User Review: Ozark Trail Fluorescent Camping Lantern

Reviewed July 4, 2008 by cayoung

Rating:
Price Paid: $9.97

For ten bucks, I wasn't sure if I'd like this light. But it costs me a tenner to find out. Why not?

The light was displayed "loose" at the camping section of Walmart. Didn't come with a fancy box, or instruction manual. The main thing that I liked, is that the lantern runs on D cells. So, I can mix and match with my mag lights, and other equipment. Cheaper than lantern batteries. Lasts longer than AA cells.

I brought the lantern home, and put in four cheap junk carbon batteries, from Dollar Tree. Screw the bottom back on, and turn the lantern right side up. The power switch is on the top. Some how, I'd expect a switch on the base some where.

The top unscrews, and the nine watt fluorescent tube lifts out easily for replacement. It may be same as Coleman tube, but I haven't tried it. The replacmeent tubes cost about as much as the entire ten dollar light, so I'd likely just buy another entire light.

Anyhow, turn the on switch. The light output was incredible. Really lit up the room. I found that with the lamp on a high shelf, it would light up the room easily well enough to walk around. By carrying the light by the handle, it lit the ground around me, so I could walk easily. The plastic ring around the top directs the light a very little bit. So that the light doesn't blind me as I'm walking along the trail. But lights up the ground so I can walk safely.

I didn't check the current draw, or the battery life. Of course, on the trail I'd use alkalines. Heavier, but the longer life is worth it. Alkalines last four times longer than cheap carbon cells.

Well worth ten bucks, in my opinion. For the cost of a $30 Coleman, I can get an Ozark and a life time supply of alkaline batteries.

Since the light doesn't burn fuel, it will run cool. So I can use it indoors in case of summer time power cut. When I don't want to use a fuel powered light. Got my ten bucks worth, easy.

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