Flashlights are great for camping or if you have a power outage but anyone who has spent any amount of time in the dark knows that the usefulness and convenience of a flashlight really drops off if you are doing anything that requires two hands, like playing cards, getting ready for bed or trying to cook or wash dishes. In those times, having a lantern around really pays off.
The AYL StarLight is powered by 3 "D" sized batteries that are supposed to be good for about two years in standby mode (up on the shelf waiting for that camping trip or that power outage).
The light has three modes - low, high and blink mode. The blink mode would be great for marking off the back of a car just in case you have to change a flat tire. In addition, the casing around the top of the lantern can be removed to make a flashlight out of the StarLight.
The manufacturer claims that it will run for 6 days thanks to the use of a very bright but energy-saving LED bulb. Of course, that depends on the quality of the batteries that are installed and the brightness level that is chosen.
Positives:
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| The StarLight lantern with a Bic pen next to it for size comparison. Photo by DWD. |
-Very bright bulb.
-Tough plastic body with rubberized trim to offer grip and a little "bounce" if it gets dropped or bumps into things.
-Long life with just a single set of batteries.
-Two hooks - one at the top that is also a handle and one at the bottom designed to be hung from the top of a tent with the casing removed.
-The instruction booklet is full color and well-written.
Negatives:
-It uses "D" batteries rather than a much more common size. Those "D" batteries make the lantern last longer but they are harder to find in the store and are much more expensive than let's say 6 or 8 "AA" batteries would be.
-Installing those "D" batteries is a crap shoot due to poor labeling. I tried them one way and had to remove them and flip them all over.
-Re-attaching the bottom of the lantern after the batteries are installed is pretty complicated. Considering how easy the rest of the lantern is to use, this is surprising.
This lantern can be found at Amazon.com here:
AYL StarLight - 300 Lumens Ultra Bright LED Lantern - The Perfect LED Lantern for Camping, Hiking or Any Type of Emergency - Battery Powered Ultra Long Lasting
. Click through to check for current pricing. As of the time of this review the price was $35I rate this lantern 5 stars out of 5.
Note: I received a free lantern sample to try out and test in exchange for an honest review.
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