Camp Site Lighting

[flyfisherman]

I did a thread on what I do for interior lighting of the camper when dry camping so now I thought I'd cover what I do for the outside camp site lighting.

Obviously, when staying at "improved" camp grounds where they have lighting almost all over the place, one can get by with maybe just one outside lantern, or like what one of my fishing friends has made ... a sort of a moveable electrical light, mounted on a pole with a base and uses a defused shaded 60 watt bulb for lighting the camp area, rather than a lantern. But for me, I'd just as soon use a lantern.

Most of my stays are at National Forest C/G's where electrical hook-ups are far and few between. And there are some places where we set-up that are  absolutely remote ... not camp grounds per se, but out in the woods with zero "facilities", which puts a little different slant on things!  

For camp lanterns I like the old timey gas type ... you know, the kind you have to pump-up, and when you go to light them they go ... "WWWOOOOOFFFF"!
I think they give off more light than the propane type. Actually, have two of them; one is a double mantle Coleman which has an amber globe for maybe helping with the night time bugs that are attracted to the light and another with the clear globe.  Along with these gas lanterns also have an old timey kerosene lantern that we use, especially when staying in remote areas where you have the "facilities" away from the camper and there's no campground lighting and things can get real dark.  I keep the kerosene lantern going all night ... provides just enough light for one to find their way back home after a "visit" to the facilities.  Of course, everyone knows I would not even consider the prospects of using any such thing as kerosene to help get a stubborn camp fire going!

Another lighting item that I've found so very useful around campsite at night, finding my way to and from the "faciliteis" and even down by the river when night fishing, is an inexpensive miner's light, you know, a head light; it is a Ray-O-Vac and think I paid about $8.00 for it at Wally-Marts. Has the regular miner's light in the center, then below a clear LED bulb and two red LED bulbs. A great light for what it cost and for what I do.

Thought it might be interesting to see what others are using in simular places.



Fly

[ScoobyDoo]

[

Thought it might be interesting to see what others are using in simular places.



Fly[/QUOTE]


   We haven't used them yet but we picked up some 4LED lanterns that have a base small enough to fit in the cup holder on the chair. The reflector is shaped to send the lite out and down, I hope they will light up the ground around the chair and not glare in my eyes.

[ForestCreature]

We rely on the campfire for most of the lighting. If we need more light to make hobo pies or to tidy up the site before we hit the sack  we either use old fashioned oil/kerosene lamps or a single mantle coleman propane lamp. Then back off it goes.

 We tend to like our surroundings dimly lit, the stars and moon are nicer to see without lots of light pollution.

[AustinBoston]

We tend to like our surroundings dimly lit, the stars and moon are nicer to see without lots of light pollution.

I have to admit I'm almost bipolar on this.  Sometimes, I want it so dark I can see my shadow by the light of Jupiter.  At other times, I want my site lit up better than an operating room.

Fortunately, I have enough self control to not do that to my fellow campers.  On those occasions that I do use a propane lantern, I also use a homemade shield that wraps part way around the globe to help keep the light on our site.

Austin

[wavery]

The only time that we like to "Light-up" our camp site is when we first arrive.

We inevitably arrive after dark and setting up can be a bother with no light. I have a small inverter (450W) that I plug into the TV lighter. I then plug a 110v shop light with a (28W) florescent bulb into it. You know, one of those shop lights with the 15" shiny aluminum bowl with a clamp on it.....I think that we may even get another one so that we can light up the entire area while setting up.

Once we are set up, we like the dark camp site with the glow of a camp fire. If we need to light the table for eating, we'll use a rechargeable, florescent lantern (if we don't forget to charge it).

[wernstriumph]

I agree that the "old timey" gas lanterns are brighter, but most of my dry camping is done with the Cub Scouts and we are not allowed to use liquid fuel. So we rely on propane for the main campsite lighting. I keep it on low so we don't disturb other campsites and turn it up when we need it. The kids go to bed early so after 9:00 the campfire is really the only bright light.