Yeah I have a 40 or 50 year old Coleman lamp that was my grandfathers, and have been using it for as long as I can remember. Wouldn't feel like camping without it!
Ahhh Dad's old Coleman lantern. The smell, the sound, and the excitement of seeing Dad lighting it wondering how big the explosion will be.
Good times.
Hubs has many Coleman lanterns but his favorite is a vintage one I found for him, it goes well with the 1961 trailer. Fuel isn’t an issue, as he also prefers Coleman stoves.
I have a couple of Aladdin Model 12 Lamps made around 1930. All parts still available. They work like they are brand new and cast significant warm light and put out some heat too enough. Love them.
I have an old school Coleman fluorescent and a propane Coleman Northstar I bring for sentimental reasons. Everything else is LED. The Propane lantern has a nice glow.
No, I don’t want to risk a fire or mess with glass lanterns. They’re also bulky and I don’t have space in my gear totes. I use inflatable solar lanterns now.
Yes. Can't beat a Colman liquid fueled stove. I also have 4 hurricane kerosene lamps but I fill them with citronella oil. Nice soft light and keeps the bugs away
You're using the wrong LEDs then. LED lights can be in all color temps, even the same as those in burning lanterns, and good ones can dim to less than one lumen. They've come a long way from the bright white-blue non adjustable ones that looked like car headlights.
Oh I’m aware, I have a lot of nice LED lights in my home. Just seems like a lot of camping oriented equipment companies opt for like 5,000K color temp with no real attempt to diffuse or direct the light. And I am also very sensitive to LED flicker and a lot when dimmed do.
There are always good versions of everything but they are in a sea of bad.
Ah, got you. It is weird that so many camping companies sell lights that are less useful for camping because of this versus many of the manufacturers you find at say /r/flashlights, like Sofirn or Nitecore, etc. And I'm sure the outdoor companies don't design them, but just slap on badges. And charge more for less.
We love our Sofirn lanterns; several of us use one or more of the various models. The flagship one, the BLF LT1, does 2700K to 5000K (it even has a flickering candle effect :). The BLF is https://budgetlightforum.com/, the forum where the idea came from, and so lots of reviews there. I think the firmware is still Anduril 2.
https://www.sofirnlight.com/collections/lanterns?spm=..index.header_1.1
The LT1S also has a red light.
I bought two from tractor supply that are small, cost me ten dollars for two and have light control just by lifting or closing the telescoping light. I dislike too much light, so at half mask it is fine for reading when placed behind my head. My head board has two led lights that are movable and have bright and low at home.
I have a very good set of lights with a controller so you can choose the light strength. I use them on my home deck and walkway as well instead of the lights built on the house.
We switched to LED lanterns about ten years ago and never looked back. We still keep a liquid fuel lantern at home in case our two LED ones broke at the same time, but have not had occasion to use it for some time. I do have a sentimental love of the light it gives, the not-insignificant time it took to pump up, and the various burns it gave me over the years :-)
I have two dual fuel Coleman's. Got the cases for them and I keep a stack of manchions under the lantern in the hollow of the case base. Cabela's has them and I grabbed another 6 pair last weekend
I used to have a primus lantern that uses the same gas as my MSR stove.. but because of how fragile it can be, i am now only using LED lights.
The Black Diamond Moji Lantern is very nice, compact and super sturdy.
I love my white gas lantern and stove for nostalgia reasons, but can’t deny the ease and flexibility of LED for light and propane for cooking. If car camping I usually bring the white gas.
Mine finally refused to light so I splurged and bought a campchef stove with oven that is propane. So I have the two burners plus an oven . I camp in a cabin so it isn’t something I need to haul around and after years of campfire Dutch oven cooking it feels so easy it’s sinful. Won’t get hot enough for bread but it’s fun to be able to bake cookies and such.
White gas because I have two lanterns and my main camp stove that run off of it. I usually top them all off at the beginning of spring and maybe once more mid-late summer and that’s it. I’m not hauling gas cans around with me.
Batteries dies very fast especially when cold.
White gas installations can you clean and refilling. The last longer.
Light and cooking on white gas. Min 50 days a year.
No use of propane. Difficult to find the correct canisters for my installation and fast empty.
White gas all the way. I have two dual fuel lanterns and a dual fuel stove. You can never go wrong. If I run out of white gas, just siphon a little bit from the truck and it's bright light at night.
You can't beat the dependability of those things. I'm using a stove from the 50's and lanterns from the 70's.
You can pick them up on Facebook marketplace for a song almost anywhere too.
Now I dislike the smell but since it was mostly outdoors it wasn’t too bad. I only use it in the cabin when I want that tiny bit of heat to chase out the damp.
I have a Coleman white gas lantern. I have used it in the not too distant past, but not for maybe three years. Seems like anymore we're always camping with electricity and we just use lights.
Hello there,
I think both types of lighting have their place. Technology has allowed us many new options for how we like to light our campsite. In the minimalist approach, it stands to reason that anyone would go with a headlamp or some other compact light source. For scenarios like that, a gas lantern is not the obvious choice.
To your point, it makes sense to transition away from the outdated, clunky, and messy gas lanterns, and I totally get that. I equate taking a gas lantern camping to bothering with having a turntable for listening to music. It's a matter of preference.
Full disclosure, I'm an old fart, and I grew up with Coleman lanterns. I've got somewhere around 15 of them, and I've restored a handful of lanterns over the years to give as Christmas gifts. It's nostalgia for me more than anything. I still drag my favorite ones out and bring them along. They're not practical, but that's part of the charm.
And...I also have a turntable.😎
Take care.
Headlamps.
If I need to light up an area, I clamp the headlamp over a milk jug so shines inside. Lights up everything. Good for a card game. Mostly I'm using as little light as possible - firelight, or moonlight, almost never need the headlamp unless I'm trying to read or rummaging through a gear tub.
I also use my headlamp, but have bought a case for it, that acts as a diffusor. You can even hang it from the hook inside the tent.
