Open main menu

Primus EasyLight

rated 5.0 of 5 stars
photo: Primus EasyLight fuel-burning lantern

Or also known as PTL-2245. I first purchased the Brunton mantle-less lantern. Brunton says it's a little tricky to light—a little? I couldn't even light a flame, let alone keep it lit! Mantle lanterns are the way to go!!! They're easy to fit the mantle on the torch head; for some it's a hassle.

Anyway, I can't say enough about the Primus EasyLight. Some variations about the wattage differ, but all and all you get one hell of a little powerhouse of a light. When I'm packing light for an extended trip I carry two of these lanterns with me.

Easy to light (haven't been in severe windy conditions—yet). However, I love the compact and well design of the lantern's unique style. I've used the hell out of it, even I read voraciously all reviews and all research information that I can about everything that I buy. I still got to go way beyond the stats.

I'm trying to pack as light as I can, however there're just some items I can't go without, I NEED WHAT I NEED!!! but common sense dictates what I must carry.

The Primus lantern isn't exactly 80-watts, I'd say 60 watts at best. But still plenty of light to navigate this darken world. It'll light up to a 20*20 area max--10*10 area min.

I was on a recent backpacking trip with a friend. He brought a Coleman North Star propane lantern. He had a Shasta 5000 with this lantern lashed to the front of the pack and inside had four propane canisters (less the really important items). I carried all of my stuff (all compact including freeze-dried and Gore-tex outer wear). To make a long story short, he dumped the North Star and propane canisters at a campsite trashcan.

I hope this review helps in making the only decision in your lighting needs!

Price Paid: $40

The only reason I can't give the Primus EasyLight a perfect score is because they're so expensive. Other than that, they are incredibly well-built and the travel boxes make transporting them 100% worry-free. The mantles are light years better than any other brands. I've been using the same mantle for years and amazingly they never fall apart.

Pros

  • Precision engineering for a tight seal
  • Easy access to mantle
  • Light
  • Durable
  • Very good at maintaining any light setting
  • and to top it off they're even beautiful to look at

Cons

  • They're worth the money if you don't mind spending the initial cost. The mantles are about $10 a pair vs. $1.50 for other lights' mantles.
  • The fuel tanks are quite expensive as well.

I love them, and am very happy that I was forced into buying them during a storm that had emptied the shelves of everything but. Now that I've got them, I'd never want to use anything else.

I do plan to buy a converter that will allow me to use standard butane cans rather than the expensive ones they fit. 

Does what it's supposed to, doesn't require a rocket science degree to use, and doesn't create excessive fire hazard when used safely.

Pros

  • Gives off plenty of light
  • Energy efficient

Cons

  • No obvious cons

My only regret is that there are only five stars to click. Personally, I would give this product 60 stars. I knew it would be a great product, but it outshone my expectations. It easily lights up a medium-sized living room, no squinting of the eyes.

My favorite aspect is that it's not the kind of product that you're worried about coming "unscrewed" if you accidentally kick it over with your foot.

And if you leave it in the garage for long enough to collect dust, it will still work just the same  when you suddenly need it and remember it's been sitting in the garage.

It's built to work just the way it is, and isn't super modification-friendly. Not a replacement for a flashlight, but lights up a room or small campsite really well.

Source: borrowed it

I used this lantern in Glacier for many backpacking trips. I was wondering if anyone knows what size the seals are in the housing that screws onto the tank. Mine seem to be worn out and I need to replace them.

I have called Primus but they sent me the wrong seals. If anyone knows the size please list it. I have a good hardware store with an abundant supply of seals.-( o-rings ).

Pros

  • Bright
  • Durable
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Really none as far as I can tell

Love them. Used in all my backpacking trips. Fits into pack well and is protected by plastic case.

What can I say? Primus manufactures a great product!

I've been using this lantern for some time and have found it to outperform most in its class. It has superior light output to others, great solid carry case, and a matching fuel efficiency to most in the isobutane class.

Bear in mind it is still a glass globe lantern and still requires some care. I have recently purchased a Brunton Lucy lantern for my ATV camping and though it has inferior light output than the Primus, it gives me peace of mind concerning durability. Hope this helps.

Price Paid: $55

Work exactly as it was meant to. Comfortably soft but bright light thanks to the simple but yet effective white-glass globed design. Easy to pack and set up, fuel efficient. A big bang for the bucks product.

What can I say? I still have mine from the early '80s and it still works like new. Mantles are a little expensive, but in a pinch I've actually modified a cheap Coleman to fit.

Price Paid: $26

I have used this lantern for two years. It's very practical and functional. I don't leave home without it.

Price Paid: $50

Great Primus product. A bit loud. I have never had a problem.

Price Paid: $40

This lantern is bright and light and as the name says, easy to use.

Pros

  • Nice and bright light
  • Lightweight
  • Robust carrying case

Cons

  • Mantle can be a little tricky to install
  • Only comes with 1 mantle and hard to find in outdoor stores

As members of another website, we’ve been testing out this product for the past couple of weeks in exchange for a review. While preparing for a week-long backcountry adventure in the Shenandoahs last week, we were running behind with our packing and used this lantern to light up our campsite as we stuffed the last few bags of food and gear.

What we like about this product:

  1. Lightweight and compact.
  2. Gives off a great amount of light for its small size.
  3. Adjustable light control, from very bright to romantic candle light.
  4. Ignition switch seems to fire up the lantern every time.
  5. Built-in hanging wire is handy to have when you want to hang it from a tree or lantern stand.
  6. Gas powered, so no batteries to recharge or replace.
  7. Storage case is robust and keeps the glass lantern from breaking.


What could be improved:

  1. It only comes with one mantle. Two would be great because they aren’t easy to find in stores.
  2. The instructions are overwhelming for such a simple piece of gear. They could be trimmed down quite a bit.

 

Source: tested or reviewed it for the manufacturer (I kept the product after testing.)

Disclosure: The author of this review received a sample of the product from the brand or its representative in exchange for a review.

Your Review

Where to Buy

Help support this site by making your next gear purchase through one of the links above. Click a link, buy what you need, and the seller will contribute a portion of the purchase price to support Trailspace's independent gear reviews.

You May Like

Specs

Price MSRP: $69.95
Current Retail: $10.20
Historic Range: $9.00-$76.00
Reviewers Paid: $26.00-$55.00
Weight 6.6 oz
Dimensions 3.1 x 2.9 x 4.8 in
Lumens 490
Ignition Piezoelectric
Output 1100 BTU 300W
Product Details from Primus »

Recently on Trailspace

Call for Reviews: Your Favorite Spring Gear