Coleman Northstar Review

If you need a lantern that burns really, really brightly, this is your product. It's a large, heavy propane lantern that can put out some heat. The model we tested came with a plastic base that has stabilizing feet and a hard plastic carrying case that makes transporting it easier than it otherwise would be. It has a single mantle that attaches on both ends and glass dome that covers it. Protecting the glass dome is a wire metal cage with a handle attached and a metal lid that screws on and off so that you can remove the glass dome when the mantle needs replacing.

Performance Comparison

This product is bright. We lit campfires, cooked, played board games, had parties, and even chopped wood on moonless nights with this lantern. It's warm, too. During one of our parties, we put the Northstar near Grandma when she was chilly. It was quite effective. This lantern does make a bit of a hissing sound when it is lit, and when the fuel is about to run out it makes a rather loud whistling noise.

Brightness

The Northstar was the brightest of all the lanterns that we tested. It puts out 1500 lumens on the highest setting and consumes a lot of fuel in the process. One 16 oz canister of propane lasts about four to five hours on high and about eight hours on medium to low. It is fully adjustable and can be set lower if you are trying to conserve propane. However, if the propane canister is running out, it occasionally makes a rather loud whistling noise.

Ease of Use

The Northstar has an InstaStart ignition, which we really enjoyed. It typically started right up during our testing period where we used it nearly every single night. Just turn the fuel knob and press the red button and it lights instantly. It was easy to initially assemble and installing the mantle wasn't too much trouble, but does take a bit of patience. It will smoke a lot at first, but then it burns off and shines very brightly. After the initial installation of the mantle, it doesn't smoke anymore when you relight it. During this testing period, we only had to change the mantle once.

Durability

This product is fairly durable. The model we tested came with a hard plastic case that makes packing it up and transporting it more convenient. We did have a problem with the plastic base — it doesn't stay on very well. When you lift the lantern by the handle most of the time the plastic base stays behind. We also had one of the feet of the base break off early in our testing process, although it was easy to snap back into place and was still fully operable.

This product comes with a metal guard to protect the globe and reduce rattling. We used it for months during which time we took an RV trip for over ten weeks straight and used this light almost every single night. On a few nights the Northstar sat out in the rain without a cover and it still started the next evening without any problems.

Features

The Northstar doesn't have a lot of fancy features. It is a portable propane lantern with an InstaStart that works well. Its long handle does not get too hot to the touch, even on the highest setting, and the large fuel adjuster knob enables you to control how brightly it shines. The hard plastic carrying case has two sides that fold down so that the lantern can be easily packed for travel. The plastic base that keeps the Northstar from tipping over can be turned upside down and its feet folded in to protect the base of the lantern where the propane tank attaches when packed into its plastic case.

Weight/Size

This lantern is the largest and the heaviest product we reviewed. It is also the brightest. It packs into its plastic carrying case with ease once the propane canister is removed. The carrying case is light and closes securely.

Best Applications

The Northstar is best used for car camping, RVing, or cabin retreats. It does use a lot of fuel on its highest setting, so if you need a lot of light for an extended period of time we recommend purchasing a larger propane tank than the portable 14-ounce canisters.

Value

This product is not cheap, especially if you purchase a case (which we recommend), but it is bright. It is made from quality parts and works well for car, RV, and cabin camping. We used it practically every night for over ten weeks and didn't have any problems. The plastic base is not very durable nor does it stay on when you lift the lantern by its handle.

Conclusion

The Northstar is a single-mantle, bright, easy-to-use propane lantern with a glass dome inside a protective metal guard. It has a long metal handle that doesn't get hot to the touch when it is lit. It's easy to light once the mantle is installed. It does consume a lot of fuel, especially when it is on high. Coleman states that one 16.4 oz. canister of propane will fuel this product for up to 4.3 hours on high and 9.25 hours on the lowest setting. We found those figures to be accurate.