One of the most important things to bring on a camping trip is one or more light sources. Not only from a safety angle – if you cut your hand at night, you definitely want to be able to see to bandage it – but also simply from an enjoyment angle – it’s hard to have fun at your campsite if you’re constantly tripping over everything. Flashlights are great for smaller areas, but what if you want to light up your whole campsite? For that you definitely need a camping lantern.
There are basically three types of camping lanterns: liquid fuel, gas, and battery powered. Liquid fuel lanterns burn white gas (also called Coleman fuel or camping fuel), unleaded gas or kerosene. They are very cost effective and produce a fantastic light source, but they do burn very hot and can produce burns if you’re not careful.
Gas powered lanterns run on propane or butane. They are very convenient – you usually just purchase the propane canister, attach the lantern and you’re set – but the gas is more expensive than liquid fuel. Regular propane lanterns are generally a bit too weighty and bulky for backpacking, but butane lanterns are often lightweight and thus a good choice for people who will be doing some hiking.
Battery powered lanterns, in contrast to the first two, don’t actually burn a fuel, but instead work just like flashlights. They are easy and convenient to use, but you usually give up a bit of light quality compared to the gas and fuel lanterns. There are also solar powered lanterns that fit into this category – charge them up during the day, and they’ll run for several hours at night. Battery powered lanterns are also the only option for taking inside your tent or camper. Both the gas and fuel powered lanterns are unsafe for inside use due to the fumes and heat generated when running.
Probably the biggest factor to consider when choosing a camping lantern is whether you’ll be car camping or backpacking. If you’re going car camping, then you choose your lantern based on ease of use, light output and looks. If, on the other hand, you’re going to be backpacking, then the number one concern is going to be weight and size. You definitely don’t want to be lugging in a heavy, bulky lantern to your campsite when a smaller, lighter one would have done as good of a job.