Lighting is pretty essential for a night in the woods and while a standard headlamp will cut it the majority of the time, there are other times you may want something a little different. Black Diamond has you covered with an array of new laps to choose from. On the larger side there is the Apollo Lantern for those car camping adventures perhaps and if you want something a little lighter then look for the Moji or the Zip. Read on for details of each below.
Price: $47.99CAN / $59.95US
Colours: octane (red), graphite, or powell blue.
Lumens: 250 (on max setting)
Weight (with batteries): 344g (12.1 oz)
Max burn time: 24H
IPX rating: 4
Batteries: Rechargeable lithium ion (included), 3 x AA (not included)
Apollo, the greek god of light, was said to pull the sun across the sky with his horses and chariot. Fortunately for us, Black Diamond has created the Apollo Lantern so that when the god of light is busy with other things we may still find illumination. And what better to replace the god of sun than with QuadPower LEDs. 225 lumens shine through a diffuser globe, which provides glare free illumination.
This dual battery lighting system allows you to charge your other devices via USB or micro USB ports. The system either a rechargeable lithium ion battery or 3 AA batteries interchangeably. Each battery bank has its own power meter so you can see exactly how much juice is left in the tank. Multiple batteries not enough? How about multiple modes? The Apollo has both strobe and dimmer settings.
Hang this light anywhere with collapsable, double hook hang-loops. If you would prefer your light on the table, foldable legs prop up to form a tripod.
This is a great light for life in a hut, tent, or around the table. Bright and simple to use, it can be hung or placed anywhere that you might want to shed some light. The dimmer setting is always appreciated as sometimes 225 lumens can feel like the light of a thousand suns.
Another really cool application with this light is that it is capable of charging other devices. The dual battery bank also means that you can do so without having to decide being able to power your device or keep the lights on. Another added bonus of the USB ports is that the light itself is chargable, so if you’re on a road trip you can recharge the light while you drive.
While this is a great camping lantern, it’s size does limit it to shorter missions or car camping. In a backpack that’s stuffed to the brim, this light wouldn’t make the cut simply because of its size.
That said, it’s an awesome light to have in your tool kit.
Price: $24.99CAN / $19.95US
Colour: Vibrant orange, process blue, graphite, dark berry, fern
Lumens: 100 (max setting)
Weight with batteries: 122g (4.3 oz)
Max burn time: 70 hrs
IPX rating: 4
Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
Sometimes, simple is better. The Moji lantern is compact, durable, and bright; how much more do you need out of a camping lantern? Casting even, ambient light, this little light will help shed light on any camp situation.
If you’re looking for an alternative (or perhaps addition?) to a headlamp or flashlight in your kit, this is going to be a great bet. Adjustable lighting and a simple yet effective hanging system make this a great tool.
Price: $34.99CAN
Colour: Octane, graphite, powell blue
Lumens: 150 (max setting, lantern mode), 90 (flashlight mode)
Batteries: 4 x AAA
Ever find yourself wanting the precision beam of a flashlight but with the ambient light of a lantern? The smallest of these lighting systems is Black Diamonds Zip Lantern, their latest innovation in backpack lighting.
5 LEDs offer 150 lumens of light softened by the same frosted globe offered by the Moji. This more ambient light is ideal for cooking, or going over a map, but when a more precision beam is desired, the flashlight mode can make that happen at 90 lumens.
4 AAA batteries power this light, which can be dimmed to reach the desired illumination. All modes are controlled via a single button to keep things simple, and a small collapsible hang loop make it possible to easily hang this light anywhere.
This lantern is about the same shape and only just bigger than a Zippo lighter, perhaps that’s where the name Zip came from? The Zip is sort of an interesting evolution of the flashlight; designed to offer some of the characteristics of a lantern, but still maintains the convenience of a flashlight.
The multiple modes certainly offer flexibility of use, and the hook makes it easy to hang, but I’m not sure the zip beats the convenience of a head lamp. I suppose not blinding your campmates everytime you look them in the eye is a bonus!
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