# Going camping! Are there better lighting options than my classic ol' 2-mantel propane lantern? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857 "2013-09-14T19:30:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/1 "2013-09-14T19:30:32Z")
I love my classic old 2-mantel propane lantern (see link below for pic). But it has its drawbacks. The mantles need to be replaced for every new camping trip. And if I fly to my destination, because flammable gas containers are not allowed on the plane, I have to buy a new propane tank when I arrive and leave it behind (largely unused) when I depart. The cost, bother, and waste add up. Now, years ago when I bought my lantern there was nothing on the market that could compare with it in terms of affordable and compact light output. But since then the LED revolution has taken place! I was wondering if my propane lantern has become a costly and bothersome dinosaur. Are there LED (or even fluorescent) camping lanterns that are a better, cheaper alternatives to my current lantern? Thanks all, in advance. Btw, my lantern is an older version of this: [http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000006544-Two-Mantle-Propane-Lantern/dp/B0009PUQFU/ref=sr\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379186748&sr=8-1&keywords=propane+lantern](http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000006544-Two-Mantle-Propane-Lantern/dp/B0009PUQFU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379186748&sr=8-1&keywords=propane+lantern) ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/2 "2013-09-14T20:04:45Z")
Yeah, I still have buddies using your lantern, and they still work fine, of course, but I switched to battery power some years ago, before LED. I’d get an LED lantern if I felt like spending some money. The other lighting source I wouldn’t live without is one of these: > **[BestDealUSA UFO 48 LED Portable Lantern Camping Tent Light + Hanger - Lantern...](https://www.amazon.com/BestDealUSA-Portable-Lantern-Camping-Hanger/dp/B005MLX92I)** > > \* This item is 100% Brand New. Never used. It comes with 3 Months Warranty by Seller. \* The warranty enables the buyer to receive warranty repair or replacement from the term length described in the sale. Situations NOT covered by this warranty... They hang inside your tent, from the top, and provide excellent light. We call them UFOs. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/3 "2013-09-14T20:08:28Z")
I have an LED flashlight and CFL lantern as backups, but my main lighting is still a gas lantern. The electric sources are not as bright and tend to provide light that is bluer or whiter than the comfortable yellowish of the gas lanterns. I wouldn’t want to rely entirely on electric, but you certainly could if you wanted to. In terms of cost, I think batteries are still more expensive than propane, even if you’re only using part of a canister that you have to leave behind. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/4 "2013-09-14T20:22:15Z")
Like **dracoj** , I still use your lantern as our main light source. But [http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Pivot-Basecamp-Lantern-3-5-Inch/dp/B004KD9W48/ref=sr\_1\_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1379190032&sr=1-4&keywords=kelty+lanterns](http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Pivot-Basecamp-Lantern-3-5-Inch/dp/B004KD9W48/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1379190032&sr=1-4&keywords=kelty+lanterns) is rapidly replacing it. Amazing light, and you can point it right where you need it. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/5 "2013-09-15T00:22:56Z")
What are you doing that you need to replace your mantles every trip? I think my family might replace them every five years or so. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/6 "2013-09-15T02:03:20Z")
gas gives bright light outside the tent for a whole campsite. the inside of a tent can be adequately, quietly and safely lit with a multiLED lantern. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/7 "2013-09-15T02:21:54Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > What are you doing that you need to replace your mantles every trip? I think my family might replace them every five years or so. They get jostled and crumble. After all, they are little more than little sacks made of ashes. I live in a big city and don’t own a car, so my camping trips invariably involve a lot of packing and unpacking. In between there is plenty of walking; stair climbing; and subway, bus, train, plane and rental car loading, unloading and riding. It’s a wonder that the iron parts of the lantern survive – forget about the mantles! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/8 "2013-09-15T02:25:39Z")
Go LED, you won’t want to go back. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-camping-are-there-better-lighting-options-than-my-classic-ol-2-mantel-propane-lantern/668857/9 "2013-09-15T09:45:55Z")
Yeah, I really want one of \*\*Silenus’s \*\*lanterns now.