(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best camping lanterns

If you're looking for portable lanterns, I made the mistake of only having them on my wishlist two years ago. My friends and family all bought me lanterns. On the bright side (haha!) I was able to test out a wide variety of lanterns...

Black Diamond Moji - This one I actually bought myself after being allowed to demo it at REI. The light is a tiny bit warmer than most LED lamps, and the white orb allows even distribution of lighting with no harsh glare when looking at the light. You can dim the light by holding the power button. Hard to turn on by accident, comes with a collapsible hanging clip, is water resistant, the battery life is great (I used it as a night light while doing a 6 day car trip, at least 15 hours of use on low setting with no issues or battery replacements). Best of all it's only $20, coming in as one of the cheapest lamps I've used. It's lightweight, but the orb on top means it'll take up extra valuable space.

Black Diamond Orbit - Got it as a gift. Loved that it could become compact. Feels a little cheap, but looks great. Won't turn on when closed. It's supposed to be water resistant, but the battery compartment screws open super easily, so I wonder about the validity. Light is very white, and can screw with your eyes if you look at it too closely. Flashlight function on the base is nice. I would only use this to hang up inside a tent on low light settings. Light distribution is uneven. Long battery life.

Black Diamond Apollo - I actually bought mine from an REI garage sale for $5, the last owner's batteries were corroded and messed up the contacts. A bit of cleaning later and I had the thing going again. I like the ability to hang it up or elevate it. Battery life is good, but like the Orbit, light distribution is uneven. It's much lighter than the Rayovac I'll talk about later, but about the same size.

Coleman Puck Lantern - My only lantern that is rechargeable via USB. My two main gripes are that when closed, it's nearly impossible to reopen (think suction!), and that the USB port closure opens up very easily - the rubber cover is too small, which means the water resistance is compromised very easily. That said, the ability to recharge is fantastic, and the battery life is even better - I ran it for 20 hours on high (just left it on) during a power outage and the thing still had plenty of power left. Takes a while to charge, but is darn durable and can compact well. Light distribution is decent but limited due to the size/design. Can hang, and includes a bottom LED as well for that reason. Lots of light-up configurations as well. Glare is decent.

Snow Peak Hozuki - At first I thought this lantern was ridiculous, but it's actually one of my favorites. It has a VERY warm yellow light similar to candles, a compact size and is magnetic, so I can hang it almost anywhere I want. I actually use this around the house while working on repairs in small corners or on my computer, or as a night light. I honestly am hesitant to take it camping since the battery cover can come undone super easily and it's NOT waterproof. Also the rubber light dispenser falls off easily. So for camping this is a terrible choice unless you want to only hang it in your tent. If any other lamp had the LED's the Hozuki has, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Rayovac Sportsman - Heavy, bulky, long lasting, built like a tank. If you're going car camping, this is the lamp to have. It's ugly, large, uses heavy batteries, is bright and water resistant. The glare is pretty bad, but it's VERY bright and can last for days. I love mine, and eventually bought my parents one as well.

>I like the olight s1 and the BLF A6.

How concerned are you about size? Like I can EDC the A6 but for others it's too big of a light. The S1 is like 1/3rd the size of the A6 so it's much more pocket friendly.

>Some flood on lower settings would be great.

What? A thrower isn't going to just convert to a flood light when you have a lower mode. Your EDC would create more flood because of the smaller reflector.

>I like this [Thorfire C8] unless it can't live up to my requirements.

It's a nice light but I'm not sure how waterproof it is. Like rain is not problem for it at all but budget lights aren't known to be perfectly sealed to handle being submersed. This Olight M3X Triton throws 580m (~375m of visible light). Plus it's high quality and 2m submersible.

>A camping lantern, I quite like this crank one.

Review of said lantern.

Better Lantern - Thorefire 18650 rechargeable - Review

Well, without geeking out too much, the Dietz 20 is probly the most popular version, looks like they're running some kind of sale but they're usually around $25. Many smaller and larger versions exist, with slightly different features, but honestly just pick what you like- in terms of functionality I haven't found much difference between big solid antiques, modern repros and cheap K-Mart knockoffs. There are some variations on how much oil they will hold and bigger wicks mean more light (and heat), but for the most part these are subtle.

