Alternative lighting contingencies should be part of any prepping strategy. Oil lamps are effective sources of emergency lighting. However, what oil lamps are best for prepping?
The best oil lamps for preppers are hurricane oil lamps. They provide the most reliable source of combustion-based lighting, designed to protect the flame against strong winds. Their output is well suited for indoor and outdoor use, providing 8 to 100 lumens of luminosity.
In this article, we will provide you with a list of the ten best oil lamps that, due to their characteristics, will provide you with the performance and dependability that you need from a lighting source in a survival situation. We will also explain the benefits of oil lamp lighting so that you can judge for yourself what lamp is best for you.
Why Choose Oil Lamps?
Oil lamps allow you to have emergency lighting that is not reliant on electrical power, batteries, or solar power being available. All that an oil lamp needs to operate is a source of fuel—kerosene, paraffin oil, or citronella oil.
Under more pressing situations, they can be fueled by common cooking oils, such as olive, corn, canola, and olive oil.
They are also very efficient. Most consume less than 1 ounce (29.6 ml) of oil per hour. This means that 1 gallon (3.74 liters) of oil can yield 128 to 256 hours of lighting.
Hurricane-style oil lamps, those that protect the flame from the wind, will provide you with steady lighting throughout the night. Since they are clean-burning, oil lamps are safe to use indoors and outdoors.
In a prepping situation, the level of efficiency and reliability offered by oil lamps is highly desirable. The following lamps are the best options for those who are seeking value, performance, and reliability in the oil lamps they incorporate into their lighting contingency strategy.
A-Lan Windproof Kerosene Lamp
The A-Lan Windproof Kerosene Lamp is an example of what an oil lamp for emergency lighting should be. It is constructed out of stainless steel and glass. It is simple in design, but that is what makes it ideal for survival situations. You want simplicity in design and operation, not needless complexity, to minimize malfunctions.
The A-Lan accommodates different fuels, and you can power it with kerosene, vegetable oils, or diesel. It is also suited for indoor and outdoor use.
With a height of 10.9 inches (29 cm), the A-Lan kerosene lamp provides a fair amount of ambient lighting in a small room. It is light enough to be carried in one hand when you need to illuminate outdoor paths and areas, weighing just under 2 pounds (800 grams).
Stansport Small Hurricane Lantern
The Stansport Hurricane lantern comes in two sizes, the 12-inch (30 cm) and 8-inch (20 cm) models.
Both have the traditional design associated with hurricane lanterns. They are manufactured out of metal. The handle and hanging hook are affixed directly to the body of the lamp. This allows for a secure way of carrying or hanging the lamp when in use.
The glass globe is surrounded by a wire cage to protect it from breaking during minor bumps and dings when it is being carried. Because this is made of metal, like the rest of the lamp’s body, the wire cage provides sturdy protection to the glass globe without impairing the luminosity of the lamp when lit.
The smaller version makes it suited for carrying in smaller bug-out bags. It can also be used to illuminate paths or tents when outdoors. The larger version is best for area lighting. Both have an adjustable wick so you can modulate the brightness of the flame and fuel consumption.
Stansport Hurricane lanterns can be fueled with kerosene or generic lamp oil.
Coleman One-Mantle Kerosene Lantern
If you are seeking an oil lamp that is constructed to last, the Coleman One-Mantle lantern is a perfect choice. Manufactured of stainless steel, everything about this lantern’s body denotes sturdiness and durability.
The fuel tank’s interior is coated with a material that helps prevent rust and corrosion, adding to the long-life of the lantern. The ventilator is coated in porcelain to also protect it from rust and corrosion.
The Coleman One-Mantle holds one quart of kerosene. This is enough to provide a flame for 8–9 hours. When the wick is fully extended, it can provide an incredible 700 lumens of lighting. It is this high level of luminosity that makes the Coleman One-Mantle stand out.
When empty of fuel, the lantern weighs 4.76 pounds (2.2 kgs). This makes it impractical for being used as a mobile light source. However, its heavier body weight coupled with a wide bottom that measures 7.25 inches (18.75 cm) makes this lantern very stable—even when placed on rough or uneven surfaces.
Bright, tough, and portable, the One-Mantle can easily handle the chores associated with being your primary combustion-based lighting contingency.
