Propane Lanterns

[Ruler]

OK, I have the first poll of the new forum! What type of lantern do you have, if you own one?

I have a Coleman and like it, but the glass shield is totally exposed all the time, which I don't like. Also, the case that came with it was the biggest POS on the face of the planet; I built a wooden box to replace the case. I saw one tonight at Target that had wire surrounding the glass at several locations. Anybody use this kind and how do you like it?

[Steve]

Propane with electric start is the only way to go.

[Mike]

Coleman, Gas. The propane deals are easier, but I get more hours out of a can of Coleman fuel.

Mike

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-
Tried multiple choices, but was only allowed one......
I've used a Primos propane for over 21 years, but it's globe broke 2 years ago. Picked up a couple of battery-powered ones, as there is usually no shortage of lanterns when we camp. The wife found 2 older Colemans at yard sales last year, circa 1962. If I can figure out why they won't work, I'll try to spruce 'em up for a nice nostalgic glow at camp.

[stelmon]

Propane Lantern- Coleman is what my family and I have been using my whole life. Haven;t tried aynthign else except the little battery one's.

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-
My hunting buddys have been die-hard Coleman guys for as ong as I can remember. I would always show up with my propane stuff and be good to go while they were fiddlin' around with funnels, fuel, etc.

Last year I show up at deer camp and what do I find? About a 30 gallon propane tank with multiple off-takes and a lantern on top! Looks like a darn streetlamp!

I'm waitin' for the local hookers to show up.....;)

[Mags]

The Coleman lantern with the wires around it is called their "Northstar" model. The propane one I have uses just a single mantle attached at both ends with wires. I've had it about 2 or 3 years now and had no problems so far. You do have to develop a touch with the automatic ignition system though , so you don't let in too much propane. That would give you a heck of an instant "suntan"!
:eek:

[Oct.1]

Actually I use Propane and electric. (Battery) I prefer the propane because they are brighter, but in the tent, especially with kids, I prefer battery. I have the type with tubes. They aren't bad.

[Joe'sCat]

Propane Coleman, and battery lantern.

For kids that like to have a light on for a long time, a battery model with a flourescent tube is pretty good. Flourescents are more efficient once started. They pull the most power when starting up though, so you may be better off leaving it on, instead of constantly power cycling it.

In case you don't know, make sure to pack extra mantles for the Coleman. Once they've been used, they are very brittle, and once broken, the lantern is useless. They have kinds with wires, and string to attach them. The ones with wires are easier.

[Ron L]

I have 2 Coleman gas lanterns. We bought one used at a garage sale with a camp stove to match for around $8 and we've had it ever since. We've bought another stove and a newer lantern, but since the ones we already have were gas, that's what we stuck with.

Not to sound like we didn't look at other ones. We did. But there's something about the smell of the gas and the hiss from the lanterns and having to pump them up that brings back memories of camping as a kid. So I guess that our lanterns are also a nostalgic item.

[fishinlk]

I've got the North Star gas lantern, it throws an AMAZING amount of light.

[littlejohn]

Everyone I hunt, and fish with has always used coleman propane. It seems like every year someones hits the ground and a new globe has to be bought. As a matter of fact I broke mine last weekend. Other than that I think they are the best. 8 bucks for a globe every couple years I can handle.

John

[NEMichsportsman]

I cant say enough good things about the Northstar. Sturdy, and throws a ton of light. Of course, I had two of them stolen when my boat was taken last year, and I didnt spend the money to replace them...now I use the models below the Northstar...:(


jp

[Sarge]

I'm with Steve, My coleman auto ignite is the handiest thing I ever owned. Its dark out, cold, early morning, fumbling fingers. Reach up with one hand crank the knob all the way on and you have instant light.

Its the new one with that funny mantle, is that the North Star? anyway I love it.

[NEMichsportsman]

Thats the one Sarge. I miss mine dearly.

jp

[Neapolis]

Coleman white gas. I have had it for 30 years and it still works great. I got a reflector with a handle that bolted on to reflect the light 180 degrees. It helps to direct the light without blinding you.

[Hunt4Ever]

I have two white gas lanterns and one propane. I like the propane for easy starting, but the white gas lanterns produce MUCH more heat!

The gas lanterns are what I take ice fising for heat. I got my first one in 1985 and i still have it. I gave it a tune up a few years ago with some new parts, but I don't think it needed it. I'm still on the original globe also.

[JasonG]

Just bought my first coleman propane lantern. Uses the little bottles, but I would really like to get the tree pole that attaches to a big propane tank. Anyways lantern worked great, a lot of light.
Question: Anyone have any neat ideas on how to make the latern a little less atrractive to bugs, i.e. yellow globe or something. We ended up putting ours a little ways from the group which help attract the bugs away from us.

[LittleMac]

Kerosene lanterns...don't care for the glare. They throw plenty of light for nightime activities and don't draw nearly the bugs. Good camping!

[Sailor]

I use them all. The propane for convenience&night fishing,the electric for inside the camper or tent,and the gas lantern (hands down)for ice fishing.

[hoffie1]

have always used coleman gas lanterns.imo they are the brightest lanterns i have seen.but the last coleman i bought in the fall is a peice of $**t.very dim. next one will be propane.
hoffie

[MIBow]

Coleman propane... only lantern I have ever owned!!!

