Camping lantern ideas

Not sure about your application but have you considered the Thorfire KL02?

I wouldn’t recommend using with 16340s, but CR123a cells work well.

It’s small, and with the diffused dome, makes a handy lantern-type light.

Well I have been using a plastic AR thing for a long time now.
Before I knew anything about flashlights.
It has the shape of those old fashioned storm oil lamps but in black. Solar panel on top, crank in the base, served us very well
We have a storm light that has a led and battery compartment where the oil used to go, used that for many years but the $16 AE is the one we used since it came in, no need for new cells very nice.

But now that I know about tints…
I am going to mod a SRK
4 cells so long runtimes
Ramping driver from a fellow BLFer
3 Nichia high CRI LEDs

And I ordered a flash diffuser for a cameraflash that should be able to be modded to fit nicely and make it good to put on tables without blinding.

Total costs:
SRK $1,70 (because of refunds them not being as advertised)
$5 driver, thanks!
$8,80 3 LEDs
$8,40 diffuser

So nice working/camping light for a real budget price.

I think about modding the before mentioned metal camping light with nice tinted LEDs, good driver and ability to use 18650s later down the path since the build in diffuser makes even thr current blueish led nice

A BLF custom lantern build is in the works, and if all goes well a manufacturer will be working to build a production model based from it. It will be capable of running on 1,2,3, or four 18650 cells in paralel (much safer than series setups for LiIons) have long run times in high mode, and run times of days on the lower modes, be low-glare with a down-firing LED design, ( that distributes light far better in the directions that its needed than that of those eye-glaring standard flashlight diffusers) use natural 2700K to 3000K warmer tints close to that of a incandescent bulb, (equal a 40 watt or higher Incandescent bulb on high, be durable, table standable or hangable, have a moon light mode/night light that will run for months, and possibly have a built in USB charger.

I saw that thread DBSAR and it looks very, very interesting - but I don’t think it’ll come to pass in time for the trip I have in mind. Handy for future but less so long term.

The KL02 looks interesting for the ‘dot around’ role but I would want to run them off rechargeable’s, I just don’t want the hassle of disposables. I’m rubbish at working out the maths with these sorts of things - at 120 lumens could I expect 8-12 hours of runtime out of one?

cool, is there a thread yet?

Programmable modes and auto shutoff on low battery would be nice, so i could give it to my folks and not be concerned about them running the batteries into oblivion

Take a look at the Fenix CL25R. Uses an 18650, usb rechargable, 350 lumen (claimed), strong magnet on the bottom, IPX-6, and a red light mode. About the size of an 8oz Coke can.

Here’s an X6 for size comparison.

Stretching the budget - Fasttech have them for $50 - but at that price I think that’s a pretty good shout. Ordered, along with a couple of the KL02’s (they’ll get used anyway even if not suitable in this role.)

Thread is here: >> *BLF LT1 Lantern Project) (updated Nov,17,2020)

You won’t be disappointed. Very well made lantern

Until DBSAR’s lantern comes out, this will have to do.

The CL25R lights up my 12ft X 15ft home office pretty well.

I have a couple of those FT lights you link to in your first post. I can’t address your particular needs for sure but as a simple 18650 light that does a decent job I’m pretty impressed. It has 3 settings lo/med/hi so can go from reasonably bright to long lasting easily.

What about the Blitzwolf

It looks like a decent area light and has generally positive reviews.

I do not recommend the KL02 without protected cells, but they also do not fit…. See my review HERE The light is a simple resistor and LED in series, so it may drain the rechargeable ones down below where you want them. Another reviewer broke his with a protected cell as it was too long…

If that is a completely dark room before the lantern, that is impressive.

Yes, took the picture at night, with the room lights off and the office door closed.

Very impressive Rob, glad I’ve ordered it now.

A pair of KL02’s arrived today along with a pair of Olight 650mah protected 16340’s - despite the comments about them not fitting above I thought I’d order them anyway, you can never have too many a) torches or b) batteries. And they fit snugly but comfortably - the KL02’s seem quite happy to run on them.

And on first impressions the KL02 seems like a brilliant little light for the corners/entrances. Each one seems to comfortably light up a room fairly well - not main light well, but for my intended use as supplemental lights they seem more than adequate. They certainly light up a 8 plus foot square clearly though I’ve not really tested larger - and this is indoors with solid light walls, rather than translucent tent walls. Quite a neutral tint and a lovely even diffused light. In fact I like them so much I’ve ordered two more, and one may make it’s way onto my key ring to replace my Tube if I can adjust to the extra bulk. Only question mark is how long those Olight cells will last in use - they’ll get a road test shortly to find out.

Looks like Fenix is stepping up their game with a new lantern. Neutral white, 3 - 18650’s, 5 modes + a flasher.

No idea the release date or the price

Well that’s annoying when I’ve just ordered the CL25R. Still, the CL25R does look like a decent light.

Just another thumbs up for the KL02 - a week of using them and the output from them as an area light is perfect. With some mini-krabs I could hook them up almost anywhere, and for general area lighting (where we just needed to find our way around) one was fine for the main living area of the 5 man tent. No idea on runtimes; none used ran out in a week away but they were probably only getting - at most - 2-3 hours a night, and probably a lot less in reality.

My KL02 is the first-gen model with the foam packing for the insulator when the tailcap is unthreaded. Well, last night, I forgot to remove the cell, and woke up in the middle of the night when the light suddenly flashed on.

That’s a serious shortcoming in the original. As the cell is under pressure from the positive pole spring, the foam ring insulator slowly compresses, and eventually, the circuit will close.

That is a problem. Not one I’ve experienced myself (mine also have the foam tailcap) but I’ll keep an eye out and try to remember. Not so much of an issue for me personally - they get used, then get locked out for a few months - but if I have the same issue on the one I’m trialling on keyring duty then it’d rule it out.

Here’s the OL review with the video comparing the old version with the new…

here’s mine - very similar in principle to the one DBSAR is making, just more clutzy :slight_smile:

gets used on camping trips every year, rarely needs to get charged but puts out enough light to read by at a table or light up the tent.