The lantern in operation
Delivery and contents
The Coleman Xcursion lantern was safely received in its original unopened display carton (protected in a shipping box). The carton contained the lantern itself, a “Green Key” for opening empty Powermax canisters for recycling, a packet with two mantles, and the instruction brochure, this last a large folded printed sheet. Although fuel (and extra mantles) were provided for testing purposes, these would normally be purchased separately from the lantern. No stuff-sack is provided.
Website and Warranty
The Coleman website is large and complex (inevitably, given the range of products the firm produces), but with an excellent search feature that enabled me to quickly locate information on the Xcursion lantern. Dry weight, dimensions and burn time were described, although the box for the unit has considerably more information. On an incidental note, the carton actually refers to this as the Excursion lantern, reverting to conventional spelling. Nowhere else does this spelling appear, so I have used the Xcursion spelling throughout.
The limited lifetime warranty provides protection (to the original owner only) against defects in workmanship or materials. Coleman will repair or replace any part (or the entire thing) if it is found to be defective, with a new or remanufactured lantern or component. If the lantern is no longer made at the time of claim, an equivalent product will be substituted. The original purchase receipt must be retained and provided, and the unit may be returned to an authorized service center (locations available by phone via a supplied 800 number) or to Coleman itself at a specified address. Normal wear and tear is exempted from the warranty, as are misuse, unauthorized service attempts and “Acts of God” including fire, flood, hurricanes and tornadoes. Also not covered are incidental damages, within the usual legal limits. In all, this is a perfectly standard product warranty, although I have rarely seen the old “Wrathful Deity” clause used in the context of camping gear.
Features and Design
I've always enjoyed lamps with mantles. I have a large paraffin lamp that I occasionally use (definitely not for backpacking), and it's fun to put a new mantle on, touch a match to it and see it convert into carefully structured ash. It's something of a magic trick to light the lantern afterwards, and see the ashy remains shine so brilliantly. Coleman mantles are made of woven rayon that is treated with yttrium, a rare earth element that's responsible for the incandescence.
Fueling the lantern
The Xcursion uses Coleman's Powermax fuel, available in aluminum canisters in two sizes, 300 g (10.6 oz) and 170 g (6.0 oz). This is a proprietary 60% butane/40% propane mix. The higher percentage of propane provides far better performance at low temperatures (the physics of this are beyond the scope of this report). Most gas canisters on the market have, at most, 20% propane. The carton for the lantern mentions reliable performance to 15 F (-9 C).
Because the hexagonal valve mechanism used with Powermax fuel is unique to Coleman (these canisters do not use a Lindal valve like most on the market), only Coleman's fuel can be used with the Xcursion. In fact, the lantern itself does not use the canister directly; when the base is unscrewed an eighth-turn, it detaches to expose a spring-loaded filler valve projecting from the center of the reservoir.
This valve is a thin tube that is then pushed into the hole at the top of a Powermax cartridge. When gentle hand pressure is applied to the lantern, liquid fuel is transferred by injection from the cartridge to the reservoir. The fueling process takes about twenty seconds (Coleman's figure, confirmed in preliminary use); there's a gentle hissing from escaping gas while the transfer takes place, which increases in volume once the reservoir is full. Coleman's instructions recommend (which I heartily endorse) filling the lantern outside and away from any naked flame.
Construction and operation
The image below shows the lantern as it appears when closed for travel. Two sliding guard panels (which are mirrored on the interior and double as reflectors) slide up and latch in place over the glass globe. The rear panel has operating instructions printed in white. The front panel (shown), which bears the Xcursion logo, has a central cut-out. This enables the on-off gas valve to be accessed when the guard is in the down position. The guards, latches, and base appear to be made of high-impact plastic. The frame (a pair of side supports), the carrying bail, and the top of the lamp (a vented cap that sits over the globe) are of metal. All of these parts are black.
Lantern in storage mode, front view
To use the lantern, a mantle must first be mounted within the globe. To accomplish this, the guards (reflectors) are lowered and the bail handle is detached (it is held in place by tension in a hole on each side of the metal frame of the unit). Once this is done, the metal cap (and the heat shield within) may be removed, exposing the glass globe. This globe simply lifts off, and the burner tube assembly can then be lifted. This is a question-mark shaped metal tube that plugs into the top of the regulator assembly, the component that conveys gas from the reservoir to the burner tube and that contains the on-off valve. A new mantle is gently slid over the business end of the burner tube. The tube is then replaced in its hole at the top of the regulator assembly. There is a conical metal reflector that fits around the tube. This can be balky unless aligned correctly with a crimp in the burner tube, I found.