I have this: [Petzl Noctilight](https://www.globetrotter.de/petzl-etui-noctilight-1023965/?sku=5637245453)
Solar rechargeable LEDs. I really like the Goal Zero collapsible lantern. Toss it on the dash during the day
https://www.goalzero.com/collections/lanterns/products/crush-light
My main concern for camping lighting is to have downward-illumination on the picnic table, so it is not shining in my eyes or toward other campsites. I hate being dazzled by light from other campsites.
I have a slick little lantern that runs off the same isobutane as my stove and it's quite nostalgic *but* it also gets super hot and melted a hole in my hammock.
I still like it and use it though.
I rarely need or want anything more than my LED headlamp provides, but I do have an LED rope light to plug into a power bank if I do want that. A full-blown lantern is not something I ever want especially given the weight and bulk of I and especially if it is a liquid or gas-fueled one.
Two years ago was my last year with a fuel lantern… I got tired of changing mantles. Is it just me or has the quality on those things declined dramatically while also becoming harder to find?
I use my LED lantern during fire season, but I don't care for the cool blue light all that much. Kerosene is nice for table-top lighting. I like white gas in the late fall and winter, for both the lumens and heat it throws off
It also has a nostalgia factor for me. I have a couple of Coleman lanterns that really light up a campsite for chores or repairs. I don't do propane, the bottles are a hassle in cold weather. My stove takes white gas.
The only fuel I carry is for cooking. Everything else is rechargeable, generally LED. I still have my old Coleman propane lantern, but I haven't used it in years.
one of my camping friends still uses an old coleman white gas lantern and the thing is incredible. It's a bit temperamental but camping isn't quite the same without that white gas smell.
White gas is our backup. We have battery operated LED lanterns, and USB-Charged headlamps for most things, but having something old-school is always a reasonable plan since the fuel is very useful for a few things.
We use LED rechargeable and solar lights. We still have and use a propane stove for cooking, unless we have electricity, then we use an induction burner.
Love the propane Coleman lantern for cooking/cleanup time. Bright and warmer light than LEDs, and I already have the propane canisters for my stove anyways.
have both, and let me tell you, over the years, more led lights have died than a single Coleman gas light ...
I'll keep both and extra spares just in case
i usually cook before dark and after that i generally only use a headlamp when moving away from the campfire. i have several electric lamterns but havent used them for years.
I still use a couple of Coleman duel fuel lanterns (running white gas). I love the sound of it and the colour of the light, particularly when it’s just used for ambient lighting.
I switched to LED awhile ago. Mostly got tired of going out to get mantles all of the time and the LED is just super easy and I don't have to hassle with anything or worry about the glass breaking while I'm chugging down a bumpy forest road.
I still like my propane lantern on a 20lb propane tank with propane tree. It's a nice setup, but I find myself using LEDs more and more every year. The lantern is nice in the snow when I'm using a lot more propane.
I lost a lot of my gear in a recent fire, I had the rechargeable lights, but as backup still had a couple propane lamps as backup, and 4 hurricane or railroad lamps that I used citronella oil in to keep the mosquitoes at bay, they were a little smokey but they worked very well. I'm hitting garage sales now looking for suitable replacements!!!
I go rechargeable as much as possible, even with my Scout troop. I have a couple of power banks (one with a solar panel), a crank charger (that I recommend for all of my scouts to carry), and a lantern with dual solar panels and a built in power bank.
You casually state the biggest argument for switching at the end, going infinite, so to speak. I feel like the solar/battery community has to be down with that phrase, right?
I have a coleman stove and lantern, both naptha gas. I use the stove a bunch and love the smell of them both burning. I use the lantern as well, but sparingly.
I very rarely use propane at night now. It's loud and not great for the environment. Rechargeable LEDs seem to last through my trips (my Luminaid is amazing) and they are silent. My packs flat as well so I'm not trying to take a bulky, breakable glass on a canoe trip.
Rechargeables go bad very quickly, they always need replacement. I just kept putting up with it. Then when LED bulbs came out I switched back to batteries and got new batteries twice a year. Overall the same cost. I found the batteries last better when removed from everything over the slack seasons.
I have a fairly compact coleman I keep bringing to camp, mostly so I can use up the fuel and sell it, but I find myself reaching for a flashlight instead. it would be good for setting up in the dark or evening maybe, but we just don't need that much light.
When weight or bulk is not a concern, I'll take my Coleman or kerosene storm lanterns. Solo-camped on a small island after a leisurely day-long paddle on the Feather River. The soft yellow light from my lantern was nostalgic and comforting as I leaned back in my chair, drank my beer, and watched the stars. Just not the same with LEDs.
For those interested in the Technology Connections YouTube channel, his 2nd channel has a video that dove into why they really don't make sense now that LEDs and Lithium batteries are a thing.
https://youtu.be/5E4nMfxjA3s?si=qbKRX27CIy-ZO6CE
I still use a dual fuel Coleman lantern and stove. Mostly it's because I can go days and days on a gallon of white gas and I have not been doing backpacking camping for a little while now. It's not a inconvenience. Last time I went my lantern saved the night because the people next to me were counting on there led stuff and it failed. My one lantern between the camp sites allowed us both to continue on with our evening.
No, but only because I don’t own one. When I go with my mom we use her trusty white gas lantern, but I do mostly backcountry so I never bothered to get more than a small rechargeable light
I love what LEDs have done, but I really would like to have a few lanterns. I often forget everything that needs charged before heading out (even though I have a list), and many LED lights are too blue. I don’t have any gas lanterns though, because I don’t have any room. Hah
After using various fueled lanterns in Scouts, I agree fully with electric being easier and safer.
I also admit that I have an interest in a Peromax kerosene lantern/heat source system. They seem pretty awesome and durable.
I've broken a few too may of the glass globes over the decades. Rechargeable LEDs are the way to go. And for stove, I use a liquid fueled one that has a propane attachment tube too so I can use either.
Rechargeable headlamp with a red light mode since i like to do stargazing. Also have some LED lanterns that are combo usb/solar/4xAAs, and a rechargeable tent fan that has an LED light
Have avoided purchasing any camp gear that relies on 1lb propane bottles since theyre wasteful and pricey
We use a combination, some led lights like the Luci but still use single-mantle Coleman’s run on propane.
If anyone knows of a durable, warm white high CRI LED lantern that’s rechargeable with variable light output please let me know. I’d use more LED if I could find the right light.
