Reviews > Lighting > Lanterns > UCO Original Candle Lantern LED > Test Report by Jo Ann Moffi

UCO ORIGINAL CANDLE LANTERN PLUS LED

Initial Report March 29, 2008

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TESTER INFORMATION		PRODUCT INFORMATION Manufacturer: Industrial Revolution Year of Manufacture: 2008 Manufacturer URL: http://candlelantern.com/ Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: N/A Finish: Polished Aluminum (Also available in Brass) Colour: Silver (Also available in Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red) Listed Weight: Aluminum: 210 g (7.5 oz) including candle Listed Measurements: Collapsed: 5 cm x 13.3 cm (2 in x 5.25 in) Open: 5 cm x 17.8 cm (2 in x 7 in) Actual Weight: Entire Unit: 208 g (7.3 oz) including candle LED Alone: 17 g (0.6 oz) Unit without LED: 190 g (6.7 oz) including candle Candle Alone: 51 g (1.8 oz) Actual Measurements: Collapsed: 5 cm x 13.3 cm (2 in x 5.25 in) Open: 5 cm x 17.8 cm (2 in x 7 in) Listed Burn Time: 9 hours per candle Listed Battery Life: Up to 40 hours
Name	Jo Ann Moffi
Age	34
Gender	Female
Height	168 cm (5ft 6 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lbs)
Email Address	jomoffi AT gmail DOT com
City, State, Country	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
I was introduced to backpacking about 16 years ago when I met my husband. We have been backpacking, canoe camping, car camping, hiking, and participating in all sorts of outdoor activities together ever since. We live in a border town (US & Canada), so we spend lots of time in both countries for our outdoor excursions. When making a decision on gear, I like to go lightweight and practical. I pack as light as possible without denying myself little luxuries.

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INITIAL REPORT
March 29, 2008

Arrived March 29, 2008

The UCO Original Candle Lantern plus LED (herein after referred to as the 'lantern' or 'LED' respectively) is the blending of an easily transportable candle and small LED into one compact package. The LED is conveniently inserted into the bottom of the lantern. The LED is removable and can be used separately from the lantern. Each UCO candle burns in the lantern for 9 hours. The LED provides up to 40 hours of light. 

The lantern opens easily by grasping the top band of aluminum and pulling away from the body of the lantern. This brings up the glass chimney and locks it into place for use. The lantern is easily closed by pushing down on the top band, sliding the chimney into the body for transport and storage. The lantern and LED compresses down to 13.3 cm (5.25 in) high for transportation. 

To access the candle I unscrew the black plastic housing for the LED off the bottom of the lantern. This allows me to take the candle and its aluminum sleeve out of the body of the lantern. The candle is then easy to take out of its aluminum sleeve by unscrewing it from the black plastic housing. The candle itself sits on a small aluminum base which in turn sits on a spring. This spring forces the candle up into the aluminum sleeve as the candle burns down. The aluminum sleeve has a 3.8 cm (1.5 in) vertical slit on each side so that I can tell how much candle I have left for burning. To light the lantern I just slide down the glass chimney to expose the candle and its wick, then slide the glass back into place once I've lit the candle. It is easily lit with either a lighter or a match. The lantern can either be hung by its bail or stood up while it is burning. 

The LED itself is in the center of a clear plastic insert made to fit in a black plastic housing about 15 mm (0.6 in) deep in the bottom of the lantern. The LED is held in place via two small clips on either side of the insert. The clear plastic insert also holds two 3-volt lithium cell batteries that are accessed by turning the top off the insert. There is a thin wire embedded into the top of the insert that makes a half circle on the top of the insert. When I turn the top turned as far clockwise as I can, the wire completes a circuit between the two batteries and lights up the LED. To turn off the LED I just turn the dial counter clockwise until the light turns off. A very simple yet ingenious idea! 

Initial Impressions
I have been a very satisfied candle lantern owner for the past 10 years. The main lantern design has essentially not changed since my old candle lantern was produced. It still functions as this new one does with the exception of the LED in the bottom of the lantern. We have burned countless candles in the lantern!

In honour of Earth Hour (Started in Sydney, Australia and held on the last Saturday in March, Earth Hour an annual event of turning off the power to create a political message about the need for action against global warming), my husband and I lit the lantern and enjoyed a powerless evening playing cards by the light of the candle lantern. It threw enough light to allow us to see the immediate vicinity of our dining room table. 

Over the next four months, I will be using the UCO Original Candle Lantern plus LED as my primary lighting source after dark for all my backpacking excursions. I look forward to reporting on the results experienced while backpacking this season!

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This concludes my Initial Report. Please check back in approximately two months for the addition of the Field Report. Thank you to BackpackGearTest and to Industrial Revolution for the opportunity to test the UCO Original Candle Lantern plus LED.

Reviews > Lighting > Lanterns > UCO Original Candle Lantern LED > Test Report by Jo Ann Moffi