When camping or engaging in other outdoor activities, your camping lantern becomes your source of light when the sun goes down. A good thing about having a battery powered lantern is that it is inflammable, unlike gas or oil lanterns, so it is ideal for use near highly flammable substances. Many people don’t know what to evaluate when buying a battery powered lantern and only opt for what is available in the market. Since you want a quality battery-powered lantern, assess the following things before making your purchase.
Type of batteries
The run time and brightness of a camping lantern are significantly determined by the type of batteries it uses. Most of them use alkaline batteries, and the type also depends on the size of the lantern. For instance, small lanterns use D batteries, while larger ones use AAA batteries.
Other battery-powered lanterns use lithium batteries that are more reliable as they hold the charge for a longer time. Lithium batteries are also not impacted by cold weather. Since you can change the batteries yourself, it is good to check if the lantern is compatible with lithium batteries to change them if your needs allow. Note that it is good to load your battery-powered lantern with new batteries when going for a trip.
A rechargeable lantern
Secondly, it is advisable to opt for a rechargeable battery-powered lantern because it is more convenient. Today, lithium-powered lanterns are becoming increasingly popular because you can charge them with an adapter or through mains in your vehicle. That becomes convenient, especially when going for a long trip and if you intend to use the lantern for a long time.
The bulb type
When choosing a battery-powered lantern, the bulb type is another thing to keep in mind. Different bulbs are used in lanterns, and each provides a unique light output, battery consumption, light projection length, and color. Usually, the power output of a lantern is measured in lumens, and a lumen is the total amount of brightness. The average lantern can output around 50lumens, but ideally, the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the lantern. There are lanterns capable of producing even 1000lumens and above, so you can choose one depending on your budget and needs.
Fortunately, you have many choices, including incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, LEDs, and xenon bulbs. LEDs are the most preferred bulbs because they are more energy-efficient, which means a longer run time. They can also be colored, enabling you to adjust a red or yellow light to better your vision.
Type of casing
Last but not least, evaluate the type of material used to make the battery powered lantern. If you want to use it for outdoor activities like camping, choosing a lantern made of strong, durable, and weatherproof casing is advisable. Most lanterns are made of metal, rubber, or plastic, and the modern ones are made of aluminum alloy, which is much lighter in weight. A plastic lantern may be cheaper than a metal one, but it is more prone to damage if dropped accidentally. Hence, choosing a multipurpose battery-powered lantern is the best option.
