Looking for a really great LED lantern

[jcalvert]

After reading here I just purchased a Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300. I don't like alkaline batteries at all so I plan to use AA eneloops in the D adapters. Probably need to do a runtime test to see how long I can count on it since the D's have more capacity than the AA's

Brian

Hey Brian,

Good call IMO. And the C/D battery-averse crowd will be interested in your runtime tests. Take care!

John

 

[txmatt]

I will be interested in the AA runtimes as well. I'll definitely be picking up a 300 soon. I don't yet know whether I'd choose AA Eneloop in a D adapter (shorter runtime), purchase LSD D-size NiMH's (pricey: 1 pair is about the price of the lantern), or use alkalines (cheap but with leakage risk).

 

[Imon]

Hmm. The rayovac is still the leader.

I like the cranking idea for a SHTF situation.

You guys say you have means to charge your batteries for years... what are you using, a solar charger? But dont they have to be special batteries then?

Really I think this will be a live and learn situation. As of today I and many other people on this forum are unaware of any high-quality, high-efficiency, and bright dynamo lantern. My experience throughout the years with rechargeable dynamo flashlights have been uniformly negative. They're never bright enough, the runtime is exaggerated, and the build quality is almost always poor.
If you really want a dynamo lantern I think you should buy one but there are many people on here who have already gone through what you are proposing and they are telling you it is a bad idea. So again I will suggest just getting a non-rechargeable lantern.
Perhaps in the future when battery technology is sufficiently advanced we'll have a nice rechargeable lantern.

 

[bthrel]

I will be interested in the AA runtimes as well. I'll definitely be picking up a 300 soon. I don't yet know whether I'd choose AA Eneloop in a D adapter (shorter runtime), purchase LSD D-size NiMH's (pricey: 1 pair is about the price of the lantern), or use alkalines (cheap but with leakage risk).

I will for sure plan on doing this, will do a test with eneloops and possibly some L91 AA lithiums as well. Lantern wont be here till next week and it will take some time for the tests. I will post the results when finished.

Brian

 

[jcalvert]

I will be interested in the AA runtimes as well. I'll definitely be picking up a 300 soon. I don't yet know whether I'd choose AA Eneloop in a D adapter (shorter runtime), purchase LSD D-size NiMH's (pricey: 1 pair is about the price of the lantern), or use alkalines (cheap but with leakage risk).

txmatt,

I realize I'm not a flashlight/lantern/electrical techie kind of person, but I usually see things from a practical point of view, and please understand that I'm not saying you or the others don't, I just think for a $25 lantern, albeit a really nice lantern, it doesn't seem worth the extra cost or trouble of going to anything but alkaline "D" cells. Although I've had my original Duracell batts in for well over a year, I'm thinking if a battery leaks, is flashlight not cleanable or in the worst case, toss the lantern for a new one. I've never had a Duracell leak on me in anything, ever.

So the question begs, and I'm asking with respect and the fact that I'm not knowledgeable in this area, is anything other than a set of three simple, alkaline batteries worth it in a $25 product.

I'm just curious.
Thanks!

John

 

[bthrel]

txmatt,

I realize I'm not a flashlight/lantern/electrical techie kind of person, but I usually see things from a practical point of view, and please understand that I'm not saying you or the others don't, I just think for a $25 lantern, albeit a really nice lantern, it doesn't seem worth the extra cost or trouble of going to anything but alkaline "D" cells. Although I've had my original Duracell batts in for well over a year, I'm thinking if a battery leaks, is flashlight not cleanable or in the worst case, toss the lantern for a new one. I've never had a Duracell leak on me in anything, ever.

So the question begs, and I'm asking with respect and the fact that I'm not knowledgeable in this area, is anything other than a set of three simple, alkaline batteries worth it in a $25 product.

I'm just curious.
Thanks!

John

For a lot of us junkies there really isn't any extra cost.. as in my case I already have many AA eneloops sitting ready for battle. I also see your point, $25 lantern, Alkalines don't always leak.... Just depends where you are in this addiction.

