Duracell 600 Lumen Lantern - 180/360 Degree Area Lighting

This is a 600 lumen lantern from Duracell with two area lighting modes, 180 degree and 360 degree. The 360 degree setting lights a whole space evenly from the middle of it; the 180 degree setting throws the same light to one side only, which is what you want when the lantern sits against a tent wall or on a worktop and you would rather not be looking into the diffuser. The body is matt black with a frosted diffuser and a bronze-toned ring where the two halves meet, and a moulded handle folds over the top.

600 lumens is a genuinely useful figure for a portable light: enough to work by in a garage or a loft, and plenty for a camping table, a caravan awning or a garden shed with no wiring in it. The footed base stands it flat on uneven ground, and the handle takes a hook, a branch or a tent loop so the light comes from above rather than across. We would keep one in the car and one in the cupboard under the stairs for power cuts. It sits alongside our Duracell 350 lumen focusing LED flashlight, which does the opposite job: a narrow beam down a path rather than light in every direction.

Control is a single push button on the front of the body, so changing mode is a one handed job in the dark. The manufacturer does not state the battery type, the runtime or an IP water rating. One lantern is what you receive per unit, and the line is ordered in multiples of five, so the smallest order is five lanterns; that suits a site box, a village hall store cupboard, or a household that wants one on every floor rather than one hunted for in a drawer.

What is the difference between the 180 and 360 degree settings?

The 360 degree mode lights all round from the centre of a space, while the 180 degree mode sends the light to one side only, which is what you want against a wall, a tent panel or a tailgate.

How much light is 600 lumens in practice?

It is comparable to a decent mains bulb rather than a small keyring torch, so it is enough to cook, read or work by across a tent, a small room or a shed.

Which cells does it take, and how long will it run?

No cell size or runtime figure is published by the manufacturer for this lantern, so the specification above says so plainly rather than quoting a number that could mislead.

Can I hang it up instead of standing it on something?

Yes. The moulded handle folds over the top and will take a hook, a carabiner or a tent loop, and the footed base also lets it stand flat on uneven ground.

Is it suitable for use outdoors?

It is built to be carried and used away from a socket, so camping, garden and power cut use all suit it. No water protection rating is stated, so we would not rely on it in heavy rain.

How many lanterns do I actually receive?

One lantern per unit. The line is ordered in multiples of five, so the smallest order you can place is five separate lanterns rather than a single one.