Camping Lantern: How To Choose The Right One

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There are a couple of different options to choose from when shopping for a camping lantern. Spending the night outdoors with mother nature can be a peaceful, relaxing, and rewarding experience. It is however, important to have the right equipment and be well prepared. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of the woods at night with no light source. That can lead to an unpleasant camping experience.

Lumens

The first thing you should know is how to measure a camping lanterns light output. The light output is measure in lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light will be. The way the lumens are measured can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some will measure the lumens at the bulb, while others measure the light output outside of the lantern. While the ranges can vary between 40-700 lumens you are probably okay going with a camping lantern that is 100-200 lumens for just looking around the campsite at night.

Gas-Powered Lanterns

Gas-powered camping lanterns are your best choice when weight and size are not a concern and light output is your number one priority. Liquid fuel also known as white gas and propane are the two fuel options for gas-powered camping lanterns. While liquid fuel is the same fuel that is used in most camp cooking stoves, propane is more commonly used with backpacking stoves. Liquid fuel lanterns can light up an entire campsite, but they are heavier and can be messy having to pour the fuel in. They also can be more troublesome as you have to constantly pump to pressurize them.

Propane powered lanterns are as easy as screwing in the propane canister to the bottom of the lantern and turning it on. They usually cost and weigh less and are easy to carry around.

Both types of lanterns use a mantle that goes over the burner to ignite the flame.

Electric Lanterns

Electric lanterns come in many different shapes and sizes and the light output can vary between make and model. They can be powered using alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries, or an external power source. Electric lanterns are durable, lightweight, inexpensive, and safe to use. Many electric camping lanterns come with adjustable modes so you can adjust the lighting to your specific needs. However, they are still not as powerful or bright as gas powered lanterns.

There are many different camping lanterns to choose from, but knowing what type of power source and lumen output you want helps to narrow it down. Then all you have to do is decide on the physical size, weight, and features that best suit your camping needs.