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.
Amazon.com
The hallmark of Amazon.com has always been the wide range of items, products, and brands available for perusal and purchase. The internet giant has hundreds, if not thousands, of camping lanterns available, ranging from big and bulky to light and small. The only issue with shopping at Amazon is actually the size of their inventory: with so many choices to look through, it’s easy to become overwhelmed before you find what you’re looking for. Overall, though, Amazon is a great place to shop and is highly recommended to anyone looking for camping lanterns or other camping gear.
Target.com
Target usually has a decent selection of brands and items at reasonable prices. They’re handy to shop through since you can often find what you want online and then head straight to the nearest store to pick it up. I would be careful of buying off-brand items at Target though, as the quality may be poor. It’s definitely not worth skimping on the price to save 5 bucks, and then have your lantern break or stop working.
DicksSportingGoods.com
Dick’s Sporting Goods has had a period of decent growth over the last few years since their purchase of Galyan’s. Having a large chain like Dick’s devoted solely to sporting goods means a wide selection of brands and generally decent prices. However, as with Target, I would be careful of buying off-brand items from them as the quality may be suspect. (Just to be clear, that’s not a knock on Dick’s at all, but I do suggest doing your research first and choosing a high quality lantern from a reputable brand.)
REI.com
I grew up near the REI store in Atlanta. I remember being able to go there every couple of years when we went camping, and I was always amazed at the sheer volume of camping gear to look at and buy. Childhood nostalgia notwithstanding, REI is one of the premiere outdoors suppliers in the nation, and while you may not be too close to one of their stores you can buy anything they make from their website or catalog.
REI doesn’t have the wide range of brands available that some other retailers will, but they do have several options in addition to their own name brand. REI is generally a bit more pricey than what you will find in other places, but the quality of products they sell is always top notch.
Cabelas.com
If you’ve been camping for any good length of time, chances are you’ve heard of Cabela’s. They’re one of the more well-known camping and outdoors gear suppliers even though chances are good that they don’t have a store anywhere near you. Cabela’s usually has decent prices and good quality gear, but their inventory is a bit lacking at times. It’s the smallest of the 5 retailers mentioned here. But if you can find what you’re looking for at Cabela’s then don’t hesitate to buy from them.
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.
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