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Freeplay Indigo Lantern

Freeplay Indigo Lantern

Item # 749201
!
This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

Great for car camping and emergency preparedness, this versatile light source never requires batteries!

  • Winner of a 2007 Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Award for superior design
  • Compact lantern features a cluster of seven LED bulbs; dimmer switch lets you adjust from area lighting to nightlight use
  • Single, side-mounted LED bulb provides flashlight-style directional lighting
  • Rechargeable NiMH battery powers light cluster up to 70 hours in nightlight mode and 4 hours at maximum brightness
  • It also charges the directional light up to 70 hours
  • But should the NiMH run down while power is out, no problem—simply wind the handle for quick, dependable lighting
  • Sixty seconds of winding powers cluster up to 3 hours on nightlight and two minutes at maximum brightness; powers directional light for 12 minutes
  • Includes wall adaptor for recharging NiMH battery; charges to 100% capacity in 20 hours
  • LED bulbs are nearly indestructible and provide as much as 100,000 hours use
  • Features a wire bale handle curved to accommodate fingers; bale also provides a convenient means of hanging lantern

Imported.

Item 749201

Freeplay Indigo Lantern Specs

Specification

Description

Weight15 ounces
Dimensions7.5 x 2.25 inches
Light Intensity1 watt
Battery life at 70 degrees(Lantern on high setting) crank: 0:02 / full charge: 4:23
Half life brightness (70 deg)(Single LED) crank: 13.3 / full charge 15.9 foot candles
BatteriesHand crank / rechargeable
MaterialPlastic

Freeplay Indigo Lantern Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Freeplay Indigo Lantern
 
4.1

(based on 13 reviews)

85%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Easy to setup (11)
  • Safe (9)
  • Easy to adjust (8)
  • Long run time (7)
  • Durable design (6)

Cons

  • Heavy (3)
  • Short run time (3)

Best Uses

  • Campgrounds (12)
  • Emergencies (9)
  • Survival (4)
  • Backcountry camping (3)
  • Travel (3)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Casual adventurer (8), Avid adventurer (6)

Reviewed by 13 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Sep

18

2007

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

 
3.0

Great idea, so-so in actual use

By WeekendBear

from Silicon Valley, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy To Adjust
  • Easy To Setup
  • Portable

Cons

  • limited light angle
  • Short Run Time

Best Uses

  • Campgrounds

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

When I first read about this I was very excited to think that I no longer had to worry about having candles for my candle lantern or have to play with a mesh globe for a gas lantern.

I followed the instructions and charges the lantern overnight before my first use. I thought it did well during a weekend car camping trip at Yosemite. My one complaint is that the main lantern light is directed somewhat downward. It makes preparing food difficult is your stove is more than four inches off the ground or you can hang the light at eye level.

The second trip, it ran out but I assumed it was about time. We cranked for more than firve minutes, but the light ran out after less than a minute. I also realize that one of the seven LEDs was not working.

When I got home, I reread the box. I realized the claim of one-hour light time after one minute of hand-cranking was based on MINIMUM light level. I had the dial about half-way up.

For best results, you have to charge the lantern at home and use the minimum setting. If you want something brighter, this is best for short trips or if you like to crank for 30 minutes.

I'm going to give it a couple more tries. I also like having it for emergencies like blackouts.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

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Oct

24

2007

 
4.0

Never left in the dark

By earthville

from Himalayas

About Me Avid Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy To Adjust
  • Easy To Setup
  • Long Run Time

Cons

  • Heavy

Best Uses

  • Campgrounds

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

A great product in every way except the weight - it's a bit heavy for backpacking. Otherwise, awesome! We love Freeplay!

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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Oct

12

2007

 
4.0

no too bright

By REI Junkie

from Campbell, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Durable Design
  • Easy To Setup

Cons

  • Poor Light Output

Best Uses

  • Campgrounds
  • Emergencies

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

LEDs are too bright. It's sufficient for a night-light application but not for anything task oriented.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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Sep

23

2007

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Bought one as a gift and one for myself

By angeleyes

from St. Charles, IL

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Durable Design
  • Easy for arthritic hands
  • Easy To Adjust
  • Easy To Setup
  • Lightweight
  • Powerful Light Output
  • Safe

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Campgrounds
    • Emergencies
    • Porch night light

    Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

    When candles are not the answer, this is it.

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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    Sep

    19

    2007

     
    5.0

    Best Lantern I've seen yet

    By SuperFurryDucky

    from Columbia, MD

    About Me Casual/ Recreational

    Pros

    • Durable Design
    • Easy To Adjust
    • Easy To Setup
    • Lightweight
    • Long Run Time
    • Powerful Light Output
    • Safe

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backcountry Camping
      • Campgrounds
      • Emergencies
      • Travel

      Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

      I love this lantern because it has adjustable lighting brightness, AND an additional output for directional lighting (best for reading, not like a flashlight). The battery is incredible, just charge it for 15 hours before use.

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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      Sep

      15

      2007

       
      5.0

      More than just a gadget

      By Bushrat

      from Juneau, Alaska

      About Me Seasoned Explorer

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Durable Design
      • Easy To Setup
      • Reliable
      • Safe

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Campgrounds
        • Emergencies

        Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

        This is a quality device that should find it's way into every household. It's primary use is for emergency use at home or on road trips but it would also me useful in semi-permanent camps.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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        Sep

        14

        2007

         
        4.0

        Great little lantern

        By hikerbiker

        from Pasadena adjacent

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Easy To Adjust
        • Easy To Setup
        • Lightweight
        • Long Run Time
        • Safe

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Campgrounds
          • Emergencies
          • Survival

          Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

          This is a great little lantern, very handy. It's not as bright as a full sized Coleman of course, but it's silent and not stinky. I've found that it holds a charge very well (a week's worth of camping on one overnight charge) and it's nice to know that it can be hand cranked, if needed. I also like that it can be used as a general flood light or a spot light (for reading). Safe in a tent, as well.

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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          Sep

          12

          2007

           
          2.0

          I love the idea but...

          By Avalon

          from Eugene, OR

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Safe

          Cons

          • Hard To Setup
          • Loud
          • Short Run Time

          Best Uses

          • Campgrounds
          • Emergencies
          • Survival

          Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

          I love the idea of this light, but even after fully charging it with the plug in adapter, it didn't last long enough for me to get my tent set up in the dark. Then, the cranking was very noisy and felt like I was going to wake up people who were sleeping nearby. After cranking for several minutes, we still only got about 5 or 10 minutes of strong light. Mine might have been a dud, but I lost patience with it.

          Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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          Sep

          12

          2007

           
          5.0

          I love this lantern!

          By Two Eagles Flying

          from Bellingham, WA

          About Me Casual/ Recreational

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Durable Design
          • Easy To Adjust
          • Easy To Setup
          • Lightweight
          • Long Run Time
          • Powerful Light Output
          • Safe

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Campgrounds

            Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

            When I saw this light in [...] I was really excited. I can see why it is an award winner. It is everything that they say it is--very functional, easy to use and self reliant. This is my all-time favorite lantern as I am somewhat of a light collector. You cannot go wrong by purchasing this lantern. You can even adjust the intensity of the light.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            Was this review helpful? Yes / No

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            Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

            Sep

            8

            2007

             
            1.0

            Good idea, poor execution

            By John F

            from Maryland

            About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational

            Site Member

            Pros

              Cons

              • Poor Light Output
              • Short Run Time

              Best Uses

                Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

                This is a great design idea that just isn't there yet. Light output is marginal, and doesn't last very long. Despite the poor performance, I hope this improves over time.

                Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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                Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

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