Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern : Definitive Review (2023)
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This is the Ultimate TopNotch Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern Review 2023…
We know Coleman for making quality outdoor gear and this Premium lantern is an addition to their gas lantern range.
It’s also one of our top 10 rank holders which means, it’s one of the best lanterns available on the market for 2023.
But, it’s missed all of our top spots…
Where did it fall short?
How did it perform in side by side field tests with the other contenders?
To know all that and more … stay with us!
In this comprehensive review we’ll cover:
- Is it the right lantern for outdoor camping?
- How did it perform in our field tests?
- Brightness, durability, ease of use
- Lots more…
So if you want to know about Coleman Premium Dual Fuel lantern in detail, you’re in the right place.
Let’s get started.
- Power type: Fuel
- Weight: 1 pound
- Lumens: 700 Lumens
- Run Time: 6 Hours (Max setting)
- Manufacturer:Coleman Limited
Bottom Line :One thing is for sure, this fuel lantern will need some extra effort to keep it going but with enough fuel, it will burn bright for however long you want it to.
Pros
- Extra bright
- Easily adjustable
- Protective carrying and storage
Cons
- Must safely store enough fuel at camp as it runs out easily
- Lighting the lantern takes some work
Our Verdict: Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern
We researched and field-tested the top camping lanterns on the market.
And picked just 10 of our favorites for our full round-up review.
This Premium Dual Fuel lantern from Coleman has a number of clear improvements over traditional propane lanterns.
Firstly, it has fuel versatility.
Secondly, It’s less expensive to run compared to propane lanterns.
And, you also get an easy carry case with it.
It’s one of the best gas lanterns on the market but it ended up with a low rank in our Top 10 list.
Let me tell you why.
This lantern lacks the flexibility, ease of use, and versatility of some other lanterns in the Dual Fuel lantern from Coleman: Definitive Buyers Guide [2020].
However, it’s the only gas lantern in the list, which makes it unique.
The TopNotch Editor’s Choice AGPTEK Solar Lantern or the Best Value Awards Winner Black Diamond Apollo are certainly better choices than the Coleman premium in more than one metric.
So, if bright light’s what you need, we suggest giving the AGPTEK Solar Lantern a try.
It has high flexibility, 5 mode charging, and powerful light for group camping.
However, the Coleman Premium also packs some nice features.
Let’s get into the detailed review to see how it performed against other contenders on different metrics.
Related: 10 Best Camping Lanterns
Analysis Comparisons and Test Results
Brightness
For any camping lantern brightness is extremely important and one big plus of gas lanterns is – they are the brightest.
Now coming to the Coleman Premium…
…with 700 lumens on high, it’s no-doubt a bright lantern.
Brightness Rating
Dual Fuel lantern from ColemanIf you don’t necessarily go for the white light of LEDs, you’ll love this warm glow.
It has a fairly decent shine radius. Best for groups of 4 to 5.
This liquid fuel lantern can efficiently illuminate the campground… but don’t expect a lot.
However, that’s only one side of the story.
The illumination isn’t more than that of the top electric lanterns like the AGPTEK Solar Lantern.
At this price point, I expected better – the light was bright but it wasn’t far reaching.
But, if you want to illuminate just the dining area, it’ll work fine.
It comes with dual mantle, so the spread of light is uniform.
You can adjust the brightness… thanks to the dimmer.
On the high mode, it gave light for over 6 hours on a close to full tank, the run time increased when we dimmed it by a few notches.
Keep in mind, it’s a strictly-outdoor lantern due for safety reasons.
Overall, it’s a bright light but for a gas lantern at this price, we expected more value.
Durability
Coleman Premium gets a low score in this metric.
In our Top 10 best camping lantern list we have lanterns that are…
… waterproof or at least water-resistant
… impact-resistant
Durability Rating
….can easily survive a fall from a height of 6 ft or even more
The Coleman Premium won’t handle any of these well – it’s certainly not waterproof – when the light’s on, even a few drops of rain could potentially shatter the hot glass dome and it won’t survive a drop from the table or a dunk in the pool.
However, let me tell you…
The build quality is sturdy – neither the dimmer on the front nor the handle on top will come off in a hurry.
The glass dome was great quality but you do need to be careful with the mantles though, particularly if they’ve been used before.
You can store it safely in the case that came with it but be ready to replace the mantles before you use it again.
Now the best part, the lantern comes with a 3 year warranty…. that’s fantastic!
