Coleman 4D Pack Away Lantern Review

At one time just about the only camping lanterns available were the Coleman white-gas lanterns.  Although these are very reliable (and make a cool hissing sound), they are heavy, require highly flammable fuel, and get very hot when operating. In recent years battery-operated camping lights seem to have become more popular, and one called the Coleman 4D Pack-Away Lantern has an innovative design.

The Coleman 4D Pack-Away Lantern runs on four D-sized batteries which reside in the base of the unit. The unit is made of entirely of plastic besides the thin metal handle, and weighs just 1 pound, 6 ounces without the batteries. What's unique about this light is that it can collapse from its 10" height down to just 6" by pushing the top into the base.

I bought this camping lantern because when it is collapsed it is very easy to store. The light takes up less room and the vital lighting parts are protected inside the base.  When pulled open the light has the look of an old-fashioned Coleman lantern, but the globe is plastic and the lighting element is a krypton bulb.   This light does not get hot like the white gas lanterns, and can safely be taken into a tent.

The Coleman 4D Pack-Away Lantern is very useful as a personal-size lantern since it is relatively small and can easily be carried. However, in my experience the light bulb is not very bright and, despite a reflector in the bottom of the globe, it does a poor job of lighting up a wide area.  The light has a simple ON/OFF dial switch on its top and offers no dimmer option. This camping light is most suitable for a small area (like inside a tent) or to be used for carrying on a walk.

I noticed that this Coleman 4D Pack-Away Lantern is currently being sold in Sports Authority stores for $19.99 or at Campmor.com for just $12.99. Prices vary widely and Coleman has recently begun marketing a larger, more powerful Pack-Away lantern that currently costs about $25. If you want a personal-sized camping lantern that is easy to store the Coleman 4D Pack-Away Lantern may be a good choice for you. However, more powerful Pack-Away lights are now appearing on the market making this design somewhat outdated.