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Coleman Lanterns

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:00:11 +0000

It’s pretty tough to write about camping lanterns and not talk about the lanterns available from Coleman. I’ve mentioned a few in passing but wanted to devote some more time to the subject.

Coleman has been selling lamps and lanterns for around 100 years, ever since W.C. Coleman started selling lamps in Oklahoma around the start of the 20th century. Since then the company has grown to over 1500 employees and has offices in two states. They are generally regarded as the world leader in lanterns and light sources for all purposes and occasions. Coleman lanterns are available today in stores across the nation and across the globe.

The most popular lanterns available from Coleman are their line of battery powered camping lanterns and flashlights. Not only are they great for camping – small, lightweight and durable – but they can also come in handy in emergency situations, such as the power going out in your house or your car breaking down on the side of the road. Coleman has a wide range of battery lanterns available, from personal sized ones that are great for backpackers to family sized lanterns that work great when you are car or RV camping.

If you prefer the traditional gas or fuel powered lanterns, Coleman also offers many options for you as well. These lanterns are generally a bit bulkier than the battery powered ones, making them less suitable for backpacking, but gas and fuel lanterns can come in handy in cold weather situations where the low temperatures can sap the power from batteries. Some people also just like the looks and feel of these traditional lanterns more than the newer models.

If you often camp with your family, you’ve probably run into the situation of a child wanting their own version of your toys to play with. Since children playing with a real lantern usually leads to a broken lantern or even an injured child, Coleman has a special line of durable camping lanterns made especially for kids. These lanterns are made of plastic, so they don’t break as easily, are battery powered for convenience and offer on-and-off switches made for little fingers to manipulate.

No matter what situation you need a light for, you’re sure to be able to find a Coleman lantern that is right for the job. They can do everything from provide enough light for reading your book after sundown, to helping you pitch your tent at night, to lighting your entire campsite. It’s no wonder they are the world leader in camping lanterns.

5 Great Fuel and Gas Lanterns

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:42:23 +0000

Now that we’ve seen some of the battery powered lanterns out there, let’s take a look at some of the fuel and gas powered camping lanterns available. One thing you’ll notice about these lanterns is that they are generally larger and have shorter run times than the battery powered ones. They do, however, provide a brighter and clearer light in exchange for this.

First up are a couple of propane powered lanterns. This first one is made by Brunton and is available at Amazon for about $120 US. It will run for 3.5 hours on high and probably double that on a lower setting.

As you can see, it is larger than the battery powered lanterns and, due to some fragile parts inside, these sort of lanterns usually need to be transported in their carrying case. Due to their bulk, these propane lanterns are generally not a good choice for backpacking.

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Next up is another propane lantern from Coleman. It’s also available at Amazon and is priced at $35 US.

This lantern will run for up to 14 hours and has two mantles inside for additional light. Once again, as you can see, fairly large and bulky. Great for car camping, but not for backpacking.

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This next lantern is powered by butane and is great for backpackers looking for a small and light lantern to take on hikes. Made by Snow Peak and available at REI, it stands only 4 inches high and weighs under 5 ounces (without the butane canister).

In addition, the butane canister is multifunctional and can be used to power a camp stove as well.

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Our last two lanterns are powered by liquid fuel (also called Coleman fuel) and would be great for severely cold conditions. The first one is available at Amazon and would be great for car or RV camping. It weighs in at 5 pounds and will run for 7 to 14 hours, depending on the light setting.

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And the last lantern is also by Coleman, available at Amazon for $60 US, and would be a great option for backpackers looking for a liquid fuel lantern.

It weighs only 2 pounds and will burn for up to 3 hours on one canister.

How To Choose A Camping Lantern

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:37:21 +0000

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.

Camping Lantern Guide

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:37:47 +0000

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.