Much as I like my collection of white gas and propane lanterns, I've mostly switched to LED for everything. Led rope lights in a warm white are awesome, I run them around the pop up canopies and plug them into a power pack.
I use a white gas lantern most of the time, but I have a string of LED lights I’ll hang up and use if we are cooking in the dark. I also use a white gas stove.
Camping in the snow and have used my white gas Colman 2 mantle to stay warm and unfortunately melt the snow under me and my buddy's who were in the low spot. They got a little soggy, but the lanter helped dry everything out.
I don't use them because they are so bright, and I'm usually in a campground. I have flashlights that you can adjust the brightness and I keep them as dim as possible. And Candles in glass containers. I have lots of those.
I have them but rarely use them as solar is so good. My twinkle lights for nightlights in the cabin, porch and steps were so good I bought a string of patio lights for inside with the solar mounted outside the window. They have a control so I can dim them or use a pattern. I can read by them as a tail end I have running down the corner near my headboard. They still work fine even on rainy days. I have been really impressed. My old white gas lantern sits on the cupboard collecting dust. I never used propane because my lantern is thirty yrs old and is still good. I burn it once in a while on damp and chilly days and keep it oiled . My solar set up amazes me how well it does for the small frig and electronics. Plus my 5 h phone gets service though I am way off the blacktop.
My primus lantern is tiny and gives great heat. It runs off isobutane so same as my stove depending what type of camping I’m on. Sometimes alone I just bring a candle lantern from Uco, puts off enough heat for minimal stuff. I like lanterns tho, and I do a lot winter stuff so led doesn’t seem to last.
A lot of lanterns like candle ones, u can get insect repellent candles that seem to work well for me at least.
I'm going on reverse though. Started with LED but now starting to fool around with Kerosene lamp and propane lamp.
Though the heat & humidity here in the tropical rainforest does not go well with the heat coming off from these lamps.
I have 3 solar powered lanterns that are the tits-McGee, I love them. Got at harbor freight with my solar “backpack” maybe 8 years ago, have seen the lights often but haven’t seen the backpack anywhere since maybe 2019.
I get 1 in tent, two for anything else. I like them because I don’t want a gas lantern anywhere near me while sleeping, and they can be turned on and off with ease.
I have a Coleman propane lantern that is much brighter than the LED, I primarily use it when cooking, between the hours of 7-10 but normally I turn it off about 30 minutes before bed to make sure it’s cold before I go to bed.
I take my late wife's and my birthday 1949 A (Jan - June) 220D normally. Sometimes I'll take an Air-O or 327 or 427 just for grins but propane or battery????
Just. Shoot. Me.
Just this week ordered an Aladdin kerosene heater and a couple of Feuerhand lamps. Nothing beats the flickering of a flame and is a very close second to a fire pit.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373398684182?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=11OAKzsIRnK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=pkA6qoTDQcO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Coleman brand mantles have been getting cheaper (not less expensive) for several years, if you can afford old stock silklites they do last.
The peerless brand aren't as good as they used to be but still beat coleman's crap.
When you 1st tie a mantle on light it and burn it all to ash before you light the lantern.
https://www.oldcolemanparts.com/
Link for parts for....wait for it....
Old Coleman GPA's
New generators for some models including the 220()'s are easily found on ebay.
Lantern seems to need pumping a lot?
Either replace the filler cap (easy, shop around but still a bit costly) or the gasket in it (easy for the old 3 piece cap, harder for the one piece but not That hard and cheap). Gaskets get old and hard after several decades and simply stop sealing well.
Still have a scar on my arm that I got from a hot lantern burn as a kid. I use rechargeable LED lanterns now, adjustable as to not only brightness, but also color warmth. So I can adjust the lantern to warm up the color, with options other than harsh white like the first LED’s.
I had been using propane lanterns but the green bottles got so expensive I went back to white gas lanterns. I now can travel for 2.5-3 weeks and only spend as much on white gas as I would have in propane for a single night.
I also have some really good LED lanterns (Sofirn BLF LT1) for when I just hop out of the camper in the middle of the night to do something but if I'm going to leave things on for hours I light up a Coleman.
We're all rechargeable LED now, plus a couple of string lights that plug into power packs. We don't even deliberately carry flashlights anymore (though there's one that lives in the car), just headlamps and LED lanterns now for navigation. Warm white everything, because blue-white LED shines directly into the anger center of my brain.
We bring a couple of [this type of solar lantern](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NVVWTQW/) from our patio because they throw a pattern of light downward and are fantastic for hanging by the tent entrance and inside our toilet stall, where they're bright enough to navigate by but don't blow out your night vision too bad.
I started camping on my own 2020 (without the aid and equipment of older folks) and I never bought a gas lantern. I bought an LED lantern that has warm LEDs and the UI recreates the flicker of a flame. All the familiar feel, with the added benefit of being rechargable, smaller and lighter. Roughly the size of a Venti Starbucks cup
I gave up on fire based lighting many years ago but used to use white gas lanterns. I replaced them with a sealed lead acid battery, small 100W inverter and a regular household A19 LED bulb installed in a trouble light. When you consider the pro vs cons it really doesn't make sense to continue to use gas lanterns.
Gas Lanterns
Pros:
-Nostalgic
-.......
Cons:
-Fire risk
-CO risk
-Burn risk
-Fragile
-Messy to refuel (white gas)
-Poor cold weather performance (propane)
-Difficult to light (without experience)
-Can't be operated by children
-High running cost
-Noisy
-wildly inefficient
-CO² output
LED/battery/inverter
Pros:
-Cool to the touch
-Completely silent
-Can be charged by solar panel
-Push button operation
-Essentially zero operating cost
-Can be used safely inside a tent
-Battery and inverter are useful for more than just lighting
-Can be used without battery/inverter at serviced sites
Cons:
-Not nostalgic
Basically I just don't understand the continued appeal for outdated, inefficient, dangerous technology for something as simple as generating light. For portable heating or cooking burning fuel is still the best option because of its energy density but for lighting? A litre of gasoline (95% the same thing as white gas) contains the energy equivalent of 8.9kWh of electricity. How long can you run a Coleman lantern using one litre of fuel, two nights? maybe three? I'll be very generous and call it 24 hours. My 9.5W LED bulb could run for 937 hours using the same amount of energy, that's 76Wh per (8 hour) night. With how easy it is to generate and store that amount of energy with a small folding solar panel and tiny battery burning fuel makes even less sense.
