(Part 3) Best camping lights & lanterns according to redditors
We found 764 Reddit comments discussing the best camping lights & lanterns. We ranked the 300 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.
My normal (and much lighter weight) one was showing signs of distress and not working 100% when testing gear out before the trip. Just went and bought a cheap one on Amazon and it worked pretty well despite being so heavy. Tons of different modes for spotlight, close range, and red colored
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07Q8G36QV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
REI has a very good camping checklist. Of course it's a US site and REI sells high quality stuff that is usually out of the price range of most beginners, so use it as a general guide on what you need, not necessarily the exact items you want to buy. Last time I was down under I was a shocked at the markup on imported US brands, so make do with what you can get down there.
I'm assuming you're going car camping; driving up to a campsite and unloading the gear. And I'm going to assume family of five means three kids say 8-14 or so. With older teens or more adults you'll need to pack more food and might need a bigger cooler, need a bigger tent or different sleeping arrangements.
Here are some recommendations for the basics. I'm linking to Amazon so you can see the products, and hopefully find something similar locally.
Tent - Coleman Montana 8. It's a well regarded tent for the price. Big enough for a family, can fit a couple of queen size air mattresses in there (kids can share a full size mattress or bring smaller inflatables). Whatever tent you get, make sure you take it out of the bag and try setting it up a few times. When setting up the tent, make sure you take out the poles and stakes and set them in a specific location, so they don't get lost and they don't get stepped on (and broken). If anything is confusing, get it sorted out before you go!
Sleeping bags - depends on where you are going and when. You can buy Coleman synthetic bags pretty cheap at most outdoor stores. Synthetic bags are generally heavy and bulky, but will get the job done. The rating on the bag is generally the extreme rating... as in you probably won't die at that temp but it might be a cold miserable night. Mummy bags save some weight and some bulk and are warmer, but some don't like the constrictive nature of the bags. Bring pillows from home to make things more comfortable (but note that you may have to wash them when you get home). Throw pillows will work, probably better than "backpacking" pillows. Or you can bring pillow cases and stuff them with spare clothes and jackets... I generally use throw pillows car camping.
Mattress pad - if you're car camping, don't bother with backpacking pads. Bring full size Coleman air mattresses, or even a queen. Remember you'll need some way to inflate the pad; a battery operated pump will work but is slow. You can get a pump that plugs in, but you 1. need an inverter in the car, 2. need an extension from the car into the tent since the inflated mattress probably won't fit through the door of the tent. Make sure you get the dimensions of all the air mattresses and the dimensions of the tent and make sure everything fits with some room to spare. Remember that you also need room for gear; of course the car is right there and you can always leave gear in the car, but on a chilly morning it's nicer to just open your bag and get a hat rather than run out to the car.
Stove - Camp Chef Everest dual burner propane stove. The Coleman dual burner stove is a classic and works well.
Cookset - I use full size pots and pans for car camping. You can just bring what you have at home (not too big, the stove won't fit big pots and pans), or maybe find cheaper stuff in the clearance section of some stores (if the stuff at home is too nice to bring camping). Along with the pots and pans, bring your usual utensils. You can bring paper plates, plastic cups and forks/knives, or buy "camping" stuff. Don't forget the spices and condiments, trivets for hot plates, coffee, tea, bottle/wine opener...
Water - Is there potable water at the campsite? Are you bringing your water or do you need to filter? I generally bring a couple of Coleman 5 gallon water jug. They collapse until I need them... but you really can't fill them all the way up since they're really difficult to carry. Or you might be able to buy water at the grocery store and just bring what you need - 1 gallon per day per person should be fine, more if it's hot and you're being very active.
Washing - if there's no washing facilities, you want to bring a wash basin to clean up the dishes and utensils. Don't forget the dish soap and sponge for cleaning pots and pans.
Cooler - Coleman Xtreme 70quart. Or the Igloo Max. I prefer something smaller since I've got a smaller sedan and will run into town more frequently. If you're only going overnight, you may only need a small cooler, but if your kids drink lots of milk or only cool juice, you may want to invest in a good size, well rated cooler.
