Hi all,
Which is the best solar lantern to buy for camping (without EHU) please?
I had a Vango for years, but being clumsy, I dropped it a number of times and it eventually fell to bits! I wasn't all that impressed by the light emitted from it anyway. It was ok for non-EHU pitches, to find your way around in the dark, but the light provided was not really good enough to read by. Maybe what I need is a dual-powered lantern?
Any thoughts/ideas welcome.
Yes, I know, the show at the NEC would probably provide me with a number of options, but it's expensive to attend, and a long way to go just to compare notes on light sources!
Oh, no dogs allowed either...
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Changed days! I just used to use a battery operated head torch. But there’s certainly loads of choice for solar lights; Blacks has 20 options & some have a good % off now (end of season). Hopefully folks here will recommend something bright enough for reading.
Thanks folks for your ideas so far. I definitely approve of wind-up lanterns from an environmental point of view, but don't you have to keep winding them all the time, to get light? Not so practical for reading in bed!
I was given a freebie once which was a small solar torch. It was a rectangular shape, with a rigid metal frame which can be used as either a stand or a carrier. But a spotlight rather than a diffuse light. I'm surprised they're not made in a bigger size. It's made by SunnyMoney, and distributed by Solar Aid, to communities in Africa. (Where many countries still do not have mains electricity) I haven't seen any being sold in this country.
Maybe I should just get a headlamp LED torch...
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Google LuminAID. These go into Shelterbox kits sent to disaster areas (tent, water filtration, tools etc). You can buy them in UK. Sounds like what you had, whether it’s bright enough to read by, I can’t say.
Two problems with solar torches, first they take hours to charge, and the lower the light levels the longer to charge! - winter time/overcast sky may never achieve full charge! Secondly if it runs out of juice when in use, that's it until the sun rises again!
IMHO a 'wind up' torch is a better option, you can give it a charge boost at any time, and no you don't have to keep winding to get light, the winding charges a internal battery and it will run for some time, depending on torch, often for hours.
I've a really cheap and cheerful one I got a few years back as a end of season bundle of tent, 2 sleeping bags, 2 fold up chairs and the windup lantern, princely sum of around £15 the lot IIRC! Only the chairs have given up the ghost, still use the lantern and sleeping bags regularly. As to reading from most camping torches, always found that challenging, just not enough illumination power in a torch for comfortable reading for any length of time, OK for a quick peruse, but a novel is another thing!
Thanks Monty 15, and a good selection in the link you posted. I have one of the little hand wind-up torches, and that one DOES need winding constantly to get any light. So not even any good for taking the dog out for its last walk of the night. If she stops to do a whoopsie how are you supposed to see what you're doing when trying to pick up the offending heap?
Looking at the LuminAid site yesterday there was a nice little collapsible solar lantern on there. (Also some on your site) However, I do agree with you, they're all a bit naff if you're away during a dull or wet week!
I have found them useful at home if there is a power outage, but maybe you're right, a multi-powered lamp would be a more efficient choice for camping.
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Recommendation for Solar Lantern Please.
via mobile 08/10/2023 at 4:35pm
