Customer Reviews

Coleman NorthStar Dual Fuel InstaStart Lantern

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been using my Northstar dual-fuel for about two years. There are a number of great features on this lantern:

1. The wire "cage" really does protect the lantern. Mine's taken a few bumps and the globe is fine, thanks to the cage.

2. The fuel pump is great! Old style Coleman liquid fuel appliances required you to turn the pump counter clockwise, cover a thumb hole, pump the unit 20-30 times, then close the pump. This lantern is simple - just pump the unit - no thumb holes to deal with, and no need to open/close the pump valve.

3. Instastart button is nice, but not bullet-proof. In windy conditions I sometimes still have to resort to matches, but overall it's a great feature that works about 90% of the time to light the lantern. In addition, sometimes there's quite a puff of black smoke when the lantern lights. It's not a hazard, just takes a little getting used to.

4. The single "tube sock" mantle is easy to install, durable, and very bright, but they are more expensive than traditional tie-on mantles. They come with wire twists that fit onto grooves in the generator. Mine usually last an entire camping season (about a dozen overnight trips).

Here's a few cons I've noticed:

1. I seriously doubt you'll get 13 hours of burn time on a full tank of fuel, even with the lantern at the lowest setting. For one thing, you can only fill the tank about 2/3rd's full due to the placement of the filler hole (plus you need to leave air for the pump to operate correctly). I average about 6-8 hours with a tank of fuel. You can usually go an entire weekend without refilling the tank.

2. Residue. Sometimes the instastart takes awhile to work, and you get a puff of black smoke when it finally does fire up. The smoke kind of leaves a residue on the inside of the lantern, as well as on the top where the thumb screw is. This is common with most liquid fuel lanterns I've owned, just clean the globe from time to time.

I have used the lantern five or six times and cannot brag enough about how great it works. I really liked the one mantle design. The mantle is just as bright as two, it clips in-so no more awkward strings. The lamps igniter works great, no more trying to light with matches and shield from wind. I have not used gasoline yet but only the coleman fuel. when I run out I will try gas, and update this review. The lantern is a little high on price but its well worth it.

After having problems with the Petromax Britelyt lantern, this one was a breeze to use and costs much less. The mantle design is awesome, it connects from the bottom all the way to the top, and it is very bright. The electic ignition works very well. Comes with a large funnel that makes filling it very easy. On the downside, instructions say to use it outside only.

LOVE IT, LOVE IT< LOVE IT

I choose my equipment based on ease of use (especially for a mostly blind person), convenience, and reliability

The mantels are incredibly easy to put on, although the ones that came with the lantern do not have a little rubber piece that the replacements come with. The metal hoock / clamp was too loose and when we tried to tighten it just a bit, it broke. However, the replaements fit perfectly as the rubber piece makes them hold thier shape until you install them.

As for the dual fuel, let's face it; if you run out of fuel it's easier to go get some unleaded gas than it is to find more camp fuel.

The matchless system is awesome; I don't have to worry about haveing to get close to the lantern to see where my match tip is and have it blow up in my face.

I like the metal cage around the globe so It wll be much harder to break the globe (and yes, I did kick it over the first night in camp :-p)

Oe more thing - You absolutely CAN get a hard cover case for this lantern. I'm sure there's one on here that works, but I got mine at Bass Pro where I could put the lantern in to make sure it fit.

All around an EXCELLENT product!!

I recently bought this lantern, I did lots of research before buying this one, used it twice now for about 4 hours each time, works well. Its well designed and good light. Never owned a lantern before, this is my first.

It wasn't as bright as I thought it would be as reading all the reviews everyone saying it was very bright, I think its as bright as a 100watt light bulb (on high), and about equivalent to a 75watt bulb of indoor light outside (as there's no walls to reflect off if you get what i mean), all in all I didn't find it blindingly bright to stare at, even had fun looking at the glowing hot mantel. As its the brightest lantern on the market I can't really complain that its not bright enough, only wish it was more brighter, I thought it would be like a flood like on high.

PROS

- electric start works great, didn't have any problems starting in the wind, I just turn the gas right up and held down the spark and started straight away
- good amount of light, brightest lantern on the market(I'm pretty sure)
- long run time, and doesn't require re-pumping
- cage seems great (haven't bumped it yet though)
- sturdy design

CONS

- a little smokey when first lit, (about 30sec before it runs well)
- not good for back packing a little heavy and also bit big for back packing

Other notes

- lantern came with a fuel filter/funnel
- the soft carry case is great
- Coleman fuel is naptha with a bit of anti corrosion additive in, so you can also run on other naptha (naptha is low octane petrol without the additives i believe) fuels also called fuellite, shellite and other names.

I am a collector of coleman lanterns. I have always used them when fishing and camping. I have 35 lanterns and camp stoves. Most of them are old,but work fine. My daughter bought this lantern at Amazon for me as a Christmas. It is the hardest lantern I have ever had to light. It smokes really bad for several minutes before the generator gets hot enough to vaporize the gas. Finally,after much smoking the mantle gets bright. I love Coleman products,but this one needs more fine tuning. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I will stick with the old one's. I got a really nice one at a yard sale today for $5.00. It works like they are supposed to.

At first i was disappointed because i thought this was a two mantle Lantern. After seeing how bright this unit is, you do not need two mantles. With two mantles you would just burn more fuel.

This is a great buy when compared with the more expensive unit.

I bought this to replace a very old two mantle Coleman lantern. The light it puts out is very bright, and the lantern itself seems well-built. I'm not crazy about the battery ignition system, though. It does work, but coupled with the tube mantle, produces quite a pop when it ignites, followed by a lot of flame - I assume from the tube mantle filling up with gas prior to the igniter being able to light it. I blew through the side of the 1st mantle in just a few uses because of the way this lantern lights. My old Coleman's conventional mantles lasted for years.

Finally, 2 months after purchasing this from Amazon, I found the lantern at a Coleman outlet for $30.00 less.

Great item. Upgraded from Powerhouse model. Harder to find correct mantal for lantern but worth the difference. Love the matchless system.

I have been using this lantern for ever since it was released. I believe I have had it for at least 12 years. The first version of this pump had a small brass pin on the pump assembly that would push into your thumb when it was pressurized, telling you it was ready to light. I really liked this feature. I just recently had to replace the pump because it broke and the replacement pump does not have this brass pin. It does light with a puff of black smoke but it really does not dirty the glass globe. It must burn off after lighting.

Electronic ignition is still working fine after all these years. The glass globe has never broke and it has fallen off of a table twice. The single mantles last a long time and are much brighter than lanterns with two mantles. Once pressurized, you really do not have to worry about pumping it for the rest of the night (maybe after 4 hours you could pump a little but it still is pretty bright). I have always burned Coleman fuel. I did not even realize you could burn unleaded gas as well, until I was looking for the replacement pump assembly. Soft sided case protects the lantern and has storage for spare mantles.

The lantern is pricey but I believe it is worth it. As I mentioned, I have had it for a long time and I am very pleased with the durability and performance.