outdoor lanterns

Choosing a Camping Lantern By Bob Matsen

When you go camping you will need a camping lantern , camping stove and a camping cot as well as a flash light.

All campers will need some type of lantern gas, battery, or candle. Each one has there pros and cons. To find out which will work for you here are a few tips.

Gas lanterns
give off bright light but are noisy and will be the most expensive of all lanterns to operate. You will have to pack extra propane bottles The older liquid gas lanterns give off just as much light but you will have to refill the tank with liquid gas and this can be messy as well as dangerous if you are not careful. Both types of lanterns use mantels so be sure to carry extras.

Battery lanterns
give of plenty of light but however you will need to have spare batteries or if it is a rechargeable style you will need some way to recharge it. The rechargeable lanterns do not last as long as a battery type of lantern and the lighting tends to be a bit duller. The rechargeable lanterns can be recharged with you car by plugging into the cigarette lighter on some models.

Candles
will are the most cost effective but you have to be very careful not to start a fire with them. They also do not through a very strong light and they are subject to going out in a breeze.

The best lantern to use inside a tent is a battery style. But they do not work well in colder climates as the batteries tend to run down faster due to the cold..

Be sure the lantern you buy is weather proof. If you are camping in colder weather the gas type of lanterns would be your best choice because not only do they give of a bright light they also give off a fair amount of heat. Never use the gas lanterns in the tent. Should the lantern get knocked over or get too close to flammable materials it could start a fire.

If you are using a gas lantern in the rain you have to be careful because the glass globe can break if a lot of water gets on it. A single mantle in a lantern gives off about 300 watts of light. Be aware that the glass globe of all gas and propane lanterns get extremely hot and can give you a serious burn.

If you are going to use candles you will have to be very careful that you do not start a fire. Rememer that the hot wax of the candle can burn you if you get it on your skin. Never leave a candle that is burning in your tent unattended and never fall asleep with a burning candle or a burning lantern in your tent.

Many camping trips have been ruined by a hot lantern or a burning candle. Now matter which type of lantern you use always play safe Never store a hot gas lantern near any flammable materials or leave any open flames unattended.

Be sure the flashlight you purchase is waterproof, corrosion resistant and has a scratch resistant lens. Look for one that has an adjustable beam and can be free standing which frees up your hands to do other things.

Have a flashlight for each camper in your group. The plastic type are great for the kids and they only cost a dollar or so. Never let the kids wander around at night as unless they’ve been taught not to shine their flashlight beams into other camping sites which can upset the other campers.

Be sure that the flashlights are shock proof. Many a flashlight has been broke because the kids accedently dropped it on the ground. If you are walking at night never shine your flash light at any moving vehicles. Your light may blind the driver and which could cause an accident.

camping lanterns

Camping Lanterns Guide: Backpacking And Camping Lantern Tips. By Marc Wiltse

What kind of camping lanterns best fit your outdoor needs? Do you need light weight for backpacking, or is maximum light more important?

Camping lanterns have been around for quite a while, especially fuel lanterns like kerosene and gas lanterns. LED lanterns, rechargeable lanterns or electric lanterns, butane lanterns, propane lanterns, battery lanterns and candle lanterns are newer to the scene though. All of them being different they have advantages and disadvantages...

If you already have a camping stove or other camping equipment that uses fuel consider getting a lantern that uses the same type of fuel so you won't have to remember to bring both fuels and you'll use less space too. Although some dual-fuel Coleman lanterns will burn both white gas or unleaded gasoline (check to be sure).

Camping lanterns that burn fuel can come with either glass globes or metal mesh globes. The advantage to glass is that it lets more light through, but since it's glass it is fragile. Metal mesh globes are much tougher than glass but they do block some of the light.

When you buy a camping lantern make sure to get extra mantles, fuel, bulbs, and/or batteries, it's not much fun needing a lantern part in the middle-of-nowhere and not being able to get it when you need it.

Candle lanterns can be lightweight at 3.7 ounces, but you may not want to use them as a camping lantern as their light output leaves something to be desired at 1 to 1.5 watts. They're pretty much a candle with a protective sheath to help prevent the flame from blowing out in the wind and keep things a little safer by avoiding an open flame. Another drawback... the sheath enclosure also makes it more difficult to roast marshmallows over your lantern. ;-)

I recommend going flameless especially inside your tent. It doesn't take much to start a fire with a high intensity heat source. Falling asleep and tipping your camping lantern over is all it takes to put your life in serious jeopardy. There are a lot of great battery lanterns, LED lanterns and rechargeable lanterns available. Play it smart.

While great LED lanterns put out a good amount of light I haven't found one yet that can match the light output of well-designed flame camping lanterns. If you need a lot of light in a local outdoor area have a look at butane, propane, and gas lanterns. Some of these lanterns crank out up to 235 watts of light! That's more light than most people use to light a room at home. One of the butane lanterns even allows you to focus the light more intensely with reflectors and another is refillable with lighter fluid helping to make it great for...