– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Black Diamond Titan Lantern

by Lou Dawson December 28, 2011
written by Lou Dawson December 28, 2011

Prior to completing our portahut solar system, we used electric lanterns and headlamps for lighting. We still use that stuff for convenience and mood, so I’m always up for improvements in the portable lighting category.

Black Diamond Lantern

Black Diamond Titan Lantern at the portahut map wall.

Some time ago I tried some supposedly bright electric lanterns I sneaked out of Wally World when no one was looking (yes, let the jeering commence). Alas, the meager light from those junkers is more like the phosphorescence of a single firefly, rather than lumens one can actually use for more than a romantic interlude (not that interludes aren’t important, but hey, one eventually has to do the dishes, too). And battery life? More like battery death.

Thus, I was about ready to give up on electric lanterns when I tried a Black Diamond Titan. Yep, bright. Simple switch that when held in dims down smoothly. Excellent battery life (how do they do that?). Top part slides down to collapse for packing, hang loops work well. It even looks nice. Downside is Titan does use D cells, has no stock recharging option, and lacks a 12 volt power jack for automobile or typical solar aux power input. Thus, if you put lots of hours on this lantern you might be wise to purchase rechargeable D cells and a charger. Those quibbles aside, overall this unit is very impressive for the under $70 street price. If you know someone who’s trying to get away from gas lanterns for camp or hut, remind them to give the Titan a whirl. Simply put, it works.

Shop for it

5 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Trailer Hut Solar — Completo
next post
Dynafit Radical FT (12) Binding Vibration Damper System

5 comments

naginalf December 28, 2011 - 12:33 pm

I’d sure be interested to know what light source they’re using, probably LED’s or some sort of fluorescent. If they’re using the same Phillips Luxeon Rebel cool white LED’s that we use where I work (we make theatre lighting), according to my simple calculations, it should need 3 of them for 360º of output, and at 350mA put out 405Lm (total, each is 135 lumens), which with 4 D cell batts at roughly 8-12KmAh of life, that makes for about 20-30 hours of light (they claim 250 lumens so that figure should be even higher). Can anyone confirm that? If they ARE using the philips LEDs, then you could theoretically crank it up to 960 lumens, which would be like having the sun in your hand 😈 . Although they didn’t bother slapping in a charging circuit, that gets really iffy when you can put standard batteries in and blow them up by charging them. You guys who don’t mind tearing into $1K boots shouldn’t have any problem cannibalizing a 12V NiMH charger and a $70 lantern eh? If someone wants to donate a lantern I’ll write up a DIY 😉 .

Lou December 28, 2011 - 12:43 pm

Nag, a DIY might be very cool. I’ll work on making that happen… meanwhile, yeah, it is LED, but I have no idea what. Definitly get very good battery life, yes, 20-30 hours or more. Lou

naginalf December 28, 2011 - 12:49 pm

Ooo, here’s an interesting comparison, the aforementioned LEDs get 135 lumens per watt. A standard incandescent is lucky to get 17 lumens per watt. Does that answer your question of “how they do that” Lou, that’s pretty darn efficient lighting. Even an F class STAR isn’t that efficient! (man wikipedia can make you sound really smart 😆 , see the chart about halfway down http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulb )

Michael Pike December 30, 2011 - 12:20 am

One thing to watch out for if you’re going to get rechargeable “D” cells, is to check the milliamp rating, as all “D”s are not equal. Some are like having a “AA” in a “D”-sized battery.More like a “d”. Of course, you’ll pay more for the better ones.

Lou December 30, 2011 - 7:25 am

Michael, good tip, I wasn’t aware of that! Lou

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • Steve on Simple and Dependable — Black Diamond Helio 145 Binding Review
  • S. Anstrum on Simple and Dependable — Black Diamond Helio 145 Binding Review
  • A. K. Mattix on Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry — Shaun Deutschlander Q&A
  • phillip gallagher on Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry — Shaun Deutschlander Q&A
  • WNDR Alpine on Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review

Gear Reviews

  • Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review

    January 14, 2021
  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    January 12, 2021
  • Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

    January 5, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir Snowfield

    November 14, 2020
  • Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

    October 6, 2020
  • Snoqualmie Classic — Chair Peak Circumnavigation

    May 26, 2020

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • Totally Deep Podcast 81 — CAIC Director Ethan Greene

    December 9, 2020
  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Avalanche Education — Totally Deep Podcast 80

    November 16, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 2020
  • Buying Used Gear Guide Part II — Poles, Avy Gear, Packs

    November 25, 2020
  • Save Your Ski Day — Emergency Car Kit Essentials

    November 24, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Euro Puro Amoro — La Sportiva...

January 13, 2021

Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampon Review

January 4, 2021

Outdoor Research Carbide W Jacket &...

December 24, 2020