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As a kid, I remember using those gas lanterns powered by propane or white gas. Someone's dad would pump up the lantern, light the fragile mantles, and a bright glow would descend upon the campground.
The Emergency Area Light from Coast Products provides an adjustable brightness like the classic gas-powered ones, but goes a few steps further by adding a steady or blinking red light, a "fuel gauge" to let you know how much battery life you have left, and is completely solid-state. Four D-batteries power white and red LEDs. No crusty mantles to break. no flammable liquids.
Specs:
- 125 lumen light output
- 100 hour runtime
- Uses (4) D batteries
- 8.25 inch height
- 9 high quality LED's; 1 white, 8 red
- Push button on/off with VLT Variable Light Technology (dimming) — choose any light level
- Durable casing
- Built-in battery life indicator
The box has a flap that opens to reveal the lantern.
Illustration describes the "fuel gauge"
Watch out for the nylon tie wrap that holds the handle to the packaging!
Free at last
Top of the lantern
Battery door is secured by a door that screws shut.
Feeding time! This lantern eats 4 "D" sized batteries.
Under the knob you'll see an LED "fuel gauge". It gives the appearance of having six individual LEDs, but upon closer inspection, there appears to be only three peeking out of six cutouts.
The knob is where all the action is. You press the center down to toggle the light on and off. Twisting the knob all the way to the left (counter-clockwise) gives you the brightest light. Turning it to the right (clockwise) dims the light.
Lantern at full brightness
Lantern at lowest white setting.
The knob has two settings for red: Flashing and steady. The red is surprisingly bright.
It's difficult to photograph, but it seems the lantern is powered by one single super-bright LED for the white light, and a circle of bright red LEDs for the red modes.
I have no way to verify if the LED is truly rated at 125 lumens (according to the website) or if it will run 100 hours. I am assuming the 100 hour rating is derived from the lowest output setting, or even the blinking red mode. The documentation doesn't say.
We will be using this for Halloween trick or treating this year! It definitely grabs your attention in a 360-degree circle!
Filed in categories: Outdoor Gear, Reviews
Tagged: Battery-powered camping light, Flashlight
Coast Emergency Area Light Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 24, 2010 at 11:45 am.
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