User Review: REI Candle Lantern

Summary

The REI Candle Lantern is a lightweight candle lantern that utilizes a self feeding candle system which burns off all excess wax, providing up to 9 hours of burn time. The lantern itself is very light, consisting of mainly aluminum and glass weighing in at only a few ounces. The candle lantern's heat output makes it an excellent addition for a tent, reducing condensation and creating warmth and light. Note the bigger the tent the less effective it will be at reducing condensation. All in all the simple candle lantern is a must-have low tech gadget, and I would never get rid of mine.

I picked my candle lantern up about a year ago at the local Goodwill, as I do a lot of my gear. I found it new in the packaging with one unlit candle inside it, and at one dollar I was instantly excited. That night I lit the candle and set it on the kitchen table, it ended up lasting just over 10 hours. So that weekend I went to REI and picked up two packs of regular 9 hour candles

The candle lantern's first field use was at Lake Valhalla, Washington, in mid February. I lit the lantern at 10 p.m., woke up and blew it out at 6:30 a.m. with some candle to spare. The tent was bone dry and a nice 50 degrees Fahrenheit, despite the fact that we were camped on 10' of snow.

Candles come in three different types: the original paraffin wax 9 hour candle, the citronella 9 hour candle (Blue) colored one, and a beeswax 9 hour candle which produces less harmful gasses as well as gives off a pleasant scent. The lanterns and candles are all made by UCO corp.

Not only are there choices in candles, there are also choices in accessories.

At online stores such as eBay, Cabellas, and REI these accessories are available:

• Downward reflector
• Side reflector
• Replacement glass chimneys
• Parts rebuild kits
• Neoprene travel case and LED conversion kits

I would highly recommend this lantern to anyone. Though this may not be a necessity, once you use it you won't want to camp without it.