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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: gunwharfman on 21:36:29, 09/10/20

Title: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: gunwharfman on 21:36:29, 09/10/20
If I'm going to do any winter camping and to cope with long hours of darkness I will want to buy a small, lightweight lamp to fit or hang in my tent so that I can 'potter around' and read until I finally fall asleep. I might have to consider a head torch, but if possible I think I'd like one that's not fixed to my body. My head torch is not suitable for me, much too bright and is not viewer comfortable in the confined space of my one-man tent or if I used my bivvy.

Any suggestions, please.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: April on 22:07:44, 09/10/20

We have this lantern, you can dim it and switch off half of the lights so you can choose how bright you want the light to be.

https://www.solarpowersupply.co.uk/product-groups/solar-lights/goal-zero-lighthouse-micro-flash-usb-rechargeable-lantern (https://www.solarpowersupply.co.uk/product-groups/solar-lights/goal-zero-lighthouse-micro-flash-usb-rechargeable-lantern)



We wish the switches were on the bottom of the lantern though. When it is hanging from the ceiling of the tent, it is awkward to switch it on/off/dim it etc. Other than that it is a great lantern.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: Zizag on 22:38:34, 09/10/20
Check out Iprotec Chamelon Led torch .
Not a lamp*
  120 lumens
 
Has a steel belt pocket clip (which you can hang in your tent )
It has adjustable Zoom ,Main beam or small beam Incorporating White ,Green (to read by) Red light 4inches long  and weighs 65grams + 1 AA battery 90grams .
Cost About £17- £20 .





Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: richardh1905 on 08:28:24, 10/10/20
Petzl do a 'Noctilight' holder that effectively turns one of their excellent headtorches into a lantern.


Don't see the point myself - I either just wear my head torch on a low setting, hang it from the tent inner loop or lay it on the floor shining onto the tent fabric on a higher setting - the light reflects off the inner nicely. Wouldn't work well if your tent had one of those black out inners, mind!
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: kinkyboots on 09:51:16, 10/10/20
If you already have a power bank for charging your mobile phone and other usb devices on the go consider adding a plug in usb flexible reading light to it for a couple of quid.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexibl-Portable-Reading-Computer-Notebook/dp/B07NWTZWGN (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexibl-Portable-Reading-Computer-Notebook/dp/B07NWTZWGN)

If not consider buying a lightweight power bank which includes one for under £11. The one below is only 6.5oz/185g and also includes a usb flexible reading light and a torch/flashlight

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EAFU-10000mAh-Portable-Flashlight-Compatible/dp/B07Y57CYTF (https://www.amazon.co.uk/EAFU-10000mAh-Portable-Flashlight-Compatible/dp/B07Y57CYTF)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJYoAogCNM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJYoAogCNM)
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: gunwharfman on 10:36:52, 10/10/20
Thank you all. The Goal Zero looks like the one I'd go for but I think I'll try the LED flexible USB light first. I'm influenced entirely by the price difference! I'll send away for one of those first.

Unfortunately as a colour blind person I'm never sure which light will work best until I've actually tried it. For example, if I try to read an AA road map of the UK under my internal car lights every page is a blur but if I use the maps on my mobile phone they are clear and very easy to read.

If I buy the wrong light my book pages will be blurred, an irritating problem but I've learned to live with it.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 13:19:08, 10/10/20
Another option if you has a phone and power bank is to use the Kindle app on your phone and read from your phone. That way you can carry as many books as you like, without adding any weight and you don’t need a light to read by. The Kindle app is free and there are plenty of free books you can download.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: jimbob on 13:34:21, 10/10/20
And when you've finished the book you can delete it instead of continuing to carry it, making your load lighter to carry.  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 13:50:25, 10/10/20
And when you've finished the book you can delete it instead of continuing to carry it, making your load lighter to carry.  :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
That would depend how the book is stored. You may have more or less electrons in the phone when the book is stored. In any case, you would need to be very sensitive to notice the difference  ;D
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: scottk on 21:24:56, 10/10/20
https://www.treadlitegear.co.uk/tread-lite-gear-ultralight-cuben-fiber-rechargeable-led-lantern-11g-233-p.asp (https://www.treadlitegear.co.uk/tread-lite-gear-ultralight-cuben-fiber-rechargeable-led-lantern-11g-233-p.asp)


