Posts Tagged Coghlan’s
Score a Cute Little Lantern from Coghlan’s
Usually when we give away a prize on here it’s one big item and it’s an all-or-nothing affair. Well this time three readers will score a cool little LED Micro Lantern from Coghlan’s.
I first reviewed this item in 2008 (see the full review here) and I’ve been using it on camping trips ever since. I still haven’t replaced the two CR2032 coin batteries that came with it.
Despite the small size, I’ve found this bright enough to light up a tent or serve as the light source for a board game. In cheap hotels with dim lighting, this would be handy to have along. It sure doesn’t take up much space!
You can buy one of these at Amazon or your local outdoor gear store but how about a free one instead?
We can only ship to Canada or the U.S., but if you live in one of those places, you have two ways to enter.
1) Go become a fan on Facebook. Yes, it’s lonely in there because the page just went up this week. Be a pioneer. We’ll pick two random winners from the fans on June 25, 2010.
OR
2) Leave a comment below answering the following question: “Why is a weekend of camping better than a weekend of hanging out on Facebook?” We’ll pick one winner on June 25.
Your choice—conformist or rebel—but either way you can win.
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Related post: Cheap travel and camping gear from Coghlan’s
Don’t miss out on any future giveaways – subscribe to this blog!
6/26 update – We have our winners! Congrats to the following, first two from Facebook fan page signups, last one from the comments below. All chosen via Random.org.
Rita Sams – from Facebook fan page
Véronique Mallet – from Facebook fan page
Christie – from the camping non-conformists
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on June 10th, 2010
A Spark in Your Camping – Coghlan’s Flint Striker
You’re out camping in the outback and your matches are ruined. How do you start a fire?
Sure, a good boy scout or Special Ops guy could maybe whip up something with some wood and string after a while, but for something that works in any weather or altitude, a flint striker has long been a dependable backup. It’s not often we review something on here that has been around since before the Roman Empire, but this kind of mechanism has been the go-to firestarter for a very long time. Hard metal strikes flint and sparks go flying.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy though. I tried this out for a backyard weenie roast in the chiminea and it took me a good 10 minutes to get something going. No merit badge for me. If you think about it, a match gives you a few sustained seconds of flame, but this gives you flying sparks. So those flying sparks have to hit something very dry and flammable to get a fire going. If you’ve got nothing but damp paper or twigs, you’re out of luck. The best bet is dry leaves or grass.
But hey, we’re evaluating a product here, not a method, so what matters is that it does what it’s supposed to do. It’s basically magnesium flint on a handle, a metal scraping device, and a cord to tie it all to something. Like most products from Coghlan’s, it’s simple and reasonably priced. There’s no wasteful plastic packaging and this leaves nothing behind at the campsite except microscopic metal shavings. You can get it for around 5 bucks at Amazon or at REI stores.
Consider it a cheap insurance policy if you do a lot of camping or hiking in remote areas. But I think on my next trip like this I’ll carry Coghlan’s waterproof matches instead. I only made it through cub scouts.
See the whole line of their camping and emergency products at Coghlans.com.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on October 1st, 2009
