By Dr. Jim and Mary Clary
Jim & Mary review the new LED camp light, the Coast EAL17 Emergency Area Lantern.
USA -(Ammoland.com)- The need for a good lantern in any base camp while hunting is a no-brainer. It is also not a bad idea to have one around the house in case of a power outage.
Before the advent of LEDs, we only had a choice of Coleman lanterns, oil lamps (lanterns) and some rechargeable fluorescent lanterns.
Coast EAL17 Emergency Area Lantern
Colemans were the best, but the mantles tended to break if you bumped the lantern too hard or it fell over. That was their short-coming. The Coast EAL17 does not have that disadvantage.
With the development of the LED “bulbs”, it wasn’t long before they were incorporated into area lanterns, rendering most other lanterns obsolete. Oh, we still keep a propane lantern on hand with new mantles as an emergency-emergency backup.
Call Jim old-fashioned in that respect, as it would be a lot easier to simply carry some extra batteries and buy an additional COAST lantern. (I’m working on him)
The COAST lantern can safely be used anywhere, including in your house. That is a major advantage over the propane and white gas lanterns. And, it throws out a lot of light, 460 lumens. With its red-mode feature (solid or flashing) it is also a handy thing to have in your vehicle in case of a breakdown or accident.
Coast EAL17 Emergency Area Lantern Specifications:
- Bulb: CREE LED
- Lumens: High – 460
- Runtime: High – 30 hours at max, Low – 50 hours
- Weight: 45.4 oz. (1,287 g)
- Height: 9.9 inches (25.2 cm)
- Base Diameter: 4.2 inches (10.7 cm)
- Stainless steel frame (impact & weather resistant)
- 4-Mode Switch: High, Energy Saving, Solid Red, Flashing Red
- Batteries: 4x D cell (not included)
- Warranty: 5 Years
- MSRP: $35
There are a few LED lanterns on the market that have a higher lumen output, but they utilize more batteries and have substantially shorter runtimes. The COAST EAL17 is the best compromise available…. 4D cell batteries, 30-50 hours of runtime and a 460 lumen output.
With an MSRP of $35 (less $ online), it has to be one of the best deals around. It becomes even more appealing when you see it advertised on Amazon for under $25.
About Jim and Mary Clary:
Jim and Mary Clary have co-authored over three hundred and fifty articles, (and counting) on shooting and hunting. You can read many of them on AmmoLand News.
For lengthy emergencies (3+ days) or WTSHTF we rely on outdoor solar lights. They’re not bright, but your eyes adjust and last a looonnngggg time. Bought a pkg of 10 and use two at a time, keeping the rest for future use.
Having these type of lanterns in short term power outages is worth the cost. Just don’t forget the batteries and let them corrode