
When choosing your lantern, consider the weight, source of power (fuel versus battery), and lumens (the output of light) that is ideal for your trip. SELECT THE RIGHT LANTERN FOR YOUR ADVENTUREĮlectronic, fuel-burning, and candle lanterns all offer unique benefits for overnight adventures. Does not shed a lot of light in big area.Safety: Keep candles away from flammable materials such as sleeping bags, dog beds, and camp towels.Provides enough light for at-hand tasks.Requires ventilation (do not use inside a closed space such as a tent or RV).Heavier, bulkier, less durable than electric lanterns.Requires fragile cloth mantle to burn (requires careful disposal replacements should be carried).Needs fuel to work- must carry extra propane cylinders or liquid fuel.Adjustability for lower or higher brightness.Brightness: Many liquid fuel lanterns illuminate an entire camp area.Propane likewise comes in a refillable tank and burns efficient. Liquid-fuel is a fuel-efficient, refillable white gas. Butane is purchased in disposable canisters. Rechargeable batteries may not last for the duration of a multi-day trip (without an external recharge)Įach lantern, depending on its design, burns a specific fuel.Alkaline batteries lose about half of their capacity when the ambient temperature is below freezing.Long-term cost of replacing non-rechargeable batteries.Can charge other devices with internal battery.Made with durable, packable, water-resistant materials.Rechargeable batteries are convenient and eco-friendly.Safe: inside a tent, near flammable materials, attached to a pack, around children and pets.Some designs can be replenished by external sources such as USB power packs or solar panels. Electric lanterns each rely on a specific type of battery source which could be alkaline, lithium, or lithium-ion and they could be rechargeable or non-rechargeable. Today, most battery-powered lanterns feature LED (light emitting diode) lights. Size, weight, power source, light output, durability, ergonomics, price, safety warnings, and water resistance vary from lamp to lamp. All lanterns are hands-free and illuminate the surrounding area. Across the U.S., there are plenty of backcountry and frontcountry tent spots where campfires are not permitted at all.įortunately, a multitude of camp lantern designs now exist for campers and backpackers. The smell of cedar or pine as it burns, bright pinholes thrown across the dark sky, insects and animals chattering in the distance, and slow conversation: Those are the ingredients for rich memories.Īs powerful as a fire is for survival, comfort, and ambiance there are many modern campout scenarios in which the natural light that a fire provides isn’t adequate for completing camp tasks. Nothing compares to the idyllic experience of sharing stories around a crackling campfire.
