candle lanterns?

So now that it's getting dark so early I've been thinking about light for the evening hours, especially when backpacking with a group. I don't mean light for finding your stuff. I mean light so that you and your camping buddies can talk and see eachother's faces. Obviously if I'm in a location where I can build a fire then that is the nicest. But generally I'm in the backcountry where I don't build fires for LNT reasons. So what are the good alternatives?

I've been thinking about a candle lantern but perhaps there are led lanterns out there that work well for the purpose. Anyone have any experience they want to share?

I use a candle lantern in winter - although mostly because hung in the top of a tent it can help the air circulation and cut down on the condensation.

I use a small candle lantern also. It's warm and friendly.

Ditto. Mine is the tea light version.

Since I stopped using tents with floors, I've shifted to candle with no lantern.

This is convenient because no special candle or device is required, though obviously offers no ability to hang the candle from a string, which is unfortunate.

IMO no LED, incandescent or flourescent light will ever replace the warm glow of a real flame. I find candle lanterns to be very relaxing on those long winter nights. And the small amount of heat they produce does seem to take the chill out of the air in my tent.

For years I used a candle lantern, and then a small "uncandle" which was a small oil lamp. In the last 8 years I have been my LED flashlight. The LED It doesn't provide the warmth or that nice glow, but it's lighter weight and has no risk of setting things on fire.

I haven't found a light weight LED lantern which is significantly better than a flood style beam headlampo for flashlight suspended from the roof pointed down.

I have a candle lantern sold by the late, lamented Early Winters. It works great, is relatively safe to use and puts out a surprising amount of light. The candles are heavier than a tea light, but last a long time.

I think REI and a few other companies sell something similar, if not identical. Mine is made of aluminum with a brass cap over the candle, but I have seen all brass ones, too. The glass in mine retracts for packing which protects the glass and makes it a lot smaller.

How long does the glasss stay clean? That is about the only negative I have heard about them. Not enough light to read by, but if wanting just a little light to see others faces would be ok I guess. All this is heresay.

These are the dudes who made the Early Winters lights:

http://candlelantern.com/

The glass stays relatively clean, but every one I've owned drips hot wax. I wish they'd develop a light, no-glass version.

How would I use a candle lantern in a hammock? I guess I could suspend it somewhere away from the netting but under the fly.
BTW, Phat if you get too much flame going in a tent, (I'm referring to your stove and lanterns etc.) be carefull it all doesn't go Pooooffffff. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Although I'm sure I could rig it from the head of my tarp. I didn't say I used a candle lantern in winter. I don't use a hammock in winter. (note, I mean real winter, not that social kinda down to freezing or a little below thing you be callin' winter.. I still hammock in that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For me spring->fall = lightweight hiking mode, and long days, candle latern is heavy and not overly useful. my headlamp is plenty.

winter short days and looooong cold nights in a shelter - and I'm carrying a big load anyway. candle lantern worth it's weight for frost prevention, little bit of warmth and general nice glow.

Yeah, Phat - and make sure you don't end up with a dangerous accumulation of flammable methane gas! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I like that idea but don't you need a globe of some kind?

I got a whole box of these really nice little candles at Marden's in Maine. I wish I got more. They weigh about 0.5oz each, same as a tealight, but are long and skinny. They are Greek Orthodox candles which are 100% beeswax and burn really well. I've used them for lighting my Kelly Kettle mostly, but I would use more if I could find a better way to use them as candles. Sure I don't need a globe of some kind?

I just shove the thing in the ground or in a beer can or whatever. I suppose a globe would be somewhat useful -- a candle lantern, in other words.........

Thanks Rick. Mine looks like the UCO Original but isn't polished.

Mine doesn't drip wax, not that I've noticed and the glass stays clean. Maybe the candles are different. I still have some old ones.

For reading, I use a headlamp-Princeton Aurora, the 3 LED light. Works great.

I have the mini Uco and leave it outside in the vestibule. It's a nice warm, light. I suppose by using the tea light, you could remove the glass and use the candle as is, but the wind would probably blow it out or make it flicker.