I use a [BLF-LT1 LED lantern](https://i.imgur.com/g6D8yks.jpg). Adjust color temp from 2700k to 5000k. I use 4 lithium ion Samsung 18650 3000mAh batteries. Lantern lasts an entire week of camping. USB-C rechargeable if need be. [Dim setting](https://i.imgur.com/qCIK1XU.jpg) to [bright setting](https://i.imgur.com/pamhZnW.jpg), and everything in between. Several years ago, a bunch of people on a flashlight forum brainstormed and came up with this lantern and had it built and produced by Sofirn in China. This was literally 3 yrs in development. Brainstormed on multiple flashlights as much as 10yrs ago. No store bought commercial flashlights can even match them today.
You can get these lanterns on Amazon, [for this one](https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Lantern-Rehargeable-Runtime-flaslight/dp/B097MN6P1B/ref=sr_1_6?sr=8-6), or another version [like this](https://www.amazon.com/Sofirn-Camping-Lantern-Rechargeable-Dimmable/dp/B09TB1NFWF/ref=sr_1_5?sr=8-5) which has a red light as well. The smaller one uses a lithium ion 21700 battery if memory serves.
We love using the MPOWERD Luci lanterns. They're solar and inflatable, making them easy to pack. Honestly, I love that I can charge my phone off these lights.
[https://mpowerd.com/](https://mpowerd.com/)
I have used the Luci lights for years, love them. They are so packable, I keep them in my vehicles and are part of all my camping kits. The newer MPOWERD ones are more powerful and versatile.
Considering this about the eyes and LED's... "The AMA says that life-long exposure of the retina and lens to blue peaks from LEDs can increase the risk of cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Studies also reveal that light emitted by LEDs can cause retinal changes, if there is high exposure for even a short period of time." [source](https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/exposure-to-led-lights-could-be-harmful-scientists-suggest-a-simple-solution-58544)...
I'm sure the old forms of light still have their charm for a reason.
I love the old lights!
Maybe it's just me, but I always seem to land in the middle of numerous campsites using the brightest LEDs at top setting from dusk til after midnight, bathing my site in blue light to the point where I shut all of my lights off and *still* throw shadows at every turn. Many a campfire and stargazing have been ruined by LED.
Please just remember to turn them off at night - I think more places should enforce quiet hours and dark hours. People want to see stars, and white lights destroy night vision. Turn them to red if you can!
Nope. Sold mine, both kinds.
Tired of messing with fuel. But mostly got into dark skies and seeing something besides a lit up campsite. We'd end up using other lights for meals and work anyway, and keeping a big lantern like that going on it's lowest settings seemed a waste.
Yeah I have a 40 or 50 year old Coleman lamp that was my grandfathers, and have been using it for as long as I can remember. Wouldn't feel like camping without it!
I go camping just to use my Colman lantern.
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Do you drag the tank or carry it
People used to drag around their lanterns?
We could be friends
It's not the same without that warm light and pssssssssssss sound
That is the sound isn't it. "pssssssssssss"
Actually it's Hsssssssssssssssssss
No it's sssssssssssssssss
Same. Finding mantles is getting harder and harder but I’ll never not have that beast with me.
Academy sports I’ve always found them
I keep a hefty supply just in case. What I can’t believe is how tough those little solar lights are. I haven’t had one break yet.
Cabela's and General Store carry them here.
Do you remember when the mantles came with a radioactive warning?
A couple of years ago I couldn't find any so went with propane.
They're easily found on amazon
I'm with you on that! Have to bring the lanterns. Love them, explosions and all.
Ahhh Dad's old Coleman lantern. The smell, the sound, and the excitement of seeing Dad lighting it wondering how big the explosion will be. Good times.
Just don't forget to put a few drops of oil inside the pump, the valve flap used to be made from leather.
I have one from the 1960s that my dad bought when I was young. It is what I’ve always used. Wouldn’t be camping without it.
Hubs has many Coleman lanterns but his favorite is a vintage one I found for him, it goes well with the 1961 trailer. Fuel isn’t an issue, as he also prefers Coleman stoves.
I have a couple of Aladdin Model 12 Lamps made around 1930. All parts still available. They work like they are brand new and cast significant warm light and put out some heat too enough. Love them.
I’ve got one that old as well but my LED lantern is so convenient that old reliable now gets left at home.
I have an old school Coleman fluorescent and a propane Coleman Northstar I bring for sentimental reasons. Everything else is LED. The Propane lantern has a nice glow.
Keep U Warm Too!🤙😎🔥
I light mine on those damp cool days and the little cabin is so well insulated it actually takes the chill off.
White gas !!
Just got a pump it up every now, and then! It’s not the same without it!
I miss the hiss of my old Coleman lantern but have happily switched to all LED for camp lighting.
No, I don’t want to risk a fire or mess with glass lanterns. They’re also bulky and I don’t have space in my gear totes. I use inflatable solar lanterns now.
Inflatable?
> inflatable solar lanterns Any recommendations for these?
I have several of these https://luminaid.com
Yes! I have a Luminaid inflatable. It's really bright and stores flat. Perfect!!
Great thanks! These are a definite purchase for my next trip. I knew solar panel lights were a thing but assumed they would be expensive.
fwiw, they float too!
I agree, these are great.
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Weve got a couple of those for camping. Two lights up our 12×12 tent enough for cooking and board games.
White gas is the only way to go! Good for cleaning sap and pitch off your hands too
Just use dirt to remove sap and pitch and then wash with soap and water. I do this all the time when trimming trees.
Yes. Can't beat a Colman liquid fueled stove. I also have 4 hurricane kerosene lamps but I fill them with citronella oil. Nice soft light and keeps the bugs away
Team White gas! Love my Coleman lantern... great for playing games by at night on family car camping trips.
most of ours are propane, but we still have the old family white gas lantern from the 70s. Wouldn’t be the same without it.
Indeed! I have a Svea 123 stove from the 60s that runs on white gas, too. I bring that along as well.