Headlamps - it's good for everyone to have their own headlamps. The Black Diamond Spot is a good headlamp from a great company. You can a cheap Energizer Headlamp for under $15 for young kids, they're not great but work well enough.
Camp lantern - Coleman propane lanterns are the ol' standard, work great and cast great light. Uses the same 1lb propane tanks as the stove. But many are going with LED lanterns... these Cheap camp lanterns on Amazon seem like a pretty good deal, I've got some like them and they work fine. Very bright and very white, but cheap and effective.
Packing/hauling - Rubbermaid tote. These tubs make a great way to haul and store gear. I also store food in my tubs; make sure you can secure them so critters can't get in.
Tarp - bring a couple. It's good to have one tarp to hang over the cooking / eating area. You'll need some rope or cord to tie these up.
Folding chairs and tables - bring 'em if you've got 'em. It's much easier to cook standing up at a table.
Firewood - call ahead or check online, some campsites have firewood restrictions; some places you can't forage for wood and you need to buy it locally.
Garbage bags - bring a couple of big ones, a bunch of smaller bags if you need to pack up smelly stuff.
Well, I hope that enough for a start. Good luck!
If you want to explore a little bit, I recommend stopping by us in /r/flashlight.
If you don't feel like going down the rabbit hole of spending thousands of dollars on lights and having to go to the rehab because of it, here are a few tips:
1) Fucking Nitecore Tube. The best everyday carry light you can ask for. Probably brighter than your multi-LED light (Always go for single LED, unless you buy a light for like $400).
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8z4ln2IaYw
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/NiteCore-Keychain-Light-Pocket-Flashlight/dp/B00OZJ79R4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484735093&sr=8-1&keywords=nitecore+tube
2) Olight S1/S1R/S mini. These are the smallest flashlights that use a CR123 or RCR123 batteries. Now you are entering the world of big boy lights. The batteries are lithium based, the max output is around 500 lumes, and you can get them in various materials, like titanium, copper or stainless steel.
Video for the S1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KW_76H7NRk
Amazon for the S1: https://www.amazon.com/Olight-Baton-Lumen-Compact-Flashlight/dp/B013JEJBNK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1484735419&sr=8-3&keywords=olight+s1
PS: The S mini is more powerful and smaller than the S1, but also more expensive. The S1R can be charged by a USB cable.
3) ARMYTEK WIZARD PRO. Many consider this light as one of the best for normal use. It uses 18650 class batteries which are the most popular among quality flashlights (The same as the ecig vaporizers use). A cheaper variant would be Olight H1 nova, a more expensive variant would be a ZebraLight H600F MKII.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOHkC2sTeS4&t=322s
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Armytek-Wizard-Silver-Headlamp-Lumens/dp/B01E9BQTQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484735723&sr=8-1&keywords=armytek+wizard+pro+v3
4) CHARGER! If you want to use any of these light just for everyday/hiking/emergency use (Not hobby). You will need just one charger. Either a Nitecore F1 if you don't want to charge your standard NiMh batteries. Or Nitecore i2, which charges almost anything, lol.
Nitecore F1: https://www.amazon.com/Bundle-Nitecore-Battery-Charger-Compatible/dp/B01FM9UQDE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484735901&sr=8-1&keywords=nitecore+F1
Nitecore i2: https://www.amazon.com/NiteCore-i2-V2014-Universal-Intelligent-Batteries-Compatible/dp/B009JMDD9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484735922&sr=8-1&keywords=nitecore+i2
5) Batteries. There are lots of manufacturers, but if you stick to the big ones like panasonic or sanyo, you are OK. Also brands that make lights like Nitecore, Olight, etc. are always a safe bet.
Happy light hunting!
The Nitecore HC50 meets all your criteria. However, it's not a favorite around here; the smooth reflector isn't ideal for headlamp use (too throwy for most people), and the design makes it usable only as a headlamp.
A much more popular option around here is the Armytek Wizard, although the superior Pro model is out of budget. The Skilhunt H03 is another popular choice, although only on a coupon code - at the full $50 it's not ideal. These are all much better lights than the Nitecore. However, none of these have red modes.
