Did some searches and couldn't find anything really on point. Looking for some help from the brain trust to find the best camp lighting. Shewants something to light up the camp(other than just cave man TV) as well as something to hang in the tent.
Thanks in advance for your help!
ditto, I have one for around the tent, plenty of light for cooking starting a fire...
I just use some cheap LED rope lighting for inside the tent that you can get form the wally world or Academy camping sections
I use a Fenix flashlight (ta20, I think) with a diffuser tip. Rechargeable batteries, super bright, and will run for a week on the lowest setting! Only issue is that it doesn't talstand on it's own. Easily remedied.
Lots of great suggestions...which is a good point to make. Get her several sources of light, the more the better, especially so because good camp lighting tends to be situation specific.
For area lighting I'm not adverse to using the old reliable Coleman white-gas fuel lantern. I have several hillbilly ways of hanging it, but recently acquired one of those pop-up stands. Makes it really easy to locate wherever it can best be used in camp.
For traveling outside the central pool of light, get her a headlamp. The new ones rock, are easy to use, and have great battery life. It's the light the wife and I use most in camp and largely has eliminated the need for using the hands with flashlights.
For kitchen lighting, I acquired some strings of waterproofed LEDs that are used underneath hot rods, among other things. I added a plug to hook up to our in camp 12 volt system and a couple of clips for easy hanging.
I use a coleman micro-lantern. It runs on butane and is bright yet small and compact. Bonus is you can get them for 13 bucks at the coleman online outlet.
I've been using a brooder light with a CFL bulb. It lights up brighter than a lantern and only has a 14W draw. I have mine plugged into a 750W inverter. No issues on several camping trips and it's become part of my trucks permanent load out.
+1 on the Black Diamond Lanterns. The only negative is that they don't seem to like the Rechargeable batteries Eneloop and old Radioshack NiMH. I was only getting 1/4 of the run time with them. But with regular alkalines or the rechargeable kit they sell they are pretty awesome. I have a AA version that we move around with use at night to help light the way. We use the bigger D size one (see below) it can light up a 12ftx12ft space really well by itself.
I also really like this Rayovac one. http://www.amazon.com/Rayovac-Sportsman-LED-Lantern-SE3DLN/dp/B0018S4XIS/?tag=ihco-20 Bang for the buck one of the best D lanterns out there! It has great life and is really bright and pretty rugged. I think the BD equivalent is nearly 80 dollars and you can find this on sale for close to 20 sometimes!
Both the Rayovac and BD lanterns (all sizes) have neat handles that you can attach a carabiner to and hang from the ceiling of the tent or awning.
I usually have a headlamp on me / on my neck. For using the potty and keeping my hands free to prep food etc... I have had a couple, but the one I use daily when walking the dog in the evening / early am before the sun up is the Princeton Tec Remix Pro. It uses CR123 batteries (1) but has really solid run time. http://www.princetontec.com/remix-pro There is a variant that can use 3 AAA I think. But I have a bunch of rechargeable CR123 that I keep handy for this and my handheld like. The only knock on the light is that the battery door is a little bit fragile and it's not waterproof. Maybe in the future they release one that is waterproof, but I've been out in torrential downpours and have not had any issues. But C/S is really awesome, one phone call and 15 min later had replacement door in the mail to me, no hassle!
Coleman has a couple of neat options some that are compatible with their rechargeable battery pack system.
I've been using a brooder light with a CFL bulb. It lights up brighter than a lantern and only has a 14W draw. I have mine plugged into a 750W inverter. No issues on several camping trips and it's become part of my trucks permanent load out.
I like the way you think. Believe I'll update my gear next time I'm at the big box. The more light sources, the better, and this sounds like a good one. We've got an inverter available right at the tailgate to serve this. Good reading light is the toughest thing to come up with consistently when camping.
EDIT: Hmmm, was thinking I already have a fluorescent fixture I'd like to try...it a worksite light that uses a 45W bulb -- it's a biggun -- is rated for wet locations, has a shock mount to protect the bulb (this thing was made for 4x4 camping!) inside a big reflector, and a handle and stand. Geez Louise! It sure lit up the garage. Brand name is "The Designer's Edge" and I got it at Menards a few years back. This thing would be great for disaster or emergency ops, blinding bears, or setting up night landings at the local airstrip. I was running it on my rear 500W inverter, so could run half-a dozen in a pinch. Way more light than you usually need camping, but sometimes a lot is good.
I first used the brooder light with a 75w incandescent bulb. It worked fine, but I didn't like the power draw. Then, the power company came to work and gave out some CFL 14w bulbs, rated to the same light output as the 75w, so I stuck a couple in the truck. Next camping trip I put one in the brooder and although it took a few minutes to get to full light output, I was pleased. I can pull the brooder reflector for more spacial lighting, or leave it on and it lights the camp as good or better than a Coleman two mantle lantern, has almost no heat output, and lights the inside of the 80 up like day time. Another positive is the incandescent filaments tended to break easy, sometimes just from the offroading on the way to camp. The CFL's are much more durable (inf cast, the brooder lamp is rolling around in the back right now.
I'm a big fan of the BD lighting products as well when I'm outside the light of the camper or truck.
I use both the medium sized lantern and well as a BD headlamp. I would like to get the large lantern too. My neighbor has it and its a very solid unit with great lighting for a picnic table or large tent. Most of the BD lights can be dimmed to save battery power when you don't need the full output.
You will pay more for BD but I've never had a failure of any kind after owning many different lights over the years.
I love this light. Have had the same one for about 3 years now. Comes with a 12v and a 120v charger. So I can charge it in the truck or in the shop. It's really bright and works great in the tent or around camp. I have 4. 2 at the shop and one in each vehicle. Magnet comes in handy around the truck and the hook for my belt. Can't think of a better light for the price. Normally around $30 at sears but they go on sale every once in a while for much cheaper. Picked up 4 last week on sale for $15 each. Hell of a deal.
propane or gas lanterns are very bright and bring this nice nostalgic flavor to the camp, but dang, I hate those fabric mesh mantles.... What a poor design...
We've got several of the Rayovac units (as in your 2nd link). They work great for camping, the low isn't nearly as low as I'd like it (for night light use etc), so of course I hacked ours (changed one of the resistors).
Long runtime, decent even light in all directions and cheap - my wife got them on sale for $18 each a few years ago. The only negative is they use 3 D cells and are quite heavy because of that. Obviously using D's gives them LONG runtime. One could always use the AA eneloops inside D shells.
Of course we also use LED headlamps for normal camp duty.
wants something to light up the camp(other than just cave man TV) as well as something to hang in the tent. 
