Primus Isobutane Lantern

Let there be light...at your campsite. Today I would like to share my review on the Primus isobutane lantern. I have owned this product for over a year. I have always liked traditional fuel based lanterns. As a kid I fondly remember the big Coleman lantern illuminating the summer night. Light from an LED or bulb is too artificial for my taste.

This Lantern is well built and solid. I enjoy the added protection of the hard plastic case that is provided from Primus. This little guy puts out 80 watts of light and is adjustable. One criticism I have is a lack of different light intensities. For the most part you have a high, middle, and low setting. The glass that surrounds the mantle is glazed which is fantastic. Too many lanterns I have seen just have a clear glass globe. This makes the light too intense to look at and provides uneven lighting. This glazed globe makes great light. A nifty feature is the wire string the lantern is on. This allows you to hang it off of a branch or stick in the ground. Burn time is respectable. Using a midsized can of fuel I have had this thing go at full blast all night. The new model comes with a penzo ignition system which adds even more ease of use. Noise level is also low compared to other lanterns I have used. This lantern is one of the lightest around but I have seen some others that are slightly lighter. The case is rectangular and is 4.75 inches high with 2.75 inch sides.

This device is obviously not going to find its way into an ultralight backpacking setup but is appropriate for groups or those that like to have little luxuries. At 6.8 ounces you can make room in your pack for the Primus Isobutane Lantern. We have come a long way from the 3 pound beast of a lantern from oh so long ago.

Performance: 8
Quality: 8.5
Weight: 7.8
Price: 8.0
Tilt: 8
Total: 8.06

REI $59, 6.8 oz