If money were no object WT Kirkham also makes solid brass and marine versions and they have a bunch of other lines. If you insist on US-made, you can pay a lot more to the same company, or vintage ones are available in most antique/junk shops, swap meets, and on eBay- though you should check for rust and for some reason the prices are truly all over the map (there are also some cool weird ones out there- I have an old steamboat headlight).

Keep in mind that oil lamps were how people lit their homes and barns and what they used instead of flashlights/headlights/signaling for most of history until like the 1920's, so there are also all kinds of fancy, breakable, decorative lamps and weird industrial options out there, but they don't have the inherent safety features and convenience of hurricane lamps, and with a very few exceptions they don't offer anything extra. Most country folks had a few around up until they really started to trust electricity, and they're still used regularly in some parts of the world, so once you start looking around for them, they turn up everywhere.

Where do you sit when there aren't stumps and rocks? How do you illuminate your campsite when you can't build a fire? If you're a side sleeper and a light packer, where do you put your head?

A shovel serves very little purpose when the same can be done with a stick. You're making a poop hole, not a fox hole. I've never seen someone bring a shovel hiking for that purpose.

This is my electric lantern. It's less than 4" tall and puts out a lot of light. With cordage, you can hang it over your campsite and have an overhead light. Especially useful when camping where there are fire bans (which is very common for me). I don't think another tool can recreate this, so it's a necessity imo.

An inflatable pillow like this weighs less than 3 oz and packs up to the size of a shot glass. Pretty much non-existent in a pack and is a must-have for me.

A camp chair is certainly a luxury item, but the one I use weighs about 1 lb. I am able to squeeze it where trekking poles would go if I packed them. You make a fair point about this one, but if there isn't anything to sit on where you camp, then it's a pretty necessary thing to have. It's a little redundant since I bring a hammock, but there's no guarantee I'll be able to find trees that I can hang a hammock on in camp. And you'd be very lucky to stumble across a few perfect sitting stumps or large rocks at a backwoods campsite.

Those items hardly even compare to a shovel in terms of bulk and usefulness.

I just made a comment on supplies, so check my most recent history.

If you are 100% unprepared, you can at least get some cash out of the ATM and write down contact numbers. You can try getting food and water, but stores be going crazy at the moment, so good luck. If you get your hands on packs of water, it will be a help though.

If you have amazon prime, you can always try ordering some things from them and hopefully they get to you before Friday. I recommend this lantern, they’re pretty great.

I share your desire for a small area light that is dimmable warm (2,700–3,000K), but it's hard to find these for some reason. High CRI would also be nice. Neutral white (4,000–5,000K) with high CRI is much more common, but warm seems in low demand.

There are a bunch of cheap camping lights advertised as warm on Amazon these days (I think most are 3,200K). Here's one for only $4: https://www.amazon.com/HiHiLL-Camping-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Magnetic/dp/B01E3W9TOS

There are also USB hanging bulb style models with cords, which you could power off a small power bank: https://www.amazon.com/Linght-Light-Button-Dimmable-Switch/dp/B0151FGFPC

I would maybe try purchasing a few cheap options, then seeing which ones work well. Please report back if you find a good one!

I suggest getting a pocket tarp like this one . It’s not necessary for camping but while in centeroo you are gonna want to sit down and the ground can be wet/muddy. Folds up to be very small.

I also suggest getting this battery powered fan/lantern . Good source of light at night and fan power is strong.

You definitely need an EZUP/tapestrys for shade, and tarps for the ground.

These are great. You can set them upright or remove the top and hang them upside down. They run AA's which are great. You can get good 12v chargers for AAs and they take up only a small amount of space.
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Survival-Technologies-10-Day-Lantern/dp/B00IJRGTK6

Have you been tent camping before? This may seem like the cheapest way to go, but if you don't already have your camping equipment already this can be an expensive way to go.

Using amazon:

• 2 person tent $45
  
• 2 sleeping bags $44
  
• battery powered lanterns $15
  
• 48 pack batteries $12 (that may be too many but you don't want to buy too few)
  
• single burner stove $25
  
• tank of propane $10 (burner is kind of useless without it)
  
• coffee percolator $12
  
• Camping cookware $18
  
• camping tableware set $28
  
  I'm leaving some stuff out, but you're looking at about another $209 added to the cost of staying at Fort Wilderness.
  
