I think that camping lamps are one of the most important camping accessories. This makes your choice of which camping lamps you need to purchase even more important. Once again, this decision should only be made AFTER you work out what type of camping you will doing or what camping activities you will be participating in. The choice you have with camping lamps is huge, so you might as well be wise in your buying decision.
There is such a huge number of different types of camping lamps available, I thought in this post I would concentrate on gas and liquid fueled camping lamps and leave the other types of camping lamps for further articles.
Pro’s and Con’s of Gas and Liquid Fueled Camping Lamps
Gas camping lamps, usually fueled by propane or butane, offer a great source of camping lightning. They produce a good, bright light and tend to be efficient. The refuel canisters usually come in screw-in refill packs which makes it very easy to refuel your camping lamps. However, the gas camping lamps are comparatively heavy and bulky, and can be more fragile that alternative lamps. Also the refill canisters can be quite heavy depending on the amount of spare fuel you wish to carry. For these reasons they tend not to be the best choice for backpacking type camping.
Liquid fueled camping lamps, usually fueled by white gas, Coleman fuel, kerosene or unleaded gasoline, also can offer a bright, sustainable light. The fuel is relatively easy to source, and these camping lamps are economical to run. As with the gas camping lamps, they are not typically suitable for hiking or more rugged camping, and they can be awkward to refuel, and because the fuel is flammable. potentially dangerous.
These types of camping lamps offer a perfect solution to a drive-up campsite where a bright, long-lasting light is required. The fuel they use is quite available, reasonably cheap, and economical to run. The disadvantages can include the fact that they are heavier, less robust types of camping lamps. Another consideration is that they burn hot and provide their light from a flame, using a flammable fuel source, which in turn can make them an unsafe option if there is to be young children running around. Also they can emit an odor when operating and they are not what most would call a “quiet” lighting source.
As with most camping lighting solutions, there are pro’s and con’s to any camping lamps you choose. The secret is to choose the lighting that is best suited to your camping needs.
