There are several things to consider when deciding on what sort of camping lantern to purchase. Size and weight, your camping conditions, potential safety issues and several other factors all need to be considered. It can all be a bit confusing at first, but once you know what sort of things to look for, the choice becomes much easier. Let’s take a look at what sort of things you need to consider when choosing a lantern.
The first thing to consider is what sort of camping you do. Are you a car camper? An RV-er? A hardcore backpacker? If you’re a car camper or an RV-er, then you don’t really need to worry about things like size and weight. So long as it fits in your car, then you’re good to go. On the other hand, if you’re going to hike for a significant distance to get to your campsite, then you’ll want to choose a smaller, lightweight lantern. Butane lanterns are often a popular choice for backpackers, although there are many battery powered lanterns that would fit the bill here too.
Cost is also a factor to consider. Liquid fuel is the most economical way to go and batteries are just a little bit more expensive. Using gas to power your lantern is the most expensive method. You’ll want to weigh your budget and the frequency of your camping trips when deciding on a lantern. If you go camping frequently, then the gas lantern you’re looking at might quickly become an expensive habit.
The next thing to consider is what the conditions will be like when you’re out at your campsite. Severe cold (sub-freezing temps) can affect the performance of both battery and propane powered lanterns – batteries can drain more quickly in the cold, and the gas pressure in propane canisters can be affected by the cold as well, causing poor performance. If you know that you’ll be camping in cold conditions, I would advise you to take a liquid fuel lantern (if at all possible), or better yet, take a backup or two in case your main lantern sputters out before you’re ready to head home.
Safety also needs to be a consideration. Liquid fuel and gas lanterns actually burn their fuel, and thus become very hot after operating. If you have any small children that will be going on your trips with you, you’ll want to keep that in mind. To be clear, you can use these lanterns with children around, just make sure that the children know not to touch the lantern – or even better, hang it up out of their reach so it doesn’t be come an issue. Another safety issue is using a lantern inside of your tent or RV. Due to their heat (and possible fumes) gas and fuel lanterns should never be brought inside when they’re running. Battery lanterns are the only option if you want to use them inside.
Lastly, if you’re giving a camping lantern as a gift, make sure to take all of these factors into consideration. Lanterns do make great camping gear gifts, but not if they’re too big, too heavy, or inconvenient for your camper to use. A good method to go about getting a good lantern for them is to find out what sort of lantern they use now, and then give them an updated version of the same type of lantern.
