Posted: 10/3/2016 10:16:41 PM EDT
|
looking to add a couple ED lanterns to my supplies, which ones does the hive recommend? On a time constraint so got to get them from wally world.
Any help is appreciated. |
| I have 4 or 5 of the Luci Lux solar powered lanterns in the house for the last year or two, the oldest is still kicking strong and they really do well. I've never killed a bat Terry, and I use the one in my bedroom as a night lamp for 20-30 min a night, don't charge it for weeks. Just stick it in the window when I think I should, it has never gotten dimmer. |
|
I bought two Streamlight Siege 3xD lanterns a couple of years back and they're fine. I also got an Energizer 3xD and 3xAA lantern before those and it's fine for lighting up a smaller area.
Pick your power source and go from there. I'd go for more of the cheaper ones and have more light than to go with one pimpy one and have less light. Chris |
|
I use the mini-lanterns running on aa batteries. They make enough light to move around and even read a book close up, but are not powerhouses. They give off modest light for a decent amount of hours, and don't cost much. You can easily set up 2 or 3 and buy a pack of 20 batteries for $10. My comments are on the mini lights, I have not used the larger c and d cell varieties.
If you want one or two small and very reliable lights for hard use, I would get the streamlight siege. I don't have one, but they get high reviews and are made by a reliable company. Most likely to not crap out on you when actually used in lousy field conditions. If the budget was less for more of a quantity vs. quality application, like having spares for a blackout, then Walmart has an $8 ozark trail model that is simple, very no frills but it works. I have it, and while not heavy duty, it should work fine for moderate use, and you have have a bunch on hand. I would keep one of these in my car, and a few in the house pantry for power outages. I also have one of the Brila models, you can find them as low as $10, and this seems like a decent mid quality light. Very compact, smaller than the ozark and probably could not be made much smaller. It has a higher quality feel than the ozark, and gets good reviews. Functions well. Has a magnetic base, so I use mine inside my rifle cabinet. I mean, I used to, before the tragic boating accident. I can't comment on run time since I only use them for a bit here and there. For a best overall buy, if you can find the Brila for a good price, like under $10, I would get 3 or 4 of them. ETA: before I bought mine, I did look up run times. The advantage of the more expensive Streamlight is a much better battery life. I got mine just for convenience lights and car camping, so I wanted quantity not quality. If I was taking to the field and really relying on it, it would be the streamlight first, and brila an economical 2nd place. |
|
I'm a fan of this lantern
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rayovac-3D-LED-Indestructible-Lantern-with-Battery-DIY3DLN-B/205311018# VERY bright on high, long life on low. It is quite heavy since it is 3D cells, but should last forever. I also picked up a 12 pack of cells from Menards for about $9 for the off brand akalines, with that it should last about forever. I have not used it much, I picked it up after having to improvise after the last power outage. It wasn't so bad, but I discovered my old fenix light will stand on its tail cap, but as it heats up it swells and then tips itself over. That was quite annoying during our game, so I decided it was finally time to get a lantern. |
|
This is the best one I have found. I have had several different ones, including black diamonds which I liked and a large coleman and a small coleman (both which I didn't care for). However, this is by far my favorite.
Fenix lantern Has multiple brightness settings, very bright on highest - has a red mode also that I haven't used much. Takes CR123As or 18650s. And has a built in micro USB for charging, or you can pop the battery out and charge it separately. The magnetic base has come in handy when I have used it working under the sink. Pricey but worth it. Bought one for me and my brother. Had it for a year or so, been satisfied - I don't use the other lanterns much at all now. 
Fenix just came out with the big daddy version of this that takes 1, 2 or 3 18650s, or 2 CR123As for backup. It is much brighter but larger. Same charger built it. I would like to get one but they are $110 at the moment. I've kind of standarized my rechargeable batteries to AAs and 18650s. The 18650s really are nice for battery life, and like in this light, can be charged easily with a solar setup with a USB port. |
|
Quoted:
This is the best one I have found. I have had several different ones, including black diamonds which I liked and a large coleman and a small coleman (both which I didn't care for). However, this is by far my favorite. Fenix lantern Has multiple brightness settings, very bright on highest - has a red mode also that I haven't used much. Takes CR123As or 18650s. And has a built in micro USB for charging, or you can pop the battery out and charge it separately. The magnetic base has come in handy when I have used it working under the sink. Pricey but worth it. Bought one for me and my brother. Had it for a year or so, been satisfied - I don't use the other lanterns much at all now. http://i59.tinypic.com/ff4ozt.jpg Fenix just came out with the big daddy version of this that takes 1, 2 or 3 18650s, or 2 CR123As for backup. It is much brighter but larger. Same charger built it. I would like to get one but they are $110 at the moment. I've kind of standarized my rechargeable batteries to AAs and 18650s. The 18650s really are nice for battery life, and like in this light, can be charged easily with a solar setup with a USB port. I have the CL25R also and it is really nice to be able to recharge it once in a while instead of replacing batteries. I can use my solar panel. |
|
why not just use headlamps for this purpose?