So, why do you want red light? If you need it for anything other than developing film photos, it's possible you've been misled. The oft-repeated claim that red light preserves night vision is dubious, based on a combination of people misunderstanding why red light was used in darkrooms, and a flawed study done by the US military in WWII. There might be specific situations where it holds up, but on the whole for ordinary people camping or getting up to pee in the night, white light of similar intensity is just as good. And all three of the lights I've suggested include ultra-low "moonlight" modes which will preserve night vision, run for literally months, and still give you proper color vision.
You have a lot of recommendations to get a headlamp and a reflective vest, I wanted to weigh in on what kind of headlamp you should consider.
Ideally you'd get something lightweight, with enough power to see in front of you and make yourself somewhat visible (although that's more what the reflective vest is for). You should also get something with removable batteries so you could bring spares.
Most of the recommendations on here are for climbing lights by companies like Petzl which are colorful and fun and if you go with one of those you'll probably be fine.
But there are much better options. Those climbing lights (at least the cheaper ones) aren't waterproof, they're splash/sneeze resistant. Might last a while in rain. But IPX8 waterproof would be better. Also they're mostly plastic. The expensive ones are insanely expensive. Here are some cheaper, more bombproof options (all single AA, there are other AAA and 18650 options too but 1xAA makes for a very lightweight package):
Zebralight H53c ($59)
Excellent light, I own it's bigger brother the H600, fantastic build quality all around. 79 grams with battery.
Manker E03H ($35) Another good option. Go for the Nichia LED, much better color accuracy. 103 grams with battery.
[Fenix HL23] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UHZXAYG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kglPBbREJNAKJ) ($35) Reputable brand, good light. Not as waterproof, only IPX6. Still solid. 75 grams with battery.
There are a few more options, especially if you want more (18650) or less (AAA) power and weight. Check out /r/flashlight for more info. Or hit me up. Good luck and stay safe out there.
Anything from Petzl or Black Diamond in that price range will treat you well.
I like Fenix headlamps, because they're also a great flashlight company.
I'd go for something like this, but it is $10 more than what you wanted to spend.
https://smile.amazon.com/Fenix-HL23-Headlamp-Champagne-EdisonBright/dp/B00UHZXAYG/
Here's a Petzl light for $23
https://smile.amazon.com/Petzl-LYSB06ZYHBBJ4-SPRTSEQIP-Tikka-Black-Headlamp/dp/B06ZYHBBJ4/
So this is going to slightly exceed your budget but it'll be one of the best options in terms of raw power and great performance.
So first is the NW Thrunite TH10 but this light concerns me because its reflector is slightly large giving it a tighter hotspot which isn't quite ideal for hands on projects. The head does come off so I'm thinking this would work to convert it to a mule light by taking out the reflector. (Mule means a flashlight with no hotspot which is ideal for hands on work.)
It might seem redneck in a sense but it actually makes the light have dual purpose. As is the light is more ideal for walking/hiking where you need light further away from you and then you could take the reflector out to convert it for closer applications. Hopefully someone can confirm my theory on their TH10. ~wink wink, nudge nudge~
My 2nd recommendation would the Nitecore HC50 which seems cheaper but it doesn't come with a battery or charger(trust me on these). This light is going to be a bit more ideal close up because of the larger reflector. I'm not the biggest fan of the Cool White tint but to most people just getting into high powered flashlights it's not even a concern for them.
Both lights have really good modes and features. It'll be up to you if to decide what's best though for him. Feel free to ask any questions. There are cheaper lights but we'd lose the ability of the 18650 battery feature. These are higher energy batteries that are found in laptops. Although the 18650 isn't much bigger than a AA battery, it holds the energy of over 5 AA Alkaline batteries to give you an idea of how awesome they are.
I don't know if I would trust any headlamp with a USB-C port on it into a cave... it seems like asking for trouble with it getting filled with mud and other nasty stuff. A similar light is the Nitecore HC50, which is $15 cheaper and has red lights. I have this light and have taken it in many muddy, wet caves and have banged it up something good and it is still rocking strong. The beam is awesome, and while it's only 565 lm this is honestly still brighter than useful pretty much always. I typically run it at the second or third brightness setting anyways. My only complaint with this light is that it is a bit heavy, which isn't really a problem when strapped to an ecrin roc, but can be annoying when not using it with a helmet around the camp.