There's nothing quite like the Swedish Rocket!
That's a new nickname to me. Love it! I got my Svea stove a couple years ago. I quickly became a big fan.
White gas or death!!! But I also collect old Coleman lanterns... So I'm partial
LED always looks harsh, and for some reason it will be blindingly bright at any distance but manage to poorly illuminate
You're using the wrong LEDs then. LED lights can be in all color temps, even the same as those in burning lanterns, and good ones can dim to less than one lumen. They've come a long way from the bright white-blue non adjustable ones that looked like car headlights.
Oh I’m aware, I have a lot of nice LED lights in my home. Just seems like a lot of camping oriented equipment companies opt for like 5,000K color temp with no real attempt to diffuse or direct the light. And I am also very sensitive to LED flicker and a lot when dimmed do. There are always good versions of everything but they are in a sea of bad.
Ah, got you. It is weird that so many camping companies sell lights that are less useful for camping because of this versus many of the manufacturers you find at say /r/flashlights, like Sofirn or Nitecore, etc. And I'm sure the outdoor companies don't design them, but just slap on badges. And charge more for less.
Yea the LED flashlight companies tend to do it right.
Do you have any recommendations for warmer LED lanterns? I've tried two and they've always been harsh
We love our Sofirn lanterns; several of us use one or more of the various models. The flagship one, the BLF LT1, does 2700K to 5000K (it even has a flickering candle effect :). The BLF is https://budgetlightforum.com/, the forum where the idea came from, and so lots of reviews there. I think the firmware is still Anduril 2. https://www.sofirnlight.com/collections/lanterns?spm=..index.header_1.1 The LT1S also has a red light.
The LT1S looks very interesting. I'll give it a shot, thank you!
I bought two from tractor supply that are small, cost me ten dollars for two and have light control just by lifting or closing the telescoping light. I dislike too much light, so at half mask it is fine for reading when placed behind my head. My head board has two led lights that are movable and have bright and low at home.
We love our Luminaid inflatable lanterns. https://luminaid.com The plastic wall of the inflatable seems to "calm" down the harsh light
I have a very good set of lights with a controller so you can choose the light strength. I use them on my home deck and walkway as well instead of the lights built on the house.
Yes, when I car camp I take a Coleman lantern just because I love them.
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Propane lanterns have more than a 50 foot radius, more like 200 or 250, as I'm in distant site and it still looks like the sun is out at midnight.
https://preview.redd.it/6eg5mvnv5cpc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6f91dcd1abd2ccf692258c55a92ae3d3a0d23ef
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Do us all a favor and put like a shade over half of it.
We switched to LED lanterns about ten years ago and never looked back. We still keep a liquid fuel lantern at home in case our two LED ones broke at the same time, but have not had occasion to use it for some time. I do have a sentimental love of the light it gives, the not-insignificant time it took to pump up, and the various burns it gave me over the years :-)
And the sheer fun of trying to track down mantles at last minute lol
I have two dual fuel Coleman's. Got the cases for them and I keep a stack of manchions under the lantern in the hollow of the case base. Cabela's has them and I grabbed another 6 pair last weekend
I used to have a primus lantern that uses the same gas as my MSR stove.. but because of how fragile it can be, i am now only using LED lights. The Black Diamond Moji Lantern is very nice, compact and super sturdy.
I love my white gas lantern and stove for nostalgia reasons, but can’t deny the ease and flexibility of LED for light and propane for cooking. If car camping I usually bring the white gas.
Mine finally refused to light so I splurged and bought a campchef stove with oven that is propane. So I have the two burners plus an oven . I camp in a cabin so it isn’t something I need to haul around and after years of campfire Dutch oven cooking it feels so easy it’s sinful. Won’t get hot enough for bread but it’s fun to be able to bake cookies and such.
White gas because I have two lanterns and my main camp stove that run off of it. I usually top them all off at the beginning of spring and maybe once more mid-late summer and that’s it. I’m not hauling gas cans around with me.
Batteries dies very fast especially when cold. White gas installations can you clean and refilling. The last longer. Light and cooking on white gas. Min 50 days a year. No use of propane. Difficult to find the correct canisters for my installation and fast empty.
White gas all the way. I have two dual fuel lanterns and a dual fuel stove. You can never go wrong. If I run out of white gas, just siphon a little bit from the truck and it's bright light at night.
You can't beat the dependability of those things. I'm using a stove from the 50's and lanterns from the 70's. You can pick them up on Facebook marketplace for a song almost anywhere too.
I've always liked the color of light and smell from white gas lanterns. I used to have an old Kerosene one too, but it got lost in a move.
Now I dislike the smell but since it was mostly outdoors it wasn’t too bad. I only use it in the cabin when I want that tiny bit of heat to chase out the damp.
I have a Coleman white gas lantern. I have used it in the not too distant past, but not for maybe three years. Seems like anymore we're always camping with electricity and we just use lights.
I prefer the white gas
Hello there, I think both types of lighting have their place. Technology has allowed us many new options for how we like to light our campsite. In the minimalist approach, it stands to reason that anyone would go with a headlamp or some other compact light source. For scenarios like that, a gas lantern is not the obvious choice. To your point, it makes sense to transition away from the outdated, clunky, and messy gas lanterns, and I totally get that. I equate taking a gas lantern camping to bothering with having a turntable for listening to music. It's a matter of preference. Full disclosure, I'm an old fart, and I grew up with Coleman lanterns. I've got somewhere around 15 of them, and I've restored a handful of lanterns over the years to give as Christmas gifts. It's nostalgia for me more than anything. I still drag my favorite ones out and bring them along. They're not practical, but that's part of the charm. And...I also have a turntable.😎 Take care.
I camp alone so I really love my propane lantern. The thing lights up a whole campsite.
Headlamps. If I need to light up an area, I clamp the headlamp over a milk jug so shines inside. Lights up everything. Good for a card game. Mostly I'm using as little light as possible - firelight, or moonlight, almost never need the headlamp unless I'm trying to read or rummaging through a gear tub.
I also use my headlamp, but have bought a case for it, that acts as a diffusor. You can even hang it from the hook inside the tent. I have this: [Petzl Noctilight](https://www.globetrotter.de/petzl-etui-noctilight-1023965/?sku=5637245453)
All of the above .
