Man has used light to brighten his living areas and to guide him at night for thousands of years. The first type of lighting used was the simple, hand-held oil-burning lamp. A concave object was filled with moss or some other readily burnable substance that was soaked in animal fat and then lit. Wicks were used to control the rate the fuel burned, were soon introduced. One of the earliest lanterns invented was the candle lantern. Candles offer weak lighting at best and if exposed to any drafts they quickly go out. In order to protect the candle flame, a covering was erected around the candle – thus the first outdoor lantern was made.
Since the first lantern there have been many improvements made, however the basic structure of the lantern has remained the same. Some lanterns are decorative while others are used for actually providing light in a given situation. All lanterns provide a shielded enclosure for a light source.
While lanterns, such as outdoor candle lanterns, are often used for decorative purposes, many are also manufactured specifically for outdoor use. They are used to provide lighting on patios and in outdoor entertainment areas and outdoor lanterns are also often used while camping where they provide portable lighting that is not dependent electricity but uses other fuel sources.
Wick lanterns are cheap and readily available. They do not, however, give off a very strong light source and as such are not really suitable for reading by or doing other manual tasks. They also require some upkeep; wicks have to be trimmed, and the inside of the lantern must be cleaned from time to time.
Mantle lanterns are much more useful, particularly when it comes to camping. The mantle is made out of a fine ceramic mesh that surrounds a flame and gives off light. These lanterns can be powered by liquid fuel or liquid gases such as propane, kerosene or butane. Newer models can also be illuminated by fluorescent or LED lights, which eliminate the need to carry fuel with you when you travel.
Lanterns come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well. Some are small lanterns that are useful for one person to read by. Other lanterns will be much larger and can be used to illuminate a tent or a room easily. Lanterns are also useful outdoors, whether cooking by a campfire or entertaining in outside areas. Typically, outdoor hanging lanterns are used in these situations, although if the lantern is for home use many people find that an outdoor wall lantern is best.
How To Decide Which Type of Lantern To Buy
If you are planning on camping, one of the essentials you will need is a lantern or two. Your decision will in part rest on how you will be traveling. If you are traveling in a camper or via car you will be able to take more equipment with you than if you are planning on going backpacking. It will also depend on how many people will be traveling with you, how many tents you will have between you and whether you will be walking around much outside at night.
Depending on where you live and where you are planning to travel to you may find that a kerosene or ‘white fuel’ lantern for indoor lighting purposes is best. One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to either take sufficient fuel with you or be able to readily buy it, in order to keep your lantern lit. Alternatively, you may prefer a propane powered lantern. These are much simpler to use in many ways. The fuel is very easily transportable as it comes in compact container which is simply attached to the lantern. Propane stored in containers also has a very long shelf life, thus if you do not use up all your supplies on one trip you can easily save them for the next time you need them.
Another alternative is solar powered lanterns, which use rechargeable batteries. Frequently these are lit using LED lighting which is both cost effective and much safer than using fuel.
Lanterns can be found at most camping supply stores and are also available online. If you buy a mantle lantern, remember to also buy extra mantles. If you are buying a battery powered lantern, you will also need to purchase a supply of rechargeable batteries. There are pros and cons to each type of outdoor lantern, with the decision on what type to buy usually determined by what it is needed for, convenience of use and ease of obtaining the needed fuel.
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