Candle lanterns - a fine addition to your kit!

CSG

CSG

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Dec 15, 2007
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With all the talk about fire starting, etc. one of the most luxurious pieces of gear that can go into your pack (assuming you carry something bigger than a belt pouch) is a candle lantern. I've had an original candle lantern for as long as they've been available and always carry it in my day pack. A fresh candle will burn for about 9 hours and is pretty much windproof and easy to light. Now, they make a little one (under 4 oz) that uses tea candles. It only burns 3-4 hours but has the same windproof design as the original. Not sure if it's worth the space and weight savings over the original but I may get one for my smaller pack.

Anyone else see these as an almost mandatory piece of gear for a survival kit? You can't always have an open fire but you can always have this (well, as long as you have a candle to burn). I always carry a spare.
 
Where did you see them. I used to have one but after a couple moves it vanished.:mad:
 
Sure. I bought one this fall to replace the "old original one" I lost when I split the sheets some ten years ago. I like them. And I (GASP!) use them inside my tent. As you said, they have a good burn time, the melted wax and flame are contained, they give off a bit of heat and pretty good light. I like the light much better than the harsh glare of a gas or propane lantern.

I am not an ultralight backpacker. I mostly canoe camp. This lets me carry a few more luxuries than I might otherwise.

Yeah, I know, flame in a tent is verboten. But I am a reasoning adult and take what I think are sufficient precautions. My tent is reasonably ventalated so there is plenty of fresh air. My candle lantern is either suspended so that it doesn't get knocked over, or placed on a fireproof base which will contain it if knocked over. I don't go to sleep with it burning and keep it in the center of the tent well away from possible contact with the tent fabric or my sleeping bag. I guess this is where personal responsibility for intellegent use comes into play. I'm also know to carry sharp knives.

Codger

Where did you see them.

Wally World...where else?
 
I keep one in my BOB w/extra candle. I think I have had mine for 15yrs. I think it is a great piece of equipment and a valueable one at that.
 
Codger_64 said:
And I (GASP!) use them inside my tent.
Click to expand...

I do too! :thumbup: Actually, I use it in the vestibule and usually have it sitting in a boot so it doesn't get knocked over - and extinguish it before going to sleep. It does warm the tent a few degrees and that can make going to sleep a lot more pleasant.

I've also used it many times to make a cup of tea - just set my sierra cup on top. Wouldn't be a bad way to make potable water either - it isn't quite a roiling boil - but pasteurization is better than no purification at all!

It's a bit heavy but it almost always comes along - it's a mini-fire that is convenient and effortless to use. I have had my eye on the smaller tea-candle lantern - I will probably get one soon.
 
You can google "candle lantern" or "uco candle lantern" to find them. They are sold at REI, Campmor, Amazon, etc. I would only buy the UCO brand, they are the originals.

The only hit on the tea candle version seems to be the wax can spill if the lantern is tipped. However, it stays in the reservoir.
 
UCO is the brand I bought at Walmart and for the same price generally found online. They also had the multipack of replacement candles.
 
CSG that is a great thing to have. I always have my little tea sized lantern when im backpacking. Its just enough light in the tent to dress up or down pull the sleeping bag open and get ready for bed. It would also give alittle warmth. Some time i would hang it of a branch or some rocks(make sure its safe) so i could find my way back to the camp at night. As i like to sometime just go for a walk before bed time. Its amazing how far you can see the light in the dark. I have also made a cheap reflector for it from an old soda can.

Sasha
 
Thanks for the info. We keep candles in the house in case of a power outage. I also have three Coleman white gas lantern and a couple kerosene model. When I was a kid we didn't have electricity out on the farm. I remember my parents setting one on each side of a kerosene Lamp trying to read. We had a battery powered Radio and listen to shows like Gunsmoke on the radio. Mostly we got up when it got light out and went to bed when it got dark.

All the food had to be canned or smoked except in the winter when you could put meat and stuff out in the snow. We had a small Ice box and cut chunks of ice off the lakes for ice.

A knife collection meant a Butcher knife, a skinning knife and a clever and paring knife. Most were Old Hickory. Of course everyone had a slip joint.
 
This subject comes up now and again. I use mine to read by, great little lantern. No batteries required:)
 
I'll play Devil's advocate.
They don't offer much useable light.
The glass is fragile.
By the time you add this to a wilderness survival kit you probably have an entire backpack full of stuff for an afternoon hike.
I don't even carry one of these on overnight trips.
I consider it a superflous item that stores like REI ands EMS want you to buy becuase there is a good margin.
Leave it behind IMO.
There is having the right gear and then there is having too much gear.
 
O-kay your intitled to your opinion...I like one therefore I own one.......& use it...Going on 15yrs not one problem,no glass broken,not made to put out alot of light after all it is only one candle....
 
I lik'em too Tony ! Very versatile....one in my kit now for over 30 years.

- regards
 
texastonydobbs said:
O-kay your intitled to your opinion...I like one therefore I own one.......& use it...Going on 15yrs not one problem,no glass broken,not made to put out alot of light after all it is only one candle....
Click to expand...
I guess it is because when I lightened up my gear selection it was pretty much the first thing to go. Certaily a candle stob or tea candle is still useful survival gear. I just think the lantern itself is a bit bulky.
Bill
 
my lantern collapse to half it size and has a cool little neoprene case ,the whole thing with one candle inside weighs hardle anything. if anything a candle could be used for a fire starter.
 
If I can find a small tea light one at Sportsmans Warehouse, I'll have to give one a try. The ability to add a little heat to a small space would be worth it.
 
billym said:
I'll play Devil's advocate.
They don't offer much useable light.
The glass is fragile.
By the time you add this to a wilderness survival kit you probably have an entire backpack full of stuff for an afternoon hike.
I don't even carry one of these on overnight trips.
I consider it a superflous item that stores like REI ands EMS want you to buy becuase there is a good margin.
Leave it behind IMO.
There is having the right gear and then there is having too much gear.
Click to expand...


I wouldn't carry one for a dayhike, but I like to put one by my tent at night so if I get out to take a leak I don't trip over stuff.:D

I don't think I've every broke the glass on the big one. The glass will fall out on the tealight one when you open it to put a new candle in so the breaking glass is valid there.

Not totally needed true, but it brightens up your campsite an bit and enables you to see your tent in the dark a little better:p
 
I have several of them for use at home when we lose power (a fairly common occurrence). One down-side is that when walking around with one, I need to block the light from my eyes with one hand, or hold it up over my head out of sight so it doesn't blind me. Stationary, they're pretty good to read by or for just adding enough light in a room to walk around in.

However for actual utility out in the woods, I much prefer the little Photon-type LED lights. For starters, I just can't get past the whole flame-in-the-tent thing. I guess it was just drilled into me at too young an age. Also the LEDs are small, convenient, long-lasting and easier to light.

For our annual Anniversary dinner out in the woods, the candle-lanterns are indispensable. There's no such thing as romantic LED light.
 
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