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The Coleman Pocket Lantern is a pretty cool little light. Running on 4 AA cells, this light utilizes a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Tube (CCFT) to provide 360 deg. of light. A CCFT is the same type of tube used in LCD computer monitors and televisions to provide backlighting for the LCD screen. In the Coleman, the CCFT has been bent into a U shape to provide a brighter light in a smaller package.
The Coleman Pocket Lantern consists of two main parts
- the green body with the battery compartment, belt
clip, and driver circuit for the CCFT, and the movable
two-color lens area which contains the CCFT. The lens
is yellow on the one side to provide a more subtle light
and clear on the other to provide better color rendition.
The lens can be flipped up 180 degrees to expose the
clear side of the lens and rests in a detent at 90 degrees
so the unit can be set on its back with the tube straight
up. Personally, I don't understand why they didn't just
make the whole lens clear in order to provide a brighter
360 deg. light. There are also a pair of holes near
the lens hinge which allow the unit to be hung by the
included lanyard.
The "bezel" is nothing more than the movable lens system that contains the CCFT. Use the yellow side when more subtle light is needed, white for more light and better color rendition. Yellow light is supposed to attract fewer bugs at night, but I'm not really sure that this works.
Output is really good! Lots of light in all directions. If you like, you could stick a layer of silver reflective tape on the body where the tube rests to increase directional output when the unit is "closed". Glow sheeting would be another good option to provide lots of afterglow light after the unit has been turned off.
Beam profile with unit set directly in front of target with white side of lens toward target.
Runtime Plot: The runtime plot is very unusual. The light starts off dim, warms up, then goes through peaks and drops throughout the life of the batteries. Now be aware, the package advertises that the light will last about 6 hours on alkaline batteries, however they included "super heavy duty" non-alkaline batteries with the unit! Cheap buggers! Since that's what they included, that's what I tested it with. Expect longer runtimes with alkalines.
Runtime
completed with included "Super Heavy Duty" batteries. More
information on runtime plots is available HERE.
The switch is a simple rubber covered click switch on one side of the unit near the lens hinge. Click on, click off.
Seals are nonexistent. Avoid rain and wet environments.
Indoor and dry environment use only.
Ergonomics: Doesn't really apply since it is not hand held. I can tell you it is lighter and smaller than it appears in the package when you pick it up.
For batteries it takes 4 AA cells. Included are 4 "super heavy duty" cells. My suggestion: throw them out and load it up with alkalines. Under the lens is a battery cover that slides off toward the bottom of the unit. Insert 4 cells as indicated and replace the cover.
Included with the light is a nylon lanyard string for hanging the unit.
What I Liked: Bright, Easy battery change, Should have good battery life with alkalines.
What I Didn't Like: Not water resistant, Short battery life with included cells, Lens should have been clear all the way around.
Other Things I Noticed:
Conclusions: A good little area light. Provides quite a bit of light for a fairly long time. Great for power outages and working in close areas. I'm assuming that since they're now sold at BigLots! (a large-volume-buying discount store) that Coleman has discontinued the unit and will no longer be making them. If you like the idea of a small, bright CCFT lantern for only 4 bucks, get to a BigLots! and pick one up while you can. I'd say it's definitely worth it.
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