Name: Curt Peterson
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 lb (122 kg)
Email address: curt<at>boopants<dot>com
Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I live in the Cascade foothills, just 20 mi (32 km) from the Pacific Crest Trail via trails leading right from my backyard. My outdoor time in Washington is spent dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, and skiing everywhere from the Olympic coast to rainforests to Cascade volcanoes to dry steppe.

I played football in college and often evaluate products from a big guy perspective. My typical pack load ranges from 12 - 19 lbs (5.4 - 8.6 kg) and usually includes wet weather gear.

2) Coleman Exponent F1 Lite Lantern Specifications

Included Items:

F1 Lite Lantern
F1 Lite Lantern Handle/Hanging Cable
F1 Lite Lantern Protective Case
Coleman Mantles, size #51-104

Coleman Exponent F1 Lite Lantern Measurements:

Weight (F1 Lantern only): 3.1 oz (88 gm) *same as manufacturer claim

Weight (F1 Handle/Hanger): 0.1 oz (4 gm)

Weight (F1 Storage Sack): 0.4 oz (11 gm)

Weight (F1 Storage Sack Protective Cylinder): 0.8 oz (24 gm)

Weight (F1 Mantles - each): 0.0 oz (1 gm)

Measurements (F1 Lantern only): 2 in (5 cm) wide / 3.9 in (9.8 cm) tall

Measurements (F1 Storage Sack): 2.5 in (6.3 cm) wide / 5 in (12.7 cm) tall open / 4 in (10 cm) tall cinched

Manufacturer Website: www.coleman.com or www.exponentgear.com

MSRP: 34.99 USD

3) Coleman Exponent F1 Lite Lantern Long Term Report

For an overview of the F1 Lite Lantern, including photos of the components, please refer to my Initial Report and Field Report.

In addition to the earlier trips noted in previous reports, the F1 Lite Lantern has accompanied me on a few more quick overnights over the past 2 months. Holidays, work, and ridiculously wet weather have conspired to leave me little time for extended trips. Local one-nighters have been the norm. We've also had at least half a dozen power-outages during this stormy spell and the F1 has been used quite a bit during them as well. All trips have been around 1500 ft (460 m) with temperatures slightly above freezing and soaking weather. We recently ended a spell that included 48 of 49 days with measurable precipitation!

The F1 remained incredibly easy to use throughout testing. Twist and light - that's it. Of course, this assumes the mantle is set up and in place, but once that's achieved I've found the next few uses are as quick and simple as it gets. Even in the darkest days around the Winter Solstice when we get about 16 hours of darkness up here at Latitude 47N, the lowest settings of light output were sufficient. It can be cranked up for more light, but the accompanying extra noise and fuel consumption do not make it worth it in my opinion. After a nice low output is set, there seems to be marginal gains in light for the extra cost in fuel and peace. I never did experience stability problems, whether mounted on a large canister, small canister, or hung by the included steel cable. I preferred to hang the light for maximum light, but the whole thing stands out so much in camp that accidentally knocking it over wasn't much of a concern. When it's on, it certainly has no problem making itself seen!

Over the test period I've grown to really like the packing setup. The secure, tough, protective, and light fabric and plastic tube storage system is simple and effective. It's barely larger than the lantern itself, making it easy to decide to bring along. I did try storing it in my insulated mug to save a tad bit of weight, but less-than-ideal fit and concerns about the mantle "fluff" in my drinks found me choosing the included system as a first choice. With the overall size, super-light hanging rig, and this storage system, it seems very obvious to me that every aspect of the F1 Lite Lantern was designed to be compact and as light as possible.

Since the Field Report, I've actually found more to appreciate about the F1 than to complain about, but it is not flawless. Like previous noted, my top concern remains the mantles. They seem tough enough once set up perfectly with an ideal "pre-burn", but getting there is not a guaranteed thing by any means. It's still too simple to burn holes in the mantle while "pre-burning" in my opinion. I didn't have many problems once it was set up - I'd usually get 2 or 3 good uses out of a mantle - but there were a few times I went through 2 mantles to get a "bulb" I was happy with. It will light up and work with a couple small holes in the mantle, but I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and would inevitably start over if I wasn't happy with the way it set up. I'm not sure there's a simple solution to the mantle setup - it seems every lantern has the same issue - but a breakthrough innovation would be a welcome improvement.

I've added my final thoughts to my original Test Plan questions below, but in summary:

Highlights

Consistency: The light is very uniform and consistent. It doesn't flicker, pulse, or dim once it's set. It's quiet and soothing from the get-go.
Light: At just 3.1 oz (88 gm), bringing the F1 Lite is a really easy decision - particularly if using a cartridge stove and carrying the fuel anyway.
Warm and Cozy: There's just something about a flame-based light source that makes it more cozy than something like an LED. When wrapped up in down and reading a book, I'll take a lantern over a headlamp any day.
Carrying/Storage: The simple and effective hanging and storage systems work without excessive bulk or weight. Very clever solutions for an item that needs protection.

Could Be Better

Mantles: Any improvement in the durability, pre-burn ease, or simplicity of mantle use would be welcome and would make the F1 a nearly perfect lightweight backpacking version of the traditional camp lantern.

Test Plan Questions

In addition to the notes I included in the Field Report some final notes on original test questions include:

1) Burn Time – Coleman claims a 9-16 hour burn time depending on fuel cartridge size and light output. They also note a 25 gram per hour consumption. Do these numbers work in the real world? Is it a gas hog requiring so much fuel that its lightness is negated or is it a fuel miser that can light up camp all night without problems? I messed up the "clock" on measuring burn time by cooking a few meals on the same cartridge, but the Coleman claim seems to be quite accurate in my experience. I'm sure I got at least 12-13 hours off of one cartridge with some cooking included. I'm only about mid-way through a second cartridge that I'm keeping track of. The fact that light output is sufficient at very low settings should offer burn times on the higher end of the range in my opinion.

2) Pack Test: Ultimately, is the F1 Lite an item that finds its way into my pack along with other "must take" gear? A lantern is unnecessary to take to head into the backcountry for days. But so is a stove, Gore-Tex, and many of the things we carry. Do the benefits of the F1 Lite earn it a spot in my regular gear kit? Particularly for winter use, the F1 has easily earned a place in my pack. For such a small weight penalty, the impact it has on camp atmosphere is phenomenal. For about the same weight as one of the smaller LED headlamps, a cozy full-camp glow can be achieved. I'm not sure I'd bring it in the summer when sunset is nearly 10 p.m., but for dark camp chores, reading, hanging out, and especially for socializing, the F1 Lite Lantern is a great addition to a gear list. For canister stove users in particular, it's a fantastic piece for camp life.

Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Coleman for the opportunity to test this lantern!

Read more reviews of Coleman gear
Read more gear reviews by Curt Peterson

Long Term Report

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