  Let's not forget that if you aren't sure about being comfortable with tent camping, It rains like you've rarely ever seen every day in Florida. Usually for short periods of time, but are you willing to tent camp in a tropical rainstorm over night?
  
  I am a huge advocate of Fort Wilderness. I've loved the place since my parents took me there as a child (with a pull behind RV) in the mid 1970's. I suggest you go to the Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-A-Long, and Movies Under The Stars while you are there. If you can afford it go to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue as well. However, tent camping in Florida is quite different than tent camping anywhere else. Maybe wait a little longer until you can afford to stay at one of the All-Star resorts.

The only thing I can think of would be a Wii for that wide of an age range. But that's expensive, what with all the accessories you have to get for it.

...

The only (reasonably priced) thing I can think of would be like a child's tent. It's great for "camping" be it indoors or out, and makes a great fort.

Throw in a kiddie camping lantern and you've got yourself the best sleepover ever.

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Multi-Purpose-Lantern/dp/B00168OD4O/?tag=parametrek-20

Congratulations! Please, thank you, and good luck!

I had to leave a rough situation and was temporarily homeless/staying out of my car...I’m gonna just list things I ended up appreciating a lot. You might not need some of the stuff, but I just want you to be prepared.

-baby wipes!!!! You can take a mini shower without water, clean your hands, face, etc.

-solar powered flash light.
I have this one (I don’t normally share links on reddit, i hope that works)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L4WHP0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_q.TaBbQV6C5DB

I am not sure how it works in the UK, but when my mom was living in the woods with no address in the US, she had items delivered to the local post office for her and they held her packages until she got them.

-Scissors or a sharp knife (pocket knife maybe so you can fold it and be safe), bottle cap opener, can opener

-pens and journal, books

-chapstick, sunscreen, anti-itch cream, Neosporin, toothpaste

-maybe a hat and sun glasses if you will be stuck outside? (I am from somewhere very hot and sunny, so maybe something different for your specific weather..umbrella or rain coat?)



It was not so hard to find food or water, but one thing that was difficult was being alone so much. I am glad reddit exists and that I had my journal. I hope everything works out for you and if I think of anything else I will comment again.

You could try looking for a group of other people that are also sleeping in their cars as there is safety in numbers. I know that my aunt regularly talks to one homeless guy that lives in his car in a parking lot that has a McDonald's and a Carl's Jr.

They all park towards the rear of the lot so as to not piss off the fast food workers and they help watch each others backs.

Another suggestion would be for you to order a LuminAid Nova Lantern from Amazon before you end up in your car. The beauty of this little device is that it will give you upto 24 hours of light on a single charge and you can either charge it in the sun for 10 hours or plug it into a wall outlet for 1 hour.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0716JV1SG <-- cost is $20

Also if you can afford to spend about $50 then you might want to invest in a car jumper like the one link below to have on hand just in case you run into a situation where you have completely drained the battery and cant get the car started.

https://www.amazon.com/14000mAh-Portable-Emergency-Flashlight-Protected/dp/B072BLJF49

Take it from a Montanan (we have long, lonely roads and plenty of snow). This is in order from "must have" to "if you have room". Not necessarily complete, but all I could think of atm.

• light source, such as a light or lantern, preferably one that does not need batteries. Even better if it's a light/something else combo. (examples here, here, and here)
  
• radio (see above)
  
• spare cellphone battery or battery charger (see above)
  
• military-style shovel, get it at an army surplus store, they can work as a shovel, axe, saw, etc.
  
• ski suit, one that you can pull on over other clothes
  
• energy bars, keep them in the glove compartment and change them out when they expire
  
• reflective tape
  
• tire chains
  
• gas, in a proper can
  
• gloves, or better yet mittengloves
  
• travel pillow, the kind that wraps around your neck so you can sleep sitting up
  
• a book, preferably full of short but interesting stories (examples here and here)

Headlamp.

• Put headlamp on your head, it's a headlamp!
  
  
• Hold headlamp in your hand, it's a flashlight!
  
  
• Strap headlamp to a water bottle, it's a lantern!
  
  
• Hang headlamp from the ceiling of your tent, it's a chandelier!
  
