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SILVER

Freeplay Indigo Lantern

$49.95

(14)

Item # 765747

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Great for car camping and emergency preparedness, this versatile Freeplay Indigo lantern never requires batteries!

Winner of a 2007 Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Award for superior design
Compact lantern features a cluster of 7 LEDs; dimmer switch lets you adjust from area lighting to nightlight use
Single, side-mounted LED provides flashlight-style directional lighting
Rechargeable NiMH battery powers light cluster up to 70 hrs. in nightlight mode and 2.5 hrs. at maximum brightness
It also charges the directional light up to 70 hrs.
But should the NiMH run down while power is out, no problem—simply wind the handle for quick, dependable lighting
60 sec. of winding powers cluster up to 2 hrs. on nightlight and 2 min. at maximum brightness; powers directional light for 12 min.
USB-compatible wall adaptor (sold separately) recharges NiMH battery to 100% capacity in 20 hrs.
LEDs are nearly indestructible and provide as much as 100,000 hrs. use
Features a wire-bail handle curved to accommodate fingers; bail also provides a convenient means of hanging lantern

Imported.

Item 765747

View all Freeplay products

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Freeplay Indigo Lantern Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Freeplay Indigo Lantern

3.0

(based on 14 reviews)

67%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Compact (11)
Easy to setup (10)
Easy to adjust (8)
Long run time (7)
Powerful light output (7)

Cons

Short run time (5)
Flimsy design (3)
Heavy (3)

Best Uses

Camping (11)
Emergencies (8)
Survival (5)
Travel (5)
Backcountry camping (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (7), Casual/ recreational (5)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort driven (6), Survivalist / minimalist (5)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 14 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

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Aug

2008

(25 of 27 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Very good multi-purpose rechargeable.

By jbhalper

from Sycamore, IL

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable Design
Easy To Adjust
Easy To Setup
Environmentally minded
Hand-crank
Lightweight
Long Run Time

Cons

Poor Light Output
Short Run Time

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Emergencies
Travel

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

This is a very good, though not perfect lantern. The lantern part of the lighting, as opposed to the single LED, is not incredibly bright, but is certainly good enough for a wide range of uses. There is a dimmer wheel, so you can choose how much you really need, and extend your usage a bit.

The manual for this product (available online at manufacturer's website) indicates that on a full charge, you should expect approximately 2.5 hours of light from a full charge at the highest setting. This was about what i experienced.

Using the single LED, which is not a typical LED, rather about the size and brightness of 2-3, should run about 70 hours on a full charge, and i never ran it on this bulb alone to verify that.

However, the lantern is good for many relatively casual uses, reading is definitely possible, other imprecise uses would be fine as well. I used this on a two-month camping trip, and expect to keep it around as emergency lighting at home.

The lamp itself is about the size of a 16oz soda-bottle, and not very heavy. In addition to hand-cranking, it uses a common mini-usb cable, which is not included to reduce unnecessary cable production and waste.

I would recommend this lantern, though for high-power light output, this is not the best. It is not laughable, but not intended for ultimate comfort.

Apr

2008

(23 of 23 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Great product except a serious flaw

By Tong Wu

from Bloomington, MN

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Setup
Lightweight
Long Run Time
Powerful Light Output

Cons

Flimsy Design

Best Uses

Campgrounds
Travel

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

I love everything about this product except one thing, and it's a biggy: The thumbwheel that turn the lantern on and off and adjusts the brightness becomes non-functional very easity. The problem, which I discovered by disassembling the lantern (I've had to do this MANY times), is that the potentiometer that the thumbwheel is attached to has a TINY shaft, and it takes very little force to "strip" the relatively soft plastic thumbwheel that fit over the shaft. And when that happens, turning the thumbwheel also unscrews the tiny screw that fastens the thumbwheel to the shaft, further loosening the thumbwheel from the potentiometer.

I plan to fashion a brass or steel plate with a D-shaped hole to fit over the D-shaped shaft, and hot-press the plate into the plastic thumbwheel.

Otherwise the latter is great. I hope the manufacturer changes the flawed design, if they have not already.

Aug

2008

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Great idea, but....

By John F

from Maryland

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact

Cons

Heavy
Poor Light Output
Poor quality
Short Run Time

Best Uses

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

This is a great idea, but the execution is iffy. Quality control seems to be an issue. The first one I got had only a very short run time (wouldn't hold a charge). I exchanged it and the second one seemed to work better, but the little thumbwheel to adjust the brightness almost immediately konked out.

Once they work the bugs out and get a better handle on quality control, this will be a keeper. Until then...

Apr

2008

(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Does not get any better, lighter maybe..

