Coleman Quad Review

Performance Comparison

Brightness

The quad has four detachable lights, each one having 47.5 lumens, totaling 190 lumens when they are all combined onto the base. When they were all together we thought it was a little overpowering and it was hard to see what we were doing. This is in part because of the high lumens, and because there is no clouded plastic in front of the LED lights. However, we thought that using each individual panel for different tasks was much more pleasant with the lower lumens. If you're looking for a product that is even brighter and less than half the price with more features, then check out the Best Buy award winning Rayovac Sportsman.

Ease of Use

Unlike the other contenders we tested the quad has no way of hanging from a tree. There is a small handle on the top but there is no way of using it to hang the lantern. We wish that if anything the individual panels had hooks, since they are awkward to stand up on their small bases. They would be much more useful if you could hang them above you. As they are now, they are only good as a flashlight. The removable panels were really cool, and they were what we liked the most about this lantern. They really enforced the concept of having a central light source that everyone comes back too. Something else to note is that the base is the hardest to put on and take off. It is really large and requires downward pressure to get it on.

Durability

This is a fairly durable product. The only problem we encountered while testing was that the individual panels would become hard to put back into the main base. Also the buttons on the panels became sticky over time getting harder and harder to push. Other than this there was no other issues we had.

Features

This lantern has four removable rechargeable panels, that when removed act as their own mini lantern. We thought it was great that they each recharge when reconnected to the base so that you don't need to worry about batteries in each panel as well as the base. This was really the only feature worth mentioning, besides this there is only one light mode and a handle on the top for carrying, but we tended to just carry it by the top of the panels.

Best Applications

Great for camping with friends and family, especially with kids. Also a viable option for emergency use, it is very bright and the panels make it versatile for base camp situations. Not intended for backcountry use due to its weight.

Value

We thought this product was a little expensive for $80, but then again you're getting a more versatile light than just a normal lantern. However, if you need a lantern just for the brightness then we would suggest getting the Best Buy award winner, the Rayovac Sportsman for $30.

Conclusion