Customer Reviews

Coleman 8D Retro Family-Size Lantern

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just ordered 2 more of these Retro 8D cell-powered full size lanterns, having just gone through an extended power outage in the Seattle area (power still not on 6 days after a windstorm). Kerosene lanterns and candles are dangerous and produce little light. Electric lanterns are very safe to use inside and unlikely to cause a fire or pollute the air.

I have owned both a Coleman Rechargeable Twin-Tube Lantern and the Retro Full Size and have found that the rechargeable lantern is more expensive, does not hold a charge very well over time (poor shelf life), does not produce enough light, and only lasts for about 5 hours. In contrast,the 8D cell-powered Retro Full Size is ready to go when needed, produces a surprising amount of very white light, and lasts at least 20-25 hours on the lower setting, which is nearly as bright as the full setting. Also, the night light setting uses very little power and can provide enough illumination to find articles in a dark room when task lighting is not needed. The current price ($19.99) on this item is also the best that I found online. Just buy your D cell batteries in bulk and keep plenty on hand.

I bought this lantern for a camping trip and it worked pretty well.

Pros:
- The 8 D-cell batteries gives it a good weight so it won't slide around.
- The light is very nice and bright, and it doesn't get very hot.
- The battery life is pretty good. We used it every night for a week and it still seemed to be going strong.
- Once the battery compartment is screwed tight, the lantern feels pretty solid.

Cons:
- It takes 8 D-cell batteries, which is a bit pricey.
- The batteries are held in a removable battery holder which is then inserted into the lantern and held in place with a Velcro strap. The setup feels a bit flimsy.
- The two brightness settings are almost indistinguishable. We just kept it on the lower setting to hopefully lessen the drain on the batteries.

Overall, this lantern is a good buy. It survived our week long camping trip without giving us any issues. The build quality is good enough once you close up the battery compartment. Just don't be too rough when you're changing the batteries.

This monster needs a whooping 8 D batteries, but in return the fluorescent bulb will give you room-filling light, almost the equivalent of a 40 watt light bulb. Plus, the batteries have a lifespan of a few hours more than the conventional alkaline flashlight sitting in your desk drawer. I really like this lantern, and it is a good emergency light for your home.

I have 2 problems with this thing, however. First, the battery compartment is kind of hokey. You have to put it in your lap, hold the base with one hand, and twist the bottom with the other hand. Out comes a plastic battery case held in place with some velcro. Talk about easy to break or lose (hey, son, what happened to the battery holder? Uh, well, it sort of broke, so I tossed it...). The other problem is that the bulb is that harsh, blue-green color that is kind of painful to look at directly.

I've had many different lanterns over time, and have had trouble seeing with most of them, particularly those that I've tried to use inside my tent. I'm glad there is finally a light that those of us with straining eyesight can benefit from. Although it takes a lot of batteries, I'd rather spend the money on batteries and be able to see than spend money on a few less batteries and not be able to see a thing.

Purchased this lantern more than a year ago Coleman Retro Battery Powered Lantern (Family-Size). Like it so well I'm buying another as a present for a friend down the road.

It's a boon companion during our many power outages (six miles from Seattle as the crow flies, and light years away in electrical service reliability.) Perhaps harder to store due to its size, but puts out enough light to read by even at "low" setting. I find the night light a real comfort during overnight outages. Yes, the battery setup is cumbersome and it takes 8 D cells, but I've only changed them once so far...a good track record considering multiple outages.

I've had this out in my trailer for six months, using it for both a work light and for general illumination. It works great, and hasn't been bothered by the odd knock. The lamp is quite bright, a bit bright for a table lamp but it's easy enough to diffuse the light. Still on the original set of batteries. A very good performer, and a very very good value.

Compare this to a GE lantern that was given to me a few months ago that is now dead. The GE is not serviceable and is basically throw away junk. The Coleman product has a much better design and can actually be serviced, and replacement lamps are widely available. I wouldn't waste my money on a non-Coleman lantern for the serviceability issue.

I bought this lantern in 2009 as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend. it is now Aug 2011 and i STILL haven't had to replace the batteries because it is STILL going very strong and very bright! This lantern has been the single most useful item in this house. The light it gives off is very bright (probably around what a 40w bulb gives off.) I used Energizer Industrial batteries in mine. Maybe that's why it's lasted so long?? Not sure. If this thing were waterproof then i would give it 345934759384753 stars!!! lol (im not sure if it is. and i dont want to ruin it finding out!!) I bought 2 more of these lanterns for my father and brother for Christmas as well. Well done Coleman, Well done!! :)

Power went out yesterday for about 5 hours. First time using my new lantern and it was great. It lights up the whole room. I will be purchasing more of these, and some for family members, too.

Best light. I want bright light bulb natural light for inside dark situation, not artificial blue light from LED. I am willing to replace a bulb in a few years, rather than accept unnatural light which claims no bulb replacement.I like the lantern for anywhere, even inside house when lights fail. It has a solid feel to it. Looks good, new like, not old fashioned. The price is good. Excellent service; it arrived without any glitch in a reasonable time.

I purchased this as an emergency light and have used it several times for roughly 10 hours on the original set of batteries (still as bright) and have been very impressed with the light output. The high setting comfortably illuminates a 12' x 12' room (especially at table height or higher). The medium setting is good for the same size room if just general lighting is required. The lantern is a little heavy with all the batteries loaded, but the build quality is very good. I would highly recommend this light for an emergency or camping light and as a safer alternative to the traditional gas lantern.