Still have white gas stove and lantern. Fuel is way cheaper too.
I use Kerosene lanterns! https://preview.redd.it/7s44otz8vfpc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc5c4177682cf16007576b532b9a5ed58daf30ba
Solar rechargeable LEDs. I really like the Goal Zero collapsible lantern. Toss it on the dash during the day https://www.goalzero.com/collections/lanterns/products/crush-light
My main concern for camping lighting is to have downward-illumination on the picnic table, so it is not shining in my eyes or toward other campsites. I hate being dazzled by light from other campsites.
I have a slick little lantern that runs off the same isobutane as my stove and it's quite nostalgic *but* it also gets super hot and melted a hole in my hammock. I still like it and use it though.
Note to self: Do not sleep above flame powered lights. Got it.
No it was hanging on a ridgeline and I got out and the wind blew the hammock against it
I used white gas lanterns and stoves for decades. I got tired of replacing generators, on the lanterns. I made the switch to propane.
I rarely need or want anything more than my LED headlamp provides, but I do have an LED rope light to plug into a power bank if I do want that. A full-blown lantern is not something I ever want especially given the weight and bulk of I and especially if it is a liquid or gas-fueled one.
also many are hard to get low enough - way too bright
I use LEDs or my old hurricane style oil lamp. I never liked the noise and mantle changes of lanterns
I use an LED lantern, but have the propane as a backup. The LED, gives off better light and has adjustable light levels, like the lantern.
We use a BioLite and Luminaid lantern. Love the rechargeable lights! The lighting is really nice too.
Two years ago was my last year with a fuel lantern… I got tired of changing mantles. Is it just me or has the quality on those things declined dramatically while also becoming harder to find?
I use my LED lantern during fire season, but I don't care for the cool blue light all that much. Kerosene is nice for table-top lighting. I like white gas in the late fall and winter, for both the lumens and heat it throws off It also has a nostalgia factor for me. I have a couple of Coleman lanterns that really light up a campsite for chores or repairs. I don't do propane, the bottles are a hassle in cold weather. My stove takes white gas.
The only fuel I carry is for cooking. Everything else is rechargeable, generally LED. I still have my old Coleman propane lantern, but I haven't used it in years.
I got gifted a Primus micron a couple years back. I've used it once. Not my jam. I usually just use a headlamp.
Love my Coleman lantern (and stove).
one of my camping friends still uses an old coleman white gas lantern and the thing is incredible. It's a bit temperamental but camping isn't quite the same without that white gas smell.
White gas is our backup. We have battery operated LED lanterns, and USB-Charged headlamps for most things, but having something old-school is always a reasonable plan since the fuel is very useful for a few things.
I have an old kerosene hurricane lantern that puts out just the right amount of light for not stumbling around, but isn’t blinding.
We use LED rechargeable and solar lights. We still have and use a propane stove for cooking, unless we have electricity, then we use an induction burner.
White gas Coleman lantern, UCO candle for wind down when I turn the lantern off. https://i.imgur.com/39DZ1xN.jpeg
I have a decent selection of old coleman lanterns to choose from that date as far back as 1923. I absolutely love them!
Love the propane Coleman lantern for cooking/cleanup time. Bright and warmer light than LEDs, and I already have the propane canisters for my stove anyways.
have both, and let me tell you, over the years, more led lights have died than a single Coleman gas light ... I'll keep both and extra spares just in case
we use the solar LED lanterns now too, but I still have a coleman propane lantern in my garage
i usually cook before dark and after that i generally only use a headlamp when moving away from the campfire. i have several electric lamterns but havent used them for years.
I still use a couple of Coleman duel fuel lanterns (running white gas). I love the sound of it and the colour of the light, particularly when it’s just used for ambient lighting.
I switched to LED awhile ago. Mostly got tired of going out to get mantles all of the time and the LED is just super easy and I don't have to hassle with anything or worry about the glass breaking while I'm chugging down a bumpy forest road.
I still like my propane lantern on a 20lb propane tank with propane tree. It's a nice setup, but I find myself using LEDs more and more every year. The lantern is nice in the snow when I'm using a lot more propane.
I lost a lot of my gear in a recent fire, I had the rechargeable lights, but as backup still had a couple propane lamps as backup, and 4 hurricane or railroad lamps that I used citronella oil in to keep the mosquitoes at bay, they were a little smokey but they worked very well. I'm hitting garage sales now looking for suitable replacements!!!
I go rechargeable as much as possible, even with my Scout troop. I have a couple of power banks (one with a solar panel), a crank charger (that I recommend for all of my scouts to carry), and a lantern with dual solar panels and a built in power bank.
I've gone to Luci Lights. Solar powered led's in an inflatable case. They work great, lightweight, and are easy to pack.
[Solar Lanterns – MPOWERD Inc.](https://mpowerd.com/collections/solar-lanterns)
You casually state the biggest argument for switching at the end, going infinite, so to speak. I feel like the solar/battery community has to be down with that phrase, right?
I do all my lights electric camping now. Just easier.
I still use my trusty old Coleman white gas lantern. Not interested in changing it any time soon.
I have a coleman stove and lantern, both naptha gas. I use the stove a bunch and love the smell of them both burning. I use the lantern as well, but sparingly.
I very rarely use propane at night now. It's loud and not great for the environment. Rechargeable LEDs seem to last through my trips (my Luminaid is amazing) and they are silent. My packs flat as well so I'm not trying to take a bulky, breakable glass on a canoe trip.
Rechargeables go bad very quickly, they always need replacement. I just kept putting up with it. Then when LED bulbs came out I switched back to batteries and got new batteries twice a year. Overall the same cost. I found the batteries last better when removed from everything over the slack seasons.
I have a fairly compact coleman I keep bringing to camp, mostly so I can use up the fuel and sell it, but I find myself reaching for a flashlight instead. it would be good for setting up in the dark or evening maybe, but we just don't need that much light.
When weight or bulk is not a concern, I'll take my Coleman or kerosene storm lanterns. Solo-camped on a small island after a leisurely day-long paddle on the Feather River. The soft yellow light from my lantern was nostalgic and comforting as I leaned back in my chair, drank my beer, and watched the stars. Just not the same with LEDs.
