Looking to replace the old mantle Coleman lantern in the wall tent but skeptical of what to replace it with. Anyone had any luck and suggestions for LED?
LED Lantern
- Thread starter CODAK
- Start date
conibear
Active Member
- Oct 15, 2017
- 210
- 81
CODAK think twice here son, watching the mantles of a Coleman lantern fade to blue and then blink out at bed time is one of the best ways on earth to hit the sack.
Also, you're going to miss out on dumping a couple ounces of fried moths out of the globe the next morning.
JimP
Administrator
I'll never replace my Coleman's for lighting. Something about them that just keeps them going now for over a hundred years and being American made still is a big plus.
^^This^^ traditions are a big part of hunting.CODAK think twice here son, watching the mantles of a Coleman lantern fade to blue and then blink out at bed time is one of the best ways on earth to hit the sack.
That would be like not having a campfire and not bringing my dutch ovens.
JimP
Administrator
HAHA you guys crack me up. I think I'd be okay with it honestly, just was wondering if there was anything bright enough that would fill up and entire wall tent like the Coleman does. The only thing I've noticed is the damn mantles they make nowadays last about 10x less than I remember.... and those things add up. Plus add a few beers in the mix, few failures and burnt fingers, it becomes a little frustrating
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
JimP
Administrator
Ya, but they sure do hurt the next day.Have a few more beers and you won't feel any burnt fingers...or anything else...
wy-tex
Veteran member
We switched to an LED a few years back. Didn't get an expensive one but not the cheapest either. Variable output and lasts a few trips on one set of batteries.
No fumes, no mantles to deal with, no glass globe to break., quieter too.
Not near as bright but personally I don't need a light bright enough to illuminate my tent throughout the forest. It is plenty of light for our 12x14 wall tent.
No fumes, no mantles to deal with, no glass globe to break., quieter too.
Not near as bright but personally I don't need a light bright enough to illuminate my tent throughout the forest. It is plenty of light for our 12x14 wall tent.
Went to LED’s couple years back. Love them. Was a gift from my nephew after a trip when he watched me change a broken mantle. So in that sense it is part of our tradition to use it. Works great if the power goes out at home too. Very easy on batteries and no risk of burning stuff. What’s not to love? Used in 12x14 tent, as mentioned, not hugely bright, but plenty enough.
Big Chief J
Active Member
We use real lanterns and LEDs. A LED is nice to grab and switch on while you're answering nature's call in the middle of the night.
Plus you can never have too much gear!
Plus you can never have too much gear!
I like the Streamlight Super Siege lantern that puts out up to 1100 lumens. The non-rechargeable one works good too and is cheaper, but I like the re-chargeable for my use. A friend who lives a long way off ended up with my D battery version after a camping trip and just sent me money for it which I put toward the rechargeable. I really like the built in reflector for directional light, the power button that glows and shows the charge level, the red light. It just has all the features I want. I use it on hunting trips but more often camping and catfishing on the river. It will charge my cell phone or other USB accessories if needed.
The biggest downside I see is that it doesn't come with a 12V charger which I think it should for the price. I take a Goal Zero Yeti 150 when truck camping and I can charge it off that, so it isn't an issue for me. I charge the Goal Zero off the truck and then charge my devices from it in the tent. No need to mess with solar if the truck is right there.
The biggest downside I see is that it doesn't come with a 12V charger which I think it should for the price. I take a Goal Zero Yeti 150 when truck camping and I can charge it off that, so it isn't an issue for me. I charge the Goal Zero off the truck and then charge my devices from it in the tent. No need to mess with solar if the truck is right there.
I've replaced my last mantle. I was never huge on "broad camp lighting" anyway - I don't like it drawing the bugs. I tend to want my light mostly in my tent to get a little reading or equipment prep time in for the next day, playing Yahtzee if it's too rainy for a campfire, etc. I'm not shilling for it: it has its pros and cons. But personally I really love it enough I may even get one more to keep in the truck. It would be great for tire changes and hitch hookups.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013UCC65G
Pros:
- It's super lightweight (187g, battery included, because it's Lithium Ion). I tend to truck-camp but would be fine backpacking too.
- It works really well. Its three panels fold separately, so you can prop it on a table or by a car to change a tire, or you can hang it from the ceiling with a hook for a nice downlight.
- It has its own solar for recharging - just leave it outside when you're out hunting. But it also recharges plenty just running the truck for an hour when you get back to camp, which I often do on longer trips for my GPS and other stuff.
Cons:
- It's a little brighter actually than I'd like. It has two settings, bright and brighter. I'd love a "dim" setting. There IS a third setting but it's blink and I HATE blinking flashlights. I never use those settings, and every one seems to have one.
- The top hook isn't as strong as I like. I'm ham-handed with my gear and pulled it off pretty quick. I epoxied something stronger onto it after a few weeks - problem solved.
- On a dim day the solar cells are nice, but don't quite give it a full charge. If you're a half-hour-a-day user no problem. If you expect 5 hours of cavorting around in your tent, it's gonna go dim on you.
Yeah, it's a geek item. But I can't imagine going back to my big, heavy, always-too-delicate propane Coleman after using this. JHey... Anybody wanna buy a nice Coleman lantern?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013UCC65G
Pros:
- It's super lightweight (187g, battery included, because it's Lithium Ion). I tend to truck-camp but would be fine backpacking too.
- It works really well. Its three panels fold separately, so you can prop it on a table or by a car to change a tire, or you can hang it from the ceiling with a hook for a nice downlight.
- It has its own solar for recharging - just leave it outside when you're out hunting. But it also recharges plenty just running the truck for an hour when you get back to camp, which I often do on longer trips for my GPS and other stuff.
Cons:
- It's a little brighter actually than I'd like. It has two settings, bright and brighter. I'd love a "dim" setting. There IS a third setting but it's blink and I HATE blinking flashlights. I never use those settings, and every one seems to have one.
- The top hook isn't as strong as I like. I'm ham-handed with my gear and pulled it off pretty quick. I epoxied something stronger onto it after a few weeks - problem solved.
- On a dim day the solar cells are nice, but don't quite give it a full charge. If you're a half-hour-a-day user no problem. If you expect 5 hours of cavorting around in your tent, it's gonna go dim on you.
Yeah, it's a geek item. But I can't imagine going back to my big, heavy, always-too-delicate propane Coleman after using this. JHey... Anybody wanna buy a nice Coleman lantern?
hoshour
Veteran member
Anyone tried the Luci solar lights? https://mpowerd.com/collections/shop/products/luci-outdoor-2-0-f2017
They're not real bright, just 75 lumens, but that's enough for a small tent, probably need three or four for a campsite, but they're just 4 oz., don't need fuel or batteries and claim 24 hours of light from 7 hours of direct sunlight.
They're not real bright, just 75 lumens, but that's enough for a small tent, probably need three or four for a campsite, but they're just 4 oz., don't need fuel or batteries and claim 24 hours of light from 7 hours of direct sunlight.
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hoshour
Veteran member
This one's better - 150 lumens and up to 50 hours, plus you can charge it via USB if you have to and it will also charge a phone https://mpowerd.com/collections/shop/products/luci-lux-pro-mobile
nothing else to sayCODAK think twice here son, watching the mantles of a Coleman lantern fade to blue and then blink out at bed time is one of the best ways on earth to hit the sack.
Coleman Quad LED Lantern Special Edition Ultra Bright 190 Lumens, Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TS71NG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_icjvBb8XXDT9T
I like this one
I like this one