Coleman Powerhouse Dual Fuel Lantern – Up to 800 Lumens, 2-Mantle Design with Adjustable Brightness

Coleman camping gear has been a staple for generations, and the current Coleman Dual Fuel Powerhouse Lantern continues that fine tradition with a build-quality that’s rare today. It appears to be every bit as tough as its grandparents, without the cheap throw-away feel so many products now have.The light output from this lantern really is amazing — 1,107 lumens is a LOT of light and MUCH brighter than my old lantern — and although the hiss brings back fond wooded memories, it’s much quieter than I expected. The gentle sssssss is actually quite soothing. And giving it a few pumps on occasion is a fun part of the outdoor experience. It also adjusts down in completely variable settings to a warm, dim glow that’s just perfect for ending the evening around the campfire, enjoying a toasted marshmallow, and watching the embers die down before hitting the sleeping bag.Although propane is convenient it doesn’t perform as well in low temperatures or high altitudes, and Coleman liquid fuel is much more economical to use. One gallon of fuel is equal to about four and a half bottles of propane, so I figure in current Walmart dollars, I spend about $10 for same amount of performance I would get from $18 worth of propane. It adds up. Plus the one container is much easier to transport and store without the recycling headaches of the propane canisters.Since it’s dual fuel, it will also run on unleaded gasoline. Although I would not use it by preference because of the ethanol in today’s fuel that breaks down so quickly and attracts water, part of my reason for purchasing this in addition to camping is emergency preparedness, and the likely availability of unleaded gas in a pinch is a lot greater than that of propane cylinders. Propane doesn’t degrade in the bottle which is a plus, but the seven year life span of unopened Coleman Fuel is good enough for me. I can rotate it out more often than that and have fun while doing it.Yes, this lantern will work with the auxiliary flint igniter that can be picked up for about $4. It doesn’t fit perfectly, and the addition of a couple of extra washers would probably make a better installation, but I was able to mount it to the side of one of the oblong match holes just as it came and make it work with no problem. A thing to note is that if you are not using the igniter, matches are a requirement. A long BBQ type lighter will not fit into the hole. Longer fireplace matches with the extra reach are really good, but regular ol’ Diamond Strike Anywhere Matches work just fine as long as you hold them by the end. Those mantles are quite a ways up there.BTW, for any fueled lantern, always carry extra mantles. They’re cheap, easy to install if one gets damaged, and can make the difference between enjoyment and disappointment. I’ve always used the tie-on type, but the clips-on type are a lot easier to install and will be what I use from now on.This is a great purchase and I anticipate many years of use.