Brian

 

[jcalvert]

For a lot of us junkies there really isn't any extra cost.. as in my case I already have many AA eneloops sitting ready for battle. I also see your point, $25 lantern, Alkalines don't always leak.... Just depends where you are in this addiction.

Brian

I see. Thanks for the understanding.

John

 

[gsegelk]

Perfect timing...I'm going camping this weekend and saw this thread. Have the Rayovac 300 on order (Amazon prime overnight shipping)! Thanks!

+1 on the interest of AA runtime!

 

[txmatt]

txmatt,

I realize I'm not a flashlight/lantern/electrical techie kind of person, but I usually see things from a practical point of view, and please understand that I'm not saying you or the others don't, I just think for a $25 lantern, albeit a really nice lantern, it doesn't seem worth the extra cost or trouble of going to anything but alkaline "D" cells. Although I've had my original Duracell batts in for well over a year, I'm thinking if a battery leaks, is flashlight not cleanable or in the worst case, toss the lantern for a new one. I've never had a Duracell leak on me in anything, ever.

So the question begs, and I'm asking with respect and the fact that I'm not knowledgeable in this area, is anything other than a set of three simple, alkaline batteries worth it in a $25 product.

I'm just curious.
Thanks!

John

Adding to what BTHREL said, there a lot of things I like about rechargeables...

* Purchasing something lasting/reusable as opposed to disposable (even if it's more $)

* Guilt-free usage (after up-front cost, there's almost no cost to use however much you want)

* Always start off with full batteries (if you've used one set of alkalines on a few trips and then they've sat for the past year, will they cover a 4-day trip? do you replace the old ones before they're done or take extras with you? you can put 'em on a meter and maybe determine they've got 40% left but that's only somewhat helpful. With rechargeables you top them off on the charger and know what you have, runtime wise, every time out.

* I already have a good charger that accommodates D-size NiMH's

* I've never had a NiMH destroy a device, which I can't say about alkalines, especially if they go unused for long periods. A lantern like this is a device for me that could sit for a year or more without use. Usually you can scrape away the corrosion that an alky leak leaves behind and get the device to work, but not always. Would rather prevent that then have to fix/replace it.

* It looks like alkaline D's are ~$1 each vs $10 each for NiMH D's. While alkalines are a lot cheaper, every set you go through cuts into the cost advantage by another 10%.

But I've never bought D-Size NiMH's for the cost reason you mentioned. I've rarely had a device that takes D's that I use for long periods, so alkalines have always made sense. For something like this that would get hours of use at a time, I'd consider NiMH's again.

 

[jcalvert]

Adding to what BTHREL said, there a lot of things I like about rechargeables...

* Purchasing something lasting/reusable as opposed to disposable (even if it's more $)

* Guilt-free usage (after up-front cost, there's almost no cost to use however much you want)

* Always start off with full batteries (if you've used one set of alkalines on a few trips and then they've sat for the past year, will they cover a 4-day trip? do you replace the old ones before they're done or take extras with you? you can put 'em on a meter and maybe determine they've got 40% left but that's only somewhat helpful. With rechargeables you top them off on the charger and know what you have, runtime wise, every time out.

* I already have a good charger that accommodates D-size NiMH's

* I've never had a NiMH destroy a device, which I can't say about alkalines, especially if they go unused for long periods. A lantern like this is a device for me that could sit for a year or more without use. Usually you can scrape away the corrosion that an alky leak leaves behind and get the device to work, but not always. Would rather prevent that then have to fix/replace it.

* It looks like alkaline D's are ~$1 each vs $10 each for NiMH D's. While alkalines are a lot cheaper, every set you go through cuts into the cost advantage by another 10%.

But I've never bought D-Size NiMH's for the cost reason you mentioned. I've rarely had a device that takes D's that I use for long periods, so alkalines have always made sense. For something like this that would get hours of use at a time, I'd consider NiMH's again.

txmatt,

What you've described is why this forum is so helpful. Your points make great food for thought of non-traditional power sources that us non-techies or at least non-enlightened ones should research more, even for powering a $25 lantern or any other products that we would normally just reach out for traditional batteries that end up in the landfill.

