Brightest LED Lantern

[DaMeatMan]

Hey guy's just looking for some advice on a LED lantern to purchase for my up and coming camping trips this summer. What i'm looking for is the brightest possible LED lantern that will have a minimum run time of 30 hours on it's brightest setting and possibly 1 or two different brightness modes high/low but i can live without this.

Right now i have a Coleman 8D cell spiral flourencent lantern which i think does a terrific job. With all the new advancements in LED efficiency and output i am constantly wondering why a similar form factor High power LED lantern has not made it to market yet.

Size is not of importance to me, i am not doing any backpacking and i'm essentially looking for the same size lantern that will be brighter and run longer then the Coleman that i have now. So what do you guy's think? Does it exist yet, or do i have to go out and buy another Coleman Retro and mod it myself with 3 P4's?

 

[DaveG]

Brightguy.com has two Coast lanterns,that might work out for you.

 

[CLHC]

Minimum runtime 30 hours on brightest setting? Hmmm. . .Is there anything lantern that can claim such?

Sure would like to know. Enjoy!

 

[LanternLover]

I have been looking for bright, long runtime lanterns myself and have had the same expectation that LED based lanterns should provide the solution. In fact, I went out and bought about half a dozen different types of lanterns, both LED based and CFL based in the past few days and let them eat a set of batteries to see how bright they are and how long they would last. Here is what I found:

• Current LED based lanterns are simply not bright enough. CFL based lanterns are still way ahead. Even with a lantern that uses multiple bright LEDs, you don't get as much light.
• Runtimes vary depending on the lantern and can be quite low even for an LED based lantern. Apparently, the use of LEDs as the light source is not the only factor. Of course, D cells last a whole lot longer than AA cells.
• The brightest I have seen so far is the K2 LED in the newer River Rock lanterns. However, it is still not bright enough. River Rock uses 3xAA cells and I expect the runtime to be over 12 hours but not the 30 hours you are looking for.
• A more likely solution is the Energizer Weather Ready Folding Lantern. It uses 8 Nichia LEDs, runs on 4 D cells and has an advertised runtime of over 80 hours on high. I have had it on at high for more than 24 hours now, and I am sure runtime will well exceed 30 hours. It has high and low modes as well. The light is white but not very bright even with 8 LEDs. I am guessing that replacing the Nichia LEDs with something brighter will provide the perfect solution. You can get these at Home Depot for $20.

Let me know if you mod the Energizer since I am interested in doing the same myself.

 

[CLHC]

The current lanterns that I have in my arsenal are the RRD.LL and the C.MPL which is nice for the close range lighting. My favorite are the set of Bayco.SLR-9000 rechargeable 13W CCFL lanterns I have. These put out quite a light for under two (2) hours before recharging. I personally like these ones. Wish that it'll run longer than two hours though.

 

[LanternLover]

The current lanterns that I have in my arsenal are the RRD.LL and the C.MPL which is nice for the close range lighting. My favorite are the set of Bayco.SLR-9000 rechargeable 13W CCFL lanterns I have. These put out quite a light for under two (2) hours before recharging. I personally like these ones. Wish that it'll run longer than two hours though.

Can you clarify the abbreviations please? I am new here and not familiar with the names of current products. Better still, can you provide links to threads that review the products? Thanks.

 

[CLHC]

Ooopps! Sorry!

River Rock Design LLC. LED Lantern (Target)
Coleman MicroPacker LED Lantern (Wal*Mart)

 

[leprechaun414]

The lanterns that DAVEG was refering to are
http://www.brightguy.com/products/Coast_LED_Lantern_4_D.php

http://www.brightguy.com/products/Coast_LED_Lantern_4_AA.php

I have not seen any reviews as to the claims of the brightness.

I would wait for some lanterns that will be using CREE leds.
Seems like every company will be going to a CREE and that will be a great selection of much brighter lanterns.

 

[Flying Turtle]

This lantern, http://www.brightguy.com/products/Coast_LED_Lantern_4_AA.php, is not as bright as the old River Rock. The nice thing about it, to me, is the variable level capability. Got mine on clearance at Target for $7.83. I don't think it's worth Brightguy's price.

Geoff

 

[whippoorwill]

+1 on the River Rock, but it will not last 30 hours. More of a 'personal' lantern.