2012 Camping Lights & Lanterns
Kathy Cabrera
April 3, 2012
The basic battery-powered light source was a game changer for campers who were tired of changing mantles and carrying fuel cans. But, in an age where going mobile and not being slowed down to recharge are the driving forces behind gadgets, the makers of camp lighting are ahead of the trend with new lanterns,... Read more »
Camping Lantern Shootout
September 27, 2011
In the past decade, lanterns have taken a giant leap forward in efficiency and design. To assess the current state of camp illumination, we acquired various types of lanterns from an array of manufacturers for testing. After weeks of evaluation, only those units from our tests that met or exceeded advertised... Read more »
Surefire G3D Flashlight
September 14, 2010
Cheap flashlights are fine for kids’ toys or an occasional trip to the outhouse after dark. But in situations when you really need light, such as changing a flat tire at night, making emergency repairs to a tent or navigating back to camp under the stars after missing a trail junction on a hike, it’s... Read more »
Gear Test: ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Lantern
May 7, 2010
Over the years, a plethora of mosquito-discouraging devices and potions have hit the market. Some work, some almost work. Although ThermaCELL has been offering a unique approach to saving your skin for the last few years—a butane-operated mosquito repellent that is built into an outdoor lantern—the... Read more »
Gear Test: Gerber Option 60 Flashlight
July 2, 2009
“Not too large, not too small, just the right size to fit comfortably in my hand.” Those were my first thoughts as I rolled the Gerber Option 60 flashlight around in my palm. It gripped well, too. Even though it didn’t have a heavily crosshatched exterior, the micro-texture on its body made the... Read more »
Camp Lighting Buyer’s Guide
May 29, 2008
No matter where you are, whether it is the forest, mountains, desert or seashore, life quiets down after sunset. Families tend to huddle around the campfire; the flames heat those around it and shed a dancing light on smiling faces. Tall tales and sticky s’mores get passed around. It’s magic.... Read more »
Camp Lighting: Flashlight & Lantern Guide
May 24, 2006
FLASHLIGHTS Coast Cutlery offers a variety of LED flashlights. The new Digi-Tac II uses Coast’s Power Transfer Technology to convert 1.25 watts of power into 4.5 watts of light, all from AA batteries. It’s a handy, solid light-cone producer with a softer wash of bluish-white light — great for... Read more »
Gear Test: Magellan eXplorist 200 GPS, Brunton Glorb, Spyderco SpyderSaw
January 5, 2006
Magellan eXplorist 200 GPS A series of three new entries to the already crowded handheld GPS receiver market has been introduced by Thales Navigation (909/394-5000; magellangps.com), the producers of Magellan products. These new units are the eXplorist 100, 200 and 300. All three of these models are... Read more »
Gear Test: ENEL ADVENTURE TRUCK TENT & CMG BONFIRE AND PHOENIX TENT LIGHTS
August 1, 2002
ENEL ADVENTURE TRUCK TENT The Enel (800/757-0505; adventuretrucktent.com) Adventure Truck Tent may make your pickup truck look like a pioneer’s Conestoga wagon, but it will deliver a much better outdoor shelter experience. As a matter of fact, we found the truck-bed-mounted tent to be extraordinarily... Read more »
