You’ve been there before on a crisp fall night at your favorite campground. The sun has just gone down and the pink and orange colors of the sunset are fading to dark blue.
Maybe you just finished up a nice dinner cooked over some glowing coals or are enjoying the sunset siting outside of your spiffy teardrop trailer. Now that it’s getting dark and you need to clean up dinner you turn to your trusty lantern. You light it and it gives off a soft warm yellow orange comforting glow…
The Best Camping Lanterns for a Teardrop Trailer
Today I am going to review and recommend my favorite camping lanterns that I will use while camping in a teardrop trailer. I will admit right now that I have not tried all the options available and I don’t really want to. These are just the best lanterns that have worked for me over the years.
I also lean toward the old school. The natural soft glow of mantles and gas really gives a much better light than the new harsher LED lanterns. I do use a battery powered LED and it has its uses, I just don’t prefer it.
Tip: DON’T use a gas style lantern inside of your teardrop trailer. Only use LED inside the teardrop. This should be common sense but it should be noted. The gas lanterns are ONLY for outdoor use.
These lanterns are for those who like to casually camp. They are not for hikers and backpackers. If you love trailering an RV or tenting, these lanterns are for you.
So let’s start with the tried and true camping lantern standard
Colman Premium Dual Fuel Lantern
The Colman Premium Dual Fuel Lantern is my absolute favorite lantern and in my opinion the best camping lantern out there. It will last for YEARS if you take care of it. It does run on Colman Liquid Fuel (camping fuel) and can also run on unleaded gasoline. Let’s take a look at the specs:
- 700 lumens on high covers 52 feet
- Lasts up to 5.25 hours on high or 13.5 hours on low on 1.25 pints of fuel
- Adjustable brightness
- Uses 2 String Tie #21 mantles
- Lights with matches
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- It uses dual fuel which means you can use gas in a pinch.
- It’s extremely reliable and will last for years.
Cons:
- Not as powerful as propane models.
- Is only match light.
- Have to pump to pressurize the gas.
Next we have the propane lantern from Colman. Although this has some cool features and is more powerful it just doesn’t have the same vintage feel as the Dual Fuel.
Colman Northstar Propane Lantern
The Colman Northstar Propane Lantern is BRIGHT. At 1500 lumens it will basically light up the whole side of a mountain. It uses propane so if all your other camping gear runs off propane canisters this would be a good choice. Specs:
- 1500 lumens on high casts light up to 26 meters
- Push-button starter
- Lasts up to 4 hours on high or 9 hours on low on one 16 oz propane cylinder
- Adjustable brightness
- Uses Insta-Clip #95 mantle
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- It uses propane gas which is quick and easy to screw on.
- Is extremely bright.
- Has a push button starter.
Cons:
- The push button will wear out.
- Not built as well as the dual fuel models.
- Uses more fuel than the Dual Fuel Lantern
These two lanterns are my go to lanterns. I have a cheap little LED lantern but I only use it in the middle of the night. If I need some quick light to check for leaks or run to the bathroom the LED works fine. I never use it like a real lantern where it’s just on and burning for a decent amount of time.
Which Camping Lantern is Best for You?
If you love relaxing style of camping and classic almost vintage camping gear, I highly recommend the Colman Dual Fuel Lantern.
If you are a casual camper and want something that is easy, works, and is bright. Go with the Propane model.
Both are really great lanterns and will serve you well. You can’t go wrong with Colman products. That’s all we ever used when I was a kid and now as an adult.
My style of teardrop trailer camping might be a little different from yours. I look at the teardrop trailer as a glorified tent. I’m not spending time using it as a kitchen and entertainment center. All of my cooking and eating will still be outside on the picnic table.
So when I use my lantern it will be mostly outdoors for eating and walking to the bathrooms in the dark. Keep that in mind as you decide on the camping lantern you need for teardrop camping.
Always stay stocked up on mantles. It’s easy to forget them and the worst time to need a mantle is when you pull out the lantern to set up camp. That is the worst. Especially if you are out in the woods and more than a few hours from a store that would carry them.
I hope this post on the best camping lanterns for a teardrop trailer helps you decide on a good camping lantern for yourself. Let me know in the comments below what your favorite lantern is.