UKC

Camping Lanterns

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
 Sam_in_Leeds 11 Mar 2013
Hello

Thinking about doing quite a bit more camping this summer than ever before and made me think I'd like to splash out on a lantern.

I'll be camping solo for quite a bit of the time so suspect I'll be in my tent for quite a long time.

So, it it better to go for a gas-lantern or an LED lantern?

I was looking at this one in Go-Outdoors but have no idea how long the gas would last? On a low enough to read light, how long would a 500 canister last?

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/campingaz-f1-lite-camping-lantern-p118300

I'm looking for something mainly for reading/pottering about in a tent.

I've got a Petzl Mio XP headtorch I can use for things like cooking but find the LED light quite harsh in front of my fave for extended reading sessions.

My camping stove is a gas one too, could I use the same cartridge for lighting/eating or would I get through too much gas?

I'm definitely not going for a petrol one - I worry enough about filling my car up.
skarabrae 11 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds: i may be wrong here, but would a gas lantern not give off carbon monoxide?
 The Lemming 11 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds:

My money would go on a wind up LED lantern. I've used a couple over the years and think that they are great. Simply wind up and go. No need to buy extra batteries.

I even used one for several years as a bedside light. It was good enough to light up the whole room.
 wilkie14c 11 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds:
A mini maglight for solo camping, you can remove the head unit and turn it into a 'candle' for reading. Tealights are cheap for reading too but you need a glass or something to put them in to stop them being knocked over. Coleman do a mini gas lantern too, the F1 IIRC
 wilkie14c 11 Mar 2013
In reply to The Lemming:
RE- windups, I got a radio/light/mobile charger all in one gizmo off ebay, battery powered or wind-up, its great!
 wilkie14c 11 Mar 2013
In reply to blanchie14c:
maglight - candle mode, 3 minutes in
youtube.com/watch?v=pa1VulgAaB4&
 browndog33 11 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds: Don't know if this is your kind of thing but check out the Uco candle lanterns, I've just bought one for exactly the scenario you mention.
 wilkie14c 11 Mar 2013
In reply to browndog33: also check out 'UFO' lights from Wilkinsons, circular array of LED's and the back has a magnet to stick to tent fabric (a spoon or something steel on the outside) and a folding hook to hang from above. They take 3 AAAs and only cost 8 quid for 2
 SFM 11 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds:

If you decide to opt for a gas lantern then drop me a pm as I have one that
I might sell.
 wilkesley 12 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds:
I use a Silverpoint Mini Lantern: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverpoint-Mini-Lantern--/dp/B006C0WIS4/ref=sr_1_2...

Powered by a button cell, last ages. You can hang from a loop in your tent. Bright enough to read with, but not like the glare of a headtorch.
 Monk 12 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds:

A 500 gas canister on a low light (just about Ok to read) will last for ages. Probably for a 2 week holiday or more. It's hard to tell exactly as I tend to use my older, nearly empty cylinders on my gas light. Gas lights are nice, and give off a nice warm light, a comforting noise and tons of heat... which is a major problem if you intend to use it inside a tent. There is jut so much more that could go wrong than with an electric lamp.
 martinph78 12 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds: I use the alpkit lantern and it really is brilliant and only £15.

Batteries last for ages, and I really do mean absolutely ages. I find the dim-medium modes cover everything I need to do. I'd take an LED lantern and batteries so you can save your fuel for cooking. I wouldn't want to risk running out of fuel in my lantern and not be able to make breakfast. Also I imagine the gas lanterns give of quite a bit of water vapour and condensation may be a problem inside the tent?

LED lantern such as the alpkit is compact, bright (or dim if you like) and I can't see a reason to use anything else.
 Neil Williams 12 Mar 2013
In reply to Martin1978:

...except they've sold out and no ETA on more. Shame, I was about to buy one, it looks good

Neil
 More-On 12 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds: You could try a different approach and use your headlamp with one of these:

http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/montbell_crushable_lamp_shade.html

I should say I haven't used or seen one in the flesh, but at c. £2.40 a gram you cannot go wrong
 GrahamD 12 Mar 2013
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds:

Not sure what you mean by solo camping or how big the tent is. For backpacking I would just use a couple of LED head torches - one on dim from the roof of the tent and the other used conventioally for reading.

For car camping a cheap LED lantern unless your tent is really big enough to be safe with a gas lamp.
 martinph78 12 Mar 2013
In reply to Neil Williams: And there is the problem with alpkit. Make good gear, you just start to recommend it, and they stop stocking it

Black Diamond do something similar for 4x the price.
 antdav 12 Mar 2013
Point your head torch into a bottle of water and it becomes a pretty good lantern.

I bought a cheap gooutdoors LED wind-up one. It's good enough for one but won't light up a big tent very well. Lasts about a week of normal use from fully charged. The wind up is pretty pointless as you need to wind for ages to get any charge into but it came with a 12v connection as well so a quick charge on the way to and from the crag/shop/pub and it's good for a day or 2.
 ebygomm 12 Mar 2013
In reply to blanchie14c:

This is what we use, we have a mesh tent loft so the camping light just sits in that, far better than a lantern for inside the tent imo

New Topic
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
Loading Notifications...