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List Price: $50.00
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The first reasonably priced very high brightness LED lantern I discovered was the Ray-O-Vac SE3DLN back in 2010. It is indeed very bright and has received generally high reviews. The only consistent issue some people reported was that there is a tiny red LED that blinks occasionally so you can find the lantern in the dark. Some owners thought that may drain the batteries faster. I have owned the Ray-O-Vac for just over 2 years, using it for numerous camping trips, power outages and general use and I am still on the original set of batteries. That is very impressive.
This Coast lantern is of a similar design, with its own set of unique features and pros and cons. Because I am very familiar with the Ray-O-Vac and because it seems to be a very popular model, I will compare some of the basic features between the two, which I hope will be useful to help buyers choose which best suits their needs. For brevity the Ray-O-Vac will be ROV and the Coast will be CT.
ROV: smaller and a bit more rugged feeling
CT: about 50% larger. Both models weigh about the same
(Please see the picture I posted in the gallery to see both lanterns side-by-side)
ROV: Two position push button on/off switch for high/low power.
CT: Push button on/off switch plus rotary brightness control, plus solid red or flashing red
ROV: Tiny LED flashes occasionally to help locate lantern in the dark
CT: Multiple LEDs when unit is powered up to indicate relative battery life
ROV: Plastic hangers top and bottom. Bottom one especially useful for hanging upside down in tent
CT: Less substantial feeling top hanger only but it is plastic covered metal, might have longer life
ROV: Some customers complain battery compartment hard to figure out (but outstanding battery life)
CT: Easier to access batter compartment. Practical battery life yet to be determined
ROV: Very bright 300 lumen light output, although a bit uneven
CT: Noticeably brighter than ROV at 375 lumen, light is more even and diffused
Both devices are about the same price. While there are no overriding advantages or disadvantages to either if I could only choose one I would choose the ROV if size, simplicity and ruggedness was my goal and I would choose the CT if brighter light output and the ability to use as an emergency flasher was more important to me.
They are both worthwhile lanterns and either would be a wise choice.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This small battery lantern gives off an amazing amount of light, almost too bright and glaring, but if you are sitting in the dark and the power is out, too much light can be a very good thing.
I cannot speak for campers, since I do not sleep in the woods, being born with good sense and no furry outer layers. This may indeed be too glaring for a small tent and would probaby attract every moth and bug within 30 miles (another excellent reason for not utilizing the out of doors, except under supervision). But for a home emergency light that will give you sufficient illumination to fix a meal, read, and convince yourself that nothing is hiding behind the sofa, this could not be better.
These are the stats, straight from the Amazon page:
* 375 lumen light output; 80 hour runtime
* Four modes: flashing red, solid red, area light, energy saving
* Push button on/off switch with Variable Light Technology (dimming) choose any light level
* 4 D batteries (not included); Built-in battery life indicator
* 8.25 inches tall
The way the lantern is fabricated, with a silver reflective surface behind the bulb, you get a heckuva lot of light from those 375 lumens. And the 80 hours is decent. Chances are the lights will be on in three days and if not, please, don't torture yourself. Take the credit card, go to the airport and take your vacation a little early. Or inflict yourself on your parents. Why suffer.
I like the fact that you get Flashing Red and Solid Red light at the flick of a button. I live in earthquake territory and want to make it as easy as possible for the rescuers to dig me out, if that worst case scenario thing happens and I wake up with the roof on my dainty brow instead of my Kindle. You can also tone down the Bright White Light with the energy saving mode, but this is more like a night light. The illumination is greatly curtailed. You can read by it if you snuggle up to it. Otherwise, no.
I love the fact that the batteries come with. I stockpile batteries (and collect battery lanterns and flashlights), but it's nice when you don't have to schlep. And I really love that battery life indicator. It glows Green for good, segues to Orange for Hmmmmmmm...better to go to Costco and replenish the stock, and then goes Red for Uh Oh, Where the Heck Are the Candles? There is a lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship, but I will probably drop the thing off the back of the boat, or some less-prepared family member will borrow it and fail to return it long befor I shuffle off the mortal coil.
I always wonder about lifetime guarantees. Whose lifetime? I mean if you are 20 years old, that's a good guarantee. But if you are 90, big deal...all they're saying is 'Okay, you'll both probably make it to the end of the week and then all bets are off.'
To return to the matter at hand, this is a lightweight little gizmo, about the size of every other battery lantern. It is better than those battery lamp things with the little lamp shades, which I find do not provide enough light to prevent eye strain. TheCoast EAL is overly zealous in its light output, nicely designed and easy to operate. The price is about $10 more than most of its brethren, but you do get the batteries included and the battery meter, not to mention the extra brightness and the rather disturbing knowledge that, long after you are gone and forgotten, the thing will be sitting in someone else's garage waiting for their lights to go out.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I have the Rayovac Sportsman LED Lantern and like the compact size. But this Coast lantern is much brighter and would definitely be my go-to lantern in a pinch. It does take a lot of batteries (4 D size which aren't included) but since it's LED, they should last a good while. This one is significantly larger than my Rayovac, but the amount of light it gives off is much brighter as a result. Actually, it's even brighter than my standard Rayovac Sportsman Lantern with fluorescent bulbs, which is humongous and eats 8 D batteries for breakfast. They all serve a function, but LED is just a better way to go. So if I really need to illuminate a larger space, this Coast lantern is the one I'll reach for. The red light, both flashing and continuous, is a real nice touch. The build seems solid and should easily survive any accidental bumps or drops. The power dial is nice because it can graduate the brightness and has a nice rubberized feel. Very easy to push on and off too. Overall, this is a really nice quality LED lantern and has quickly become my favorite.
Honest reviews on Coast EAL20 375 Lumen LED Lantern
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is bright enough, that in a power outage, it would allow me to read or knit. I also like the flashing red light, which would be helpful if there were an emergency. You can dim the light, to save battery power. This would be especially helpful in a situation where you expect the electricity to be out for a day or more.
This is even better than my (former) favorite emergency light, the Rayovac SE3DLN Sportsman LED Lantern, as the Coast EAL20 is brighter and has more lighting options.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program A few months ago I bought the Rayovac SE3DLN Sportsman LED Lantern and have been using it for camping this summer. I have to say that I really love the Rayovac; it is compact, bright, functional, and sturdy. This lantern is maybe half of those things.
First of all, this lantern is pretty big. It is over 8" tall and just bulky all around. The light cover is opaque, so it offers a softer light, but I don't think that's really necessary outdoors. Additionally, it is plastic, but unlike the Rayovac (which is heavy and thick), this seems bound to break or crack when it inevitably falls out of the trunk of my car. It has no hook for hanging inside a tent (upside-down), but does have one on top.
On the plus side, it has a dimmer switch, so you have real control over the brightness of the lantern (unlike the Rayovac, which is Bright or Brighter). Also, there is the red option, which can provide good indirect light. The flashing option is also nice, though I question whether this is really bright enough to be effective in a real emergency situation. It might be handy for road-side use, but I bet your car's hazards are brighter.
But mostly, I think this is over-priced. It's currently $28, while the Rayovac, which I am much happier with, is $25 (though when I bought it, it was much cheaper still). My advice: skip this and get the Rayovac (unless you really need a red lantern).