My favorite light is my Zebralight, the hype for this thing is well deserved. While it doesn't have a red light, the form factor is awesome. It is super light on the head without the hassle of a battery in the back. I think many people will agree that the Zebralight H600 series is one of the best caving lights you can get. (note there four versions of the H600, two LED colors cool and neutral, and two beam spreads, flood and spot)
Nitecore makes a blatant ripoff of the Zebralight that is $30 cheaper. While I don't have one of these, I did have a chance to play with one after a buddy of mine got one and it seems to be pretty neat. Considering how much I like my Nitecore HC50 I'm willing to bet this would be a solid light to get as well. One thing I like about the Zebralight over the Nitecore is that it works with flat-top 18650 batteries so you can bust open old laptop batteries and use the cells to power the light, whereas the Nitecore requires a button top 18650. Not a huge issue but something to consider.
Edit (some more thoughts):
It sounds like you are new to caving, welcome! I would recommend that you attend a local grotto meeting, which I believe for you would be the Southern California Grotto. You may meet some awesome people and it's a good way to get involved in the sport.
Also, with your flashlight purchase don't forget to get an 18650 battery and a charger for it. You may already have these since you have the Nitecore MH25 but I figured I'd mention it just in case. Be careful with the batteries to get a reputable brand because there are a lot of fakes out there. Panasonic makes good batteries, but unfortunately there are a lot of ones that say Panasonic that are made somewhere else and a lot of ones that say other things that are made by Panasonic. Confusing! I got this one and it works great. You can take a risk with cheaper ones, just know they might not last so long. This charger works good for me. I've had both of my lights last for a 14 hour cave trip so the battery life is pretty good.
My Victorinox is about the size of most any single 18650 light, is yours one of these very small ones or the regular sized ones? If regular you have a broad variety of choices, I like my Maglight XL-50 a lot (3AAA not 18650) because it is smooth on the outside and cant get stuck on anything in my pants pocket. If you have money to burn my new Armytek Wizard Pro is an awesome light that is also the size of my Victorinox. The Wizard is super bright, the Maglite not quite so much but not dim either. I'd recommend the Wizard. If you are looking for something cheaper the Thrunite TN-12 could be a good choice, but I don't like all the riffles that could get stuck on something.
Are you specifically looking for a handheld? I've found that a headlamp is actually far more useful when I go camping. I have a Petzl Tikka XP 2 that is my go-to primary camping light. Really good multimode LED with red or white light and a built-in diffuser.
Not sure what your battery preference is, but if you're looking for a sub $50 handheld, I'd recommend the following:
Arm sleeves - These are great year round, the more you sweat the cooler they get.
Bluetooth Speaker/Charger - If he's in an LLV and the outlet doesn't work this doubles as a charger, I've been using this for over a year and the speaker is loud and last for over 3 days.
LED rechargable lantern - These are great during the fall/winter months when we're out late, I clip it to my satchel and it illuminates my entire body and a decent area around me so I don't fumble with a clip light on my cap. Plus if you do box deliveries you can clip it to the top of the door and see pretty damn well.
You mention air-mattresses so I assume you're just car camping, not hiking? Probably a good choice for first-time camping.
REI has a good checklist here. You obviously won't need all of it (like navigation stuff), but it's a good starting place.
Tents are a bit tough without more detail. Are all six of you planning on going in on purchasing a six person tent? Do a select few people want to buy 2-3 person tents to just keep? Are you planning on hiking in the future, in which case you'll want lighter tents - at more upfront cost? How many sites have you reserved? If only one site, there will probably be a limit on number of tents you can have.
Either way, some good starting places:
A tarp for the tent might not be necessary, but is something worth considering if you're worried about wet conditions.
Air mattresses are an unnecessary expense if you're on a budget. Pretty much any sleeping bag that's not designed specifically to be lightweight will have enough fluff in it to provide some padding. Something like one of these big fat ones for $25. You're camping anyway, not staying at a hotel. A few nights on the ground won't kill you. Bring a few thick blankets if you're worried though. A good inflatable pad will probably be more than you want to spend money on.
