Anyone have a really good lamp or lantern they really like for touring? Most of them I've tried are kinda ok but not great. Brightness & comfort are the two things that seem to be lacking. I've tried: Petzl headlamp. This is ok I guess but a) it sucks up batteries like crazy and b) can get somewhat uncomfortable and itchy after a while when it's hot & muggy. I have switched to Eveready rechargeable batteries and have 2 AA solar battery chargers. Not water resistant so really can't use it for night paddling. Candle lanterns. Really not bright enough to read by even with a reflector. Multiple candle lanterns might be brighter but would be too hot in summer. Peak DualFuel Lantern: I have the smaller backpacking version. This seems to be the brightest of all I've tried. Problems are a) unleaded fuel smokes and stains the top of the tent (to say nothing of what it must be doing to my lungs b) it requires pumping every 5-10 minutes to keep it pressurized c) extra fuel to carry around. It is pretty self contained. I've knocked it over and recovered with no problem. Coleman Rechargable Flourescent (?) Lantern. Can recharge from outlet or 12volt (cigarette lighter attachment). Supposed to last up to 9 hours. I plan on getting a solar battery charger to power my notebook and can get a cigarette (can't get away from the damn things) lighter attachment. Not bright enough to read by though unless right next to it. Pretty large and fairly heavy. I'm kinda tired of buying and trying. Maybe y'all have some better suggestions. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Sisler, Clyde wrote: > > Anyone have a really good lamp or lantern they really like for touring? > Most of them I've tried are kinda ok but not great. Brightness & comfort > are the two things that seem to be lacking. > > I've tried: > > Petzl headlamp. This is ok I guess but a) it sucks up batteries like crazy > and b) can get somewhat uncomfortable and itchy after a while when it's hot > & muggy. I have switched to Eveready rechargeable batteries and have 2 AA > solar battery chargers. Not water resistant so really can't use it for > night paddling. I think that you would find the Princeton-Tec 2 AA headlamp ideal. It is waterproof as opposed to water resistant as in the case of the Petzl basic headlamp. It doesn't weigh much and its beam is many times stronger than the Petzl. I don't know the answer to the itchiness of the head band. Wear a beanie! :-) Regarding a reading lamp, I don't know if it is available any more, but Teckna-Lite used to have a double AA flashlight that had a dome like end rather than a flashlight end. It is enough to give a reading light in a tent if hung from a loop. Outdoors, a headlamp is the answer. Just bring lots of batteries. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
You can also use a Mini-Mag Lite by removing (un-screwing) the lens head. The bare bulb puts out a suprising amount of light. If you keep the o-rings lubed they remain waterproof. rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > > Sisler, Clyde wrote: > > > > Anyone have a really good lamp or lantern they really like for touring? > > Most of them I've tried are kinda ok but not great. Brightness & comfort > > are the two things that seem to be lacking. > > > > I've tried: > > > > Petzl headlamp. This is ok I guess but a) it sucks up batteries like crazy > > and b) can get somewhat uncomfortable and itchy after a while when it's hot > > & muggy. I have switched to Eveready rechargeable batteries and have 2 AA > > solar battery chargers. Not water resistant so really can't use it for > > night paddling. > > I think that you would find the Princeton-Tec 2 AA headlamp ideal. It > is waterproof as opposed to water resistant as in the case of the Petzl > basic headlamp. It doesn't weigh much and its beam is many times > stronger than the Petzl. I don't know the answer to the itchiness of > the head band. Wear a beanie! :-) > > Regarding a reading lamp, I don't know if it is available any more, but > Teckna-Lite used to have a double AA flashlight that had a dome like end > rather than a flashlight end. It is enough to give a reading light in a > tent if hung from a loop. Outdoors, a headlamp is the answer. Just > bring lots of batteries. > > ralph diaz > -- > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter > PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 > Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com > "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** -- Mike Hughes Arch Curmudgeon "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never know." USMC 65-68 Mailto:mike.hughes_at_pressroom.