Coleman Conquer Spin 550L Rechargeable LED Lantern

Field Notes: Before diving in, the recognition that 1) the Coleman lantern will not be the lightest out there and 2) the color red will be omni-present, is important. Once past those two concerns, the Conquer Spin camp lantern goes to work in a bump-and-bounce fighting chassis, repelling enough impact in transit to handle the rigors of car camping. With a circular, full-diameter base that anchors the lantern even in higher winds, the Spin tucks the metal hanging loop (with a gated carabiner-type clip) into the bottom recess to stay clear during tabletop and hand-carry positions. 

Underneath as well is the thoughtful charging plug storage chamber, one that features a lock-unlock function to keep the Spin from accident activation. As with a puzzle box, it requires some practice to quickly deploy and store cables, but the power lock-out utility is beyond question. Once enabled, switching modes on the 550-lumen max output lantern happens easily and quickly. Spinning the top handle at pre-set increments moves the Conquer Spin from off to low (50 lumens) followed by medium (200 lumens) to max output. One click more puts the non-strobe flashing mode into action. 

Illumination-wise, this lantern performs beyond the rated output given the twin conical reflectors inside the lighting chamber. Meaning, more useful light per lumen with only minimal reduction from the lightly-frosted chamber. Testers rated this model among the best for hanging applications to push out up to 30ft – if the supporting structure can handle the weight. Runtimes are reasonable, recognizing recharging takes up to 12hrs when the camping lantern’s been fully discharged. The top carrying handle is beefy to make Conquest Spin LED Lantern a trustworthy guide on trail or for prepping the boat early in the morning. Recharging and mobile charging ports on top could benefit from a beefier weather cover on this IPX4 water-resistant lantern. 

Tester Comments: “Pure joy, pure fun and the problem is that the spin-switching mechanism invites fellow campers to keep messing with the output level. Being able to top off devices from the Coleman lantern is a bonus, but this one could become a new classic for all-around campsite lighting if our experience is typical.”

Key Attribute: Dependability