My other passion is Camping, and apparently most sites will be open 17 May if all goes well. I have booked a few weekends and a main camping holiday in September. This lamp collecting lark goes hand in hand with camping, and my Missus always moans about the amount of lamps I take with me. Anyone else going camping this year? I can recommend a few good sites, and can anyone recommend their favourites? I get a good few comments about the lamps from other campers!
Good for you and I hope the weather is kind to you It's a while since I slept under canvas, but there was a great campsite near Corfe Castle and the steam trains chuffed past quite regularly? Nice part of the world
Yes, although it strikes me that a camping field full of tents belonging to folk who've arrived separately is OK whereas a camping field full of folk who've arrived separately but under some sort of loosely organised banner is illegal. It's bonkers! I refer, of course, to the annual Newark Meet which has had to be cancelled for the second year running...
Absolutely David, I try to keep away from that subject, but I must say they are not indoor hobbies. It's a bit like banning Golf, which is the ultimate 'social distancing' sport......
This sparked a thought - we get quite a few camper vans (some posh some not so) set up camp on the seafront near me, but I have never seen a pressure lantern in action there - not even butane ones. Are pressure lanterns no longer so popular with campers ?
@Wim LEDs may be so much easier but they are also cold and have no soul. It depends on the individual of course but for myself, a pressurelamp creates a nice cosy atmosphere in the awning and the warmth is welcome when the evening cools down - much better than the cold stark glare of LEDs.
LED lamps are handy, try lighting a kero lamp in pitch black. They are also handy when you finally call it a night and want to retire to your tent. Over the years we have had battery torches, propane lamps, even a white spirit 242 but have always had a kero lamp for the real light of the night.
Always take one of my Austramax's with me when camping. Plenty of good light for my needs. Sometimes take a hurricane lantern as well for fill in lighting. Most of the LED lights I have seen are a blueish light which is a bit hard on my eyes.
Henry, @Henry Plews no worries, the only LED lights I have are torches and indoor lighting (the old bulbs are no longer for sale). I have always found the LEDs to give a hard, unnatural light. What I said was with tongue in cheek! For camping I use candles, wickies, gassies and proper pressure lamps.
I have to admit that LEDs have moved forward In great leaps, I have an LED lenser torch using 3 AAA batteries It has a brighter beam than the first car I owned and lights up the road for 100s of yards.
Sometimes I must admit I light up my butane lantern for convenience. You can get adapters that fit those cheaper butane stove canisters.
Being on tour with my camper van there's always a Px 827 on board. I like the reaction of people seeing it lit up with the blow rapid ending in a bright light. It's mostly unknown and opens interesting conversations. Matthias
I always take 3 or 4 lamps away camping, and they always draw other folk over to talk about them, and where can they get them etc. They may be not as cheap to run as LED's, but at least they are warm, inviting......And alive if that makes sense?
I just returned from a camping trip to the center of the Nevada desert. Not too much to burn out there if something goes wrong with a gasoline pressure lantern. I took only one Coleman 200a along and it was more than enough light. My son told me of another trip he was on, where everyone turned on LED lamps after dark. He went back to his car, fired up a double mantle Coleman and walked back to his campsite "feeling like a Greek god bringing fire to the mortals" as everyone followed him! To his astonishment, not ONE of these "seasoned campers" had ever seen a gas lantern before and were quite excited about them. Seems like the American camper is becoming somewhat of a wuss............
Yes, LED's everywhere, and they are a cold, and souless light to my mind, not warm and alive like the pressure lamps. Another thing You don't see much of is the Gas cartridge lantern. I have a couple of them, but they dont measure up really either!
Weekend coming up (Bank Holiday) and Camping down in Kent! I hope the weather gets better as forecast.....I will just be taking 2 Lamps a Bialsddin 315 rebuild and the Butterfly. I'll take some photos there as it looks a nice site!
Yes, remember the ladies! They like the wick lanterns, I know my wife does. Don’t want to upset her after over 51 years of married bliss! Really, they do make for a romantic setting.
Not for me they don't - it would have to be one helluva special lady for me to tolerate the presence of one of those stinky, old, ugly things - bah! ( )
The softer light from a hurricane lantern is handy when at a crowded camping area and people put their children to bed. Bright lights may not be appreciated.
