PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
52 Year old male
6' 0'' (183 cm) in height
163 lbs (74 kg) in weight
Email address: rick (at) BackpackGearTest (dot) org
Personal Hiking Page: http://www.imrisk.com
Trail name: Risk
I live in Dayton, Ohio

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
Over the last several years, I have become an ultralight camper with a three-season base pack weight of about 17 lb (8 kg) and skin out weight of 25 lb (11 kg). I have completed many section hikes on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in all four seasons, with a total mileage of about 1100 miles (1770 km). I am a gearhead, a hammock camper, and I make much of my own equipment.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Coleman
Year Manufactured: 2004
Manufacturer's Link: http://www.coleman.com
MSRP: US$34.99
Listed Weight: 3.2 oz (90 g)
Measured Weight: 3.1 oz (88 g) without carry cable
Measured Weight in stuff sack with crush protector: 4.5 oz (128 g)
Measured length as carried: 2-3/4 in (7 cm)
Measured diameter as carried: 4 in (10 cm)
Listed burn time on 220 ml fuel cartridge: 9 hours
Listed light output: 38 watts

REVIEW
The F1 Lite Lantern is part of the "exponent" group of lightweight camping gear produced by the Coleman company in the last year. This small and light lantern is as far removed from the heavy Coleman lanterns I used as a youth as is possible, while keeping the essence of a Coleman:  the incandescent mantle.

But despite the lightweight of the lantern, it feels rock-solid in my hand.  The base is well constructed of aluminum and the valve has that kind of feel which says "the craftsman that made me cared about getting it right."  There are no tacky uses of the company logo on the lantern.  The only place I could find the Coleman name was on a small red tag on the outside of the stuff sack.  The top of the lantern is a beautifully shining dome with no Coleman stamp imprinted on it.  I like this lack of commercials on my camping gear.

The system, as pictured above, consists of the lantern body, a stuff sack, a plastic cylinder to protect the lantern in my pack, and a butane/propane gas bottle.  

The gas bottle does not come with the system.  Any of the typical cylinders used by modern gas stoves will fit the lantern.  This list includes the standard 250 bottle, the small 100 bottle and the double size 500 bottle.  Coleman is careful to recommend that only Coleman gas be used. Part of my testing will include using other gas cylinders to ensure they work safely with the lantern. I am especially interested in the small 100 cc version as this is more consistent with my ultralight backpacking experience.

The stuff sack is shaped to hold the white plastic cylinder provided. I have found that it is possible to put a package of extra mantles between the stuff sack and the plastic liner as a convenient and easy place to store those extra mantles.  

The lantern itself has a base and a wire mesh cover which attaches by a slight twisting motion to the base.  The mantle slides over the central pole of the base with the larger of its two holes facing downward. Once in place, the mantle is burned with a match before the lantern is lit for the first time.  Though the mantle seems large in the beginning, and even after burning with a match, it shrinks to the size of a large marble the first time the lantern is lit and gas is supplied.  

During the first lighting, the top of the lantern and the top half of the wire mesh screen changed color from a bright chrome finish to a brown tinted chrome.  At the same time some smoke was released from the lantern as a protective coating seemed to be burned away.  For this reason, I would strongly suggest lighting the lantern for the first time outdoors.

The directions that come with the lantern mainly give a large number of warnings:  "CAUTION, this lantern is HOT" is one of them.  It is also recommended a number of times that the lantern not be used indoors, in a camper, in a tent, or in any inclosed space because of the risk of carbon monoxide.  Despite these profuse warnings, it is also written in the directions that proper use of the lantern produces very little carbon monoxide.

After lighting, the lantern is at a good angle to allow table top reading. For cool nights, the lantern has an additional advantage: It produces heat.  The heat is both radiant, warming my hands, and convective, warming the air.  With a claimed burn time of 9 hours, thats a lot of reading I could get done on long winter nights while camping.

There is a slight hiss common to Coleman lanterns while the light is burning.  However, this is not particularly bothersome.  It is much less notable than many other gas lanterns I have used.  

The valve turns easily and positively.  It is easy to set to a good level of illumination without wasting fuel. The valve has a wire clip attached which makes it possible to adjust the lantern even if it has been running long enough to have become quite hot to the touch.

It is reasonably easy to pick up the lantern by the base and the fuel cylinder.  There is a provided chain with clips to be able to hang the lantern, but I can't yet imagine why I would want to use it.  The chain does seem to get in the way of the lantern more than it affords an improved function.

As I evaluate the lantern over the next four months, I will be interested in the following:
- How long does a cartridge last?
- How easy is it to read with the lamp?
- With normal backpacking use, how long does a mantle last?
- Is the warmth coming off the lamp useful for keeping warm?
- Are the stuff sack and the crush protector sufficient for keeping the lantern safe in my pack?
- How much real use will the lantern occasion?

What I like so far:
- Very lightweight for a gas lantern
- Easy to carry size with protection from crush damage

ANTICIPATED FIELD CONDITIONS FOR THE TEST PERIOD
For the Field reporting period, I plan to use the lantern for a multi-night hike in Pennsylvania.  As the winter progresses, I will use the lantern outdoors in several extremes of cold and wet.  I will be using the F1 Lite in cold, wet, and dry conditions. For the Long Term reporting period, I plan to use the lantern in freezing conditions and in the coldest temperatures that Ohio will offer this winter.  Altitudes will range from river valleys to mountain tops.