Between being practical and being a conservasionalist, we all have a responsibilty to sometimes go beyond easy and cheap, and instead keep an open mind to options that may currently be in our minds as costly and inconveient, to being considered practical and the right thing to do in other ways.

I'm already doing it for my flashlights and headlamps by using rechargeables. Why stop there just because they are more expensive investments and are rechargeable-ready. Time for me to research alternative battery choices for my $25 and $14 lanterns.

Well done Matt. And thanks for brain chow, partner!

John

 

[RobertM]

Robert,

IMHO, no. It's a really nice quality-made product, like all BD's products, but it's $50 retail ($30 something when on sale) for only 56 lumens.

http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/mountain/lighting/apollo?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=black%20diamond%20apollo&utm_content=Apollo_Copy3Deep&utm_campaign=Product-Lighting

It makes for a really nice tent light because it dims down to a night light mode for the kids. It's also stable on the uneven terrain your tent may be laying on with its long legs, of course it can be hung, and has available for purchase a seperate recharging kit for another $30.

I tried it out and I really liked it inside the tent, but for the price, I took it back and I will take the Rayovac Mini LED lantern all day long (for around $14 on sale at Amazon) inside the tent and out.

However, I always rely on my Princeton Tec Remix Pro headlamp for everything from reading inside the tent (or the house) to walking around the woods (or the neighborhood) and the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 lumen lantern for around the campsite. Especially for setting up or breaking camp in the dark.

I hope this helps!

John

Hi John,

Thanks for your thoughts and comments--it helps a lot! Based on all of my reading, it really sounds like the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 is the lantern to get for around the campsite (setup, teardown, and in between).

Does the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 appear to be built as well as the Black Diamond lanterns?

Also, does it look like its very hard to get to the LED(s) in either the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 or the BD Apollo for modding?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[jcalvert]

Hi John,

Thanks for your thoughts and comments--it helps a lot! Based on all of my reading, it really sounds like the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 is the lantern to get for around the campsite (setup, teardown, and in between).

Does the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 appear to be built as well as the Black Diamond lanterns?

Also, does it look like its very hard to get to the LED(s) in either the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 or the BD Apollo for modding?

Thanks,
Robert

Robert,

Admittedly not being a technically trained persons on CPF and not being able to look at the guts of either, but instead coming from a regular Joe, layman's point of view, they are both well made. So for me, it came down to a lumen output and value (cost vs. quality) point of view. The outcome was overwhelmingly the Rayovac.

As for modding, that's something I'd like to get into one day, but for now I can't comment on that. Maybe one of the others who does have that experience and has access to both lanterns can chime in to answer that for you.

I just want to reiterate something I have mentioned before regarding the Rayovacs. When we go camping in the north woods of Michigan, with as many as twenty campers (big, extended family), we are usually deeply shrouded by a canopy of trees, limiting moonlight. So for extra light, we usually hang the the lanterns (2) upside down from collapsible, adjustable height Coleman lantern stands which are of high quality and extremely useful ($20). We usually take the globes off, which when hanging upside down from the lantern's integrated bottom hooks and hanging about six feet up, spreads the light output very broadly. With two units going and spread apart, it really is like lighting up a small city (exaggeration of course), but I'm sure you know what I mean, without any propane hissing or smell. Of course you can always hang them from trees or whatever you have, I just like the quality, features, ease of use, compactness when folded down and very reasonable cost of the lantern stand and lantern combo. For what it's worth!

Anyway, I hope I've helped.

John

p.s. Robert, when it comes to modding a lantern, I assume you would like to get more output, so I wanted to add this webpage from Favour Light: http://www.favourlight.com/1/#products/LT-1713AA. I'm in process of working with a exporting company in trying to track down a source to purchase the LT-1916D (400 lumens) and the LT-1916D-F (600 lumens).

 

[EXCALIBUR1]

jcalvert,

I just received my 2 Rayovac Sportsman 70-Lumens LED Mini Lanterns from amazon.com For it's size, it's easy to carry and puts out a great amount of light. For $13.68 each plus FREE Super Saver Shipping, I will order a couple more for my family. Thanks again for the information and recommendation.:thumbsup: