It’s inevitable. Sometimes, farm chores have to be completed in the dark. Whether you’re stacking hay bales in a dim, off-the-grid hay barn or walking between outbuildings at night, you need a light source so you can see what you’re doing.
Flashlights work great for many purposes, but if you commonly find yourself working in the dark, an LED lantern is a better choice.
Not convinced? Here are five reasons why you need an electric lantern.
1. They offer 360 degrees of light.
To me, the primary advantage of an LED lantern is the fact it shines light in all directions. Whereas a flashlight is a directional light source that must be pointed at whatever you wish to light, a lantern is designed so the bulb shines 360 degrees.
Thus, a lantern can be placed in the center of a dim space to light up the surrounding area in all directions.
If having 360 degrees of light from a single source sounds useful, look for a lantern with a completely transparent casing around the bulb. If the lantern is decorative in design, there may be non-transparent sections of the casing that block light and cast shadows.
2. They’re portable and convenient.
Like a flashlight, an LED lantern is portable and easy to use. Other types of lighting can be brighter, but it’s hard to beat the convenience of a lightweight lantern that can be readily carried wherever you need it.
Plus, lanterns have handles or hooks at the top, so it’s easy to hang them (say, from a rafter) to create a hands-off light source. It’s not as easy to rig up a flashlight to shine where you need it. Believe me, I’ve tried.
3. They light the way during power outages.
Perhaps you’re having trouble thinking of occasions when you would use a lantern during the course of a regular farm day. Maybe all your outbuildings have electricity, and outdoor lights brighten your barnyard even at night.
But not every day is a regular day. If a power outage strikes, a lantern can serve as a perfect source of emergency lighting. A bright lantern performs admirably in these situations, flooding its surroundings with 360 degrees of light so you can keep working smoothly.
Read more: Here’s what you need to know about power generators.
4. LEDs help batteries last longer.
Modern LED lights use less electricity and generate less heat than incandescent bulbs. LED lanterns can shine for a surprisingly long time before running out of power, especially if you run the lantern on something less than its brightest setting.
Some lanterns are rechargeable, while others use replaceable batteries, but either way you’ll get more mileage out of an LED light than an incandescent bulb.
5. Some lanterns can charge other devices.
A basic LED lantern is a light source without any extra features. But some lanterns add in USB charging ports. This means you can tap into the lantern’s battery to charge devices (like your phone) if needed.
In a pinch, this is a handy feature to have.
If you haven’t already acquired an LED lantern, what are you waiting for? If you commonly work in the dark (or just want to be prepared in case of a power outage), an electric lantern is a great tool to have.