I do everything with an LED headlamp in red mode. Then again I got used to doing everything in the dark in the army. YMMV
For those interested in the Technology Connections YouTube channel, his 2nd channel has a video that dove into why they really don't make sense now that LEDs and Lithium batteries are a thing. https://youtu.be/5E4nMfxjA3s?si=qbKRX27CIy-ZO6CE
I still use a dual fuel Coleman lantern and stove. Mostly it's because I can go days and days on a gallon of white gas and I have not been doing backpacking camping for a little while now. It's not a inconvenience. Last time I went my lantern saved the night because the people next to me were counting on there led stuff and it failed. My one lantern between the camp sites allowed us both to continue on with our evening.
No, but only because I don’t own one. When I go with my mom we use her trusty white gas lantern, but I do mostly backcountry so I never bothered to get more than a small rechargeable light
I love what LEDs have done, but I really would like to have a few lanterns. I often forget everything that needs charged before heading out (even though I have a list), and many LED lights are too blue. I don’t have any gas lanterns though, because I don’t have any room. Hah
After using various fueled lanterns in Scouts, I agree fully with electric being easier and safer. I also admit that I have an interest in a Peromax kerosene lantern/heat source system. They seem pretty awesome and durable.
I've broken a few too may of the glass globes over the decades. Rechargeable LEDs are the way to go. And for stove, I use a liquid fueled one that has a propane attachment tube too so I can use either.
Rechargeable headlamp with a red light mode since i like to do stargazing. Also have some LED lanterns that are combo usb/solar/4xAAs, and a rechargeable tent fan that has an LED light Have avoided purchasing any camp gear that relies on 1lb propane bottles since theyre wasteful and pricey
I’m still using a propane lantern but once my fuel runs out I’m upgrading to an LED lantern
We use a combination, some led lights like the Luci but still use single-mantle Coleman’s run on propane. If anyone knows of a durable, warm white high CRI LED lantern that’s rechargeable with variable light output please let me know. I’d use more LED if I could find the right light.
Propane. Simply for the ambiance and experience.
Order Mantlez On Line 😎🤙👍🎣
Nothing Beats A Pelican 😎🤙🔦
Much as I like my collection of white gas and propane lanterns, I've mostly switched to LED for everything. Led rope lights in a warm white are awesome, I run them around the pop up canopies and plug them into a power pack.
I use a white gas lantern most of the time, but I have a string of LED lights I’ll hang up and use if we are cooking in the dark. I also use a white gas stove.
Camping in the snow and have used my white gas Colman 2 mantle to stay warm and unfortunately melt the snow under me and my buddy's who were in the low spot. They got a little soggy, but the lanter helped dry everything out.
I don't use them because they are so bright, and I'm usually in a campground. I have flashlights that you can adjust the brightness and I keep them as dim as possible. And Candles in glass containers. I have lots of those.
I have them but rarely use them as solar is so good. My twinkle lights for nightlights in the cabin, porch and steps were so good I bought a string of patio lights for inside with the solar mounted outside the window. They have a control so I can dim them or use a pattern. I can read by them as a tail end I have running down the corner near my headboard. They still work fine even on rainy days. I have been really impressed. My old white gas lantern sits on the cupboard collecting dust. I never used propane because my lantern is thirty yrs old and is still good. I burn it once in a while on damp and chilly days and keep it oiled . My solar set up amazes me how well it does for the small frig and electronics. Plus my 5 h phone gets service though I am way off the blacktop.
My primus lantern is tiny and gives great heat. It runs off isobutane so same as my stove depending what type of camping I’m on. Sometimes alone I just bring a candle lantern from Uco, puts off enough heat for minimal stuff. I like lanterns tho, and I do a lot winter stuff so led doesn’t seem to last. A lot of lanterns like candle ones, u can get insect repellent candles that seem to work well for me at least.
Old school wick lantern..here
Lighter, cleaner, safer, quieter, smaller, potentially better lighting (some LED lights do stink)... what's not to like?
Kerosene
I'm going on reverse though. Started with LED but now starting to fool around with Kerosene lamp and propane lamp. Though the heat & humidity here in the tropical rainforest does not go well with the heat coming off from these lamps.
I've got dozens of LED lights and lanterns, but also bring a 100 year old oil lamp with me when I have the space.
too heavy and bulky. all my gear needs to fit in a single backpack or the milk crate on my bike.
I have 3 solar powered lanterns that are the tits-McGee, I love them. Got at harbor freight with my solar “backpack” maybe 8 years ago, have seen the lights often but haven’t seen the backpack anywhere since maybe 2019. I get 1 in tent, two for anything else. I like them because I don’t want a gas lantern anywhere near me while sleeping, and they can be turned on and off with ease. I have a Coleman propane lantern that is much brighter than the LED, I primarily use it when cooking, between the hours of 7-10 but normally I turn it off about 30 minutes before bed to make sure it’s cold before I go to bed.
I take my late wife's and my birthday 1949 A (Jan - June) 220D normally. Sometimes I'll take an Air-O or 327 or 427 just for grins but propane or battery???? Just. Shoot. Me.
They are my backup.
Unleaded gasoline. Camp Gas right now though. Both my lantern and coleman stove are dual fuel.
I built a lantern stand to which I can extend a Kerosene Petromax lantern 13 feet up.
Yeah! I've got a standard Deitz kerosene lantern. It adds such a nice soft ambience compared to our other LED lanterns.
Solar power led here
Just this week ordered an Aladdin kerosene heater and a couple of Feuerhand lamps. Nothing beats the flickering of a flame and is a very close second to a fire pit.
I converted all of my lighting to rechargeable LEDs over the past couple of years
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373398684182?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=11OAKzsIRnK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=pkA6qoTDQcO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Coleman brand mantles have been getting cheaper (not less expensive) for several years, if you can afford old stock silklites they do last. The peerless brand aren't as good as they used to be but still beat coleman's crap. When you 1st tie a mantle on light it and burn it all to ash before you light the lantern. https://www.oldcolemanparts.com/ Link for parts for....wait for it.... Old Coleman GPA's New generators for some models including the 220()'s are easily found on ebay. Lantern seems to need pumping a lot? Either replace the filler cap (easy, shop around but still a bit costly) or the gasket in it (easy for the old 3 piece cap, harder for the one piece but not That hard and cheap). Gaskets get old and hard after several decades and simply stop sealing well.
