E-Gear Grenade Lantern - 2010 BCS

This little lantern is sold by various companies under various names. I own three of these with all different company names on them but they are all exactly the same except for color. And they all work really, really well. They are bright and compact, and great for a moderately lightweight table or tent lantern for boat/canoe camping, car camping, or short hikes. I prefer to go ultralight when going longer distances so this stays behind and I just use my headlamp. But, for the purpose for which it was built this lantern is one of the best. It is definitely better than the Black Diamond Apollo as it puts out a more even and brighter light.

One feature that hasn't been mentioned is the ability for this lantern to function as a really good broad beam flashlight. Just unscrew the top cap and it will project a very bright wide beam. It's very useful for walking at night. With the cap off you can also hang it upside down as there is another hook in the base. This gives a nice wide and bright downward pointing beam for a table or whatever. I've used this by hanging the lantern upside down from a branch that was over the camp table.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: There is one little trick with this model as well as other brands/models of LED lanterns. There is a dimly flashing LED on the base near the switch that is probably designed to make the lantern easy to find in the dark. The problem is that the batteries will die after about a month if you leave this thing on. Here's the trick: loosen the base until the batteries lose connection, then tighten the base back down. The flashing LED is only activated after the lantern is switched on, so if you loosen the batteries and break contact with the circuitry, then don't turn the lantern back on, the LED will not flash and the batteries won't slowly discharge.

I hope this helps someone out. I had to learn it the hard way, but this is still my favorite of all the lanterns that I've tried. I just don't understand why they keep putting a flash setting on these LED lights. I have no use for it, but they all do it.

First let Me say, when I received this lantern at home, I was very impressed. I wanted to buy another one. I showed it to some friends, and they wanted one also, so I purchased 4 more for Myself and friends.

I bought 2 of these lanterns for a canoe trip into the BWCA. I have yet to use them one My June trip, but have already enjoyed the use of these mighty little lanterns at home. We now use them at Our fire pit for cooking hot dogs or s'mores at night. It is much easier than lugging out the coleman propane lantern, and having a couple was also nice during a recent storm, when We lost power for over night.

The quality seems very good, and I like the little green light, that draws next to no power, but makes the light very easy to find in the dark.

I bought the cheapy version of this light at wal-mart, and there is no comparison. The cost is worth it, for something of this quality, and compactness. It casts' a very nice and even light.