I've been camping for 3 years now and I'm interested in buying a gas lantern..... Fed up with battery/rechargable ones!!!!
Can u let me know whats good on the market(best value)
Also have any of u got good barbecues that do not take alot of room up when packing? As I've been looking at folding/portable ones...
We use a Campingaz 206 lantern. It not only gives out a good warm light, but it takes the chill off the tent too We've had ours for around 5 years, yet have only once had to replace the mantle. The gas cartridges for the 206 are the cheapest too,whereas the 270 lantern takes the more expensive refils.
We're very pleased with our 206 lantern, so I'm happy to recommend it
Remember that gas lamps certainly shouldn't be used inside the tent, so you'll need a battery or electric light as back up anyway. Definately follow the advice about carrying spare mantles too. ou don't have to replace them often but when you do, there's no escape!
I have a couple of CampingGaz ones like this which run off the removable click-loc cannisters. These are slightly more expensive than the pierceble cannisters used for the 206 type lantern referred to above, yes, but they do actually save money as they can be removed for travelling. You should NEVER transport a gas lamp with the cannister attached so this means if you're using piercible cannisters you have to throw the cannister away, possibly part full of gas, at the end of each trip.
I would second the above suggestion as to a rectangular griddle plate to fit on your cooker if you're short of packing space. Extremely useful item. Or if you're going to be carrying (click-loc) gas cannisters, how about a CampingGaz Party Grill?
Although I whole-heartedly agree with Val that incandescent lighting and tents do not mix, since having now gone totally non-EHU I have to say that rechargeables are a pain; especially if you are not using the car much to recharge them!
We use a large poly-cotton Outwell Norfolk Lake tent most of the time and a closely supervised gas lamp (with a stable base) inside on a (sturdy) table is our solution. Since we usually leave all of our vents open, I do not consider the lamp's use of oxygen or emission of combustion byproducts a real issue, but clearly this is not an option with young kids around and certainly NOT safe to hang inside as a night light for the kids while the adults party outside!!
As an evangelist of liquid-fuel cooking, I would also love to own something like a Coleman NorthStar pumping out 220W and running on cheap, clean alkylate petrol... but I just cannot justify having an outside-only lamp (coz there's NO WAY that's safe to use in a tent!) as well as the gas lamp, both in terms of cost and weight/space.
For years I owned a Camping-Gaz 206 lantern which got lost a couple of years back. However, I have just bought one of the newer models that use the new removable valve-type cylinders. I could have opted for another 206, but I decided against doing so for two reasons: (1) I have been told the old puncture-style cylinders may be phased out due to tighter EU-legislation (yeah, the same reason you cannot buy Creosote any more!) and (2) because as Val said the newer cylinders can be removed and transported (my new lamp fits in a nifty little plastic case when detached from the gas, no bigger than a coffee mug). The new cylinders do cost more, but I have seen third party cylinders (i.e. other than CampingGaz/Coleman) that come in a lot cheaper. Just like you can buy the 206 in bulk multi-packs working out at around 99p per cylinder, I have no doubt similar deals will emerge for the newer ones once they become more popular. Consider also that you can get the newer cylinders in larger sizes which has the added benefit of providing a more stable base for the lamp.
On the latter an important point... there are two basic types of the newer lamps that use the valve-type cylinders: ones that have a body that enclose the cylinder and ones that just sit on top. If you opt for the former you are stuck with just one (smaller) size of cylinder, whereas the latter can fit them all. Also, if you have the enclosed-cylinder type you do not benefit from the space saving by removing the cylinder whilst travelling.
Unless you go for a whopping big gas lamp (Coleman even do a NorthStar gas version!) the usual output power is 80W, which we find plenty powerful enough inside the tent. Ok, outside you're not gonna floodlight a football pitch with it, but it is enough to see to cook and to light up the table for an outdoor meal if it's dark.
