"Let there be light" - Review of Brunton Lamplight - Extendible LED Flashlight

The Brunton Lamplight is exactly that: a lantern and flashlight, and that's what didn't quite work for me. If you're looking for a lantern AND a flashlight that's lightweight and well-made, look no further. The Brunton Lamplight weighs in at a mere 3 ounces, uses three readily available AAA batteries, and is rated to light the way for 200 hours. That's a lot to pack in such a small piece of gear. But be prepared for just adequate lighting. The LEDs are sufficient, but don't expect to do much reading--the lantern is not that bright. But it works splendidly in a tent for making those last-minute preparations just before you retire for the night. The flashlight is a plus; however, that's the feature that didn't quite work for me. Don't get me wrong; the flashlight works well. In fact, it's an excellent flashlight. The magnified lens really sends the light to outer darkness so you can see just where to do your business during the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the flashlight part of the Lamplight uses so much light that the lantern feature suffers. The lantern feature is just not bright enough for my needs. If Brunton could redesign this piece of gear with a highly reflective end (in other words, eliminate the flashlight feature) and redirect that light upward to increase the lantern light, this would be the perfect tent lantern. Of course, then you wouldn't have the flashlight. But since I carry a Petzl headlamp already, I really just need a lantern. I exchanged the Brunton Lamplight for the Black Diamond Apollo lantern, which is about $20 more. It's much brighter and perfect for hanging in your tent or helping you see what your're doing when boiling water for that late-night cup of hot chocolate. Of course, you must be willing to accept the extra weight (8 ounces without the 4 AA batteries). The Brunton Lamplight is perfect for the ultra lightweight backpacker. Let there be light--there's plenty to choose from.
View Details: Brunton Lamplight - Extendible LED Flashlight >