Camping

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. . . And Your Hiking Camp

Hiking lanterns can play a very important part in making your hiking, back packing or camping trip enjoyable . . . I know that flashlights and hiking headlamps have their own roles, but a lantern can produce that all round light which can give your tent or your camp a homely feel to it (and help you to see what you’re doing).

Different Types of Hiking Lantern

Different types of hiking lanterns are available:

• Electric hiking lanterns – don’t worry if there’s nowhere to plug it in to a power supply (which of course there mostly isn’t), because electric hiking lanterns are battery powered. LED hiking lanterns offer the most efficient usage of those batteries (they last much longer), but large fluorescent hiking lanterns throw out more light. The other traditional type of incandescent bulbs in some hiking lanterns offer a good source of light but they eat up batteries much quicker, and the bulbs are pretty fragile compared to the LED models too . . . they might not have the roughness and toughness needed on a back country hiking trip.
• Fuel burning lanterns – ah, the old oil lamps! Well, they can actually run on different types of fuel, liquid fuel, propane or butane. They do give out a good light but need good ventilation so they’re not really suitable for use inside your tent . . . they’re also pretty noisy and generate heat . . . oh, and you must keep them away from flammable materials and children (children are quite flammable too you know).

They’re enjoying that aren’t they . . . brilliant! They are very, well, jiggly though aren’t they . . .

• Candle lanterns – for all of those romantic hikers out there . . . “where are you taking me for our first wedding anniversary darling?” – “it’s a surprise sugar, but leave your flipflops and bikini at home and bring your back pack, hiking boots and thermal vest” . . . the candle lantern can help to add to the atmosphere.

Hiking Lanterns

All types of hiking lanterns have their “good points”, if you like, and they’re “not so good points”. If you choose a battery powered lantern then you might need to think about carrying spare batteries with you on your hike, and if you’re cold weather camping remember that alkaline batteries do lose their power quite quickly once the temperature drops below about 20 degrees F but lithium batteries don’t mind the cold. If you are using alkaline batteries and it’s getting nippy why not pop them in your sleeping bag with you for a cozy nights sleep and carry them “about your person” during the day to keep them happy.

Hiking lanterns do add a considerable weight and volume to your back pack, so that is something which you need to consider very carefully before making your final decision. The majority of hikers and backpackers do like to travel as lightly as possible, so might feel that although a lantern makes a cozy hiking site, a hiking flashlight or hiking headlamp will just have to suffice. 

Wow, lots of lanterns for your hiking or camping trip . . .

Remember this too, that if you hang a lantern in your tent everybody will be able to see what you’re up to . . .

Classic Mike Myers . . . don’t you just love him . . . no, must be just me then!