These things are nice to heat up the tent as well.

Hi Tom,

Ive had a couple of the standard candle lamps (EW and REI branded) and what frequently happens is the little spring-loaded base hangs up in the tube as the candle burns, then it either loosens up and shoves a bunch of melted wax through the top opening and down the sides, or runs underneath the base onto the coil and out the side slot. Either way, it makes a mess.

I've fiddled a good deal (what else is there to do in a tent?) and haven't been able to completely eliminate the problem. I've tried making tea candle lanterns from aluminum juice cans with limited success, but I've not given up either.

I always wanted UCO to offer a lightweight mesh alternative to the glass, like Primus and Snowpeak do for their little backpacking butane lanterns. It's at least wind resistant.

I love my UCO in winter. I would like the tea light version, but it does not collapse. I paid about 10.00 for mine at Walmart. I was gonna pay a little extra for the Beeswax Candles, which are reputed to burn longer -- but I read a post about Beeswax and Bears and decided not to get them. The only problem I ever have with mine is that I sometimes fall asleep with a new candle in the lantern and wake up in the morning with no candle at all. Thats why I would like to have tea light size lantern - just burn a tea light out and forget it. Plus I got a hundred tea lights at Walmart for 5.00. Thats a pretty good deal, I think. I did a lantern search a while back and found where someone on this board had made one from water bottles - it had a water jacket to keep the plastic from melting. It looked nice, but the instructions were a little vague.

Bears n' beeswax are only a problem if the bears are out and about when you are using said beeswax products. If using in Winter most normal bears should be sleeping away their honey dreams. Beeswax candles last longer, drip less, and burn relatively smokefree than parrafin types IME. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

A small candle lantern's weight is a small price to pay for the comfort it gives in return when out in Wintery conditions, as it's been said above.

'Early Winters', now there's a brand that if you know who they are/were, then you've been backpacking and camping at least as long as I have <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have used Candle Lanterns for years and I do enjoy the warm light of the candle. I have several around the house for emergencies and power outages. Now, for backpacking I reserve its use for group hikes and winter camping. I make my own candles for the lanterns highly recommend Bees Wax Candles over paraffin. The number of harmful chemical agents paraffin gives off are too numerous to count and breathing them in an enclosed tent is not a wise idea.

A summer and lighter weight option for tent lighting is the Glo-Toob LED Light. I use the White FX version. It weighs in at 1.25 ounces compared to 7.5 ounces (almost 1/2 pound) for an aluminum Candle Lantern. It is a cylindrical shape 2.75" long and .75" in diameter. The Glo-Toob burns for up to 30 hours on the single 12v battery(best price for the batteries is Wal-Mart in 2 packs). It produces a light bright enough to read by anywhere in the tent, is water proof to 11,500 feet below sea level, and has several emergency flash modes including an S-O-S signal. I just clip mine high up inside my tent and leave it in the tent each day when packing up since it is so small. I only remove it on the last day of a trip when I am packing out.

cut a window in the beer can then cut a plastic piece from a pop bottle
to cover the window. the round shape of the pop bottle will hold it in place.

I had thought of something similar. You could use silicon adhesive to affix the clear plastic. It would also give the can more strength where you cut the openings.
You can also add a top with some flashing and use a guitar string for the bail type handle. But then there's small candle lanterns made commercially that fold up and are not too expensive. I am still concerned with weight and am considering a tea lite type lantern.

I used a 1/2 size soda can, ( shasta makes them)
The window was about 2.5x2in tall.
I used the pop tab to hang it when I did not leave it on the ground.
It was strong enough to use as a warmer for my coffee cup.

I constructed a DIY pop can candle lantern using a piece of a 2 liter pop bottle. Using a tea lite, the plastic lasted all of 1min 6seconds before going up in flame. Had fun building it though even though it was a waste of time. I think I'll either buy a UCO or abandon the idea of even carrying one at all.