Camp Lights

[rlm2007x]

What lanterns do you all use?

[rlm2007x]

The Coleman propane lanterns are really good.                                
 

[lakota]

I saw on another forum where someone was using those solar powered landscape lights. They put them out in the sun to charge during the day and put them out around their camp at dusk and had soft light all night long. I might try it this summer.

[Junior1942]

I use at the campsite a 1-wick propane light on very low.  As my campsite is at the end of a dirt road I put a small flashing red light near the entrance to discourage late night amorous couples from entering the road.  I figure a couple with illicit midnight sex on their minds aren't driving down a dirt road on which they can plainly see a flashing red light. So far, I've been right.  The little lantern is about the size of a 12 oz beer can and looks like what it is--a miniature lantern.  A switch allows you to use 3 or 6 white LEDs or 1-only flashing red LED.  At first I walked up the road and turned off the red LED in the mornings, but now i leave it on 24 hours a day during the entire camping trip.  I've had it maybe 4 years and several camping trips, and it's still using the same AA batteries which came in it.  At only ~$5 at WallyWorld and easy to pack, I bought a spare.  Come to think of it, I need to check both lanterns for corroded batteries.

[Junior1942]

I use at the campsite a 1-wick propane light on very low.  As my campsite is at the end of a dirt road I put a small flashing red light near the entrance to discourage late night amorous couples from entering the road.  I figure a couple with illicit midnight sex on their minds aren't driving down a dirt road on which they can plainly see a flashing red light. So far, I've been right.  The little lantern is about the size of a 12 oz beer can and looks like what it is--a miniature lantern.  A switch allows you to use 3 or 6 white LEDs or 1-only flashing red LED.  At first I walked up the road and turned off the red LED in the mornings, but now i leave it on 24 hours a day during the entire camping trip.  I've had it maybe 4 years and several camping trips, and it's still using the same AA batteries which came in it.  At only ~$5 at WallyWorld and easy to pack, I bought a spare.  Come to think of it, I need to check both lanterns for corroded batteries.

The Wallyworld here has those little lanterns on a shelf in the camping section as of yesterday.  $4.88 I believe.

[bilmac]

I started with kerosene lanterns then went to white gas lanterns. Trouble with liquid fuels is if they ever leak, you've got a stinking mess. Then propane. I still use the propane a bit, but with better and better LED's the lanterns are being left behind more often.

I remember once when I was a kid I was on a fishing trip by myself in a canoe. All my camping gear was in the boat with me and I got thirsty so I grabbed a jug and took a big swallow of white gas before I realized what it was. I got light headed fast, and it was getting worse, so I went ashore and laid down on the bank and went to sleep. I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up, all was fine and I continued as if nothing had happened.

[rlm2007x]

I need a few lanterns myself.

[pastorp]

We used the white gas lanterns for most of my life. When I moved to Alaska and started using cabin cursers to camp in I switched to the propane models. The pre filled 1 lb cylinders work good & are easy to store.
A added bonus is the extra heat source for fall & winter camping the downsize is propane releases a lot of moisture in a confined area. The ideal is a oil heater and electric lights in a boat.

Regards,

[gcrank1]

I was going to say a pine knot, or cattail soaked in pitch, or a bettylamp with deer tallow or bearfat, but the new LED lights are fantastic, and I still carry candles. Even those small votive (?) thingies in the metal cup work long enough and are stable and stow anywhere. And Bics, several stashed about.....I always have matches but if/when they are done I will have a Bic. Just dont try to use one for light like they do in the movies.........

[Empty Quiver]

What sort of LED lantern is the equal of a single mantle gas lamp? Or is there such a beast. I would like to get away from the weight of bottle gas if possible. I don't want to be wearing a head lamp around camp either. We are currently using a couple of coleman gas lanterns to cook and eat by ( 2 kill the shadows ). 4 mantles is over kill in a cook tent but again the shadows are a pain.
 
I see lots of these small AA battery driven things and a few of the D battery driven ones. Any experiences would be helpful.

[LunaticFringeInc]

I am using a couple of different high end LED laterns from coleman that operate off 4 D batteries.  I use rechargable batteries and a set of 4 last all night easily and they kick off a lot of light although not as much as a white gas latern.  They are kind of pricey but I think they provide a good balance of light for the weight.  They also collaps down to about half the size for compact packing in and out and can be popped up when you need to use them. 

