Tilley lamps

Member Joined: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 36 Location: essex

last piece of kit i need to buy
been looking at the coleman duel fuel lamps
any advice as which way to go
a proper old school tilley or a duel fuel type
notice there are single and double mantle version is this a difference in light output
if i went with the duel feul is it worth the extra cash to get the self igniting version

Guest

Can't answer all your questions mate but I bought a Coleman Northstar which is self-igniting and it woks brilliantly. I only use Unleaded petrol in it which is far more economical than the Coleman fuel canisters.

Shop around though cos some places are charging top whack for them. Theres a camping shop in Norwich doing them form 59.99 which is the cheapest I've seen them for

Apparently they do need maintaining aftera fair bit of use but doesnt most things.

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:58 pm

Not seen so often on the beach nowadays, so many people find the convenience of headlamps worthwhile BUT you can't warm your hands or a pastie on a headlamp. If you are definitely going to get one, make sure it has a flat top to balance your pie on, r make a wiire frame for it to do so. It's a lot of weight to lug about, might as well get the most from it.

If you get a Northstar, I burnt out two ignition units befor selling it on: put the battery in when you get to the beach, take it out when you leave, just tp protect the ignition. Try Cash Converters or similar second hand places - all the lamps mentioned are bobmproof and all components replaceable. MK.

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:22 am

Out of all the lamps i have used the north star is the best because of the ease of lighting and the amount of light it puts out and the fact it runs on petrol to... Also the mantles are nice an easy to change!

But i allways take a head torch to (MFA one) is usefull for close up bits that require a bit more light and when walking down to the sea to beach fish.

Have previously had a tilley lamp but is a pain to light with the pre-heating, a simple gas cannister light these arnt very bright and the cannisters are rather pricey i feel and found the jets get blocked with sand after time. And when i first started i used a hurricane parrafin lamp which i found in a skip!

Member Joined: Feb 11, 2007 Posts: 38

I would reccommend the Coleman Northstar. I have used this lamp since it replaced the old duel mantle lamps some 10 years ago. Its a great lamp.

Member Joined: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 36 Location: essex

cheers guys
looks like i am getting a northstar then :lol:

Guest

Like others on here I tend to use a headlamp nowadays as they (and the batteries they use) have improved in output and lightness over the last few years. If I use a lamp I use my trusty old tilley which was originally a 250 candlepower but was converted up to a 500 cp output - it hasn't let me down in over 20 years and is easy to start with a small blowtorch (rather than the silly meths thingy they come with).

I know the latest Colemans have a good name and are brighter than the tilley but quite frankly I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole as I've seen so many of the early ones 'go up'. Obviously, its a matter of choice but remember that if you get a petrol jobbie to have it properly serviced at the required intervals, otherwise it will become a petrol bomb waiting to go off.....although a 20 ft high flame does look quite impressive....from a distance.

Guest

The NorthStar - yes is the top of the range, but don't rule out the Powerhouse.

I put my (NorthStar) against Essexmans (Powerhouse) and there isn't agreat deal between them.

Personally, if I was to buy new, I'd get the Powerhouse as its just as good - it doesn't have the electronic ignition, but it saves on nostril hair when lighting) and it's cheaper.

Another thing - you can't use them on piers.