Rayovac SE3DLN Sportsman Xtreme 300-Lumen LED Lantern
by Rayovac
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List Price: Our Price: $22.66 You Save: $11.34 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $20.00 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Rayovac SE3DLN Sportsman Xtreme 300-Lumen LED Lantern
Customer Review: Good emergency light
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this on sale around the holidays. I like to keep emergency lighting on hand. Over the last few years, with the improvement in LEDs and declining prices, maintaining light sources during power outages has become more economical, a lot easier and more efficient.
First off, my evaluation of this unit is solely from the perspective of providing light during a power outage. I'm not a camper and couldn't tell you if this should be in your kit or not.
As household lighting, this inexpensive lantern really performs well. The manufacturer claims 300 lumen output at the high setting and I can't prove or disprove that. What I can say is that it is bright at the high setting and eminently usable at the low setting as well. I'd prefer the low setting just to prolong battery life. The manufacturer claims 150 hours battery life on the low setting and 72 on the high. I'd be inclined to cut both those numbers in half or even more. In a home setting, with extra D cells at hand, it doesn't make much of a difference.
The unit is durably constructed. With batteries installed, it weighs 21 ounces. The shade twists off easily if you want wider light distribution and won't be looking directly at the LED, which is very bright. (The manufacturer claims the LED never needs to be replaced, but doesn't include the LED in its lifetime warranty. Go figure.) There's a flip-up handle on the top, which can be used to carry the lantern or hold it on a hook. There is also a tent hook on the top. With the top cover removed and suspended from the hook, this makes a nice overhead lamp - but avoid looking directly at the bulb.
There is a green diode which flashes every five seconds when the switch is turned off, allegedly to help you find the lantern in the dark. The diode on mine was ineffective.
The worst part of this lantern is the base. It uses a slot and arrow system to line up the base with the bottom of the lantern where the batteries. Even in bright light, it is a pain to use. The only time you would need to do this is when changing the batteries - and if you have to do this in the dark, you will be cursing the base.
Aside from that caveat, for the price, this is a great emergency lighting device.
Jerry
Customer Review: size doesn't matter with this blinding little light
Summary: 5 Stars
We are planning a camping trip up to the mountains and wanted to get a lantern that worked off of batteries instead of propane. We have a Coleman lantern that works off of a propane bottle and has the mantles that you light with a flame. We wanted a lantern to be equally as bright without the hassle of lighting the mantles. So, of course I go on Amazon and look for a lantern with the best reviews. At the time I reviewed this, it had 96 reviews and all were 5 stars. All the reviews boasted about how bright the light is. Never even noticing the size, I ordered it thinking it would be the same size or similar as our Coleman lantern. I received it in my mailbox not knowing it was the light as we have been ordering a few things for our trip. I opened the box and was immediately disappointed. It looks like a toy. It is just under 7 1/2 inches tall and about 3 inches wide. I thought there is no way this is going to be as bright as our Coleman and we are going to have to take it too. This will probably only be good enough to light up our tent. Well, don't let the size deceive you. We put in the batteries (3 D size) and pushed the button. We had to look away, it was so bright! Once it got dark we tried it out again. This is definitely as bright as the Coleman lantern and the light is white instead of the yellow flame color you would get from the burning mantles. I don't have to worry about the kids bumping into it, knocking it over and breaking it or burning their hands on the glass. It is very durable and well made. It has a handle you can walk with or hang with and then when you flip it over it has a hook where you can hang it from where ever. It is suggested to take the top part off and hang it upside down, but I think if you took the top part off, the light would be blinding. Its plenty bright enough just the way it is. The only down side to this light ~ I agree with the other's is that you have to line up the arrows to get the lid back on after you install the batteries. Its a slot and groove type line-up so its not too easy, but after messing with it, it is do-able. Just kind of a funky way to put the lid back together. Definitely won't be disappointed with how much light this thing puts out!!! Well worth the purchase.Customer Review: GREAT LIGHT FOR THE PRICE!!
Summary: 5 Stars
OK folks,
let me start off by saying that I am a flashlight afficionado. If you ask me about pistols, rifles, knives, or lights...you are now in my world, and I will talk your ears off.
Let me say that this is a great little lantern. I was walking around my local "Big Boys Covet Store" (Lowes) and saw this lantern on sale. I went over to check it out and inspect it, and then kept it on the back of my mind. When I got home, I went to one of my internet hang-outs (CandlePowerForum.com) and plugged in the lantern for some feedback, or reviews. Evidently it was very highly talked about. So I went back the next day (or was it IMMEDIATELY?) to purchase the little lantern. I gotta admit, I was not disappointed.
