Camping lanterns: types, popular brands and choices

The spread of cars and the increase in the number of campsites are typical in recent times. Sometimes, however, even experienced autotourists have to stop in poorly equipped or completely unequipped places. In these cases, a reliable light source is very important.

A camping lantern is one of the indispensable assistants of any autotourist. With it, it is easy and pleasant:

• supper;
• have breakfast in the dark;
• prepare equipment in the dark;
• refuel and wash cars;
• play outdoor games and do many other useful and pleasant things.

Camping lanterns differ from other lamps not only external, but also light characteristics. The appearance of the device is determined only by personal preferences. Some people prefer the imitation of an old kerosene lamp, while others consider hemispherical or rectangular lamps to be ideal. In the vast majority of designs The luminous flux is created using LEDs. But there are other options that deserve a separate analysis.

Choosing the right camping lantern starts with the fact that it should be… similar to the lantern itself. Many people like extravagant devices a little.And it's not just about aesthetic taste - these products are produced by little-known companies that are trying to stand out at any cost. Unusual appearance turns into savings on the quality of materials and construction. And their lighting parameters do not always please the consumer.

Frankly unsuccessful will be those devices whose designers tried to simultaneously implement the functions of a camping and hand lamp. Even worse will be powerful rechargeable lamps that turn into spotlights designed for hand-carrying. Such "hybridization" by definition cannot give a decent result.

For tourism, the simplest design is best.. The fewer links and individual parts in it, the more reliable the product. The next important point is the optical system used. It can emit direct and reflected light. The first option is typical for cheap category flashlights equipped with outdated super-bright LEDs.

Such elements emit intense blue light with a color temperature of 6400 K. Its perception by human vision is difficult, and therefore the brightness seems to be too small. To compensate for the weakening of the glow, manufacturers place a large number of LEDs in the flashlight. However, there is almost no result. At most, you can see the face of a person illuminated by a lantern, and already in 5-7 steps only the contours of objects are guessed.

Wherein increasing the number of LEDs results in increased energy consumption. Batteries start to run down faster, which is hardly acceptable for tourist practice.Lamps with a spectrum of light from 4800 to 5200 K are much better suited. As for models with a radio and other additional components, such lamps are not very practical. In field conditions, they are unnecessarily capricious and can often become unusable. Of great importance is the strength of the finished product.

A variety of surprises and unpleasant events happen on a hiking trip. The destruction of the lantern can provoke an extreme situation. Of course, it is worth paying attention to the popularity of the manufacturer's brand. But in the lines of even the most advanced firms, there may be unsuccessful versions, so you need to carefully study the reviews.

You need to pay attention to battery savings. Manufacturers often in advertising and on packaging provide data on the maximum brightness and the duration of the glow at the lowest luminous flux. It would be better to study the technical documentation properly. As for the angle of the luminous flux, as it increases, the covered area also increases. The uniformity of illumination is also critical: the health of the eyes and at the same time the convenience of looking at surrounding objects depend on it.

Modern modifications of camping lanterns are equipped with advanced LEDs. Units of such elements create the same intense radiation flux as dozens of old light diodes. Company Fenix has created an excellent and especially bright version of the CL20. With a mass of 0.103 kg, the device emits up to 165 lumens of light. Since direct-emitting diodes are used, the designers were forced to equip the model with milky-colored diffusing glass.

The illuminated strip stretches up to 10 m. With the most intense glow, the charge lasts for 83 minutes.It uses a pair of AA batteries to operate. The flashlight has a very small size, it can even be placed in the pocket of a jacket or trousers, in the side pockets of bags, which is very important for hiking. But there is also a drawback: an excessively high price.

A flashlight is a good alternative. "Bright Beam" CL-230A. This is one of the best battery powered devices as rated by various magazines and agencies. The model is equipped with a strong plastic case, it can be hung on branches or cords using a carabiner. Inside there are 15 white and 6 red LEDs. A red flashing mode is provided (up to 30 hours of glow for the purpose of signaling). "Bright beam" can receive energy from the battery or from pocket batteries. It is also used as a charger for other gadgets.

The camping lantern "Start" also deserves attention. Stylish black device charges in 4-5 hours. It will glow from 120 to 180 minutes. The flashlight "Start" will work from the battery. There is an option for emergency charging of mobile gadgets. The product is designed for hanging, which is very popular with tourists. In the latest ratings, Cosmos lights also consistently appear.

Lanterns "Space" have improved significantly in recent years. This model is equipped with 32 light sources. It can operate without interruption for almost 10 hours. This effect is achieved through the use of LED technology. It reduces energy consumption for heat to a minimum and therefore the battery charge is slower.

Lantern universal for tourist explorer has a very long battery life.The manufacturer claims that the beam can spread in a radius of 360 degrees. The product was first presented in 2017 and in terms of its characteristics is not inferior to expensive models. Lantern Explorer superbly helps hunters and fishermen. The battery is very capacious and can be recharged; it can be used as an additional charger for a smartphone.

The illumination radius is 100 m - a very decent figure even against the background of the best competing models. The resource reaches 100 thousand hours. There are 6 LEDs inside. Consumers believe that this model is perfect for both fishing and hunting needs. You can also use it to help with the housework in various cases.

