Coleman Northern Nova Propane Lantern with Case

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1. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 24 June 2024

   Looks awesome!? Just like many reviewers, one on my mantles was blown out right away. These aren’t as available as the standard type, so it will be important to keep spares. Also, my electronic ignition worked for the first lighting and then just froze up. Think it might have melted a bit. I wouldn’t recommend this one.
   

2. Mr. Sixx Verified Buyer – 9 August 2024

   I have been a Coleman lantern user since I bought my first liquid fuel Coleman lantern when I was in Boy Scouts in the 70s. That lantern always worked well and served me up until it was destroyed in a house fire last year. I still think liquid fuel is cheaper and more efficient, but this propane model is pretty good. It has extra large size mantles that put out an enormous amount of light. The mantles are still made of the same (silk?) material as the old ones, so once they are ash after the initial burning, they are very fragile. However, in their ashen state, they can last for a VERY long time since they don’t really wear out. The only reason I ever have had to replace mantles was when I dropped or tipped over the lantern and they broke, or if I opened up the glass to clean it and accidentally bumped the mantle. This lantern folds up nicely and comes with a semi-hard carry case that zips up around it. It would have been nice to have a pocket on the case to store extra mantles and matches (in case the igniter doesn’t work for some reason, and to light new mantles). Also, the carrying handle is attached to the lantern by a chain, presumably to keep it cooler by hanging down at the side. It’s OK, but I would prefer a solid handle so the lantern doesn’t swing around as much when you carry it. Otherwise, it’s a great lantern, solid build quality and easily folds up for storage. Get extra mantles and a couple cylinders of propane and you are all set! (Note: in the pictures, I had not yet done the initial burn of the mantles)

   

3. J Verified Buyer – 22 March 2025

   It is bright but has some serious drawbacks. I have been a lantern collector for many years. One or two of my Colemans are 100 years old. There are problems with this lantern that probably make it unsafe. First, the mantles. It takes a surgeon’s hands to put the $4 (each) on. Be sure and turn the wire clips inward to avoid hitting the globe and destroying the mantle. I could see weak spots in the mantles after burn in, and, sure enough, one blew after less than 30 minutes. This happened several times. I am used to $1 mantles lasting for several months, even after transport. These pricey mantles will never last if you put them in a car after burn in. NEVER use the piezoelectric starter. As propane accumulates in the globe, you will hear a “foooomph” when the propane ignites. It burned the hair off the back of my hand and arm every time. Instead, take the top off the lantern, use a long lighter, then crack the valve. Lighting it this way creates much less drama. The lantern gets very hot! The plastic on the piezoelectric starter melted after four uses. You can see a broken mantle and melted starter in the picture. The burner tubes glow cherry red during use. Being made out of pot metal and some brass, I do not think they will last very long. The fuel valve gets too hot to comfortably touch. I kept the heat shield in place, of course. This lantern is as bright as a Petromax and I like its looks. That’s about the best I can say. I think this model will end up having a short production run, and some of the collecters may be able to tinker away some of the problems. If you get one, be careful! It can hurt you. A couple of days after I wrote the original review, the lantern developed a propane leak I just couln’t fix. I tried three different propane bottles. I give up. I’ll be getting my money back on this one. Maybe they were having a bad day in the Chinese factory it was made in.

   

4. Chef Scott Verified Buyer – 28 March 2025

   I was super excited to get this Coleman lantern right before the next Boy Scout trip. Followed the instructions to light the mantles after installing them only to have one mantle break off in the middle just as it was finishing it burn in. As the picture shows I’m not one less mantle so I need to find another to get this unit functional. Not sure what happened but it just came apart. Update – Coleman sent mantles to me and this baby fired right up! Super bright light on high, but it’s loud and it blows through propane at that setting. This will certainly light up the entire campsite plus anyone close by.

   

5. Lewis A Edge Jr Verified Buyer – 12 April 2025

   There are several features to really like about this propane lantern. Most importantly, it produces an enormous amount of light, as you can see from the accompanying photo taken at dusk. Unlike other mantle lanterns this one has a built-in push-button spark igniter that I found quite convenient. The three fold-up/fold-down legs give this lantern good balance. Attaching a propane cylinder gives the lantern ballast to reduce the chance of tipping. This lantern comes with a convenient padded zip-up case that provides some protection for transport. Except for installing the included mantles and attaching your own propane cylinder, this lantern is ready for use. It needs no flammable liquids to store or spill. A metal handle attached by chains provides for carrying or hanging this lantern. Like other fuel-burning lanterns, this one gets very hot and its extra brightness is the source of even greater heat thereby making the lantern a potential burn hazard. It needs to be in a well-ventilated open space to avoid carbon monoxide. Once the cylinder mantles have been carbonized, they’re extremely fragile and cost about $8 per pair to replace. If the mantles are broken the lantern is useless, so carrying spares is a necessity. When this lantern is cranked up to produce its maximum 3,000 lumens, it burns through the gas in a propane cylinder quickly. Judicious adjustment of the brightness control (gas valve) can significantly prolong the burning time if maximum brightness is not needed. In summary, this large, heavy, expensive propane lantern produces enough light to illuminate a sizable outdoor camping area, cannot safely be used indoors, is better suited for RV camping rather than backpacking and is far quieter than running a generator to operate electric lighting for equivalent illumination.

   

6. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 9 May 2025

   very bright,well made,modern propane lantern. Lights easily, high quality and not excessively noisy, dimmer works well. can be “screachy sounding” if turning dimmer switch at certain speed on lower level. this can be easily stopped by turning knob to slighter higher setting slowly. lamp puts out a tremendous amount of heat at higher settings. initial burn of socks can be tricky. follow install instructions to letter with minimal handling of sock before hand. slightest hole in ashed sock will eventually grow larger creating a hot jet of gas that may damage other parts of lamp. plan on going thru several sock sets till your technique improves. once you go thru the learning curve you will see how the sock works properly and that the ashed sock is more durable than expected. buy 3 or 4 sets of socks and have patience learning how to do it. this goes thru the small propane “camp” bottles relatively quick. consider the 20 pound bottles and at least a 5 foot hose for it. the propane bottle extension sticks to mount the lantern on are “dicey” at best. as expensive as the lamp is, I recommend it be hung it from a tripod or similar instead.
   

7. H. Wang Verified Buyer – 3 June 2025

   Just got back from a 2-night camping trip. This Coleman Northern Nova Propane Lantern really surprises all other campers with its mighty 3000 lumens light when in maximum propane flow setting. I already have a Coleman 2-mantle lantern that I used for years. But the light from this Nova propane lantern is almost 3 times stronger. Well, it consumes propane faster also. At maximum setting, one propane bottle last about 3 hours only. After burring at maximum setting for 3 hours, the lantern is extremely hot. One can easily get burned by just touching any metal part, or the globe. Actually, you can really feel the “heat wave” by placing hand close to the globe. Now, here comes the dangerous task….how to replace the empty propane bottle with new bottle after the lantern has been running on maximum for long. It occurred on the 2nd night of my camping trip. I was hesitating on the spot for a while till someone passed me a pair of thermal gloves (the one when taking hot pan out of oven). I was able to protect myself with the gloves when I accidentally touching metal part or the steaming hot globe while replacing the propane bottle. This is definitely something need to be kept in mind….preparing thermal gloves in your camping trip for task like this. Other features of this lantern include, adjustable propane flow (to control the light strength), igniter for quick start (works every time, so far). The lantern can be hung up or placed on table. The included soft case provides good impact protection the the lantern. The overall build quality is good, “except” the 3 legs that can be unfolded to form a space-ship-like stand. The part that connect each leg to the metal lantern body is a plastic component. I highly suspect the longevity of that plastic hinge. I attach some photos comparing my old 2-mantle lantern with this Nova propane lantern. All in all, a nice, elegant lantern with the capability to give out 3000 lumens light strength. I do recommend this lantern for car-camping trips.