V&O 210-32060 Large Tank Oil Lantern
Depending on the nature of the survival situation you will face, different lighting needs will come into play.
If you need a lamp that maximizes the duration of the lighting it provides for the amount of fuel it consumes, the V&O 210-32060 Large Tank Oil Lantern is one of your best choices.
Its 36-ounce (1.02 liter) tank can provide you with 45 hours of combustion lighting. Additionally, it accommodates a range of fuels. You can use kerosene, citronella, liquid paraffin, and lamp oil in the V&O. This allows you to continue using the lantern for a longer period if a specific fuel source runs out.
The half-inch (1.25 cm) wick thickness used in the V&O means that it provides moderate lighting levels as opposed to the brighter lighting that can be achieved using lamps with wider wicks. However, this is also what allows it to be so efficient in its fuel usage.
To fill that need in your lighting contingencies—the one that calls for extended use in exchange for some minor sacrifice in luminosity—the V&O perfectly fits the role.
Dietz 2500 Jupiter Oil Lantern
Another oil lantern that offers a long flame time is the Dietz 2500 Jupiter. It can produce a steady flame for 75 hours from 80 ounces (2.3 liters) of fuel.
Unlike the V&O oil lantern that produces moderate light levels, the Dietz 2500 produces greater luminosity levels due to its ⅞-inch (2.2 cm) wick. It produces a light level equivalent to 12 candlepower.
The Dietz 2500 can run off kerosene or standard lamp oil. Although not recommended by the manufacturer, some people have run this lantern with diesel and Jet-A fuel.
The Dietz 2500 Jupiter lantern provides an additional benefit during the autumn weather, suited for interior lighting as well as exterior static or mobile use. When used indoors, it has the effect of emitting residual heat due to its large wick.
Oil lamps are not intended to function as heaters. However, lamps such as the Dietz 2500 can raise the temperature in a small space when left on continuously when the ambient temperature is cool but not freezing.
Dietz 2000 Millennium Lantern/Cooker
Slightly smaller than the model 2500, this model is also worthy of keeping as a part of your survival gear.
As a lantern, it has the same build quality as the larger model 2500. Due to being smaller, its luminance is lower. The luminosity model is rated at 9 candlepower. It can burn for 23 hours on 17 ounces (483 ml) of fuel. Like the model 2500, it can run on kerosene or lamp oil.
The smaller form factor makes it lightweight. At 2.64 pounds (1.2 kgs), this is practical as a personal portable lighting device. It can fit comfortably in backpacks when scouting terrain. It can also be incorporated into your “bug out” or “get home” bag.
The Dietz 2000 as a Field Stove
A feature unique to the Dietz 2000 is that it comes with a cooking adaptor that can be attached to the top of the lamp’s chimney. This allows you to place a small pot that is included with the attachment or a field cup or other cooking utensils on top.
The results that you can obtain from this as a stove/cooker need to be placed in the proper perspective. Can it fairly be called a field stove? No, it simply does not have the surface area or the heating power to function as a legitimate field stove.
However, if you are using this in the field as a portable lighting source, having the ability to boil water for coffee or to heat some soup can be a welcomed added convenience. Boiling a field cup (355 ml) of water using the cooking adapter takes 15–20 minutes.
Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern
The best hurricane lantern that comes in a small form factor is the Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern. Made in Germany by a company with a solid reputation in manufacturing oil lamps since 1902, this lantern lives up to expectations.
The lamp stands only 10 inches (25 cm) tall and weighs a scant 1 pound (1.1 kgs). It relies on a ½-inch (1.25cm) wick. Based on those characteristics, you’d expect the Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern to fall short in terms of brightness and burn times. However, you’d be wrong to make such assumptions.
The Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern produces brightness levels equivalent to 8 candlepower. That is almost double what other lamps produce using a similar wick size. Additionally, even though the fuel reservoir only holds 10 ounces of fuel, it can burn for 20 hours. That is one of the best fuel efficiency performances of any hurricane lamp.
You can see why this lantern made the list. It offers incredible portability with amazing performance. However, its attributes don’t end there. The Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern is also one of the best-built lamps in terms of ruggedness and durability.
This lantern is built using galvanized steel. It is finished with a powder coating of paint. This creates a surface that is scratch and heat resistant. Not only does this make the lamp look good through years of use, but it also prevents rust and corrosion. With minimal care, a Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern can provide you with decades of reliable service.