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 10:18 AM 1/13/99 -0800, you wrote: >Sisler, Clyde wrote: >> >> Anyone have a really good lamp or lantern they really like for touring? >> Most of them I've tried are kinda ok but not great. Brightness & comfort >> are the two things that seem to be lacking. >> >> I've tried: >> >> Petzl headlamp. This is ok I guess but a) it sucks up batteries like crazy >> and b) can get somewhat uncomfortable and itchy after a while when it's hot >> & muggy. I have switched to Eveready rechargeable batteries and have 2 AA >> solar battery chargers. Not water resistant so really can't use it for >> night paddling. > Ralph suggested :>I think that you would find the Princeton-Tec 2 AA headlamp ideal. It >is waterproof as opposed to water resistant as in the case of the Petzl >basic headlamp. It doesn't weigh much and its beam is many times >stronger than the Petzl. I don't know the answer to the itchiness of >the head band. Wear a beanie! :-) > >Regarding a reading lamp, I don't know if it is available any more, but >Teckna-Lite used to have a double AA flashlight that had a dome like end >rather than a flashlight end. It is enough to give a reading light in a >tent if hung from a loop. Outdoors, a headlamp is the answer. Just >bring lots of batteries. > Hi Clyde, Princeton-Tec also makes a 2AA regular flashlight with a removable plastic cone called a "Sportsflare". They come in various colours and the unit is waterproof enough for scuba divers to use. Get the near-to-white vaguely-green colour and it can double as your "I'm just a poor harmless kayaker night-paddling, please don't run me over." light (if you haven't got a "mast" hang the light on off the back of your vest so boats approaching from behind that you may not be aware of will see it, and pull around front to display to any oncoming boats you see.) It can hang inside your tent as a reading and see what you're doing lamp, though it's certainly not as bright as gas powered units. Cheers Philip T. N49°16' W123°08' "The opinions expressed in this posting are not necessarily those of my employer, or indeed, of any sentient being." *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Sisler, Clyde wrote: > > Anyone have a really good lamp or lantern they really like for touring? > Most of them I've tried are kinda ok but not great. Brightness & comfort > are the two things that seem to be lacking. > Petzl headlamp. This is ok I guess but a) it sucks up batteries like crazy > and [snip] TINSTAAFL -- brightness and long battery life are polar opposites. The Petzl comes in various incarnations (no gladiolas), and if you want brightness, you'll have to accept using up batteries. Yeah, it makes my head itch, too. > Peak DualFuel Lantern: I have the smaller backpacking version. This seems > to be the brightest of all I've tried. Problems are a) unleaded fuel smokes > and stains the top of the tent (to say nothing of what it must be doing to > my lungs b) it requires pumping every 5-10 minutes to keep it pressurized c) > extra fuel to carry around. It is pretty self contained. I've knocked it > over and recovered with no problem. Switch to white gas to solve the smoking problem. About staining the tent -- this lantern is way too hot and potentially CO-producing for me to keep it inside my tent. I only use mine outside the tent. They are rugged, compact, and really put out the light. The pumping is inherent in the small size (TINSTAAFL). Once mine took a 6-foot header (melted the line holding it up ... duh!), and never skipped a beat. Had to replace the glass afterward, though! I think you're stuck, Clyde. Life is a compromise, except for love and sunsets. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR sea kayaker / philosopher *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I use the backpacking model from CampingGaz. It puts out as much light as the Coleman, but the pack it comes in is the size of two boxes of kitchen matches put together. The fuel is a propane/butane mix and comes in a separate container. It puts out as much heat as the Coleman, though, and I'm not so sure that I would want to use it in a tent. I prefer it to the Coleman only because of the smaller size and easier pack ability. I just wish it came with a more environmentally friendly fuel container. A gallon of Coleman fuel will last a lot longer before you have to recycle the container. Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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