Still real world useful?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I was looking at this today, and I'm trying to decide if it's still useful to have, or is just a quaint piece of olde worlde nostagia

http://www.heinnie.com/product.asp?s=mig9kf604030&strParents=&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=4581

For the size, weight and run time, something like a tail standing AA torch would be more useful surely, and without the attendant fire risk

[Freudian Frog]

Yeah... I'd stick to a modern light. =P

[jzmtl]

I use the mini one that uses a tealight, although I admit it's more of a toy. Still a candle is much more energy dense than any battery you can find, and can provide heat and fire when you need it.

[AHB]

Somehow these always reminds me of an old Dracula movie... Wonder why..?  
But they will without a doubt bring a certain atmosphere when used.  

[Bowman1911]

I voted definitely yes. Power goes out, either those, oil lamps, or propane torches for the long haul. Was without power for almost 3 weeks in flooding due to Andrew & Floyd. Those are still pretty useful.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Works best if there is solid steady surface for it to rest on and it does not get moved or bumped. I've hung mine inside a tent or from a line before and bumped into it...spilling wax and jamming the feed mechanism. It's a real pain getting it cleaned out.

I have both top hat and side reflectors for mine...they don't improve light output much, just directs it.

Good for a little extra warmth in a tent and you can get the citronella candles for repelling mosquitos...although I wouldn't burn those inside the tent.

[nuphoria]

I love candles and would definitely use one of these in the right place - that may not be a tent though! 

[DaveK]

But they will without a doubt bring a certain atmosphere when used.  

Exactly. As Mike knows, I have a Hurricane oil lamp that I bought to take to the meet in April. Works perfectly well, and isn't as soul-less as a modern torch.

[Anthony]

I've got a similar one from County Comm that uses a tea light candle.  Maybe a mini Mag standing on it's tail will produce more light, but it's nice to have options.  Tea lights can be bought by the bag of 20 or so very cheaply.

If the one in the link is anything like my County Comm one, it's almost impossible to start a fire with one.  You'd have to pitch it full speed into a wall to break the glass and dislodge the tea light from it's harness..and after that amount of force the tea light would have been blown out.  Simply tipping it over would just extinguish the flame.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I do think they have there place , but just in the home as they'd be just too fiddly for the great outdoors imo

[FredKJ]

I have one.  They are still a best seller at REI.  Backpackers like them because they give an ambient light in the tent so you don't have to waste batteries.  They do add warmth to a tent and give a back up fire starter candle.  Unlike the tea light candle these use long burning 9 hour candles.  It's a traditional item that probably won't go away.  The REI version has added an LED light to it.  The LED fits on the base and REI provides this separately as an upgrade.  In the customer review rating it gets 4.5 stars at the REI site.  This is just one of those "classic" items like the SVEA 123 stove that will probably be around forever.

[Neil]

For all practical purposes I'd stick with a modern torch.    Very pretty for taking carol singing though

[zepla]

Ever tried to get things going with a girl in a dark forrest under the stars on a hot summer evening with the romantic light of a 10000 lumens blister burning plutonium powered laserbeam that could burn a hole in the moon? Trust me, go for the warm, soft, flikkering light candle option any time 

[FredKJ]

Ever tried to get things going with a girl in a dark forrest under the stars on a hot summer evening with the romantic light of a 10000 lumens blister burning plutonium powered laserbeam that could burn a hole in the moon? Trust me, go for the warm, soft, flikkering light candle option any time 

Yep it does have advantages for those romantic nights under the stars.  Backpackers look for multipurpose equipment.  If you are going to keep a candle for a fire starting aid then why not have a candle lantern.  Also in Colorado often you can't have a campfire.  The candle lantern gives some of this ambiance.  You do have to be careful using one in a tent but in a small backpacking tent it can add as much as 5 degrees to the temp inside which can keep you from freezing.  They do still have purposes.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Ever tried to get things going with a girl in a dark forrest under the stars on a hot summer evening with the romantic light of a 10000 lumens blister burning plutonium powered laserbeam that could burn a hole in the moon? Trust me, go for the warm, soft, flikkering light candle option any time