You can forget backpacks for now if you're just using your cars at a state park or something. A good pack is expensive anyway. But a duffel bag or small backpack or something is a good idea to carry clothes, food, and supplies. Doesn't need to be anything special.
One important thing to keep in mind is firewood. Don't bring it. You should always buy locally (most parks will supply/sell it) since this prevents the spread of dangerous pests like Emerald Ash Borers and such.
A few more basics you'll want:
Food. Personally, I think planning and packing food for a camping trip is one of the best parts. There are more camping food "hacks" and ideas out there than you can imagine. Plan it right and you'll eat better when camping than your average day in the college dorm. A little bit of tin foil, pie pans, and prep the night before and you can eat stuff like this or this or this. Just browse and look around until you see something that makes your mouth water. Most of it is no more difficult than throwing ingredients in some tin foil, and then throwing them on the fire later (in some cases you'll want to pre-cook chicken or fish or beef though).
I assume that because you're posing in /r/flashlight that you're looking for battery powered, but nothing beats a good old fashioned propane lantern for brightness, longevity, and warm tint.
http://www.coleman.com/Products/1010/propane-lanterns
If you really need a battery lantern I can recommend the following
60 day lantern
30 day lantern
Not rechargable but I would imagine you could easily charge rechargable double a batteries from a solar charger. Still, this is my favorite backpacking lantern ever, so I gotta share.
The seller here is ArmyTek I'd bet it's the real deal.
https://www.amazon.com/Armytek-Wizard-Silver-Headlamp-Lumens/dp/B01E9BQTQE
I picked up a Black Diamond Sprinter last year and it's perfect for my needs. Little on the pricey side but super reliable and I love that it's rechargeable - no batteries needed! There are better options if you're going to be running a lot of really technical trails in the dark or if you need it to last for hours, but as a mostly-road runner who just needs something for early morning/late evening training runs it's great.
One thing I'd say about myself is... I'm a professionally trained italian opera singer.
my item is this
So most of the tools have been taken care of by other posters but here are some things i recommend.
Get a rechargeable headlamp. They are cheap and save you so much hassle when you are trying to work somewhere with bad light. It does not need to be super fancy this $14 one from Amazon is reviewed very highly 4.7/5 with 1,239 ratings.
Get a good quality respirator and use it when you are kicking up lots of dust/debris or when using spray paint/solvents. Those disposable dust masks are not very good.
Also grab some of those wrap around Safety Glasses. They are like $6 and are small enough to forget you are wearing them. The googles are nice if you are doing super heavy work/dangerous but i prefer just the glasses for 95% of the time.
Also I really like Huskys Connect System. If you are gonna be taking your tools to worksites away from home every week then look into the more expensive packout systems but for Harry Homeowner the Husky system is great.
Its a rolling tool box you can pull behind you and you can customize what kind of boxes clip onto it. There are 7 different kinds of boxes you can buy (2 are versions of the wheeled base) so you can pick and choose your configuration for whatever projects you do the most.
Thanks Para!
Nitecore HC50 (when it is available)
https://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-HC50/dp/B00GSXOSOW/?tag=parametrek-20&ama_error
Amazon.com, here is the product page
These are relatively inexpensive, but cool to have items:
Long Handled grill basket
Collapsible solar light
personal water filter
Haul and hang kitchen organizer
Daypack There's nothing special about this particular one, but every car camper needs a daypack for hiking.
Battery pack for charging small electronics
Weatherproof matches
Hiker's Emergency whistle
Mosquito head net
Hydration bladder
Collapsible water jug
Condiment squeeze bottles (for more efficient cooler packing)
Thank you for the reply! It is between
Petzl Tikka XP2
http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-Tikka-Improved-Output-Headlamp/dp/B009065J1K
and
Black Diamond Spot
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-Spot-Headlamp-Green/dp/B005FND1LW
Do you have any experience with the XP2? They're so similar!
