With a 3 night stay in late January, hot tenting, looking for a suitable light source that I would guess for at least 12 hour duration. 3-4 hours/night. I have a 10k miliamp battery pack that was designed to jump start a car battery but dont think it will handle the cold for the duration.

The Fenix cl20 so far is the best I've seen, but again, not likely to last. So im left with the candle lanterns.

Other options?

https://www.gearaid.com/products/portable-light-power-flux
The two lowest settings light up a 10’x13’ tent adequately.

Luci lights have worked well for me while winter camping.

Luci lights

I would bring the three candle UCO lantern. You can get the long lasting candles that will burn up to 9 hours according to their website.

I would bring a couple Luci lights too because they are light weight and easy to bring along.

This, as stupid as it sounds and purely in my opinion, is largely a subjective topic.

I have camped with candles, the UCO candle lanterns, Colman gas Lanterns, battery LED lanterns, and others. And it all depends on what kinda color light you like at night and how much you want to fiddle with it.

Personally, when I am stuck in a tent for upto 4 to 5 hours in the dark of winter, I really like any light source that is kicking out a 4000 to 3000 kelvin color light. That is the spectrum that doesn't feel artificial or lab like. It's more in the range of a camp fire, especially as you get closer to 3000k.

What I bring now is a LED light string, about 10 feet long, in the 3000k color temp, that plugs into a Anker PowerCore via USB. If you go this route, make sure to keep the powercore in your sleeping bag overnight to keep it warm. Lithium doesn't do well in the cold. Using this method, I can get three nights, at 4 hours per night, on one 20,000mAh PowerCore. Minimum. But make sure you keep it warm in the sleeping bag.

This is something close to the light string I bring, though this is 5000k: Luminoodle camping LED string

I bring several different lighting options when I winter camp. I have a Fenix HL60R headlamp that is my workhorse. It's 18650 Li-Ion battery just doesn't seem to quit. I've take for up to a week with substantial use at night and in deep cold, and dont think the battery has ever gone below about 50%. I usually cary an Anker 5000 ma back up but have never needed it for the headlamp.

I always bring a Luci Light. They are not as flexible in real cold, but even if uninflated it is a great source.

Like Minnesotian mentions, to me light color does matter and with some long evenings I get tired of the cold white mechanical lights. I always bring some candles and make my own holders for them out of old olive oil cans. I love beeswax candles but they do cost a good deal more and dont last much longer than the lantern candles I get at Ikea for about 50 cents. I like candle light much more. I sometimes bring 2 or even three of my oil can lanterns (with different sized cans you can nest them) so I have light in a couple places in the tent. The shiny inside helps reflect light where you want it. I pack them in and out inside my stove.

Finally last year I brought a string of LED lights and hang them long my ridge pole. They even had a little remote that allowed me to get into my sleeping bag and change the colors or turn them on or off. I'll likely bring them again on all but the most strenuous trips.

I have to say I respectfully disagree with Minnesotian's comment that Lithium batteries do not do well in the cold well. I use Lithium Energizer batteries in my fish finder in the dead of winter and have noticed very little trouble if any. My headlamp Li-Ion batter amazes me how it holds a charge, and only gets a little warmth from my forehead - otherwise it just sits on a box in my tent exposed. Worked a dogsled race with it at -35 and had no issue. My Anker does seem to lose some power in cold, and my Nikon camera batteries really drop. I suspect it depends on the battery.

You could check this one out. Fairly small, lightweight and no tech. Basically a candle on steroids. No noise and burns for a long time. Not super bright, but depending on the size of your tent enough to light the general area.

https://www.vermontlanterns.com/content/feuerhand-hurricane-lantern-german-made

Thanks for all the responses as usual in this group! Some great ideas.

Like the candle idea most of all, so a UCO is on the Xmas list. I believe a Luci light or 2 is owned by someone in our group. I can see the string light being added to the gear list if we decide that this winter camp stuff is for us, which I am fairly certain it will be!

