UCO candle lanters, anybody use them?

Ramseybella

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I have been using these for years in my tent camping.
I have found them to be useful during damp cold nights for burning off moisture inside my tent keeping condensation at bay thus gives a feeling of warmer temps.
I have used the tea candle mini UCO and it is a pain and if you knock it by accident it will fling hot wax all over the place unlike the 9 hr model.
 

lacofdfireman

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Looked at the website and wondering which ones your using and do you burn them all night or just for a few hours? Never even thought about using one. Educate me.
 

Ramseybella

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The collapsible model with 9 hour candles, I have used the Beeswax candles they burn longer but not as much light and a PITA if it's cold outside to keep a good flame.
Yes I may at times burn them all night in a two person or bigger tent, I vent the tent and make sure I am not going to bump it while I am flopping around in my sleeping bag at night.
That's just me..
I find it does keep the moisture down and with that you don't feel like your sleeping in a cold Galvanized drainage pipe and waking up feeling damp and cold.
Stay away from the UCO collapsible Micro model with the tea candle, it's made like a POS and if you bump that puppy it will fling hot wax all over the place.
Just use these http://ucogear.com/original-candle-lantern.html
You have to make the judgment call on how you want to hang it as if you screw up you could melt the tent fabric or catch something on fire I never had a problem.
My experience is if you knock one of these over they 99% will go out ASAP.
That's why I hang them and not place on the floor of the tent.
It's a DNA fire thing like most of us!! ;)
 

Judd

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I've had one for years now. Use it on nearly every trip as I burn citronella candles in it for summer before going to bed for bugs. And yes,,, even a candle burning in a tent, especially a smallish 3-4 season tent does a lot to keep the chill out. I hang mine from the top and have never had an issue. I have accidentally knocked it over while on the camp table and all that happened was that the wax made a mess inside the glass. Flame went out almost immediately.
 

True Grip

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I've had one for years also. Forgot I even had it. The wife and I used it in our young backpacking days. Starting using an led headlight and just stopped using the candle forgot about how it helped with moisture. Need to dig it out before I camp cold again. Thanks Ramseybella!
 

low drag

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I have the collapsible 9 hour unit, it is a great piece of gear. I used it while in the Marines during cold weather training then started using is all the time. I hesitated to use it in warm weather but it's too darn useful. It has always surprised me how a single candle will warm a tent (along with the body heat) when the temp is well below zero F. The only got ya is you need to let the unit cool after you blow out the candle to let the wax solidify and not run all over the inside of the lantern.

I have many hours of use out of mine, the light is better than a regular candle but right at the edge of being able to read/write by. I've read using mine but it's a bit of a challenge. It provides plenty of light for inside the tent and helps take care condensation.

I just 'discovered' they have citronella candles as well. Bugs LOVE me, so I picked these up for my next outing, I hope they help. There are also plenty of accessories available like cases and maintenance kits. Anyone that spends a bit of time in a tent will love these lanterns, they are well worth the money.
 

Ramseybella

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npj1966 said:
Purchase question- does the lantern come with any candles with initial purchase, and if so, how many candles as it does not state it?

-NPJ
Some you can buy as a kit others as the lantern only.
REI has the Candles $4.00 + tax.
This is the better deal as no tax and the same price REI wants for the kit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UCO-Original-Aluminum-Candle-Lantern-9-Hour-Candle-Set-Camping-Tactical-NEW-/111757260100?hash=item1a05407544:g:XC0AAOSwMmBV4cJL

No other candle fits this lamp, trust me the wax formula UCO uses is the best for long even burn!
I don't care for the Bees Wax UCO candles as they burn uneven for some reason and cost $12.00, at least the ones I have tried.
 

tomatocity

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Ramseybella said:
Some you can buy as a kit others as the lantern only.
REI has the Candles $4.00 + tax.
This is the better deal as no tax and the same price REI wants for the kit.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UCO-Original-Aluminum-Candle-Lantern-9-Hour-Candle-Set-Camping-Tactical-NEW-/111757260100?hash=item1a05407544:g:XC0AAOSwMmBV4cJL

No other candle fits this lamp, trust me the wax formula UCO uses is the best for long even burn!
I don't care for the Bees Wax UCO candles as they burn uneven for some reason and cost $12.00, at least the ones I have tried.
Thanks. Just ordered one for my camping kit.
 

npj1966

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That's funny! Just ordered a set myself. Went to Americade 2015 at Lake George NY and we tented and the first night I froze my butt off as I brought a summer bag to upstate NY in June. Hoping this will take the edge off should I encounter another chilly night in the nylon abode!

-NPJ
 

Ramseybella

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Been a few opinions on if it produces enough BTU's to warm things up, but like I stated at the beginning it cuts down on your breath moisture thus controls the dampness and condensation inside the tent and may just make it feel warmer inside a double walled tent.
Remember the bigger the tent and the more mesh it has on the walls the more area of air that needs to be warmed up.
I haven't tried this in a one person tent I doubt it would have enough clearance to maneuver around it.
I use inside my one person Eureka Combat tents, one of those old fashioned pocket warmers inside my sleeping bag at the foot tied up inside a Crown Royal sack and vent the tent a little.
Or a quart Nalgene water bottle filled with hot water works great as well. ::008::
 

Ramseybella

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patrickg450 said:
how much heat can it produce?
Enough if you touch the top it will brand the hell out of you. :D

Other than that not much but enough in a confined small area like a two person tent buttoned up to keep moisture down which in turn keeps that clammy cold feel away and may amp up the temp a small bit.
Some guys use these in snow caves for overnight winter treks.
 

Ramseybella

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Best deals for replacement candles on Ebay>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/UCO-15-Pack-9-Hour-Emergency-Survival-Camping-Candles-for-Candlelier-Lantern-/291676745644?hash=item43e949efac:g:V7wAAMXQs6FRXcP9

I have bought these from this guy comes out to $1.13 each REI sells them for $3.95 for 3 but you still pay Tax.

Another good Ebay deal for a NEW lamp and one candle make an offer> http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Original-Candle-Lantern-Tactical-Camping-Hiking-Backpacking-with-one-candle-/272122644407?hash=item3f5bc607b7:g:6uwAAOSwa-dWsN6b
 

spam16v

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Ramseybella said:
Best deals for replacement candles on Ebay>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/UCO-15-Pack-9-Hour-Emergency-Survival-Camping-Candles-for-Candlelier-Lantern-/291676745644?hash=item43e949efac:g:V7wAAMXQs6FRXcP9

I have bought these from this guy comes out to $1.13 each REI sells them for $3.95 for 3 but you still pay Tax.

Another good Ebay deal for a NEW lamp and one candle make an offer> http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Original-Candle-Lantern-Tactical-Camping-Hiking-Backpacking-with-one-candle-/272122644407?hash=item3f5bc607b7:g:6uwAAOSwa-dWsN6b
Bought it for $8+$4 shipping. Ordered a 3 pack of citronella candles too to see if I like them and a $10 cacoon off Amazon to store it in.
 
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