Lanterns...

[SeaShellsDreamingOfSummer]

On the 5 essentials thread everyone kept saying "decent lantern"...well what lantern have you got?

I need to read a book, but it would be good to be able to dim the light if we are in the tent after the LO have gone to bed.

Any suggestions?

yeah, what ahve you got???

gas ones give the best light ime but are a futter.

any battery ones always seem to be fairly rubbish.

combo of crappy battery one and head torches works well but is not a good look

We've got this wind up one here.

It's pretty good.

It has a focused beamy bit and a generally glowy light bit which you can dim.

I prefer the light that a gas lamp gives off but like the windup feature of this one.

For night time we put a couple of solar lanterns in the tent.

We are EHU free so I quite like not being reliant on battery power particularly as the bloody kids never stop fiddling with the sodding things

guy on ukcampsite recommends UFO types... like these which i guess are good if you're hanging them?

We've got a bigger battery one (will search for make in a minute), a small wind-up one like Slubber's, and a UFO type one. The latter is left in the tent, hanging from centre pole (bell tent). It's only used when sharp light required as it makes everything very bright. Oh, and Alpkit head torches. I sound like a walking light shop, don't I?!

I was going to say that too about the UFO ones Sal. Think operating theatre bright. I did get some bargain ones in Aldi a few weeks back. They will rest alongside the clingons for lighting emergencies only.

No, can't find it, but think it is a Coleman one. Works with batteries.

I'd LOVE to have one of those old fashioned kerosene lanterns, but obviously a no-no for inside a tent imo.

operating theatre is fine by me :-D lol

Yep Slubber, perfect for backup light, as it's cheap, doesn't take much space, and works when required. Probably a good thing to leave in the car anyway (we don't, but I'm now thinking I should), as it'll be good for emergency stops in the dark where something has to be retrieved from somewhere in the boot or change of clothes in dark. (Says she with a motion sickness toddler!)

I could have done with a UFO one last year as I tried to file down dd1's verruca by solar power and head torch. A fair old wodge of normal foot got filed in the process.

Oh the JOYS of camping with kids.

I spotted some mantles for gas lamps yesterday and came over all reminiscing.

Ooh good tip Sal

Store UFO lights in car door storage watchymecallits.

I love the hiss of the gas lantern and leaning closer and closer to read when the gas runs low....until the smell of singeing hair gets too much.

But now I have a kindle with a light so don't need lanterns any more

battery did you buy one of the zillion pound covers with light?

I have a Coleman battery one - it has a dimmed setting. The batteries seem to last about a week if you use it every evening.

DP I bought the cheaper cover but it caused my Kindle to freeze (known fault apparently and the non light covers were withdrawn) so the nice people at Kindle upgraded it to a lighted cover for free. The light is going to be fab for camping.

how did it cause it to freeze?

Thanks for the suggestions! We just have a fairly pants torch/lantern thingy ATM, but tbh we go to bed very soon after dc as we are up early. I'm looking forward to them being a little older and us actually being able to enjoy the evening.

Which gas lanterns donyou have? are they ok to use in a largish tent?

We have a couple of UFO lights that do the job v well.

And for Christmas my son had a UFO light with remote control. Can't wait to take it camping! Hours of entertainment!!!!! He has one of those magic wand remote controllers too - just for added pazazz!

I'd really like a Coleman quad but I can't find a UK stockist.