It is not just the body that is robust on the Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern, but also the lamp’s glass globe. It is made from a borosilicate glass known as SUPRAX. This glass is resistant to cracking and breaking during normal use. It also has very low expansion properties. This makes it very resistant to sudden changes in temperature.
This means that when using this lantern outdoors during rainy or snowy conditions, you don’t have to worry about the glass globe cracking when cold water lands on it while it is hot.
Lightweight, extremely durable, and efficient, the Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern can fill the role of your primary alternate light source as well as being your go-to field lamp.
Mason Jar Tabletop Torch Kits
The technology behind manufacturing oil lamps is one of the oldest that is still in active use. Oil lamps have been with us since the dawn of civilization, dating back some 12,000 years.
This is why relying on oil lamps during a survival situation has an inherent trust factor. Oil lamps have a continuous record of reliability. Also, understanding how they work is not a complicated process. This makes building an oil lamp yourself an important survival skill to have.
This is why the Mason Jar Tabletop Torch kits made this list. It includes everything that you need to make four oil lamps from mason jars. These lamps will run off paraffin lamp oil, citronella oil, or vegetable oil.
Not only does this kit allow you to have four functioning oil lamps up and running in minutes, but it also gives you and others in your family practical experience in building oil lamps. Depending on how your survival situation develops, having this skill can pay huge dividends if you need to expand or extend your lighting contingency plan.
Luminiser Thermoelectric Oil Lantern
The Luminser Thermoelectric Oil Lantern is the most innovative entry on this list. It shares the same operating principle of other oil lamps with a twist—a huge twist.
The Luminiser only consumes 5 milliliters (0.18 ounces) of oil per hour to generate 200 lumens of light. That is equivalent to nearly 16 candlepower. That is more luminosity than some of the biggest and most efficient oil lamps on the market. When you consider that it does this at a fuel burn rate that is less than half of the most efficient oil lamps, its usefulness in a prepping situation is obvious.
The Luminiser achieves this by not relying on the fuel being burned on its wick to provide lumination. Instead, the Luminiser uses that heat to generate electricity. The power that it generates powers LED bulbs in the unit that provide the light.
This hybrid of an oil lamp and LED lamp technologies can be very useful for those who want the whiter, brighter glow that comes from LED bulbs.
Purism Style 4-inch Height Glass Kerosene Oil Lamp Lantern
The oil lamps you keep as part of your survival gear don’t all have to be designed for rugged field use. There is something to be said for including oil lamps that blend into your home’s decor. A style of an oil lamp that is always in place throughout your home, ready to be used if the power fails.
The Purism 4-inch (10 cm) Kerosene oil lamps are a good example of this type of oil lamp. Standing four inches tall (10 cm), they do not occupy much space and can easily be placed in strategic locations throughout a home. You can consider these the “forward-deployed units” of your lighting contingency arsenal.
The Purism Oil Lanterns are commonly sold in packs of three or six and sold individually. Their build quality is not meant to withstand rugged or outdoor use. This makes them very affordable and should allow you to purchase several to spread throughout your home.
The purpose of keeping Purism lanterns is to allow for lighting contingencies to be in place in key rooms of your house to free up your other more powerful and rugged alternative light sources to where they would be most needed.
Lamps such as these can fulfill secondary and tertiary lighting requirements that often go unresolved when only primary lighting contingencies are available.
Related: Top 20 Websites for Survivalists
What Is The Best Hurricane Lantern?
The best hurricane lantern in my opinion is the Dietz #76 Original Oil Burning Lantern. This lamp is a great choice for hurricanes because it provides the best illumination. It is preferred by professional electricians because of its powerful flame that lights up an entire room, reducing eye strain associated with reading in bed or other close work.
Conclusion
Oil lamps, especially of the hurricane lamp variety, are among the most reliable alternative sources for lighting in a survival situation. Because they are easy to operate and maintain, oil lamps can provide you with hours of lumination while only consuming a few ounces of fuel.
With most oil lamps being able to operate on kerosene, paraffin oil, and vegetable oil, sustaining a lighting contingency even when resources are depleting is made easier.
This is why the hurricane lamp is considered the best option for preppers among oil lamp designs. If the reason you are looking up oil lamps is to prepare for a hurricane, you might want to read our article about what to stock up on for a hurricane here.
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