[DZtaxidermy]

Propane/Electric start:)

[bogwalker]

Hey...Ive got three lanterns I use all the time.My camp has propane lights and I use the lanterns for light outside or whenever required elsewhere.If the grand children are there I have them use the battery powered lanterns for safety.I use all these things just because I have for years,but I think this has got to be the best era to live in for availability of new gear,not all good but fun to try.

[ESOX]

My propane Northstar will get it so warm in the shanty I don't need to turn on the heater. :cool:

[Hunter333]

I agree Steve! Click, click, burn!!! The "case" is a POS and the glass rattles but it does get warm and man does it throw the light!

[Burksee]

You had to get me started! My all time favorites are the Coleman "fuel" lanterns, there just aint anything cooler than a good old fashion coleman lantern. I do have a cheapy, non-coleman propane double mantle that we use for taking down on the rocks of the ausable. Ease of use is the main reason I take it. It get a new globe about once a year and I dont worry about banging up one of my "baby's"!

My "baby's" - I have "collected" several other Colemans over the years. Just had "ozzgood2001" fix a couple for me. He's the man if you need one looked at! My oldest is a 1952 200a, single mantle. My "newest" is a 1986 CL1, 286, single mantle. I also have a 220, a 228f double mantles and 2 more 200a's; 1953 & 1980. I also have a 1972 model 502 single burner w/the stove pipe heater top. I'm always lookin at garage sales and flea markets, it can be a cheap enough hobby if you can stay under control, E-bay always has tons but some of those people get carried away!

[Ricky Missum]

Electric Ignition- the brightest lantern made by Coleman. Coleman Fuel, still the cheapest way to heat and light! And about 200 Coleman Lanterns! Time to clean out the collection and list some on ebay tonight!

[secondgear]

I like my coleman 275/ gas. I will burn all night on a tanks of gas. Inside a tent electric for sure.The 275 needs a cleaning and waybe a new Generator. i will have to look at the northstar I could use a new lantern.

[Captain Gadget]

Question:
Does anyone know how to get a new “Coleman Dual Fueled Northstar Lantern” spark ignition to light this $98 lantern when ever a moderately light wind (say perhaps 5 to 15 mph) is blowing?

I have never been able to get my Northstar (or my other new $64 Two Mantle Dual Fuel™ Powerhouse® Lantern) to work unless they are totally blocked (completely surrounded on all but one side) from even the slightest wind! They do however light right up, with out the slightest problem, when there is no wind or if they are in a garage, but forget it otherwise. Perhaps Coleman’s fuel requires some kind of booster additive, that I am not aware of, to get them to ignite while afield.

Dan K.

[Icehole Ken]

I bought a Primus propane lantern over thirty years ago and I still use it. It uses a bigger mantle than a Coleman and puts out more light, but the mantles are hard to come by, I have been using Humphry mantles.
I have the Coleman duel fuel gas lantern also, I use it more than the propane, it seems the gas last forever.
I think electric lanterns are useless for what I want, night ice fishing for smelt a gas lantern puts out both heat and light, I seldom have to light off the Coleman heater (propane).

[WALLEYEvision]

Originally posted by Steve
Propane with electric start is the only way to go.

Ditto! :D

[bigdraz]

I have two of the Colemans both the same and purchased them at Gander Mountain for $15.99, what a deal. I just bought my second one last week.

[Burksee]

Originally posted by bigdraz
I have two of the Colemans both the same and purchased them at Gander Mountain for $15.99, what a deal. I just bought my second one last week. Sounds like a good deal! Which model are they? Were they coleman fuel/gas or propane?

[bigdraz]

The model I purchased for $15.99 was the Coleman Propane Lantern, you need a match/lighter to ignite. Which some people think is a pain in the rear, but for 15.99, you can't go wrong. I bought at th Utica Location

[rabbit whacker]

I prefer the Coleman propane. Never tried the electric start...wil have to look into that. You can never have to many Coleman lanterns.

[Burksee]

Originally posted by rabbit whacker
............... You can never have to many Coleman lanterns. RW, A man after my own heart, I need you to have a talk with my wife! ;)

[deepwoods]

Coleman Powerhouse dual mantle. Gas.

[toots]

There is nothing better than a double mantle Coleman with a reflector shield for nigthtime tracking. I heve had mine for forty years and it still works fine.

[toots]

There is nothig better than a Coleman double mantle gas with a reflector shield for nighttime eracking.

[Ricky Missum]

No need to say anything more!!!

[MSUICEMAN]

i got both propane and white gas..... one thing i learned this year, in 1 degree weather, when the white gas is also 1 degree, it will not light.... you can put an open flame to the stuff and it still wont light. Learned my lesson to not leave the lanterns outside overnight between fishing trips.
Propane is great for ease of use, but the exhaust from them gives me migraine headaches, so if i'm in a semi enclosed space like my portable shanty (enough air exchange to be safe, no doubt), I use white gas, if i'm out in the open, i use propane.

my white gas model is from 1951, works like a champ, and I use it for nostalgic reasons. The propane is a dual mantle (non electric start, i'll figger out a way to retro fit this) that I got on sale with case for 15 bucks about 7 years ago.

steve

[arrowdog]

We have always used coleman's, both gas and propane. I have propanes now, I like the ease of the spin on canisters. If I am at a state park or somewhere with electric hook ups, I use a trouble light in the tent. Works great, just have to be careful where you put it as it gets hot. My tent has a loof at the top which is perfect for hanging the trouble light. No batteries to replace, just bulbs every so often.