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Reviews > Lighting > Lanterns > Black Diamond Equipment Orbit Lantern > Test Report by Brian HartmanBLACK DIAMOND ORBIT LANTERN
INITIAL
REPORT - April 05, 2009 TESTER INFORMATION
I have been hiking and camping for over 20 years and enjoy backpacking solo and with my kids in Scouting. I especially enjoy fall and winter backpacking and camping. My backpack and gear are older and weigh 40+ lbs (18 kg). This has limited the distances I have been able to cover while hiking. My goal over the next several years is to replace my existing clothing and gear with more suitable and lighter weight alternatives. PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Black Diamond INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Upon removing the lantern from its container, I immediately noticed how lightweight and compact it was. The lantern consists of three parts: a base, body and globe. The lantern base is made of hard plastic with three small rubber feet. I unscrewed the base from the lantern and this revealed the battery compartment and a holder for 4 AAA batteries. Inside the battery compartment was a note which read "when battery power decreases to the point where the Orbit will no longer stay on the brightest level, adjust the dimmer to a mid-level for an additional 5 to 10 hours of run time." The body of the lantern includes a one watt LED lamp, reflector, circuit board and dimming switch. A telescoping globe slides over the body of the lantern and is made of frosted plastic. A second reflector is inside the globe while double hooks for hanging the lantern are on top. The lantern feels sturdy and appears to be very well made. Black Diamond has done a great job designing this lantern in a very small housing with a lot of great features. The NRG2 rechargeable battery is identical in shape and size to the standard lantern base. The obvious difference between the two is that the standard lantern base is black with orange rubber feet while the rechargeable battery is white with black rubber feet. To change from alkaline batteries to the rechargeable battery, simply unscrew the lantern base and remove the battery holder, then screw in the rechargeable battery. There is a small LED on the rechargeable battery which indicates battery status. The wall charger plugs into a small circular port on the rechargeable battery which is concealed by a rubber cover strip. My initial impression of the NRG2 battery kit is that it too has been very well thought out. Features: - Lantern and rechargeable battery are lightweight at 5.3 ounces (150 g) - Globe compacts to 4 inches during storage and extends in height to 5.5 inches during use, and casts a broad, 6.5 foot (2 m) radius of light - 1-watt LED brightness can be adjusted using the dimming switch - Dual reflectors and frosted globe maximize light output and minimize lantern's shadow - Double hooks on top of the Orbit allow it to be quickly and securely attached to a tent or tree branch - The lantern runs on 4 AAA alkaline batteries or Black Diamond's NRG2 Rechargeable Battery Kit
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS Instructions for the Black Diamond
Orbit lantern and NRG2 battery kit are printed in English, Dutch, French,
Italian, Spanish and Japanese. They are concise and easy to follow. The lantern
instructions cover operation of the lantern including inserting the batteries,
opening and closing the globe, and operating the dimming switch. They also
discuss cleaning, care and troubleshooting of the lantern. While reading the
lantern instructions I came across two things of particular interest: First of
all, the Orbit will always turn on at the brightest setting. Holding down the
switch will dim the LED until it is at its lowest light output setting at which
point it will flash and then begin to brighten. Second, the lantern is
considered stormproof but should not be submerged in water. TRYING IT OUT Upon receiving the lantern and NRG2 battery kit, I first inserted the rechargeable battery into the lantern and then plugged in the AC charger. The LED on the battery immediately glowed red. As indicated, it took approximately 8 hours for the battery to charge. Later that night, in my first home test, the Orbit performed admirably, illuminating our front staircase and then my bedroom from total darkness. The light output was considerably brighter than I expected and should be very useful for late night camp chores. Pressing and holding the dimming switch brought the lantern to its lowest setting, which was still bright enough for me to use while reading in bed. The reflectors and frosted globe do a remarkable job of maximizing light output and minimizing glare and shadows. The dimming switch let me adjust the lantern to the exact light output I needed while conserving battery life. SUMMARY The Black Diamond Orbit lantern is
lightweight, compact and bright! The telescoping globe and dimming switch have
been easy to operate and the lantern seems to be well constructed. My initial
impression of this lantern is very favorable. I am looking forward to trying
this lantern out while backpacking and camping. I expect it will prove very
handy while preparing dinner, organizing gear, and reading or playing games
while rain-bound in a tent. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS The Black Diamond Orbit Lantern is a
great piece of gear for backpacking. I have enjoyed using it very much during
the past two months. Over this time period, I've used this lantern extensively.
This includes several overnight backpacking and camping trips, as well as
general usage around my house. While outdoors, I've typically hung it on a tree
branch or inside my tent. On occasion I have set it on a flat surface or held it
in my hand. The details of two trips and its performance in the field are
provided below. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD BRIGHTNESS: The light output of the
Orbit lantern is very good for its size and weight. On the lowest setting, the
mini lantern provides enough light for most tent activities such as changing
clothes or finding gear. I found the highest setting adequate for most of my
tasks around camp as well as reading and playing cards. On our Memorial Day
camping trip, the lantern provided good illumination throughout our eight person
tent. The two reflectors provide a lot of light while the frosted globe casts an
even glow with no dark patterns. In comparison to the UCO candle lantern I
previously carried while backpacking, both lanterns have similar weights, but
the Orbit lantern is much brighter at its highest setting and never gets
hot. SUMMARY The Orbit Lantern by Black Diamond is
an amazing little lantern. It's reliable, has good light output, and creates a
great "camping" ambience. It is a good source of light to illuminate an area for
setting up camp in the dark. It also works well to light up the inside of my
tent. On the trail, the Orbit Lantern has excellent portability since it's
extremely small and lightweight. On its highest setting, it provides adequate
light for hiking at night. The fact that it runs a long time on a set of 4 AAA
batteries makes it very useful for longer trips. TESTING STRATEGY I'll continue to use the Orbit lantern
for all of my outdoor activities over the coming two months. This includes a
week-long backpacking and fishing trip to Western Pennsylvania and a week-long
backpacking trip in Brown County State Park, Indiana. My night-time activities
will include hiking, sometimes with trekking poles; cooking around camp; use
inside my tent for task lighting, reading and general illumination; and
occasional tasks such as gear repair etc. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS During the past two months I've used
the Orbit Lantern on several backpacking trips, two camping trips, and several
nights at home and around our yard. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The Black Diamond Orbit Lantern
continues to perform very well. I have not had any problems with it since my
last report. For backpacking trips, I continue to take both the lantern and my
headlamp as I feel these two items compliment each other. My headlamp provides
hands-free task lighting for use while gathering firewood or hiking in the woods
after dark. The lantern in contrast provides great area lighting for things such
as setting up camp, cooking dinner and reading in my tent at night. The bottom
line for me is that the lantern's compact size and lightweight design encourage
me to pack it along. SUMMARY The Black Diamond Orbit Lantern is well designed and extremely durable. It is a lot of fun to use and I will continue to take it on all of my outings while backpacking or anywhere that I need area lighting. It is compact and lightweight but still provides outstanding light output. It is easy to turn on in the dark and provides even lighting without shadows. I have also been very impressed with its runtime. CONTINUED USE The Black Diamond Orbit Lantern has
earned a permanent spot in my backpack alongside my LED headlamp. I will
continue to use it for general lighting around camp and while reading in my tent
at night. Read more reviews of Black Diamond gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Lighting > Lanterns > Black Diamond Equipment Orbit Lantern > Test Report by Brian Hartman |