The Xcursion is a mantle-style lantern, using Coleman's Powermax fuel. The lantern comes with instructions, a package of 2 mantles, and a "Green Key" that can be used to puncture empty Powermax cartridges. As of the date of this report, the instruction manual for the Xcursion lantern is not available on the Coleman website.

The lamp has a single mantle that is protected by a clear glass globe that carries the Coleman logo on one side, with the "X" logo of the exponent product line on the other. The ventilator cap (which rests on two posts, above the globe) has five series of three oval holes for ventilation, plus a circular hole to allow a match into the globe to light the lantern. A bail wire handle extends 4.25" (10.8 cm) above the top of the lantern.

The plastic base of the lantern twists off to reveal the valve component that is inserted into a canister of Powermax fuel to refill the lantern. Panels on the front and back of the lantern can be moved up to protect the glass globe and keep the on/off switch from accidentally being turned on during storage. These panels are secured from movement in both the raised and lower position by a simple plastic lever. When the panels are raised for storage, the bail wire can be secured by snapping it under built-in knobs on the lantern body. The panels also serve as reflectors when the lantern is in use, though the instructions state to only use one panel at a time when the Xcursion is lit.

I have never owned a mantle-type lantern before, and the Xcursion is also the first 'area' light that I have that I can use backpacking. Although I can get by with a headlamp for my summer trips, I could use something to provide more 'general' lighting for fall and early winter trips where I might have to set up the tent or cook dinner at night.

Since the Xcursion doesn't come with a stuff sack or a built-in storage area, I have to store the Green Key and extra mantles apart from the lantern. Although I'm horribly disorganized at home, when I'm backpacking I like to have a place for everything, and know exactly where everything is at any given time. I tried stashing an extra mantle between the plastic twist-off bottom and the lantern body, but the bottom wouldn't close with the mantle inside. The mantles for the Xcursion incorporate a metal washer/clip component to secure it to the burner tube, making the mantle too thick to stash in that little pocket of space.

The 'pyro' in me couldn't resist the temptation, so as soon as I received the Xcursion I read through the instructions (I may be a pyromaniac, but I'm a cautious one) and set up the lamp for operation. The instructions are pretty clear on how I should fuel the lantern and prepare the mantle, but they have one shortcoming. Under the instructions on how to light the lantern, it simply says "Turn FUEL VALVE ON while holding lighted match through hole in ventilator". I had been following a fellow tester's problems with trying to get the lantern to work, and I was confused on what "ON" was. Was the "ON" in the instructions achieved by turning the knob 1/2 turn (180 degrees) counterclockwise from the "OFF" position, or the full 2 3/4 turns the knob would turn before it stopped on it's own?

Originally, I took it to mean "full open" or the complete 2 3/4 turns, until the third tester verified that his worked at the half-turn. Perplexed, I decided to settle the matter once and for all, and call Coleman's customer support. The lady who answered my call verified that the knob was to be turned only 180 degrees. I hope that Coleman updates the instructions to make it clear exactly what "ON" is.

Another thing that temporarily confused me is that the decal on the Xcursion starts with a thin line at the "OFF" position, and gets thicker as it arches above the knob towards the "ON" position. In my experience, this graphic represents adjustability, and after reading the instructions, I found out that the Xcursion is NOT adjustable, it only has "ON" and "OFF".

Getting back to the initial lighting of the lamp, I carefully followed the instructions on how to start up the lantern. Fueling was fairly easy, though it was a little difficult for me to determine when the lantern was completely filled. Coleman 's website says it takes about 20 seconds to refill, and the instructions state "hold cartridge in place until sound of fuel filling changes or sprayback occurs." To me, the sounds of filling changed after only a few seconds, and I didn't really get any sprayback the first time I filled it. The second time I filled the lantern, I ended up with some sprayback, mainly when I tried to dislodge the canister from the lantern. The fuel comes out liquid and is very cold as it evaporates. Since I couldn't determine from sound or sprayback whether the light was full or not, I disengaged the canister after about 20 seconds. It was a little difficult, since the lantern seemed to want to hold on to the canister. I eventually worked the canister free, and started working on preparing the mantle.

To attach the mantle, I had to remove the bail wire, the ventilator cap, and the globe. The mantle has a small clip built in that attaches it to the burner tube. The burner tube (and took the heat shield along with it) popped out of the body of the lantern when I first grabbed it, so I carefully re-inserted it into the body and made a mental note to be sure to check it to ensure it was firmly attached whenever I had to change the mantle. After I attached the mantle to the burner type, I used a grill lighter to light the mantle. The instructions show a match being used, but at the rate the mantle burned and eventually turned to its ash state, I would think that a couple of matches would be needed.

I replaced the globe, lantern top, and bail wire. The first time I lit the lantern I thought I was supposed to turn the knob in the "ON" direction until it stopped, so I did so. As I was turning the knob, enough gas gathered inside the globe to combust, and the lantern lit with a slight 'pop'. The light was steady and even, with only minimal noise and smell from the gas.

After the inaugural daylight lighting of the lantern, I eagerly awaited the night, to see what it could *really* do. I waited until it was as dark as it could get, with the sun full down, no moon, and only minimal light from my neighbor's yards. When I placed the Xcursion on a metal hook I use for a bird feeder (with the lamp about chest-high), it gave off enough light for my husband to grill by (we had a late dinner that night), and I think it would be adequate light to set up a tent in or to cook by. I only noticed a slight difference of light intensity when I moved the rear panel into the "up" position. The panels have a matte metallic finish which appears to be spray-painted on. From my playing around with the back panel, it has already developed an area where the metallic reflective material has worn off.

The next day I set up the Xcursion to test its maximum burn time. I topped off the fuel, and lit it around 1 PM. The temperature at the time was about 80 F (26 C). The lantern burned until about 7:45 (61 F/16 C), for about 6 hours 45 minutes total.

The bail wire comes in handy, and I can carry the lantern using the wire without my hand getting too hot from the lantern. The instructions caution against using the lantern indoors or inside a tent, and any other enclosed, unventilated area (such as inside my house). Fabric and other flammable materials should be kept 2' (61 cm) away from the top of the lantern, and 1' (30.5 cm) away from the sides of the lantern.

Reviews > Lighting > Lanterns > Coleman Exponent Xcursion Lantern > Becki Stacy > Initial Report