilt free lumens has that nice warm fuzzy feeling.
I have simply typed and have only corrected typos as I saw them. There is no way I'm going to read my own drivel. Any mistakes you read are entirely your fault and is in no way attributable to me.
LOL - I've been reading Hitchhiker's Guide. Does it show?
Rob
I have an old cantankerous Coleman dual mantle - if you don't prime and light it right, you WILL get a very good portrayal of Mt. Vesuvius. Impressive, but it makes the natives restless. Properly done, it does through a gawdawful lot of light. It has a soft spot in my heart. Though it may be from the heat and sun-like presence.
I have a wally-world kerosene lantern. Not nearly as much light, and no pyrotechnics. I drain the reservoir before packing, to ensure no spilling of fuel through where the wick comes through. It works, does the job, and kerosene or lamp oil is available in many places. Good kit.
I have a Coleman battery powered fluorescent lantern. It takes 8 D (yikes) or two of those large square batteries. It has two settings, kinda high and not so kinda high (can you tell there's not much difference?). For the weight, cost and output, I'm not impressed.
For packing:
I have one of the UCO candle lanterns. Neat little thing. Classy.
I had a Brunton LED Glorb, but have no idea where it got to. 250 hours on 4 AAs. Booyah. I miss it. Cylindrical, even light.
My in-laws just gave me a Coleman exponent LED lantern that i will be using at PWYP next month. It has a square shape, slides up out of a housing, takes 4 AAs and weighs half a pound. The square shape gives the light an interesting effect that I'm not totally sold on. It has two levels of light, but can be further attenuated by closing the light some (but not all the way, as it will extinguish the light). Coleman also makes a smaller, triangular version marketed more for backpackers. Jury is out.
I have used the candle in a pop-can. It worked for what I needed it for - light at the dinner table, but the candle wax did make a mess. Caught several bugs in the wax (take that bugs!).
I have used headlamps and flashlights as tent lights, including a Photon with a gator clip attachment that I think I lost. The Photon with a clip was pretty good - just a little light in an otherwise pitchy blacky kinda place goes a long way. With the clip, I was able to place it in a couple different spots. I have a Fenix L1D that I can't wait to see how it compares, with and without that goofy little diffuser.
I've also used cyalume sticks. Hate the green and yellow glow. They make white, but the white don't last as long.
Pros and COns:
White gas is versatile, if you also have a stove that uses it. Ditto for propane, so include that in your planning.
I do not know that comparative flammability of Kero to White Gas.
There is a caution about carbon monoxide, but most tents are ventilated enough for this to not be an issue - but think about it.
The candle in a can trick worked nicely, but I didn't set it up right and it wouldn't stay put in the wind. So I used it sitting on a table.
The UCO has Citronella candles (I have not tested these yet), 9 hour candles (they do last that long - verified on a trip to the Fingerlakes area of NY in the fall), and bees wax that cost more. I have not used the bees wax, but the advantage is that the higher the bees wax content, the less wax buildup you will have in the lantern. It can be a bit of a pain to pry, scrap and clean - but it's what you get. Alternatively, UCO also makes a tealight version and while I have not yet tried, I have heard you can rig a tealight into the larger lantern. Burn time is about 4 hours for most tealights.
Batteries - cold affects them negatively; lithium helps negates this, are lighter than alkalines, but cost more. NiMH can be nice, reserach the consumption curves in the product you're using it in. Additionally, if you are away and can standardize all your equipment to, say AA, then look at either a car adapter charger, or a solar charger for those longer trips. Costlier, but guilt free lumens has that nice warm fuzzy feeling.
I have simply typed and have only corrected typos as I saw them. There is no way I'm going to read my own drivel. Any mistakes you read are entirely your fault and is in no way attributable to me.
LOL - I've been reading Hitchhiker's Guide. Does it show?
Rob
mtnfolk mike
Basic Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2006
- Messages
- 10,040
you can't baet the good ol' coleman lanterns...:thumbup: i have a few propane lanterns.. one really small one and a normal sized one... we also have a really cool battery powered lantern, that we use in our tent..
candle lanterns are cool too....:thumbup:
candle lanterns are cool too....:thumbup:
mtnfolk mike said:
You sure can. Century single mantle propane "Mighty-Light".
I use the older style on a post on a small (2.5gal) propane bottle. It will light up the campsite if up on a table - about 100W. Easy to light!
Did you ever see the cartoon where one guy is falling, trying to get his spare parachute out. Next to him going up is a guy hanging on to a Coleman lantern acting like a rocket. They ask each other simultaneously "You know how to work this thing?"
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
Coleman propane for car camping and boat camping. Throws a lot of light and is brainless. Also under those same conditions I usually bring the single burner propane stove or the big bad multiburner table stove to cook up a storm at breakfast. They use the same fuel containers and I always buy em in three packs which usually lasts me the whole weekend - at least never ran out with three full canisters.
