Talk

Flip

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

Camping lanterns

10 replies

Shadow666 · 03/09/2017 12:14

I'm looking for some recommendations for camping lanterns. I want a good lantern to put on the table in the evenings and sometimes we go for an evening walk. We got a few small LED lanterns this year but they don't seem to give off amazing light. They look very bright but they just don't seem to light up the area, if that makes sense.

I wondered what lanterns people used and how you find them, there are so many on the market. It's hard to know which is best.

Also, we would use it at home for power cuts etc. So, a light up the room kind of lantern that doesn't eat batteries.

OP posts:

Report

IrritatedUser1960 · 03/09/2017 12:28

You can get some fabulous solar powered lights now - they will light up the entire room and last for hours after dark. Get one that has an on off switch they last the longest.
I like night time walks in the woods on the south downs and the power in mine lights up the whole place.
No batteries needed, just leave to recharge in the day. I have two when I'm camping so if it's a long evening and one runs out of charge just switch the other on althouth I've used mine for a good few hours and its fine, they will hold the charge of sunlight for a long time.
Mine is called a d.light and lasts solidly for 4 hours, you can get 8 hour d.light lanterns too.

<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/D-Light-S2-Solar-Task-Light/dp/B00BJF86A6/ref=pd_bxgy_86_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2HN2YN6ZP22Z9YG8NVHJ&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/D-Light-S2-Solar-Task-Light/dp/B00BJF86A6/ref=pd_bxgy_86_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2HN2YN6ZP22Z9YG8NVHJ&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Report

Shadow666 · 03/09/2017 12:47

Thanks! That looks great and reasonable too.

OP posts:

Report

BarchesterFlowers · 03/09/2017 13:25

Our battery lantern are Black Diamond Apollo lanterns, they are not cheap but must be 10 years old and we camp a lot. You can adjust the lighting level. I would buy them again if they failed.

We also have a small BD Moji light each which hang on a clip next to our beds - good for reading, less harsh than a head light.

Report

Shadow666 · 04/09/2017 05:18

Thanks! I've seen them recommended on camping websites. I'll check them out.

OP posts:

Report

hillbilly · 04/09/2017 22:09

We use a gas lamp for evenings but only outside for safety reasons. I think it's s camping gaz one. It does have a chain to carry it though and it's really bright.

Report

BiddyPop · 05/09/2017 15:55

A proper campingGaz or Tilly lamp are great.

However, in the absence of sensible ones like that myself, I tried a camping hack when we were away 2 weeks ago - I shone my head torch into the full waterbarrel (10l size) and that was quite sufficient to play cards by in the tent, and to squint to read a book. I was quite surprised how well it actually worked.

NOT an option for nighttime walking though (unless you just use the headtorch )

Report

BiddyPop · 05/09/2017 15:58

One of the leaders in my Cub Scout pack has a tilly lamp (it was his uncles, so seriously old) that he nurses and which works great to light up the marquee tent for the leaders HQ. However, I'm only a wee girlie and not confident enough to get one myself, and my own camping away from Cubs is not sufficient to warrant it costwise.

Hence trialling the water barrel trick.

Last year, I had remembered to bring my ikea solar powered lantern, which also worked ok - more portable but not as bright.

Report

Shadow666 · 06/09/2017 06:01

Thanks. I was wondering about a proper gas lamp for outdoors. My kids are pretty young though.

OP posts:

Report

BarchesterFlowers · 06/09/2017 06:58

We have two feuerhand oil lanterns that we use both inside and outside our tents (which are canvas), they hang from a chain.

Lovely light and with both on we can read in the tent in the winter light - but not as practical and I certainly wouldn't carry them about. I don't use them if I am camping without DH I use the battery ones, too much faff for me tbh even though I love the warm light they provide.

What sort of walks are you talking about doing in the dark? Nothing like a headlight for that sort of thing.

I camped with my parents from being a baby and we all survived proper gas lanterns but tents were canvas not nylon back then and I remember us being slightly scared of them as children.