We've been camping a few times now and seeing as we really enjoy it, we've started to get a bit more serious about it. We've ditched the cheap Ebay tent and bought a Royal Biarritz, we're about to get a cooker. Still haven't decided on which chairs to get but we're most stuck on is a lantern.
We don't want a gas one. The last one we had takes those huge square batteries and they don't last 5 minutes. We want to be able to hang it from the tent inside but our old one seems a bit heavy for that. We've seen some little dinky ones but are they effective?
I'd like one that's got adjustable brightness. Is that possible? It seems a waste to have one on full power for ages if you just want a bit of glow while you're sat talking or something.
Many of the LED lanterns have adjustable brightness because they switch some of the LEDs off; hard to do on any other kind of bulb.
We've got this Coleman collapsible one, which is a basic price, robust, seems to last for ages on the batteries, and slides down protecting the bulb and cover when packing. Never felt the need to go for anything fancier, this does the job; do have a little Schuco candle lantern to supplement or in case we fail to get new batteries before it runs down, but not needed yet.
Solar garden lanterns are very good for a bit of a glow too, and free power! The sun jar is for my money the coolest looking of these.
I get the impression that you don't want this answer, but I would heartily recommend a Coleman dual fuel. Variable light, very bright at full blast, fuel efficient and a pleasant colour of light.
There are different ones at different prices and if you are willing to be patient you can pick up one on ebay at a reasonable price.
Quote: Originally posted by Former Scout on 18/6/2007
I get the impression that you don't want this answer, but I would heartily recommend a Coleman dual fuel. Variable light, very bright at full blast, fuel efficient and a pleasant colour of light.
There are different ones at different prices and if you are willing to be patient you can pick up one on ebay at a reasonable price.
Not for hanginfg from tent ceiling though... great for outdoorswhere we use ours!
------------- Christine
2014
April -
BunRoy Fort William 3 sleeps
April / May
Invercaimbe Arisaig 4 sleeps
Bleatarn Brampton tbc July
I have the Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern and Dual Fuel just means it runs on either Coleman Fuel which you buy from camping stores or Good old Unleaded Fuel from the garage!!
I personally fill my petrol can and use Unleaded in mine.It has been a great light but like someone else said ,you can't hang them from inside the tent.Gives off loads of light though - I've been really impressed with mine.
Also have a Camping Gaz one which runs off them gas cartridges which slot in.We hang that from the tent and have had no problem with that one for well over 10yrs!Only thing with these is - once the gas starts getting to the last dregs ,the light is really poor so you end up changing the cannister before it's completely empty.
We love ours -they're great for hanging in centre of the tent and the remote control is fantastic at night when you need to get up for the loo. At £15 I think they're a bargain.
Check out the spread of light, I used one which cast a perfect shaddow over dinner plates but dazzled in our eyes when put in the middle of a table. It went back to the shop.
I use a colemal dual fuel, which I know you are not interested in but I like outside. However, I use a flourescent unit inside, batteries last ages, its light enough to hang from the tent and doesn't get very hot, it also comes with a remote control. Again watch out for traditional style lanterns if you hang them up, they cast a really good shaddow underneath where you may need light.
We have purchased a Royal Lantern which we used for this first time last weekend. We were very pleased with it. We charged up on the friday and it last us all weekend, and that was leaving the night light on for 2 nights.
Thanks for all your responses. I'm not keen on the fuel ones for no other reason than I'd rather stick to batteries because I'd feel safer. Stupid excuse I know but I'm a pathetic woman!!!!!
We've actually got £200 worth of gift vouchers for Argos which we're going to use to buy a cooker but looking at their website and also msmith57's post, I reckon we'd be okay getting a lantern from there too.
Someone's recommended the Coleman Packaway and msmith570 recommended the Hi Gear Remote Controle Lantern.