Does anyone have any experiences/opinions about this lantern?
http://gerbergear.com/product.php?model=0053

Does anyone use any LED lanterns for camping/hiking?
I need one for my parents and grandparents that is reliable and water proof. Preferably something that has both a flashlight and lantern modes.
Anyone?

Don't know myself. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> My mom requested that this be waterproof, even though she never camps.
Do you have the link for that lantern you mentioned?
What I kind of liked about the Hornet is that it had a "flashlight" and a "lantern" modes. Maybe its too new to review, don't know?

I'm not sure if Target still carries these Rock River lanterns, but check out my comments from this old post. There's a link to a favorable FlashlightReviews.com review in that post, too.

I still have my Rock River and although I haven't taken it camping, I haven't had any problems with it with occasional use over the past year. I've knocked it off my nightstand many times with no problems.

I don't think I've seen a good LED flashlight/lantern combo yet due to the directional nature of most LED's. You can make a light that throws light out or straight ahead, but tough to do both well.

That said, I do carry a little Brunton Lamplight flashlight/lantern combo in my gym bag everyday. It runs off 3AAA that powers a single 5mm LED. A lens concentrates the light quite well, but it's a small spot. Pull the head portion away from the body to separate the two and the thing becomes a lantern. Not terribly bright, but if you're in the pitch dark camping (or stuck in an elevator in a blackout), it should make a decent tent light that will last a good long time.

I also just ran across the Highgear Trailtorch Lantern. Basically the same idea as the Brunton, it seems. My Brunton is not waterproof. I doubt that this Highgear is either. I don't think any LED lanterns are truly waterproof. If your parents really want a truly waterproof light to depend on, it might be better to spring for a separate waterproof LED flashlight, in addition to an LED lantern, if they want to go with LED's.

Aloha Redflare,

An Inova X5 might work. It is waterproof, has a small form factor, decent battery life and it will light up a dark room pretty well. If you hang it by the lanyard, it might serve admirably as a makeshift lantern. Grab it to go and it is a decent flashlight.

My Target stores still carry the Rock River LED Lantern. I bought one a few months ago and did a simple mod of putting a layer of scuffed up plastic inside to soften and scatter the light a little better. The lantern is a great value at $20. Very bright and takes 4 AA cells. It's weather-sealed very well. My kids have played with it quite a bit with no damage. We've used it to light up the central part of the house during a power outage and it throws plenty of light for that. It lights better than the 4 D cell multiple-LED lantern I had for storms before. I could prop up a LED minimag or another LED light to bounce light off the ceiling, but the lantern does a much better job of it. It's too much light and too heavy for serious lightweight backpacking, but I'd definately take it on a family or scout trip.

I think I just talked myself into buying another one or more, maybe for Christmas gifts.

In the past, people have suggested things like wrapping Glad Press 'N Seal around the Rock River lantern as a diffuser. I'm curious, though. It sounds like you put this plastic layer inside the globe part of the lantern? Does it just pop off the base?

No, the very top piece of plastic with the switch unscrews sort of like the battery compartment. It's hard to tell that it comes apart there, but it does. There's an O-ring protecting it. Then you can remove two nuts from the end of the metal rods and the whole globe comes apart. You might want to mark which way the circuit board goes. Mine was keyed so it would only go one way, but I've read at least one person that managed to put it back together backwards.

I think I've heard that the OSRAM Golden Dragon LED Lantern is the best of the Brunton / Rock River type lights. Basically they all have the same case but with different LEDs AFAIK.

Review
Source

-john

One that might fit most of your criteria is an Energizer Folding LED Lantern.
Energizer LED Folding Lantern

These were discontinued about a year ago, but are back in production now. I've seen them for sale in Target stores. About $8, run on 4AA batteries, has 2 light output levels, runs for about 100 hours on high, 200 on low (approximate). They're compact and a good value...light output is small, though - definitely sufficient for inside a tent, OK for say a picnic table top in a campground, but not going to light up a whole room so everyone can read, but sufficient to light a room so you can find your way around.
They're small and easy to fit in a jacket pocket, and cheap enough you wouldn't feel bad about losing/breaking one. Definitely not waterproof, though, if that's a hard and fast requirement.

Here's a review:
Review

Dave

Doesn't look like Energizer is water proof or resistant.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!
I will probably try the Hornet and post my review here. Gerber products usually worked great for me in the past.