See the chart below for all the figures side by side. If you want to drop the operating cost, then all you have to do is fill the tank with unleaded gasoline. At an average price of $2.50 a gallon, that will bring the operating cost to $0.07 per hour. I put new batteries in mine the beginning of the year, and it was still going strong at the end of the camping season. Its great not having to worry about bringing extra fuel along. Check out my Rechargeable Camping Lanterns post to see the other lanterns I reviewed.
This is me documenting my quest to design the quietest soundproof box for portable generators. I did a lot of research and put some science into this design. As Justin put it, “It sounds like a little jet engine.” With all the negative things I’ve said about it, I will say, this lantern it bright! If you need to light a large area, this is the one you need.
We used it for months during which time we took an RV trip for over ten weeks straight and used this light almost every single night. On a few nights the Northstar sat out in the rain without a cover and it still started the next evening without any problems. The Northstar has an InstaStart ignition, which we really enjoyed. It typically started right up during our testing period where we used it nearly every single night. Just turn the fuel knob and press the red button and it lights instantly.
It is a portable propane lantern with an InstaStart that works well. Its long handle does not get too hot to the touch, even on the highest setting, and the large fuel adjuster knob enables you to control how brightly it shines. coleman lantern The hard plastic carrying case has two sides that fold down so that the lantern can be easily packed for travel. This lantern is date stamped 7 9 (September ’27), six months before the L220/L228 lanterns were introduced.
The Coleman will not make it through a week long camping trip unless you use it sparingly. The soft light, warm glow and gentle hum of a gas lantern burning in the night has captivated our primitive needs for generations. Everybody understands—you’re in the woods, it’s nighttime, it’s dark—you’ve got to have your own autonomous lighting out there.
But for Damian Wilmot, of Superior WI, one specific lantern—the Coleman gas lantern—is the pinnacle of cool. In fact, Wilmot’s appreciation and respect for the Coleman lantern has led to somewhat of an addiction for collecting vintage models. Wilmot collects lanterns the way other people might collect art. He treasures every piece, and puts valuable time and attention into restoring each lantern to its rightful beauty. Wilmot ignores today’s plethora of battery-powered, rechargeable LED headlamps and lanterns, giving preference instead to the “timeless” gas Colemans.
I personally find the single mantle to be perfectly adequate for light output. Coleman sells new gas lanterns today for $115 apiece on their website. You will also need a gallon of Coleman white gas, which runs around $18, and can be bought at any hardware store. Coleman also makes cheaper lanterns today that run off its ubiquitous propane cartridges, but Wilmot collects only the gas lanterns and he isn’t done collecting yet. The Northstar doesn’t have a lot of fancy features.
You don’t need to find a propane tank, or look for a funnel and a gas can. It lasts what seems like forever on one battery change. There is no assembly required, its weather proof and you can store it just about anywhere. The cost of these tanks vary depending on where you buy them. They can be up to $8 if you buy them at a small bait store in the middle of nowhere. I found the cheapest price to be at Walmart, for around $1.84 each.
Of course you still have to buy the lanterns, so lets take a look at the cost of buying a new lantern. Prices will vary from store to store, but they are all going to be in the same ballpark. coleman canopy The specs say this LED lantern will run for 85 hours on hi. That brings the operating cost to $0.14 per hour. If you run these lanterns on low, it costs much less per hour to operate.