wind up lanterns

[scorpio00x]

with all this talk about blackouts which i believe will happen this year due to power stations being down. I need a wind up lantern for my nan will need to be fairly bright as partially sighted. anyone recommend one? my nan is a prepper even if she and people don't realise i make sure she has 4 weeks worth of food. Also i have secretly hidden 80l of water in the base of her bed.

also looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MOMQU3I/r ... BTDKTLGPBF just because they are cheap. is it any good? BTW that's for me as i have over a 1000 tea lights, other candles and torches so really just a extra that is back up to what i have just in case i run out of batteries and candles

[Bad Wombat]

I've one of these: Vango 36 LED Dynamo Lantern, which seems to do the job, and is mega bright! I got it in a local store for £14 in a sale. I've also got some 9 led rubber torches, which are excellent. Though I think that the poundland 7-led-head-torch is just as good IMO. I'm not a fan of the poundland 9-led-aluminium-torch as I have a few and had reliability problems. Can't really complain for £1 I guess. I also have a about 600 tea light candles and some solar powered garden lights for indoor use as a last resort.

[Lemony]

I haven't seen those before We have lots of wind up torches (Poundland or eBay I think) but they're not particularly bright or reliable, so it's false economy I think... I didn't think of lanterns though.

I'm reluctant to use candles when my boys are about, not only because of the safely element, but also because they LOVE blowing them out, which is annoying!

[ukpreppergrrl]

At £2.99 it's worth a punt! With just 4 LEDs it's not going to light much other than the immediate vicinity though. More like a small night-light - might be enough to stop you bumping into things once your eyes are used to the dark, but not much more. They're intended for use in tents, which are usually quite a bit smaller than your average living room!

As for your Nan, I would suggest a two-pronged approach. Firstly, a goodly bright wind-up lantern (probably something in the region of 36 LEDs like the one Bad Wombat suggests) which will give background lighting (probably the equivalent of a 10-20w bulb) which won't be enough for much if she is partially sighted, but at least will mean she's not in complete blackness. Perhaps two or three dotted around the room if you can afford it. Secondly, a hand-held, bright (again as many LEDs as you can), focusable torch, or a head-torch if she's game to wear it! That will give her the bright, directional light she probably needs to actually see what she's doing and where she's going safely.

Judging from some of the reviews of other LED lanterns I think some people expect them to be like a 100w bulb, brightly lighting an entire room. They're not, they're just ambient light. Oddly they seem very, very bright if you look directly at them, far brighter than say a candle, and the white light is quite harsh. They're bright enough so that you don't bump into things, but not bright enough to do any real work by. For that you need a focused, directional light. Or just pour yourself a whisky, relax and enjoy the ambience...!

[Decaff]

I have a drawer full of jar candles, tea lights, oil lamp, head torches, bike lights (if desperate!) And can recommend the Energiser Camping Light as it takes either AA or with the adapter supplied D type batteries, it has high, low or candle settings.

Home bargains have a couple of good bright LED lights that have magnets on the back and a foldaway hook.

[Hoipoloi]

also looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MOMQU3I/r ... BTDKTLGPBF just because they are cheap. is it any good?

Had one of these for a week now, using it when I go down the garden on these dark nights. It works well enough for the price (I haven't timed how long a charge lasts yet). One thing I found is that the switch can be a bit touchy, as if the rubber cover is not letting the button out fully so the contacts aren't quite making properly. Causes a slight flickering of the light so you have to tap the button a little.

[Wulfshead]

I actually bought an addition of three of those self same lanterns from that same seller.
Not knocking them but rather a pat on the back for them here.
There was a problem with Royal Mail and delivery was 4 days over when I went through Amazon to contact the seller.
2 days later the seller has found out RM messed up and has said they have sent me out another three via registered delivery.
I'll let you know what they are like when they finally arrive

Wulfshead

[Yorkshire Andy]

Get her a decent led head torch more direct light where she is looking energiser ones are small and lightweight

If your after one with an easy to use switch petzl do some with a turn knob but they are not so cheap