What lamp to buy?

Hi, need a liquid fuel lamp for camping. Was wondering which to get.

Like the Colman Northstar and Powerhouse but heard the former may suffer from surging and pulsing brightness.

Would like a Coleman 237 kerosene but they seem rarer than hens teeth.

Any other kerosene burner I should be looking to get that is mighty bright?

The only lamp I have at the moment is the dimunitive Coleman 229-725

 

I have a 214 that is very bright and a 639 that is even brighter.

 

639, it's Coleman, it's kero, it's a single mantle...what's not to like?

 

Thanks for that chaps but are these readily available in the UK?

 

Hello fellow lampers and welcome aboard!

All of the Petromax style of lanterns are bright, check out the link below, Jeff.

http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/2015

 

Jeff does the Optimus 550 you have require priming or can it be lit like a Coleman?

 

It requires pre-heating with meths and it has a recess in the cage base plate for the meths.

Many lanterns of this type also have a rapid pre-heating blow torch built into the tank and some of the Petromax lanterns only have that, but I fit them with a meths trough, because pre- heating with meths is more reliable, Jeff.

 

Thanks for that Jeff - i'm now in a quandry trying to decide whether to get a Optimus 550 with meths faf or a Coleman 295A700.

 

Coleman 295A700
a friend has a duel fuel 295A.
it is a fine lantern. bright enough for most outdoor activities.

buzz

 

Thanks Buzz - I've ordered this one Coleman 639C700



Will probably also get the 295A700 - can never have too many lanterns!

 

I'd opt for the Vapalux M320 every time. Spares readily available & plenty of good quality lanterns out there - particularly ex MOD.

Saying that I'm currently lusting after a chrome Anchor 400CP...................

 

For brightness, you cant beat the Petromax. Parts also available and uses kerosene which is less volatile than coleman gas. If you are over in the UK, it would be expensive to buy coleman fuel and using gasoline may just clog up the jet a bit sooner.

Just my 2cents

Ron

 

I would suggest anything from the Vapalux/Bialaddin stable, they are pretty much indestructible.

 

Vapalux/Bialaddin are very solid and robust, and thus very well suited for a camping lantern, which the question was about.
But the initial request was also that the lantern should be "mighty bright", which unfortunately means that they are out.
For brightness, reliability and easily obtained spares, a Petromax 500CP is a good choice, as already has been suggested by Jeff and Ron.
Or just aswell any of their clones of good quality. Why not a Primus 1094 or Optimus 1550? The quickstarter actually is a convenient option on a user lantern.

 

Good choices but I wonder if price is also an issue. One of the better made Asian Petromax clones cold be a good choice. I believe Santrax and Butterfly are ok. Anchor work well but are made of steel so don't like the wet.