Camping Lanterns - Different Types of Camping Lanterns

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By Jonsky

You might want to have a camping lantern in your arsenal when you go camping or you'll be lost in dark with nothing to do but wait for sleep to come.

Camping lanterns are useful for cooking, reading, housekeeping and at times for setting up your camping tent.

There are 3 types of camping lantern; candle lanterns, cartridge lanterns and electric powered lanterns. The main concerns for camping lanterns are burn time, amount of light, heat generation and weight. The three camping lanterns have their strengths and weaknesses with regards to this.

Camping Lanterns
UCO candle lantern

Candle Lanterns

This the oldest type of camping lantern but the technology behind it keeps on getting better with longer burn times, wind resistance and better safety features.

Candle lanterns barely produce enough light for reading but cooking and housekeeping presents no problems.

Burn time in general is not so great but if you use UCO candles, it can burn up to 9 hours per candle, which is sufficient, even for a very long night. Oil lanterns can burn up to 17 hours per 3 fl.-oz. filling. The Dietz Jupiter can burn up 75 hours for a 100 oz of fuel.

The warm light from this type of camping lantern is comfort especially in cold winter nights.

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Cartridge Lantern

Liquid fuel/Cartridge Lanterns

Cartridge lanterns are heavy and fragile which doesn’t make it the ideal backpacking lantern.

It’s great for winter because of the amount of heat it generates. Ideally you would want to use this type of lantern for short trips and campgrounds. The light is even brighter than a fireplace.

One thing a lot of people complain about this type of camping lantern is the annoying hiss it makes.

The Coleman Peak 1 lantern was one of the most popular liquid-fuel lantern that burns white gas. It can burn for three hours at 75 watts. The light is incredibly bright but I don’t see it around so much today maybe because of the next type of camping lantern.

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Brunton LED Lantern

Electric Powered Lantern

More and more professionals, regular and beginning backpackers are leaning towards the electric powered camping lantern. The reason why is because it eliminates the need to carry the bottles or cartridges of fuel, it’s safer, brighter, cleaner and last longer.

With the use of solar energy, the batteries can be charged while you are hiking. Some camping lanterns are charged by both solar and winding like the Kaito Solar Wind-up Lantern that not only is a lantern but also an AM/FM radio, flashlight and siren.

If the lanterns don’t have solar charging capabilities, bringing extra batteries is still a lighter option than carrying fuel. If you want you can use something like the 4 Battery Solar Charger by SunJia that charges 4 AAA, AA, C, or D NiMh or NiCd batteries.

The lanterns themselves are very light. A Brunton camping lantern can be as light as 3 oz. at 4.3" x 1.3", doubles as a flashlight and burns up to 200 hours. You probably don’t need extra batteries at all.

The downside (or upside in you’re in a warm place) is that it doesn’t generate much heat but you can use a sierra stove which is also battery powered to provide you sufficient heat without the need to carry any fuel.

I highly recommend the use of electric powered camping lantern.

Comments

andyrocks profile image

andyrocks 3 years ago

Really nice product. Some very cute and goodlooking lantern.

BlueSkyBright profile image

BlueSkyBright 3 years ago

You always need a lantern when camping absolutely ...

Mattoro profile image

Mattoro 3 years ago

I love the first pic with the old kerosene lantern in it. I used to have a couple of those and absolutley loved them. Despite the work required to keep them clean and working properly, they were awesome. Today's lanterns are so much easier to maintain and use that it perplexes me why more people don't use them. I take a lantern with me every time I go camping, although I've now switched to battery operated lanterns. They're great for lighting up a tent before bed time or for illuminating the picnic table for meals after dark or a game of card. Essential piece of car-camping gear, IMO.

yojpotter profile image

yojpotter 3 years ago

I think the electric lantern are more conveient to use...it is easy to carry and use.

cubsfan12 profile image

cubsfan12 3 years ago

My family loves the outdoors and I think camping is one of the best outdoor activities you can complete with your family. I've been following your hubs on camping, thanks for all the info. If you can afford it, I think the LED lantren is best (brightest and lasts longer).

John Cash profile image

John Cash 3 years ago

Ooh I think I would pick an electric latern! Should righten the camping trip.

Quick heads up - quality guidelines recommend one link per domain max - hub may get flagged.

Thanks

karinmindell profile image

karinmindell 3 years ago

What great information and just in the right time! We are checking our camping equipment now to see what needs to be replaced and a new lantern is in order! Thanks! :-)

moving101 profile image

moving101 3 years ago

Great Hub, I never really knew there were so many choices. I am planning my first ever camping trip this summer, and I am sure this will come in handy.

RodneyGrubbs 3 years ago

Our family really likes the electric lanterns for practical use. My wife uses the older lanterns for porch decorations.

Jayde Tims 11 months ago

Nice post. Informative one.Like what I have found which is very useful and provides more tips for the maintenance of every flashlight types.

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