We bought a camping lantern from 'LIDL' supermarket - uses a low energy long life bulb. Powered by 4 'D' cells. We used it every evening from Sunday to Friday and was still bright as daylight and we only used cheap batteries from a pound store!!
We also have wind up torches for trips to the loos at night - very handy.
------------- Today is the tomorrow we were so worried about yesterday!
The very best (and very expensive) is a Coleman Northstar. It heats the tent too - ideal for chilly nights. It lights up the tent like something from Close Encounters. However, it can't be used close to the tent roof or walls, and is not ideal if you have small kids or dogs. Also, like any fossil fuel lamp, it releases a lot of water vapour so you need to have good ventilation.
Many recommend on here the UFO type LED lights. Cheap, long battery life, and claimed good light output.
I see from another thread that TESCO has Campingaz lanterns at around £8. Bargain. You can always trade up if you feel the gas lamp / petrol lamp is for you.
I am a big fan of the Coleman duel fuel lamps, but inside a tent I would make sure that the ventilation is very good; partly because of the water vapour and partly because of fumes. For the latter reason, is such a confined space I would only use Coleman's own fuel or Aspen (pure unleaded petrol - see previous threads) and NOT unleaded from the pump because of all the carcinogenic additives.
The Coleman dual fuel lamps are fantastic, even the single mantle lamps will give out more light than you will ever need....unless you are camping on Portland Bill and fancy warning off a few ships!
Just a word of warning though...others have mentioned the more serious aspects of using a 'flame' lamp in a tent...the slightly less serious aspect to a very bright lantern in the tent is 'silhouetting'....
Anyone who has seen this will know what I mean..
If you haven't seen it...just think of shadow hand puppets...but the full body version
------------- 'I liked freezing my n*ts off so much, I bought the company'
Quote: Originally posted by Victor Khyam on 21/8/2007
Just a word of warning though...others have mentioned the more serious aspects of using a 'flame' lamp in a tent...the slightly less serious aspect to a very bright lantern in the tent is 'silhouetting'....
Anyone who has seen this will know what I mean..
If you haven't seen it...just think of shadow hand puppets...but the full body version
This very thought occurred to me while camping last week - just after I'd taken my bra off.
I would go for the UFO light also. Ours were only £3 from Morrisons (think they've sold out now) and take up so little space in the car - about the size of a fat CD. We won't be bothering to take our large fluorescent light in future. The UFO lights are very bright.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Lanterns