A Coleman Northstar
Recommendation - don't get a red light get a flashlight with a nice low moon mode, it's very nice, and won't disturb your night vision. There are many lights with a nice low moon mode. How long do you have before your trip? Yo will get lots of great recommendations, but from my personal collection..the blf A6 is a great all around flashlight that can really kick some butt, and with a low moon mode.
https://www.banggood.com/BLF-A6-XPL-1600LM-7-4modes-EDC-LED-Flashlight-p-991823.html?rmmds=detail-middle-buytogether-auto.
Also my olight S1A has a frickin awesome moon mode I use every night to not disturb my wife if I need to move around in the middle of the night.
https://www.amazon.com/Olight-Compact-Flashlight-LumenTac-Organizer/dp/B01M2CPN8B
Time to slide in at the last second with my Skilhunt of choice!
Someone gave me one of these about 2 years ago and it's been part of my standard camping kit since.
It's been dropped a fair bit but it still works great.
Amazon reviews are great.
https://www.amazon.com/UST-20-PL20C3D-Parent-30-Day-Lantern/dp/B00E9P02L4
Some mention another (smaller) product that runs on AA's, with even more reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DII7CTI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Fenix-HL23-Headlamp-Champagne-EdisonBright/dp/B00UHZXAYG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1479152890&sr=8-5&keywords=headlight+fenix
could use a lantern! thanks!
I have to also echo the recommendations for a headlamp for camping and hiking. There are plenty of situations where hands-free would be very helpful. I know this is a little bit outside your budget, but value-wise it's hard to beat:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EICSDSQ/
Nitecore is a decent company, and you get a headlamp, a battery, and a charger. The headlamp comes in neutral white or cool white tints (neutral is linked here), is lightweight, waterproof, can get up to 1000+ lumens, can be taken out of the headband and used as a flashlight, also comes with a clip for that purpose, etc.
That said, I think everyone here would be happy to provide more specific recommendations if you had something in particular in mind, or specific needs/use cases.
i have basically the same thing
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009065J1K/ref=smi_www_rcolv2_go_smi?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true
it's pretty light. my only concerns are that the light assembly is a bit rough so i wear a headband under it and there's a little bit of light leakage which shines a tiny bit in your eyes. not bad at all but i have noticed it. wearing the headband or a hat seems to get in the way of the leaking light and fixes the issue.
it really doesn't move at all on my head and i feel approx 1000X safer on my night runs now. pretty happy with my purchase.
Nite Ize Radiant 300 Rechargeable LED Lantern, 300 Lumen White or Red Mode Camping Lantern https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J6MINBU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vvn8Ab58X05AF
Also for the build, if you're stretched for time it might be better to use an elastic head strap and either one that looks the material - or a hybrid: the elastic headstrap is the holder and just glue the leather-looking part onto it, so it's both the perfect size and the leather doesn't have to be able to look on and hold, it just looks like it is.
. Like the one's on headlamps.
Headlamp
I had Cinnabon and then I stole some of my girlfriend's pizza rolls for lunch.
lunch money
I didn't have a problem with that but I did have to entirely redo the mask strapping. He ships it out with two ribbons on either side that are supposed to tie behind your head. That doesn't hold it up very well, is hard to tie on your own and tends to be uncomfortable. I added a 3 point elastic strap similar to what you'd see on a headlamp like this. So I would strongly recommend doing that.
Just a bit over your price point, but I rock a nitecore HC30
Thank you, para!
You'll need to list a budget if you want valuable advice. Like most camping gear - these items can go for a wide range of prices / quality. You generally get what you pay for - so the bigger budget the better quality.
Are you shopping in the USA or abroad? Online or local shops? Different areas have different brands available.
When / where will you do the majority of your camping? Don't need to list the specific parks - but a general idea of the temps and terrain you'll be using this equipment would be idea. Warm beaches or snowy mountains, Windy plains or thick forests, etc.
You said car / base style camping - that's a valuable distinction. Backpacking / wilderness style gear would be very different.
​
Tent - 4-person tent for 2 people is best for car camping, you could even go higher for more room/comfort.
Stove - a 2-burner propane stove would be ideal. Coleman brand is classic.
