Gas lanterns - anyone use them ?

[alick]

I'm interested to know how popular these are among the group.

I have vivid memories of digging out the gas lamp during the winter power cuts in the 70's, for working on the car with my dad and so on.

Paraffin tilley lamps were also a staple on group trips in the UK and "expeditions" to corsica & the pyrenees while I was at Uni.

I've always been a bit appalled at the price of candle lanterns for what you get and notice that you can now get compact gas lamps with mesh globes and even a design that uses a glowing platinum mesh instead of a fragile mantle.

http://akamai.backcountrystore.com.ed gesuite.net/images/items/medium/BRU0052.jpg

Anyone have any experience to offer ?

Thanks, Alick

[Andy]

when I was in the woodcraft folk gas gave way to parrifin lights for brightness. We have a camping Gaz light for family camping, simple to use and will light a large tent nicely (collorado 800). I don't remember having to replace the gas canister over a trip of a few days (IIRC you get about 10hours from one canister). I hope this helps

[Tantalus]

looks interesting, i would be interested to hear others opinions

not a fan of disposable gas cartridges meself but thats just me

if you are into old lamps and stoves have a look at http://spiritburner.com/ which is a place where some of the dinosaurs are still loved and cared for

Tant

[tomtom]

i have an old ish... go-gas kinda lamp.. we always dig it out in the power cuts.. not much good for camping though.. enless its out of a car i guess..!

[Martyn]

Seem expensive, large, heavy and un-economical compared to LED lamps. I can see that ~80 watts for 8 hours might be worth the money & carriage if it was for a base camp or family/car camping but too much for a backpack IMO.

[tenbears10]

What about the mini ones which you interchange with the canister you use to cook with? I always thought a) you will use the cannister quickly and b) you have to cook in the dark. But definatly compact and for backpacking.

Bill

[Martyn]

....only compact if you cook on gas ...and only if all of your cooking and lighting can be done out of 1 cannister.

[jason01]

I have a range of them from pressurised paraffin and big 150w propane lamps down to relatively small packable type that will run on a small disposable cylinder and I love em for car camping but I wouldnt carry one, I like to backpack as light as possible!

Jason

[ESpy]

I've seen some really natty ones that run on pretty much any liquid fuel. Very cute, but - like the Kelly kettle - probably best for base camp/vehicle use. IMO.