Since I have gotten the lantern, it is my new ruck sack companion. I will not leave to a mountain trek without it. And when I am not out in the bush, it stays on top of my reloading bench in case of an emergency blackout...or an earthquake. (I live in the San Freakcisco Bay Area).
The light is small (3.5" x 3.5" x 7.5"), but is plenty tough. It has a great rubber base, a rubber top section, and rubber side grips. Like the earlier folks stated, it has a HIGH, a LOW, and a STROBE function. As for the installation of the batteries...yea...I was scratching my head for a few seconds the first time. (No, not minutes - seconds). But after I looked at it for a second or two, it was pretty easy to see how it was supposed to go on, and I have not had a problem since then.
The little plastic hook on top is a total waste to me. Why? Because everthing else on this little beast is built so well, and then the did this?! (Added a flimsy little "Alfalfa Hair Piece" to the top of this exceptional little lantern). It has not broken on me yet - but then again, I will not take the chance of hanging the lantern from this flimsy little hook and provoking Mr Murphy to curse the lantern to fall and possibly break.
It is small and compact, but beefy and with heft.
Like I said, it's a great little lantern for the money.
You will not regret it.
In Christ: Raymond
Customer Review: Excellent Lantern!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are looking for extremely bright LED light and extremely long battery life this is the lantern for you. There is not too much that I can add that other positive reviews have not already covered other than maybe some comments about the following negative review issues. The battery cover could have been designed a little better in terms of ease of use but by no means is it very difficult to get the cover back on. Considering you will rarely ever be changing batteries anyway, as they last so long, I see this as a very small issue and definitely not a deal breaker. Once the cover is on it is very secure and that is by far the most important thing to me. The small blinking green LED issue - I like this feature as it helps to find the lantern in darkness which is no doubt why it is there. The blinking light is not intrusive and you really have to be looking basically straight at it to see it so it isn't annoying. I am an electronics tech and I can assure you that it would literally take several years for the LED to discharge batteries by blinking like this and by the time it would discharge the batteries they would have been discharged much more by the lapse of time as batteries discharge internally over long periods. I once built a similar blinking LED with a red LED to simulate a car alarm blinking light and powered it with one 9-volt battery and it lasted over four years before it discharged the battery running 24/7-365. Again, the blinking green light WILL NOT discharge the batteries other than by the smallest and most negligible amount and is a non issue in terms of function and reliability but is a PLUS in terms of being able to find the lantern in total darkness. Otherwise, this lantern is compact but puts out big light, takes very adequate batteries that will make it last a very long time between battery changes, is built very solidly, and has a lifetime warranty from a company that has been around awhile. Well worth every penny paid - very happy with this lantern!
Customer Review: Sturdy, extremely bright, battery cover stinks.
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros:
Sturdy, solid, nice rubber grips all around it. Handle is solid also. Surprisingly small footprint also. Very well made unit.
Extremely bright, I was very surprised. Lights up a room like a ceiling light! I want 3 of these for the next Hurricane and I can light up the entire house.
Bright and low light mode for battery saving. Uses 3 D batteries at a time.
You can easily remove the top and hang the light upside down (there is a built in hook) from anything you can hook it onto. Extreme lighting this way.
3 super bright LED's, no propane fuel to mess with. Its nearly as bright as my old Coleman propane lantern but tons more usable.
Cons:
Very difficult at times to get the battery cover back on, read the other reviews. Very poor design. I think it has to do with making it water proof which is great but, in the dark I think it would be nearly impossible to get the cover on, which means no light. Ugh. You have to line up a turning plastic ring inside the light, if its not lined up right, it won't screw up. In the dark, I don't know how I would ever get the rings to line up unless I had another light to shine on it.
There is a tiny blinking green light on the base so you can "find" the lantern at night. Seems unnecessary to me plus it drains the battery. There should be a switch or something to turn it off. Plus if the lantern is turned so the green light isn't blinking right at you, you'll never see it. So really, why have it at all.
Summary:
Best, brightest, most versatile LED lantern on the market. Well worth the price, despite the flaw with the battery cover. Just practice it a few times so you can replace it in less than optimal conditions. I wish it had a rechargeable option, but I guess you can use rechargeable D batteries.