Lantern - a propane lantern is old-school, but bright / effective. I'd probably go with a battery powered option though, easier to deal with.
cookware - tons of options here. You could start by going to your local Thrift Store. Get the basics, they even have cast iron there often. Then get a plastic tub to store it all in - as your kitchen kit grows it will be valuable to store it all together for transport.
​
----
Without knowing the answers to my above questions, I'll throw out some basic gear options for you to check out:
​
Tent
There are other top brands, but the REI one is good quality for the cost. The Coleman one is cheap, but highly popular and good enough for most. Kind of 2 ends of the spectrum there.
​
Stove
This one really is the standard, I don't recommend any other option personally.
​
Lantern
Tons of options in the battery category. Might as well start cheap and see if it works well enough. I rarely even use my lantern anyway. I sit by the fire or use my headlamp. Better to invest in a good headlamp I'd say.
​
Cookware
Kits are a good way to get started. Then add single items like tongs, knives, wash buckets, etc. as needed. I really do suggest using items from the thrift store whenever possible. That way you don't care if it gets dinged up or burnt while camping.
Sounds....explosive
But they do have these on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-camping-Propane-Lindal-Output/dp/B00U776PXM
https://www.amazon.com/Skilhunt-H03-RC-NW/dp/B0797B476C/?tag=parametrek-20
Thanks!
I stick to stuff right outside my door after dark and wear one of these things for light.
Boomerang!
I could use a new lantern for camping. Thanks for hosting another awesome giveaway!
Thank you, I'd like a Olight S1A Baton Max 600 Lumens.
nitecore lr50
I had the same problem. I think it's a problem with a dried out leather pump cup. I just doused it with some motor oil, and it started holding pressure again. If that doesn't work you can replace the whole pumping mechanism too. Good luck!
Liquid fuel camp stoves and kerosene torches have pumps like these.
I have a Nitecore HC30. 1,000 lumen flashlight. Very bright and fits in your pocket nicely.
Nitecore Bundle: 3 Items HC30 1000 Lumens Rechargeable LED Headlamp with 18650 Battery and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NMH16U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MlR2CbY7WHQ9J
I found this adapter on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/G-WORKS-Adapter-camping-Propane-Lindal/dp/B00U776PXM, which is exactly what I'm looking for but the other way around.
This is what I use for late evening runs in the winter:
Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp
LED Lights wrapped around my arms. (They come with velcro bands to wrap around anything)
I also have a couple Nike Flash jackets and tops, and a few pairs of Lulu reflective shorts that always come with me on runs. I'm sure most running apparel companies have similar reflective gear. I think at a minimum night runners should get the Sprinter headlamp due to the back red flashing light.
To save you a bunch of headache, pick one of the options below.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/philips-hue-go-portable-dimmable-led-smart-light-table-lamp-claro/5938038.p?skuId=5938038&ref=212&loc=1&extStoreId=308&ref=212&loc=1&ds_rl=1266837&ds_rl=1268709&ds_rl=1268652&gclid=CjwKCAiA8ejuBRAaEiwAn-iJ3g-DwlgjOIhvfs2bJVcwuC3wOhD7F4dg2poTU2GMtchYFhP5N8YnBhoCe7EQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Sofirn BLF LT1 Lantern, LED Rechargeable Camping Lantern, portable with 8x Samsung LH351D LEDs powered by 4x Inserted 18650 batteries for camping, hiking, fishing, cellar/basement (Batteries Included)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YWHDJCR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_D502DbHW277GD
https://www.modernlantern.com/collections/all
Here is another one I have been considering. https://www.amazon.com/Bundle-Nitecore-Rechargeable-Headlamp-Battery/dp/B01EICSDSQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1
What do you guys think of that one?
IIRC the only seal in the stove is on the pump and easily replaced.
SOURCE, I have a stove from the '50s and use it regularly.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NMH16U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_Xv-rybH5J8RHC
Detachable from headlamp, comes with pocket clip, water proof, 1000 lumen burst.
Two for one deal u/notaplebian
It's weird I was just doing hours of research and just about decided on this one, but thought I'd see if this sub existed, and saw your post.