Lanterns: How to Choose
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작성자 angelica 댓글 0건 조회 2,088회 작성일 13-11-24 01:31
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The classic night light for campground camping has long been a gas-powered lantern with real glass sides. Though bulky, hot to the touch and a bit noisy, it puts out a bright, warm light that seems to last forever.
You can still get these reliable lanterns, but the recent revolution in LED lighting now offers you many new lantern choices that are light, bright and compact enough even for backpacking.
This article gives you the basics of lantern selection—from electrics to gas to traditional candle-powered models.
Shop REI’s selection of lanterns.
Types of Lanterns
Electric Lanterns
Battery-powered lanterns offer you a choice of three types of lamps.
- LED: Best for long battery life; good light output; can handle rugged use.
- Fluorescent: Larger fluorescent models produce high light output; fluorescent tubes require special disposal procedures.
- Incandescent: Good light output; modest battery life; most use bulbs containing a bright-burning pressurized gas such as Krypton; more fragile than an LED lamp.
PROS:
- Quiet
- No exhaust
- Safe around kids (LED and fluorescent lamps generate no heat)
CONS:
- Battery usage and disposal
Fuel-Burning Lanterns
Gas-powered lanterns can run on several fuel sources:
- Liquid-fuel: Refillable white-gas/auto-gas tanks; fuel-efficient; generates powerful light.
- Propane: Refillable tanks; fuel-efficient; generates powerful light.
- Butane: Disposable canisters; compact; easy to use; high light output.
PROS:
- Stronger light intensity than most electric models
CONS:
- Ample ventilation is needed (they're not intended for small, enclosed places)
- They generate heat (considerable caution is required when you operate them around children or near flammable materials)
- Noisy
Candle Lanterns
These use one or more candles to provide soft, natural light. Optionally, reflectors can be used to maximize the glow.
PROS:
- Soft light and no noise = pleasant ambience
- Adequate for close-up tasks
CONS:
- Minimal light output
- You must be vigilant to keep candle lanterns a safe distance from flammable materials (such as tent fabric)
- They generate heat and can be hot to touch
Comparing Lantern Performance
Below are performance factors to consider when comparing lanterns. At REI.com, you can find them by clicking on the "specs" tab on individual lantern product pages. In REI stores, our product information guide for Lights (usually found in the camping department) also lists these specifications. Note: We do not offer specs for candle lanterns.
Light Intensity
REI's spec charts list a wattage number for each lantern. The higher a lantern's wattage, the greater its light intensity (or brightness). Keep in mind that a higher wattage often results in lower energy efficiency, which means a shorter burn time or shorter battery life.
(For a more detailed discussion of light intensity, see A Technical Look at Light Intensity and "Brightness" at the end of this article.)
Light Duration
This is expressed either as burn time or battery life. How long can you expect a lantern to provide light on 1 tank of fuel (for fuel-burners) or on 1 set of batteries (for electric models)? This specification gives you a very good estimate.
For fuel-burning lanterns, our team at the REI Quality Assurance Lab equips a lantern with a full fuel tank (or a new fuel canister), lights the lantern, turns it up as high as it will go and waits for it to go dark. The time we record is listed under "burn time."
For electric models, we test in an area where a constant temperature of 70°F is maintained. We insert fresh batteries, set the light at its highest mode and again wait for it to go dark. The time we record is listed under "battery life @ 70°F."
Other Considerations
Batteries
With electric lanterns, or any battery-powered light, do not attempt to use lithium or lithium-ion batteries unless manufacturer instructions state that the specific light is designed to operate with lithium batteries. If not, you run the risk of damaging, even ruining, a light by mismatching it with lithium batteries.
Alkaline batteries lose power quickly in temperatures below 20°F. (Lithium batteries, on the other hand, perform well in the cold.) To extend the life of alkaline batteries in the cold, carry them under clothing during the day and sleep with them inside a sleeping bag at night.
Mantles
Fuel-burning lanterns rely on cloth mantles to provide the glow that makes them function. Once burned, mantles become fragile and require careful handling. It's smart to carry several replacement mantles on any trip.
Size and Weight
For car-camping excursions, size and weight generally are not concerns. For backpacking, however, they are. To flood a campsite or tent interior with light, candle lanterns have been a traditional choice. Yet a bringing a lit candle inside a tent, even within a lantern's casing, is a risky practice. Small, compactable, new-generation LED lanterns make better alternative choices. An LED headlamp might also provide all the light you need.
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