On the other hand…
Durability is a major strength for the good LED lanterns like our Best Value Choice Black Diamond Apollo or even the lightest, TopNotch Top Pick Goal Zero Crush Light.
Features
The dual fuel design is a key feature.
We used Coleman Liquid Fuel and it only needed minimum refuelling.
So, if you don’t want to increase weight by carrying extra fuel, it really helps.
On top of that you can also use unleaded gasoline in this lantern.
Features Rating
And you know what?
It runs on either Coleman Liquid Fuel or unleaded gasoline.
But, Coleman Liquid Fuel had a slight edge and gave us the longer run time.
This lantern takes less fuel than traditional propane lanterns.
The dimmer gives you a choice to set it to the right intensity, which is good.
Best of all we hung it from the bail handle to cover a wider area.
Rest assured, the sturdy handle won’t come off with the weight.
While the lantern isn’t great, it’s a close second to our top rank holders, Black Diamond Apollo and AGPTEK Solar Lantern in this metric.
We all agreed, for a gas lantern, the features are good enough.
Ease of Use
Using this liquid fuel lantern isn’t simple – compared to the ‘one-switch’ electric lanterns, it needed a lot of work just to start it running.
If you’re not used to gas lanterns, it could be a problem at first.
But for seasoned campers confident with traditional lanterns…this one is a breeze.
Ease of Use Rating
We used the funnel to fill in the tank with Coleman Liquid Fuel – it’s well built and secured, which makes refuelling easy.
A full tank of Coleman Liquid Fuel or unleaded gasoline easily lasted through one evening.
And, that’s one big point for ease of use … you can run The Premium Dual Fuel Lantern on Coleman Liquid Fuel or unleaded gasoline, whatever you have in stock, without compromising on performance.
It took me a little time to tie the mantles with the thin string but, nothing too difficult.
Turns out…
This lantern needs minimum pumping…. which is great!
We pumped it once in the evening, after filling the tank and that was enough for the evening.
However, there’s a catch.
Never fill the liquid fuel tank to the brim – allow some air at the top.
It took us time to get it running using new mantles – once burned, the mantles become really fragile. So, you need to be extra careful for second-time use.
Before you can pack it up for the day, you first need to cool it down… which does take a bit of time.
On the whole in terms of ease of use this Coleman Lantern is the best on the market.
But it does naturally fall short in comparison with the best electric lanterns.
Weight
With dimensions of 16 x 14 x 7 inches,the design is bulky.
You can’t pack it in your backpack – which is a serious downside for lightweight hikes or treks.
Moreover, it’s not only about the lantern – you’ll also have to carry the fuel separately… which can be a headache.
Weight Rating
Coleman Liquid Fuel or unleaded gasoline, whatever you use, will add to the total weight.
And if you’re going out on long trips, the fuel weight can add up considerably.
The carry case helped when it came to packing up our lantern. It made the overall handling easier…
But, make sure to clamp the case well or you could end up dropping and shattering it – and the warranty doesn’t cover the glass dome.
This lantern isn’t really suitable for lightweight travel or individual use.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, mess free camping lantern with great packability and ease of use, go for TopNotch Top Pick Goal Zero Crush Light.
Final Verdict: Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern
Our Final Verdict Rating
Conclusion: Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern
Goal Zero Crush Light In the end, the dual fuel design and the flexibility to use Coleman Liquid Fuel or unleaded gasoline makes this lantern a better choice than any other gas lanterns on the market.
The 3 year warranty is also great – it’s not as durable or easy to use as the electric lanterns but it can give you service year after year without too much maintenance.
It’s not our best suggested light for camping or trekking.
But, if you need a bright lantern to light up your backyard party or for a family car camping trip…
This lantern will be just fine – it has a traditional homey look and adds a certain ambience with the yellow light.
You know what?
In our experience, it’s the best ‘gas’ lantern on the market
With 700 lumens on high it’ll light up your campground pretty well.
But if you’re a backpacker or just concerned about weight and space, a lightweight, feature rich electric lantern like AGPTEK Solar Lantern or even lighter Black Diamond Apollo or our Top Pick Goal Zero Crush Light are better choices.
We’ve done the hard work testing and putting this review together – now we hand over the baton to you to make your choice……Will it be the very traditional Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern or our Top Pick the Goal Zero Crush Light?
Other Versions: Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern
Coleman Powerhouse Dual-Fuel Lantern with 800 lumens light on high is a variant of the Coleman Premium Dual Fuel Lantern.
