Camping is a ball to take part in, but there are a few things you’re going to need to take with you aside from the tent and sleeping bags that some newcomers to the sport or craft just don’t think about.
One of those things is most definitely a lantern.
The Colman Propane lantern
When I went camping for the first time, we set up camp, and were ready to head for bed.
It was a fairly warm night, we’d arrived late and there wasnt’ any reason for a fire.. so I said to my partner in woodsman savvy, “hey pass me the flash light.
She replied ” I didn’t bring a flashlight?
In fairness to her, I’d just imagined she’d bring one, so I didn’t either.
Wen you camp, you are going to need a lantern of some variety. Whether its gas, battery or oil, as the saying goes, Don’t leave home without it.
It gets quite dark in the middle of the forest without any sort of method of lighting your way.
Selecting gas, battery or candle is a matter of personal choice and safety to be honest.
The gas ones are of course the brightest but they tend to get quite noisy and are costly to use for more than a little amount of time. You’ve got the extra bottles of gas to drag around with you. The older variety are quite as bright, not as loud but are dangerous to fill as well as sometimes being messy.
This model fits over your flashlight to make a battery lantern
Nearly any lantern of this type is also goign to use a mantle so make sure you carry a few spares.
The battery variety are of course my personal favorite when you’re working with kids. You stil need to drag around extra things but batteries tend to be less heavy than spare propane tanks, and they do give off plenty of light, albeit for a shorter period than the gas variety is going to run on a tank of propane.
Candle lanterns are cost effective but in a wind storm you’re usually out of luck and they tend to be too dim to do a great deal with .
In winter camping you’re going to find that the batteries will run down far faster, so they aren’t practical, however the mantled gas variety also have the added benefit of giving off heat as well as light. Do take care with the lanterns and try not to set them down or use them inside the tent. A fire is the last thing you want in your tent.
No matter what kind of lantern you have.. also bring a flash light, and select one that is durable and hardy. I love Mag Lights, for this particular chore because they are just practically impossible to kill.
The mag light is waterproof, resist corrosion, and is scratch resistant as well as having an adjustable beam.