For your info I bought my new lamp a few weeks ago on offer at BCH Camping for £19.99. It is last year's model with a smaller globe (same output power and more compact than this year's model) and it even boasts piezo ignition! Interestingly this year's model features what CampingGaz/Coleman describe as an 'enhanced' (they mean easier) connection to the cylinder valve. As an engineer I agonised for ages in the shop looking at the new and old models and decided that the older style was superior because it has a lever that you slide to remove or lock the cylinder in place, which to me was a more positive and secure method. I can only guess the slight change in this year's model is to remove the necessity for the lever, which I suspect makes it cheaper to produce rather than just being easier to use for the camper
Please post back with what you decide to buy in the end.
------------- Please do not adjust your mind... there is a fault in reality
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 12/5/2009
Remember that gas lamps certainly shouldn't be used inside the tent, so you'll need a battery or electric light as back up anyway. Definately follow the advice about carrying spare mantles too. ou don't have to replace them often but when you do, there's no escape!
I have a couple of CampingGaz ones like this which run off the removable click-loc cannisters. These are slightly more expensive than the pierceble cannisters used for the 206 type lantern referred to above, yes, but they do actually save money as they can be removed for travelling. You should NEVER transport a gas lamp with the cannister attached so this means if you're using piercible cannisters you have to throw the cannister away, possibly part full of gas, at the end of each trip.
I would second the above suggestion as to a rectangular griddle plate to fit on your cooker if you're short of packing space. Extremely useful item. Or if you're going to be carrying (click-loc) gas cannisters, how about a CampingGaz Party Grill?
I've got a 206 lantern which I've been using for at least 15 years and I never remove the cartridge except to replace with a new one when it's empty. I don't remember the instructions saying that the cartridges should be thrown away before they were empty - surely this is a dangerous practice? The gas which would be expelled when you remove a part full canister could cause serious freeze burns to any fingers that got in the way, not to mention the potential fire hazard of the escaping gas.
I don't see that travelling with the canister attached to a 206 would be any more hazardous than taking off a part filled clic-loc one - in either case there could be a risk of gas escaping if the seal were to fail.
Re the Party Grill - recommended highly, great piece of kit for breakfasts, but you don't get the real barbecue taste like a charcoal one.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
We have a camping gaz Stelli CV double mantle lamp. It gives off a lot of light (up to 160W according to the literature) and uses the CV470 plus cartridges which can be removed and replaced/reused at will, it is supposed to run for 6 hours from one cartridge.
We have just got, but not used, the Outwell folding BBQ to try. It folds completely flat so for packing it seems perfect.
Quote: Originally posted by bordercaz on 12/5/2009
I've got a 206 lantern which I've been using for at least 15 years and I never remove the cartridge except to replace with a new one when it's empty. I don't remember the instructions saying that the cartridges should be thrown away before they were empty - surely this is a dangerous practice? The gas which would be expelled when you remove a part full canister could cause serious freeze burns to any fingers that got in the way, not to mention the potential fire hazard of the escaping gas.
I don't see that travelling with the canister attached to a 206 would be any more hazardous than taking off a part filled clic-loc one - in either case there could be a risk of gas escaping if the seal were to fail.
The recommended technique for removing a part full pierceable cannister is to place the appliance in a distant hedge and open the valve, without lighting it. Then let the gas bleed off.
Yes clic-loc valves can fail, but it's rare. Also if they do fail it's while you're actually attaching or taking them off, so you know about it. Whereas if you pack an appliance with a cannister of either sort attached it can get dislodged in transit.
I think that's why clic-locks got invented, actually.....
I never remove the cartridge from my 206 lantern for transporting - I still have the instruction leaflet which states in bold letters, "Never remove the cartridge unless it is completely empty".
The bottom of the 206 has a screw fitting to hold the cartridge firmly in place, but we always transport the lantern in it's original box anyway.
You've got to admit though, with health and safety gone mad these days it's a wonder a gas cylinder that you use by piercing with a sharp spike has survived this long... even cigarette lighter refill cylinders have valves!
------------- Please do not adjust your mind... there is a fault in reality
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: Gas Lantern/space saving bbq`s
We've had ours for around 5 years, yet have only once had to replace the mantle. The gas cartridges for the 206 are the cheapest too,whereas the 270 lantern takes the more expensive refils. 