Goal Zero Lighthouse rechargeable lanterns. Added bonus: solar compatible recharge. The larger size even has a hand-crank so you'll never run out of power. I have three sizes (micro, mini and older version of the largest size). The micro is perhaps the most impressive at $25, 150 lumen lantern, 150 lumen flashlight, usb or solar recharging and up to 100+ hours runtime on lowest setting. I used to be a sales rep for Goal Zero, I've owned these lanterns for upwards of 5 years and I bring at least one on every trip. I've had zero issues so far.


Goal Zero Lighthouse Lantern

ericinely: "Goal Zero Lighthouse rechargeable lanterns. Added bonus: solar compatible recharge. The larger size even has a hand-crank so you'll never run out of power. I have three sizes (micro, mini and older version of the largest size). The micro is perhaps the most impressive at $25, 150 lumen lantern, 150 lumen flashlight, usb or solar recharging and up to 100+ hours runtime on lowest setting. I used to be a sales rep for Goal Zero, I've owned these lanterns for upwards of 5 years and I bring at least one on every trip. I've had zero issues so far.

Goal Zero Lighthouse Lantern "

I thought I would point something out since I think this is a great idea (hand crank recharge). That is their recommended usage temperature stops at 32°F. Not saying you couldn't try it at temps below that. I'm sure this is a function of them trying to protect the battery.

Is it difficult to have enough sun to power the Luci Light?

This might be too bulky/heavy for your purposes but it is a great little light. The usage specs they give would meet your needs and more. It is also a portable charger and has a clock and thermometer. I have used it for 3 season camping and am impressed with the longevity of the battery. It offers 3 different temperatures of light and the intensity is completely adjustable from night light to blindingly bright.

I have not used it in extreme cold but the specs they give offer a pretty good margin of error even if the battery is somewhat compromised. It offers enough power to light up a campsite area on higher settings or a nice mellow glow at the lower settings. I love this light and the versatility of being able to use it to charge a phone, etc. in a pinch and see the time and temp is pretty nice.

Versatile camp light

Portage99: "Is it difficult to have enough sun to power the Luci Light?"

It can be, especially on those dark winter days or if snowing or blowing. Has worked fine on those bright sunny days. So far it has overall worked ok for me, though I don’t tend to leave my Luci on for extended periods at night so my recharging needs have not been great.

I have Luci lights, UCO candles, Coleman lanterns, Black Diamond Moji, Petzl lanterns, Ryobi 18 volt, etc.

But surprisingly, my go-to lanterns are the Walmart Ozark Trail 200 Lumens, Battery Electric Camping Lantern ($8) running rechargable AA batteries.

I found them to have the best weight/light output ratio.

Just take as many as you need and pack spare batteries.

In this photo, I have three LEDs set on low in a 2-person tunnel tent.

We usually just have a couple of candles on sticks, stuck in the snow. I have a couple of special holders for them, but wiring them to the stick works. A headlamp suffices for any chores requiring more light.

For what it's worth, three is one to many. The heat is so intense that the candles melt each other, but a one gallon can makes for a non-breakable holder/reflector.

10ft Luminoodle. Its usb and plugs into a power bank. Best light I have used. I use it in my Snowtrekker and have nothing but great things to say about it.

I started seeing the advantage of a small lantern only after canoeing during the shoulder seasons. That sun goes down earlier and quicker than you think! This little guy is lightweight, compact, bright, and inexpensive: Etekcity LED collapsible lantern

Kraut88: "You could check this one out. Fairly small, lightweight and no tech. Basically a candle on steroids. No noise and burns for a long time. Not super bright, but depending on the size of your tent enough to light the general area.

https://www.vermontlanterns.com/content/feuerhand-hurricane-lantern-german-made"

Want to see hurricane lanterns fly out the door at a retailer? Send an ice storm through Northern New England. Been there, seen that, sold them while they lasted. Longest outage at our house was four days. Half a mile away, it was two weeks. Did I mention the absence of municipal water systems and the prevalence of private wells in many small towns in ME, NH and VT?