Brianetta
Reviewed: 30 December 2009
GOOD AND BRIGHT, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT TOO COLD.
Bright light. Globe is made of mesh. Weights practically nothing. Good carry bag.
You might have problems with brightness in very cold weather. Affected by the wind more than a glass globed lantern.
The light weight of this lantern means that it might not just be for the base camp. You might even consider taking it in your pack. The carry handle is a split ring (as you might have on your keys) attached to two very thin and springy wires. It's strong and light, but hardly comfortable for carrying in the hand. The valve handle is a sprung wire, keeping the weight down. It's perfectly operable with gloves on.
There's no glass at all, so there's no danger from breakage there. Additionally, it's really easy to light, because the mesh globe allows you to light the lamp without removing or opening it. A lighter's flame will pass through the mesh, and a match can be offered through a special match-sized hole near the base of the globe. Because you don't need to open it, you're much less likely to damage the mantle doing this, which is yet another bonus. This is what earned the lantern its 4 for reliability. The top half of the globe gets extremely hot, continuing to glow red for many seconds after extinguishing. The first time it's used, it'll get a distinct tempered hue.
Being gas powered, I found that it couldn't achieve anything like its full brightness when the weather was cold and the gas pressure falls off. It was getting dim at -5°C.
Any cold winds cause a visible dark patch on the windward side of the mantle, which isn't a problem in a lantern with a glass globe. Additionally, the mesh globe blocks more of the light than a glass globe would, making this lantern inherently darker.
The carry bag, which is included, has a cylindrical plastic sleeve, which protects the lamp. Putting the lantern into a pack and carrying it around didn't damage the mantle at all. Spare mantles aren't heavy, though they can be difficult to prepare in wind or rain.
The RRP has risen to £40, making it difficult to like at full price.