I have one of these and it’s pretty good. Just wrap it up with the tent and it’s always there.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: gunwharfman on 12:41:23, 11/10/20
First time I've seen that site, really interesting. Is the cuben fibre covering used to enhance the light quality, or is it just a bag?
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: fernman on 14:42:59, 11/10/20
First time I've seen that site, really interesting. Is the cuben fibre covering used to enhance the light quality, or is it just a bag?

The cuben fibre bag acts as a diffuser for the light.

I had one of the earlier models that ran off a button battery. Much as I rate his products, this one was an absolute lemon, it hardly gave out any light at all. I wouldn't even give it to anyone, I threw it away.

 O0 for the Goal Zero Micro Lantern mentioned earlier in this thread.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: NeilC on 09:57:39, 12/10/20
Funnily enough I've been using the same concept for ages - wrap blown-up carrier bag with an elastic band around the next of a head torch to create a lantern.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: richardh1905 on 07:27:27, 13/10/20
Funnily enough I've been using the same concept for ages - wrap blown-up carrier bag with an elastic band around the next of a head torch to create a lantern.


Bit cheaper than a cuben fibre bag!  :)


I tried that with my head torch, but I find that just shining it on the roof of the light coloured inner gives a perfectly good light, reflected rather than diffused.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: NeilC on 09:02:39, 13/10/20

Bit cheaper than a cuben fibre bag!  :)


I tried that with my head torch, but I find that just shining it on the roof of the light coloured inner gives a perfectly good light, reflected rather than diffused.


I bet, but does it make you feel like an inventive superlight backpacker?  ;D
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: fernman on 11:42:09, 13/10/20
I bet, but does it make you feel like an inventive superlight backpacker?  ;D

If you shop at Sainsburys everything will look a weird colour.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: NeilC on 12:51:31, 13/10/20
I like the whole of Dartmoor to see I shop at Waitrose!
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: gunwharfman on 13:02:53, 15/10/20
Thanks Kinkyboots for your suggestion. I bought a flexi light with a USB end from Amazon, less than £5, including postage, your suggestion seems to be a great idea. I can also use the jiffy bag it came in again, brilliant! My phone battery pack has two USB sockets so I'll try it out properly in my tent in the garden on Friday night.

I can also use it to light up my keyboard at night at home. A really simple and clever little gadget. I obviously know so little about such things but that doesn't matter, now I do!
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: kinkyboots on 14:04:02, 15/10/20
Glad you are happy with it but the proof of the pudding will be in the 'real world' testing.

Hopefully it will be fine for your needs but as with all electrical items nothing lasts forever and there's probably a good reason why they're also sold in packs of 3 or more.

From a safety point of view just keep an eye on the level of heat it may give off from the point of view of it possibly being a potential fire risk.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: richardh1905 on 15:45:31, 15/10/20
From a safety point of view just keep an eye on the level of heat it may give off from the point of view of it possibly being a potential fire risk.


Hmm - one of the Amazon reviews did mention it getting "very hot".
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: kinkyboots on 16:00:14, 15/10/20

Hmm - one of the Amazon reviews did mention it getting "very hot".

Depends which particular one gunwharfman ended up buying.

There will be both good and bad Chinese made ones but you can probably say with some degree of certainty that they will probably all be Chinese made.

I think it's just a case of making sure it doesn't come into direct contact with the sleeping bag or tent material particularly if you nod off or fall asleep whilst reading but the same could be said of any light/lantern.
Title: Re: Small, lightweight internal tent light for long winter nights
Post by: gunwharfman on 17:57:25, 15/10/20
I'll keep a special eye open for overheating. Such a simple clever idea. If it proves to be unsuitable for what I want, I'll buy the other small lamp thats been suggested.