When backpacking - the little candle lantern. Love these things - they just have so much charm. Yeah, I have a mag light and headlight for really moving around, but it isn't much fun sitting on a make shift table at camp and staring into your spot light when there is a fire ban. Having a little candle, which is perfectly legal, at least gives you the comfort of a tiny wheany little flame. Still hypnotizes me.
I use an MSR whisperlight as my stove with white gas under these conditions. Never seen a small white gas lantern, other then the big coleman ones. Is there anything nice and small, say of the same foot print as a small multifuel stove?
When backpacking - the little candle lantern. Love these things - they just have so much charm. Yeah, I have a mag light and headlight for really moving around, but it isn't much fun sitting on a make shift table at camp and staring into your spot light when there is a fire ban. Having a little candle, which is perfectly legal, at least gives you the comfort of a tiny wheany little flame. Still hypnotizes me.
I use an MSR whisperlight as my stove with white gas under these conditions. Never seen a small white gas lantern, other then the big coleman ones. Is there anything nice and small, say of the same foot print as a small multifuel stove?
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2007
- Messages
- 479
Those uco candle lanterns work great in a tent or under a tarp. Just make sure theres good ventilation going through. I only use them as stationary lamps, dont try and walk with them.
Pine knots and wood with large amounts of tar in it burns nice and bright.
Pine knots and wood with large amounts of tar in it burns nice and bright.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2006
- Messages
- 95
I generally dislike too much light on after dark, just the crackle of a fire burning down, but I do have a dual fuel coleman that I have used on occasion. It makes lots of light.
I might pick up one of those UCO laterns. A local store has one for $15. Is that a good price for a plain blue aluminum?
I might pick up one of those UCO laterns. A local store has one for $15. Is that a good price for a plain blue aluminum?
When hiking I only carry headlamps (Petzl) and I don't go car camping any more. But, when I was younger and went camping with my parents... we had a LUMOGAZ (my model is much older though...). Here in Spain (Europe as well) the brand Camping GAZ is a well known brand for gas stoves and lanterns. The older models had net of asbestos that once burt properly will glow white when butane was burnt inside. You had to be very ver careful not to touch it or anything... it would destroy it. The new models have a metal mess that works pretty much the same and it is much more robust.
I have one of those little candle lanterns and I used it a couple of times... they just make sense when used in windy conditions. Inside a hut or a cave, the candle alone will sufice. Not worh carrying the extra weight (at least for me). Sometimes if wax melts and drips inside the inner tube... the candle sticks, doesn't go up pushed by the weak spring under it... and the flame goes off. It is also a PITA to clean the wax you might drip into the glass tube. Nice for tinkerers but not for me.
Mikel
I have one of those little candle lanterns and I used it a couple of times... they just make sense when used in windy conditions. Inside a hut or a cave, the candle alone will sufice. Not worh carrying the extra weight (at least for me). Sometimes if wax melts and drips inside the inner tube... the candle sticks, doesn't go up pushed by the weak spring under it... and the flame goes off. It is also a PITA to clean the wax you might drip into the glass tube. Nice for tinkerers but not for me.
Mikel
I did away with lanterns, Just threw them out last week.
I am trying to minimize the bulk while camping.
for light we use the campfire, if we need more we have several minimaglites with smjled drop ins and terralux drop ins. The smjled with the flashlight head off (candle mode)provides plenty of light for 25 hours and if we need brighter we use the terralux minimaglite which last 4-5 hours.
I am trying to minimize the bulk while camping.
for light we use the campfire, if we need more we have several minimaglites with smjled drop ins and terralux drop ins. The smjled with the flashlight head off (candle mode)provides plenty of light for 25 hours and if we need brighter we use the terralux minimaglite which last 4-5 hours.
we have a led battery op one - good but not really bright. perfect for inside the tent, etc. We use 4D recharchables in it.
we have a coleman propane - good for the cooking station. These are venerable torches, but I dislike the disposable green tanks when it isn't used with a refillable propane tank.
I had a single candle one - horrible in windy conditions, not very bright, cracked the glass somehow. enviro friendly, but not the best option for all uses.
headlamps/minimag light (strapped to my head or in lamp mode) is fine for me when not with the family. (car camping or backpacking). I have both and the minimag stays in the car all the time anyway.
we have a coleman propane - good for the cooking station. These are venerable torches, but I dislike the disposable green tanks when it isn't used with a refillable propane tank.
I had a single candle one - horrible in windy conditions, not very bright, cracked the glass somehow. enviro friendly, but not the best option for all uses.
headlamps/minimag light (strapped to my head or in lamp mode) is fine for me when not with the family. (car camping or backpacking). I have both and the minimag stays in the car all the time anyway.
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
I have 1ea. UCO candle lantern,1ea. Coleman propane Lantern (dual mantle) and several LED lanterns(3-4) I think and a pair of older florescent twin tube lanterns but at 8D batteries each the weight is enough to keep them for the house during power outtage.