  If you want a dedicated camp lantern, I suggest a LuminAID lantern. They're lightweight, relatively inexpensive, pack well, and you just leave it in the sun to recharge.

https://www.amazon.com/Princeton-Tec-Helix-Backcountry-Rechargeable/dp/B01N1XFESO/?tag=parametrek-20 This would be great, thanks for doing this

Curious, does this mean that amazon.de and others aren't allowed?

If they are allowed, I'd love the Nitecore LA10 CRI! https://www.amazon.de/Nitecore-LA10-CRI-schwarz-Mini-Laterne/dp/B01M3TWZSK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540150320&sr=8-3&keywords=nitecore+LA10

LA10 CRI. A friend has one and I'd like one myself. It's a cool little light.

https://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-LA10-Lumen-Camping-Lantern/dp/B01M3T1IRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8

Even if the price limit is a bit higher, I'll just go for the LA10 CRI again. Thanks for the giveaway!

I'm curious, too - are you just putting these up for the heck of it, and paying out of pocket, or is something else funding them?

Thank you!

Nitecore LA10 CRI 85 Lumen Mini LED Camping Lantern - True Color Rendering including AA Battery and LumenTac Battery Organizer (Red) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LQX4WQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aLd9Ab5SGMBB5

LA10 CRI in red would be perfect for my needs.

Thanks!

https://www.amazon.de/Nitecore-LA10-CRI-Campingleuchte-Nichia/dp/B01M3TWZSK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1511900955&sr=8-2&keywords=nitecore+la10

UYLED do a few lantern-y things of varying lengths.

This is their shortest, but is a bit big, and doesn't have a clip.

Fenix have the CL05 (AAA), CL-09 (16340), and CL-20 (built in 1600mAh lipo)

Cheapest option (ignoring most of your other 'should have's) I've found is the niteize ZipLit, with its single coin cell, or MoonLit, with 2x2032s (note; you can get rechargeable LIR2032s, but I don't know if it'd like the higher voltage.)

Thanks so much!

https://www.amazon.com/Fenix-CL20R/dp/B075QQ8VHB/?tag=parametrek-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072LQH86F
Thanks!

Nitecore LA10 CRI

Thanks!

Solid name.

I'll do the LA10 CRI as well!

thanks.

https://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-LA10-Lumen-Camping-Lantern/dp/B01M3T1IRK/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1525870738&sr=1-3&keywords=Nitecore%2BLA10%2BCRI&th=1

As far as camp lights go, I really like the LuminAID inflatable lantern. It's inflatable, so it's really small to pack, and it's frosted to diffuse the light so it isn't as bright. Plus you can recharge it with solar or USB.

I still want a Red LA10 CRI lantern.

https://www.amazon.com/Princeton-Tec-Helix-Backcountry-Rechargeable/dp/B01N1XFESO/?tag=parametrek-20

Nitecore LA10 CRI

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1XFESO

the "top reviews" on Amazon don't speak well for this item:

BERTHILIA PEETERS
1.0 out of 5 starsDisappointed
November 5, 2017
Color: WhiteSize: Powered by Solar or USBVerified Purchase
We purchased many of these solar lights to be used in the BVI post hurricane Irma and are very disappointed with many of the lights. Have been using for 6 weeks and out of 16 only 5 are still working. Several no longer stay inflated and all of the 11 which no longer work will no longer take a charge. We bought 55 of these lights to give to people in need and now would never recommend to anyone.
75 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 starsLOVED it when it worked for those 7 times
September 27, 2017
Color: WhiteSize: Powered by Solar or USBVerified Purchase
I have had this lantern for exactly 35 days and have used it a total of 7 times and it is now suddenly not working. Extremely unhappy with this purchase, as it is just a few days out of return window. LOVED it when it worked for those 7 times... I'd definitely recommend buying another brand.
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B. Shively
1.0 out of 5 starsNeeds a Manufacturing Fix
November 1, 2017
Color: Multi-ColoredSize: Powered by SolarVerified Purchase
Total waste of money. The solar charging is only useful 5 times, and then it dies. I bought several and every one has failed the same way. All that is needed is a chip to keep it from overcharging and killing itself. No way to repair or restore. Good idea, bad execution. Hey, put the chip on the board and make this right guys! Only then will it be a decent product for the price. Bad Deal ☹️
18 people found this helpful