Next, a lit match is applied to the new mantle. The mantle burns slowly, leaving a sock-shaped pendant of white ash reinforced by fibers. This, the completed mantle, is quite fragile, and must not be touched. Any defect, such as a hole, will create a hot-spot when the lamp is lit, which can (at the very least) cause the glass globe to shatter or melt, so care should be taken when putting the lamp back together not to damage it. In addition, the mantle should be inspected before use every time, and if it looks damaged, it must be replaced. For this reason, I will carry at least two spare mantles when backpacking with this lamp.
Finally, the cap (with heat shield) is mounted, and is locked in position with the bail. The lamp is now ready to be operated, assuming that the reservoir has been filled with gas in the manner indicated earlier. To do this, a lit match is put through the lighting hole in the rear in the cap, and the gas is turned on by turning the red valve clockwise. There should be a faint pop as the gas ignites, and the mantle will start to glow. Sometimes, if there is too much gas/air mix in the chamber, I've found the match will be blown out and the lamp will not light. For all that, this is really a simple, almost rudimentary mechanism. It appeals to me greatly (the pyromaniac in me, perhaps)?
Once the lantern is alight, one of the guards may be slid up and latched to throw light in a given direction (these have a mirrored interior). The instructions note that both guards must not be raised during operation (a fairly obvious precaution, since virtually no light can escape when they are positioned in this manner). To turn the lantern off, the valve is simply be moved counter-clockwise to the off position.
Lantern ready for use, front view
Instructions and Precautions
The instructions provided by Coleman for use with the lantern are extremely detailed, and easy to follow, and are presented in English, French and Spanish. They include an exploded diagram of stove parts, together with a parts list, useful for ordering replacement or spare components. There is a diagram demonstrating the use of the Green Key in cartridge disposal, the warranty (as already discussed), and a list of ”Things you should know.” This list notes the need to keep spare mantles handy (and not to use a broken one), information on storage (the lantern should be stored when not in use in a dust-free environment, ideally in a plastic bag to keep dust out), etc. The operating instructions (most of which have been discussed in the previous section) have detailed photographic illustrations and are very easy to follow.
An especially important section of the literature details operating precautions. Some of these are obvious, or so one would hope, e.g. keep out of reach of children, do not use if there is a smell of gas, etc. Others do have considerable bearing on how the lantern should be used in the field. It recommends against using it in unventilated or enclosed areas, as it depletes oxygen, and cautions against use in a tent, trailer etc. The Xcursion, from these directions, is clearly intended as proximity lighting for campsites, to facilitate cooking, tent set-up, and perhaps reading in a lean-to, but it is not intended and should not be used in a tent. To some extent it appears to me that it is more dangerous to use a lantern than to cook in a tent, as a cook-stove is down on the floor, but to be useful the lantern must be elevated and is then close to the tent walls.
Proposed testing Strategy
Testing plan
I backpack, on average, at least once a month (trips of one to three nights), in the Catskill or Adirondack Mountains of New York State, camping in winter to elevations of approximately 4000 ft (1220 m), lower (as dictated by park regulations) in other seasons. In October, the weather will start to cool (in fact it already has), and although we may still have some fairly warm days, nights will be chill. I believe we have already had our first nights below freezing at elevation. By the end of the test period, in January, nights will be consistently well below freezing (32 F, 0 C), and likely enough, far colder still.
Testing details
1. Ease of use. How easily and consistently does the lantern light? Must I use matches (if so, how many?), or will it ignite with use of my Brunton Helios lighter (possibly in conjunction with a wooden spill)? How strong is the mantle once burned-in? Will a mantle that's already in place stand up to the rigors of life in a backpack, or will I need to replace it each time I make camp? Is it possible to change the mantle while wearing gloves?
2. Utility. Is the light level adequate to the point that I can make my way with confidence around the area of my camp without use of my headlamp, thereby conserving battery power? How large an area is effectively illuminated? Does the lantern remain alight, without fluctuation in illumination, when in strong crosswinds? Will the lantern indeed function down to 15 F (-9 C) or below, as advertised?
3. Materials. How well does the lantern hold up to heavy use? Will the glass globe be protected within the sliding guards, or will it break. Will the plastic components resist impact with other objects in my backpack? Is this lantern's construction sturdy enough for life on the trail?
I thank BackpackGearTest and Coleman for permitting me to participate in this interesting test.