Getting acquainted with the technical description of each product, one should not be limited only to determining the initial brightness of the flashlight. It is also necessary to take into account the drop in brightness that occurs when the charge of batteries or accumulators is reduced. This indicator is the least pronounced, according to the results of independent testing, in Pricetontec Matrix. If you need a special glow duration on a single charge, you should pay attention to products Ortec, T61, TSL. Homogeneous and most favorable for vision light is emitted by lanterns BD, Lucido, Petzl.

The model is popular Streamlight Siege. This lamp has 4 white and 1 red LEDs. The lamps are covered with a matte cap with a reverse cone-shaped reflector. The standard power supply is provided by type D batteries or similar batteries. At the highest power, the light will come on for 30 hours, and at the lowest - 295 hours.

A very good rating is given to the lantern "Bright Beam CL-120". This device has a sleek design that does not interfere with all the necessary functions. The designers took care of 5 modes of operation. Emergency glow mode in an emergency can last 20 hours in a row.

Lanterns resembling an ordinary kerosene lamp look quite attractive. Such devices are equipped with 1-4 LEDs, placed approximately in the same place as the wick of kerosene lamps. A mirror in the shape of a cone helps to reproduce the effect of lamp glass. It is worth noting that a number of firms in recent years are trying to abandon this configuration. Experimenting with non-standard geometry helps to improve the quality of scattering and make the beams more uniform.

Almost all existing samples are equipped with a removable cover. When the ceiling is removed, the lantern is hung "upside down" by the lower hook. In this mode, tourist lamps can be used instead of conventional light sources.

Basically, designs are used on batteries of a standard sample or on an accumulator. Battery versions are more difficult to maintain than those powered by AA batteries. Flashlights with built-in batteries can be charged from 220 V AC. But in some cases, the internal power storage can be recharged by bypassing the flashlight, with a 5 or 12 volt DC connection. The 12 volt option is best because it allows you to recharge the battery from a car cigarette lighter.

You can hardly get 220 V on a hike, and you can’t really count on 5 V (the voltage at the laptop’s output). At will, buyers choose devices designed for connection to alternating or direct current. Consumers still sometimes have such a question - how to get around the limitations on battery capacity.

Yes, solar powered lights., as the simplest calculation shows, it will be necessary to charge in ideal weather for several days so that they shine from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rechargeable designs are also ineffective, such additions are just a clever marketing move. Therefore, a removable type of battery becomes the best choice. It is worth noting that even 15-20 years ago gas lamps were used for lighting. Now these are no longer used, but modern lanterns similar in shape based on LED elements can be used.

Sometimes (but very rarely) a folding camping light is used. It saves a lot of free space. In the open state, the space around the lantern is illuminated at its full power. Some models are equipped with lenses, which allows you to get a kind of hotspot for medium distances. Such devices can be used as a portable night light or children's room light.

There is another way to achieve the same goal - head light source. For several decades, this option was considered an almost ideal device. Since the 1990s, LED-based headlamps have been in the mass circulation.There are already more than 10 corresponding models offered by different companies. LED differs from Lodygin's lamps by direct conversion of electrical energy into light.

There is no intermediate stage (with heating), which makes the device more efficient. Of course, even when using LEDs, some heat will be released into the environment. However, the amount of such thermal energy is ten times less; it's obvious that options with incandescent lamps should not even be considered seriously.

To some extent, this is compensated by the fact that in the immediate vicinity the light flux is distributed more evenly. It will not be difficult to pass and even run (ride a bicycle) some part of the terrain. But reading even large inscriptions at a distance of 5 m will be almost impossible. Of great importance is which LEDs are used. Only with sufficient quality can they be guaranteed full illumination.

For campsites in the mountains and foothills, in other places where it is important to know the road markings, recognize road signs, it is advisable to choose combined lights. They combine LEDs with incandescent or xenon light sources. It is important to consider the dimensions of the headlamps. Very large models may emit particularly bright light. But no less good results in various situations can be given by both medium-sized lamps and advanced devices with a controlled degree of brightness.

An important role is played by the geometry of the camping lantern.In urban and suburban conditions, a round lamp is usually used. It is more convenient and comfortable than other designs. But those who want to often travel away from home will be satisfied with square and rectangular products. Both options are more stable and will definitely not roll away if they are placed on a flat surface.

Regardless of the shape, a lantern for tourism must be reliably protected from moisture. This circumstance is critical for both hand and head models. In the wild, it is impossible to foresee all situations in advance.

It is very disappointing, and often extremely dangerous, to remain without light just because the lamp gets wet. The main danger for camping lanterns is unexpectedly starting rains. In this case, drops can fall both vertically and at a certain angle. Based on this, it is necessary to provide protection at the level of IPX4-IPX6. But there are modifications designed for a short immersion in liquid water. For example, when a lantern is dropped into a lake, river, puddle, stream. In such a situation, enhanced protection is required (at IPX7 level).

In the next video you will find a review and tests of "Yarkiy Luch" flashlights for hiking/camping/EDC.