By SRowan

from Bend Oregon

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable Design
Easy To Setup
Long Run Time
Powerful Light Output

Cons

Heavy

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Emergencies
Survival
Travel

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

I use this for backpacking, most people never would because it amlost weighs a pound. To me I sacrifice the weight someplace else just so I can take this with me.. I can read everynight in the backcountry as long as I want, cook in plenty of light, set up camp in the light, etc. The light lasts a really long time, in fact I have yet to run it out. I love that you can charge it in the wall without cranking. I take this in place of a flashlight, and I take a headlamp too (but it never gets used anymore because of this lantern)

Two thumbs up for sure, now if only they could shave they weight in half!

Service and delivery comments:

Great REI Service as always!

Feb

2008

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

All-Purpose Lighting Machine

By RV guy

from Mountain View, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable Design
Easy To Adjust
Easy To Setup

Cons

Short Run Time

Best Uses

Campgrounds
Emergencies
Survival

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

An ingenious device. I love it. For car camping, road kits, RVs, boats, you can't go wrong. Built like a rock but light and compact. Directional LED in base works for me as reading light (as advertised) and "navigating light" (lights up trails or, in my case, aisle of a small RV at night when house lights not used). This LED requires very little cranking for very long output. LEDs in cluster at top marginally effective for bright cabin light except at "full throttle" and don't burn long without frequent cranking. However, they meet minimalist needs nicely. And for longer life you can charge via USB AC wall adapter or computer. This is a versatile and flexible device but it's *no frills*. If you're not familiar with Freeplay, check their site. They appear to be stand-up company. I could not rate it 5 for general use, because of short run time for LED cluster. However, for my minimalist use, it is perfect, and I would give it 5+.

Aug

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Don't bring batteries

By JBMountainman

from Dallas, TX

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Adjust
Long Run Time

Cons

Best Uses

Campgrounds
Emergencies

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

I used this lantern in Ethiopia, primarily at a residence where electricity is spotty. I did not want to carry an entire duffel full of AA's so I researched rechargeable lanterns and decided on the Freeplay Indigo. It was almost perfect for the frequent power outages. On the brightest setting, it provided enough light to illuminate a 7ft radius, and lasted about 2 hrs on that setting. In total darkness, this lantern adequate for eating, light reading and finding small items. It's an excellent alternative to candles.

For all its pros, I would not take it backpacking. Other lanterns are brighter (Black Diamond Apollo/Titan), lighter (Any BD or Petzl headlamp) and last longer at full brightness. It would, however, be a economic solution for extended car camping, an RV trip, or long term emergency light at home. And considering the price of batteries these days, it is hard to pass up.

Dec

2008

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great lantern.

By armyranger10a

from Massachusetts

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Setup
Long Run Time
Powerful Light Output

Cons

Heavy
Long Charging time

Best Uses

Backcountry Camping
Campgrounds
Emergencies
Survival
Travel

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

At first I was a bit worried about the bad reviews I saw but this lantern works perfect. I have not put it through serious use and abuse yet but its perfect for power outages. I was disappointed that it did not come with a wall outlet charger but if you have a Razor cell phone charger or a small usb cable for a camera or gps it will work. Also the lantern takes a long time to handcrank about 5 minutes for an hour on full bright, and if your out in the dark thats a long time for light.

Aug

2011

1.0

Great idea flawed execution

By NJ Camper

from Northern NJ

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Long Run Time
Powerful Light Output

Cons

Flimsy Design
Reliabilty

Best Uses

Doorstop

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

Received this as a gift and was absolutely stoked by the idea. It worked for exactly one trip. After that, the thumbwheel control for the lantern portion failed. Even the spotlight, which still (sort of) works flickers with only minor shocks. There is obviously a serious issue with the design or construction which makes this a very fragile device. Note that both [...] reviews indicate a 50% or worse failure rate in this product.

Jun

2011

1.0

Maybe I got a dud...

By Sheffy

from Washington, DC

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Adjust
Easy To Setup
Great concept

Cons

Short Run Time

Best Uses

Campgrounds
Eating outdoors at night

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

I thought I had a dud; my lantern never held a charge for more than a few minutes. But then I read similar comments and realize that others had the same problem. I love the concept, if only it worked. Others were able to exchange for a better one so I will try too.

Feb

2011

2.0

Battery did not last

By King Creole

from New Orleans, LA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Powerful Light Output

Cons

Battery did not last

Best Uses

Comments about Freeplay Indigo Lantern:

The concept of a light that could be charged by winding seemed like a good one. I used it 3-4 times the first six months I had it, and it worked well. After that, the battery no longer held a charge.