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 can some one tell me the best sort of light/lamp to buy.

this is our first camping trip, And there is so many sorts of light, gas battery or  fuel,  I have a 3 year old little boy and i am not sure how safe they all are,

please help

Claire

Claire

The market place is awash with various lamps,    argos and Lidl are selling LED lamps around the £9 - £20 mark,  LED give off a bright white light and tend to be better on the batteries,

I bought an 8 watt flourecent light with cables for £8 from caravan shop, and a motorbike battery for £12,       the light lasted about 5 days at  3 hrs a night and got site owner to charge it up for me through the day.

Good luck with your search

We are novices too, but for our first trip we bought a free standing flourecent light for £7 - Argos do them

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0194370/Trail/C%24cip%3D36237.Sports%2Band%2Bleisure%3EC%24cip%3D36238.Camping%2Band%2Bcaravaning%3EC%24cip%3D36252.Camping%2Blights%2C%2Blamps%2Band%2Btorches.htm

It just connected to out car cigarette lighter and was really bright.  We used a 3m extension lead from camping shop to get it from the car right into the tent though.  We managed to break the stnd, but it was better hanging anyway.

I don;t like the idea of gas inside the tent and the battery ones seem to gobble expensive batteries.  There have been lots of threads on lighting recently though so do a search.  Someone said they used a solar powered garden light as a night lite - excellent idea - although our kids didn't seem to need a night light (although they do at home).

HTH

hi i too am a newbie camper with a 3 yr old and i brought a rechargable one for inside the tent as i think the battery ones are not cost effective(i got mine off ebay for £12 but there are loads about, £17 in tescos £20 in argos etc..) and a gas one for outside the tent.

also for when you put your little one to bed buy the cheap glow sticks (i get mine from the poundshop or gd do a lantern one for 49p each) as this will distract them if they are nervous at bedtime and is great if they wake during the night.

Happy camping

vicky

I take a gas lamp for outside the tent (cosy and good light). I don`t use it inside the tent...the very thought freaks me out. (I`m neurotic about fire risk in tents. I prefer  a battery one for inside. Our olde Asda cheapie just gave up the ghost after 11 years of faithful service so I bought a new Lidl cheapie last week.(Osram, £9.99.) Bet it doesn`t last half as long. I did think about a rechargable, but 5 hours from a 17 hour charge didn`t seem great if not taking EHU. I`ll stick with bargain Ikea batteries.

I also just bought a SunnCamp bulkhead light for the times we do take EHU. Electric light in a tent! That will be a first for me.

Quote: Originally posted by moppy on 30/5/2006

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I have just used my campingaz light for the first time ...... I just thought it was a bit fragile to be carrying around

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When I pack my gas lamp I remove the self sealing cannister and pack the glass section inside a cardboard box that once held washing powder tablets. A bit low tec, but it fits perfectly and the box is sturdy enough to protect it from most knocks.

Hi Peanut18,

Why don't you get your little one a head torch, my youngest loves his, he wears it up to the shower block, then uses it to reads his books snuggled up in his sleeping bag.You can get them from Arogs or Millets do them too.

Ive got a coleman area light I think it's called, it is rechargable from car or mains, has 2 flourescent bulbs which can be used either one or two and a mirrored back bit if you don't need light all round to reflect light back into the room.  Got it from Towsure, cost a bit more than some lights but it's very sturdy and a good design, the chargers fit into a hole in the bottom of the lamp so you've always got them with you.

Kate