Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

[AdanClinton]

:neutral: I have been tracking this lantern for a long time on 3 camel.com and this morning I received a email-alert that the price is falling to 29 dollars.



The lantern is quite special 4-in-1 with alarm, flashlight, radio, emergency power bank powered by hand crank or USB Charging. Sounds a little bit fancy, isn't it? But I'm just a gadget-lover and always love to try new camping gears. Any guys have dealt with this kind of lantern?

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

:neutral: I have been tracking this lantern for a long time on 3 camel.com and this morning I received a email-alert that the price is falling to 29 dollars.

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The lantern is quite special 4-in-1 with alarm, flashlight, radio, emergency power bank powered by hand crank or USB Charging. Sounds a little bit fancy, isn't it? But I'm just a gadget-lover and always love to try new camping gears. Any guys have dealt with this kind of lantern?

Nope haven't tried it but sounds useful especially for hikers, dry campers and those with limited gear storage. How much does it weigh and how many lumens(is that the right word?) does the lights give off?

[Happy Joe]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

Neither have I, but I have tried other hand crank gadgets; after the novelty wears off they typically become a bit of a pain.
I agree with NYCgrrl; for lanterns/lighting get a handle on your preferred lumen output. I would suggest looking for something in the 300 to 500 lumen range, naturally the greater the output, including electric, the more it cranking it will need.
What eliminated lanterns from my kit was the excessive glare that most seem to have; camping is less enjoyable when light is unpleasantly shining in someone's eyes.


I standardized (pretty much) on AA NiMh batteries for portable devices and use a 35 Amp hour, deep discharge, lead acid battery powering an 80 watt inverter (with a USB charging port) that drives a 450 to 470 lumen 120 volt household LED bulb for tent lighting. Use a smart charger, at home, to recharge the AAs and float capable charger, the vehicle or solar to recharge the lead acid.


Enjoy!

[toedtoes]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

I have one in my SUV for emergencies. Other than testing it out, I haven't really used it. In my opinion, the amount of power you get from cranking isn't worth more than emergency use. For more than short bursts, it's not really practical.

[actad]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

Not exactly a lantern, but I use the Eton Road Torq when camping. One of the best cranking mechanism I have come across is the technology used in the Road Torq. http://www.esafetysupplies.com/Eton-...FQmQaQodhqEBLg


I also have the other Eton Red Cross series which are radios and lights - the Axis and the Rover.

[AdanClinton]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

Nope haven't tried it but sounds useful especially for hikers, dry campers and those with limited gear storage. How much does it weigh and how many lumens(is that the right word?) does the lights give off?

Indeed, I like the idea behind its all-in-one design. I don't have a big fat bone, so traveling light is much important for me. As for the lantern, its lumens is about 450 (edit). I can't explain any further since I haven't received it so far, maybe you can google it. The name is suaoki hand crank camping lantern. Can't wait to unbox it.

[AdanClinton]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

I have one in my SUV for emergencies. Other than testing it out, I haven't really used it. In my opinion, the amount of power you get from cranking isn't worth more than emergency use. For more than short bursts, it's not really practical.

I think the hand crank is just a plus for a lantern, not a key part. When the battery is nearly flat, hand crank just gives us another way out though not expecting its making big difference.

[NYCgrrl]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

Indeed, I like the idea behind its all-in-one design. I don't have a big fat bone, so traveling light is much important for me. As for the lantern, its lumens is about 450 (edit). I can't explain any further since I haven't received it so far, maybe you can google it. The name is suaoki hand crank camping lantern. Can't wait to unbox it.

450 lumens which is the amt of light that is produced is equal to the amt of light a 60 watt incandescent light bulb gives off. Hope that gives you a better idea of how much light to expect. I'm thinking it's good for a midnight walk to the bthrm or maybe reading a book.

I live in a garage-less, basement and attic-less apartment with a rented storage space that would make you shake your head at the amt of space it doesn't have, LOL. Thus I know what it means to find multipurpose tools that work the way ya want em to.

[Happy Joe]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

Just info; My 450 and 470 lumen LED bulbs say 40 watt equivalent on the packaging.
Regardless; its a good size IMO for camping though slightly dim to use as a single bulb in a room ... works for reading at about a 3ft distance.
I would expect a good beam if used with a reflector my bulbs work well as floods without the plastic diffuser... touching would be a shocking experience and rain would probably kill them.


Enjoy!

[toedtoes]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

I think the hand crank is just a plus for a lantern, not a key part. When the battery is nearly flat, hand crank just gives us another way out though not expecting its making big difference.

Mine is only crank powered. The cranking is not optional - if you want to charge the cell phone, use the light, etc., you have to crank.

[Mike]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

I think the hand crank is just a plus for a lantern, not a key part. When the battery is nearly flat, hand crank just gives us another way out though not expecting its making big difference.

Adam, it seems from your post that you already ordered the lantern. Please give us a review after you use it a couple times.

[JoeN]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

I have seen hand cranked lights and radios advertised but I have never used one. I am curious as to how long you have to crank the unit to charge its internal battery and how long does it operate after cranking? I don't really know anything about the gadgets but it seems to me one might build up some pretty strong forearms with all the cranking to keep the lights on.

[wecamp04]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

I have a crank flashlight works ok not the brightest light I have but you can see with it ,2-3 min.cranking will give you 45 min. To an hour worth of light cant remember name off the top my head its out in the garage in my camp tote.

[AdanClinton]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

Adam, it seems from your post that you already ordered the lantern. Please give us a review after you use it a couple times.

You have my word. Now I'm back to write my thoughts here. I have used it for half a month and so far so good I can say that. I'm very impressed with this suaoki camping lantern. It has many functions, torch, built in radio both FM and AM, and a siren (I guess it's potentially useful for scaring away unwelcomed guests of in an emergency.) Almost forgot one of its extra feature, it's a usb power bank for emergency charging for phones. The torch has a wider beam throw mode also with a warmer light and finally a lantern mode lighting up the central area. The "dynamo" cranking ability via the top handle is fortunately strong unlike some I've used, usually takes a 10 ys boy about 1 hr of continuous cranking to get a fully charge (My little son has tested it for me lol). Quite decent lamp at this price, I think. Hope this helps you guys.

[JoeN]

Re: Anyone ever use a hand crank lantern for camping?

After an hour of cranking how long does the charge last? Also, after you charge the battery, if you put it aside will the battery retain the charge for a decent amount of time or does it discharge fairly rapidly? Batteries have different characteristics and some drain much faster than others when not in use so I was curious as to what the shelf life of the charge would be.