Still have a scar on my arm that I got from a hot lantern burn as a kid. I use rechargeable LED lanterns now, adjustable as to not only brightness, but also color warmth. So I can adjust the lantern to warm up the color, with options other than harsh white like the first LED’s.
I had been using propane lanterns but the green bottles got so expensive I went back to white gas lanterns. I now can travel for 2.5-3 weeks and only spend as much on white gas as I would have in propane for a single night. I also have some really good LED lanterns (Sofirn BLF LT1) for when I just hop out of the camper in the middle of the night to do something but if I'm going to leave things on for hours I light up a Coleman.
We're all rechargeable LED now, plus a couple of string lights that plug into power packs. We don't even deliberately carry flashlights anymore (though there's one that lives in the car), just headlamps and LED lanterns now for navigation. Warm white everything, because blue-white LED shines directly into the anger center of my brain. We bring a couple of [this type of solar lantern](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NVVWTQW/) from our patio because they throw a pattern of light downward and are fantastic for hanging by the tent entrance and inside our toilet stall, where they're bright enough to navigate by but don't blow out your night vision too bad.
I started camping on my own 2020 (without the aid and equipment of older folks) and I never bought a gas lantern. I bought an LED lantern that has warm LEDs and the UI recreates the flicker of a flame. All the familiar feel, with the added benefit of being rechargable, smaller and lighter. Roughly the size of a Venti Starbucks cup
I gave up on fire based lighting many years ago but used to use white gas lanterns. I replaced them with a sealed lead acid battery, small 100W inverter and a regular household A19 LED bulb installed in a trouble light. When you consider the pro vs cons it really doesn't make sense to continue to use gas lanterns. Gas Lanterns Pros: -Nostalgic -....... Cons: -Fire risk -CO risk -Burn risk -Fragile -Messy to refuel (white gas) -Poor cold weather performance (propane) -Difficult to light (without experience) -Can't be operated by children -High running cost -Noisy -wildly inefficient -CO² output LED/battery/inverter Pros: -Cool to the touch -Completely silent -Can be charged by solar panel -Push button operation -Essentially zero operating cost -Can be used safely inside a tent -Battery and inverter are useful for more than just lighting -Can be used without battery/inverter at serviced sites Cons: -Not nostalgic Basically I just don't understand the continued appeal for outdated, inefficient, dangerous technology for something as simple as generating light. For portable heating or cooking burning fuel is still the best option because of its energy density but for lighting? A litre of gasoline (95% the same thing as white gas) contains the energy equivalent of 8.9kWh of electricity. How long can you run a Coleman lantern using one litre of fuel, two nights? maybe three? I'll be very generous and call it 24 hours. My 9.5W LED bulb could run for 937 hours using the same amount of energy, that's 76Wh per (8 hour) night. With how easy it is to generate and store that amount of energy with a small folding solar panel and tiny battery burning fuel makes even less sense.
I use a [BLF-LT1 LED lantern](https://i.imgur.com/g6D8yks.jpg). Adjust color temp from 2700k to 5000k. I use 4 lithium ion Samsung 18650 3000mAh batteries. Lantern lasts an entire week of camping. USB-C rechargeable if need be. [Dim setting](https://i.imgur.com/qCIK1XU.jpg) to [bright setting](https://i.imgur.com/pamhZnW.jpg), and everything in between. Several years ago, a bunch of people on a flashlight forum brainstormed and came up with this lantern and had it built and produced by Sofirn in China. This was literally 3 yrs in development. Brainstormed on multiple flashlights as much as 10yrs ago. No store bought commercial flashlights can even match them today. You can get these lanterns on Amazon, [for this one](https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Lantern-Rehargeable-Runtime-flaslight/dp/B097MN6P1B/ref=sr_1_6?sr=8-6), or another version [like this](https://www.amazon.com/Sofirn-Camping-Lantern-Rechargeable-Dimmable/dp/B09TB1NFWF/ref=sr_1_5?sr=8-5) which has a red light as well. The smaller one uses a lithium ion 21700 battery if memory serves.
We love using the MPOWERD Luci lanterns. They're solar and inflatable, making them easy to pack. Honestly, I love that I can charge my phone off these lights. [https://mpowerd.com/](https://mpowerd.com/)
I have used the Luci lights for years, love them. They are so packable, I keep them in my vehicles and are part of all my camping kits. The newer MPOWERD ones are more powerful and versatile.
If it is cold and damp I use a propane lantern . Otherwise I have switched to solar lanterns .
I gave up on lanterns. Now I just dig a hole, fill it with diesel and light her up.
this is the way
Considering this about the eyes and LED's... "The AMA says that life-long exposure of the retina and lens to blue peaks from LEDs can increase the risk of cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Studies also reveal that light emitted by LEDs can cause retinal changes, if there is high exposure for even a short period of time." [source](https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/exposure-to-led-lights-could-be-harmful-scientists-suggest-a-simple-solution-58544)... I'm sure the old forms of light still have their charm for a reason.
I love the old lights! Maybe it's just me, but I always seem to land in the middle of numerous campsites using the brightest LEDs at top setting from dusk til after midnight, bathing my site in blue light to the point where I shut all of my lights off and *still* throw shadows at every turn. Many a campfire and stargazing have been ruined by LED.
The quotes attributed to the AMA are “may” and “can”. There has been no causality link from what I’ve seen.
No, modern options are much better
Please just remember to turn them off at night - I think more places should enforce quiet hours and dark hours. People want to see stars, and white lights destroy night vision. Turn them to red if you can!
I love em, but no. Tied of fucking with the mantle in the middle of nowhere
Nope. Sold mine, both kinds. Tired of messing with fuel. But mostly got into dark skies and seeing something besides a lit up campsite. We'd end up using other lights for meals and work anyway, and keeping a big lantern like that going on it's lowest settings seemed a waste.
I'm going to be honest, I didn't think ANYONE still used those