[kynardsj]

One of my favorites is a LED collapsable from Coleman. Packs in a small space, runs on 4 AA batteries, is very bright and batteries last a long time. A little over $20.00 at Walmart.

[Victor3]

What sort of LED lantern is the equal of a single mantle gas lamp? Or is there such a beast.

 I have a few LED lanterns and like them for the volume of light they put out, their simplicity, and how long the batteries last.
 
  However, I haven't seen one I like as far as the quality of light goes compared to a mantle lantern. There are "warm" LED diodes out now that simulate incandescent light somewhat, but I haven't seen them offered in a lantern. All I've seen are ones that put out the ugly blue-tinted, monochromatic light of most LEDs.
 
 And you can't use an LED lantern as a handwarmer neither...

[Swampman]

Candles work and you can make them yourself.

[xd45nut]

I have a couple of these suckers. They work great both as Lanterns and Flashlights.


http://www.harborfreight.com/27-led-portable-worklight-flashlight-67227.html


Video I found on You Tube of the light:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZzy_fLHhko

[bilmac]

I have a couple of the harbor freight lights that HD45 has also. They aren't as bright as a gas light, but for the price and size 4 of them would still be cheap, and by scattering them around you elininate shadows. They use a magnet to hang, so may be a problem in tents but rigging a metal hanger that they would stick to would be easy.
 
I have a high dollar LED lantern or two with all the bells and whistles, but if you just want light you can buy a lot of the little guys.

[xd45nut]

They use a magnet to hang, so may be a problem in tents but rigging a metal hanger that they would stick to would be easy.

No, the ones I have also have a hook that folds into the back.

[kynardsj]

As much as I like the collapsable lantern I mentioned before I agree with Swampman on the candle thing. The candle lanterns made by UCO and some of the other manufacturers are simple and work great. The beeswax candles for them will burn up to 15 hours while the regular ones go up to 9 hours. I've had the UCO 3 candle model for some time now and just bought 2 of the 1 candle models. Found them online as a package deal with the carrying case and side reflector included. No batteries to go dead, no oil or gas to leak out and no mantles to burn out. They also have the Micro model now that uses tealight candles but a neat video on Youtube showed me how to also use the tealight candles in the original UCO lantern, Tealight candles can be bought in quantity pretty cheap. The candle lanterns won't light up the world like a Coleman white gas lantern but will give a dependable, soft light.

[Ranger99]

i've used most all of those.
haven't used the coleman
white gas lanterns in a long
time because it got hard to find
the fuel for a while. i have one aladdin
table lamp, but i need a globe and mantle
for it and haven't wanted to spend the $$$.
mostly use dietz lanterns now, they're quiet
and you don't have to pump them up
when you get in at night, just light'em and go.


if you get some steel fender washers, you
can put one on the outside of your tent to
hook up with the magnet on your harbor
freight led flashlight and use it as a tent lamp.
i carry one of those in the truck to stick under
the hood when checking things out in the dark.
the little hook is handy too.

[jpshaw]

I am using a couple of different high end LED laterns from coleman that operate off 4 D batteries.  I use rechargable batteries and a set of 4 last all night easily

I've been looking for rechargable D's like forever.  I saw a couple once but there was not a charger for them so I passed them up.

[gcrank1]

I buy batteries at the dollar store for, well, $1/pack........way cheaper than anywhere else and they last pretty well. Saw a TV spot about batteries (maybe even Consumer Reports?) and those tested, from discount to name brand, all were comparable in std to std, alky to alky, etc.

[max1138]

uco candle lantern, an led headlight, and a single mantle isobutane lantern that uses the same fuel as my pack stove. little sucker will put out a lot of light and 1 canister of fuel is good for several days  of cooking and light.


the headlight is good for trips to the privy and rummaging thru a bag for whatever item I didnt unpack in the daylight, the lantern will light up my campsite and the candle lantern is a good backup. plus 1 candle in a cold tent will make a big difference in the inside temp. so I can lay on the bag and read instead of having to live in my sleeping bag the whole time. it gets really cold in the desert/hills at night and the candle lantern has earned its place in my pack. Im not convinced the battery powered stuff is ready for extended trips yet, I dont want to be carrying anything I dont have to.


Im on a motorcycle most weekends when its not hunting season and camp probably 30- 40 nights a year from it,plus a week or more more during hunting season where I pack in.
mostly its just swapping from the tailbag on the bike to a backpack for hunting. with an added bag liner for colder weather in the fall/winter.