Tips On Electric
Rechargeable Lanterns.

Good rechargeable lanterns provide instant light, are safer than gas lanterns, and give you the choice of charging them by either a 110-volt or 12-volt power source. Being rechargeable means they'll also save you money on batteries and it makes them ideal for car camping at your favorite campground.

Electric lanterns are less of a hassle to use than gas lanterns because you don't have to pump, prime, or ignite them, just flick the switch and you've got light. They're also safer to use in your tent because there's no flame or hot surfaces to be aware of. They do have a small drawback though, due to their weight of about 5 pounds you probably won't want to use them for backpacking. With camping equipment this isn't really an issue though because the furthest you'll probably carry it is to the other side of your campsite.

Everybody has different preferences on how bright they want their lantern to be. If you want bright intense light over everything else, than you'll want to take a look at propane lanterns or butane lanterns. Being realistic though most of us don't need 235 watts of light to fool the birds into thinking it's morning. After all camping and backpacking are about being a part of nature, not scaring it off. Compare the wattage of the camping lanterns you're looking at to a light bulb with the same output you have at home to get an idea of what you need before you buy.

The rechargeable portable Coleman lantern is my camping recommendation for rechargeable lanterns. It weighs in at 5 pounds, will provide light for up to 10 hours before it needs recharging, is weather resistant, has an adjustable light switch, and requires no tools for tube replacement (find bulbs before you need them as they may be difficult to locate). This lantern can also be recharged by either a 110-volt or 12-volt power source (very nice) up to 1000 times. And the charging adapters store inside the base. You can get it at Amazon.

If recharging isn't an option Coleman's Electric Northstar Lantern with night light offers 42 watts of adjustable electric light that you can dim to save the batteries or turn up to increase the amount of light. It will last almost 12 hours on 8 D cell batteries. It's too heavy for backpacking, but around the campsite this 5.5 pound lantern shouldn't blow away too easily. ;-) If you'd like an electric lantern that's a little lighter...

If you want something small, light-weight, and efficient check out my LED lanterns page. The 19 watt CMG Bonfire lantern is my recommendation for the serious backpacker or light-weight camper. At 4.6 ounces it's easier to carry in your pack than big rechargeable lanterns. :-)