Owner Review by Dan Reed

Eastern Mountain Sports Aluminum Candle Lantern

Review Date: January 9, 2005

 

Tester Bio

 

Name: Dan Reed
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Height: 5’8” (1.7 m)
Weight  195 lb (88 kg)
Email address: dannreed “at” gmail “dot” com
City, State, Country: Southwest Harbor, Maine USA
Date: January 9, 2005

 

 

Backpacking Background:  I have hiked and backpacked for about 30 years now. I am surrounded by Acadia National Park, and travel all over New England and eastern Canada to explore the outdoors. I am a former Registered Maine Guide, did Advance Life Support for several Ambulance services, was a Police Officer on and off for 18 years and  on a K-9 search and rescue team for several years. I hike and backpack year round, kayak, and hunt. My backpacking style varies from ultralite to traditional, generally staying in a tent.

Product Information
Manufacturer: Eastern Mountain Sports
Mfg URL: www.EMS.com
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Mfg Weight: 7.5 oz (213 g) Candle included
Tested Weight: 7.6 oz (215 g) Candle included
Type: Candle Lantern
Price as listed: $19.00 USD

Product Description:
  The  EMS Aluminum Candle Lantern is a single candle lantern made of light weight aluminum with a glass shade. It comes in 5 different colors with a spring loaded housing that automatically adjusts to keep the proper flame height. The replaceable candle is advertised to burn up to 9 hours with 360 degree illumination. The lantern weighed 1/10 of an ounce (3 ml) over the listed weight, coming in at 7.6 oz (215 g). The closed height is approximately 4 ¼” (108 mm) and approximately 6 ½” (165 mm) when opened or extended. There is a wire handle that is approximately 4.5” (114 mm) above the top of the lantern when in the raised position with an approximately 3” (76 mm) chain terminating with a small S hook.

Field Testing:
  I tested this candle lantern on a privately owned parcel of land about 800 ft (244 m) up the side of a small mountain on Mount Desert Island, Maine. The weather was clear and dry, with daytime temperatures in the low 50’s (10 c), and nighttime of low 30’s (-1 c). The purpose of the testing was to see how well the lantern would work as a light to read by at night in the tent. After unpacking the lantern and reading the enclosed instructions I opened and lit the candle. This involves raising the upper portion of the lantern until it snaps into position, and then sliding the spring loaded glass shade down to light the candle. Carrying the lit lantern around outside with a light breeze, the candle did not seem to flicker any appreciable amount, and I did not have to worry about it going out. The amount of light given was barely enough to adequately navigate a campsite by. This was not my intended use when I purchased the lantern, but it would serve in a pinch if I found myself without any other light source. I had purchased the lantern to use as a reading light in my tent after dark. I tried reading by the lantern, with the lantern sitting on the floor of the tent, and hung at various heights from the peak of the tent roof. I found that it was barely enough light to read by when placed at the most advantageous height. In the enclosed paperwork, there are a number of accessories which may be purchased separately, including a reflector to place in back of the lantern to concentrate and reflect the light in one direction. Not having this reflector on hand, I used a piece of aluminum foil wrapped around the back ½ of the lantern, and could see and read much more easily, with an adequate amount of reading light in my opinion.

  At the base of the candle is a slot where the usable candle remaining is checked. In total, I used the candle approximately 8 and ¾ hours before changing the candle. Changing the candle itself was much easier than it appeared in the instructions, and can be done in just a couple minutes. The time approximate burn listed is for one candle.
  I have used this lantern on many trips and thus far have had no problems with it falling apart and it continues to work as advertised.

Things I like:

1. light weight
2. not prone to being blown out by accident or walking around.
3. not having to wear a head lamp to read at night.
   
   

Things I don’t like:

1. weak reading light
2. needing to make a reflector      

   Conclusion:

I feel the candle lantern is a reasonable and economical way to have a reading light, and to have as a back up light source that isn’t dependent on batteries and weighs little.