Field and test information
To date, winter has been very mild (the eighth warmest January on record, here in New York State). Daytime temperatures have been as high as 60 F (16 C), down to perhaps 15 F (-9 C). There has been a fair amount of snow, but also an unusual amount of rain for this time of year. Elevations at which the lantern was used varied from 500 ft (152 m) to 4000 ft (1219 m), sometimes in heavily wooded settings, in the Catskill Mountains of New York State.
Product Use and Performance
The Xcursion Lantern (courtesy Coleman)
The usual bitter cold of a Catskill winter has been largely lacking this year. As a consequence, I've only been able to test the Xcursion lantern under what I would consider moderate winter cold, down to around 15 F (-9 C), which is the lower operating temperature Coleman suggests. At this temperature, it proved to operate relatively well, and I'd suspect that it would do so at a somewhat lower temperature. I did have some difficulty igniting it initially, but I think this was largely a function of the wind, coupled with clumsiness. Under these circumstances, lighting the lantern with my Brunton Helios lighter proved impossible, and I was reduced to begging matches from friends (I had some with me but they were buried in my gear). None the less, the lantern functioned very nicely in a moderate breeze. We have some ferocious windstorms recently, part of the peculiar winter weather that my region has experienced, but I've not been out camping in them!
While it isn't a "make or break" issue, lighting the lantern is, in my opinion, mildly inconvenient. I find waterproof-windproof matches something of an annoyance, and I'm rather used to using my lighter in adverse conditions. This does seem a case where a piezoelectric igniter would be a useful addition, despite the (small) addition it would make to the weight, and to the cost. None-the-less, I will continue to use this little lantern, though perhaps not on winter trips when the combination of cold, wind, and gloved hands make the procedure awkward. I commented on this aspect in my Field Report, and my subsequent experience has cemented my opinion.
Still, this is a pleasant addition to my pack for a short backpacking trip. I'd hesitate to use it for a lengthy trip, because of the weight and the supply problems entailed in keeping it fueled, but for a couple of nights on the trail, it's a delight. As I had remarked previously, the light makes a convenient focus of activity when in camp after dark. I find it rather cheery, and I don't feel any compulsion to light a small fire (something I rarely do in any case). At the same time, something is lost. If I'm using a headlamp alone, I can turn it off in an instant and admire the night; with the lantern, I know that if I turn it off I'm going to have to fiddle around relighting it, so it stays on, and the stars remain unviewed.
I've attempted to replace the mantle wearing gloves, and I found the procedure well nigh impossible. However, the burned-in mantles are surprisingly sturdy, and I've not had one break, despite the jostling the lantern gets in my pack. Indeed, the durability of the lantern seems good overall. It's seen seven or eight nights of use, and it's not been babied, and it looks brand-new. I shall at some point find a stuff-sack for it. I'm rather surprised that Coleman doesn't supply one. The sliding reflectors, which double as protecting shields for the glass globe when in transit, seem to do their job well. They lock in place sufficiently well that they can't get accidentally retracted.
To recap (in part) what I have established in my earlier reports, the Xcursion is particularly handy when used in conjunction with a Coleman stove using Powermax fuel. One filling suffices for a night or two of use. Coleman states that the burn time is six hours from a fully charged tank, and what I've experienced is roughly in line with that. The procedure for refilling the tank is extremely straightforward and rapid. I can remove the base, attach the fuel bottle, charge the unit, remove the fuel and close the base in well under a minute. I find it convenient not to have to carry a separate canister.
Summary
This is a sturdy little lantern, and I'm very pleased with its performance. I've found it handy around the campsite, especially in the "kitchen" area. It performs well in moderate cold, and (although I've not used it in high winds) it holds a reasonably steady light in a fairly stiff breeze. I like it as an addition to my pack for weekend jaunts.