you can get a decent princeton tec headlamp for less than $20 and if you use a cheap "plastic cup" diffuser with it, you've got more than enough money left over to get some Energizer ultimate lithium batteries to put with it in storage...? |
|
Quoted:
why not just use headlamps for this purpose? you can get a decent princeton tec headlamp for less than $20 and if you use a cheap "plastic cup" diffuser with it, you've got more than enough money left over to get some Energizer ultimate lithium batteries to put with it in storage...? If it's adults headlamps are the way but a family with kids will do better with a table lamp. ETA: IMHO |
|
Quoted:
If it's adults headlamps are the way but a family with kids will do better with a table lamp. ETA: IMHO Quoted:
Quoted:
why not just use headlamps for this purpose? you can get a decent princeton tec headlamp for less than $20 and if you use a cheap "plastic cup" diffuser with it, you've got more than enough money left over to get some Energizer ultimate lithium batteries to put with it in storage...? If it's adults headlamps are the way but a family with kids will do better with a table lamp. ETA: IMHO I might be without power starting tomorrow morning, for who knows how long? I have them all: flashlights, lanterns, propane/dual fuel outdoors lanterns, SLA 6v, headlamps and candles. For just steady, evenly spread out light, a basic 3D, 3AA, or Fenix CL25 lantern will do nicely, hell...all most of us really need is a medium throw flashlight that can tail stand and just do a ceiling bounce. My GF and I play backgammon out on her 19th floor unlit balcony with a Sunwayman D40A doing nothing but a ceiling bounce on the above balcony and it's fine. Forget making diffusors out of plastic caps of one sort, or another. Chris |
|
for stationary light, you should have something like this on hand: LuminAID Lantern.
I bought 6 of them for about $16/ea. they'll reach a full charge even on an overcast day. there are MUCH better options out there than these little portable AA/CR123 battery powered lanterns, is my only point.. Quoted:
Forget making diffusors out of plastic caps of one sort, or another. Chris I've got several of THESE montbell crushable diffusers that work pretty darn well, actually. |
|
Quoted:
for stationary light, you should have something like this on hand: LuminAID Lantern. I bought 6 of them for about $16/ea. they'll reach a full charge even on an overcast day. there are MUCH better options out there than these little portable AA/CR123 battery powered lanterns, is my only point.. I've got several of THESE montbell crushable diffusers that work pretty darn well, actually. Quoted:
for stationary light, you should have something like this on hand: LuminAID Lantern. I bought 6 of them for about $16/ea. they'll reach a full charge even on an overcast day. there are MUCH better options out there than these little portable AA/CR123 battery powered lanterns, is my only point.. Quoted:
Forget making diffusors out of plastic caps of one sort, or another. Chris I've got several of THESE montbell crushable diffusers that work pretty darn well, actually. Yeah, there is more than one way to skin a cat. I'm into small USB/12vdc solar and rechargeable mother batteries/ NiMH batteries/cells/chargers, but I'm not feeling the love for those Lumi-Aids unless you're a backpacker and really need to parse things down, weight wise. For living at home during a power outage, without a generator (I'm in a condo, but have one) there are better solutions, IMO. Have plenty of rechargeable cells/batteries, have some that work on 5v USB, have some that work on 12vdc, get a couple, have lights, HLs and lanterns, along with some candles and most rooms can be reasonable lit for most hours of the night. Those diffusors are pretty nifty, but at $12, I might look at plastic caps and just see what fits the many lights that I have, if I ever get around to it, lol. Chris |
|
I have to say I am a flashlight addict and have 30 years work play and life experience with them including a spending 4 nights a week for the last 4 years building a retirement BOL using flashlights for most things at night.
This is an amazing light and whenever we want to light a room we just aim one of these at the cieling and it lights a very large room to a level at which you can read comfortably and use it to spot game at 400yds. $99 Amazon 
|
|
Quoted:
I do have some of these in south facing windows for years and they are great night lights. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61fEuyIpbZL._SL1000_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mmZre6tyL._SL1000_.jpg Are they all just made in china "crap"? I've looked at those but can't find anything comparing one "brand" to another. I like them, I might pick a couple up. looks like Amazon and Ebay have them for $6-$7 each.. |