Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

When I first spotted the Eureka! Magic 185 I really liked the idea of a hybrid flashlight-lantern. After all, a lantern and flashlight are both handy to have at a campsite, so why not pack them into one product. Eureka! sent me a sample and I've been testing it for several weeks. Here are my short-form impressions.

Form Factor

The Magic 185 is shaped like a short-and-stout flashlight. It's handle is a bit thick for my taste and would be more comfortable if it were thinned out more like a regular flashlight. Outside of that, the torch is compact enough that it will easily slide into a backpack. Manufacturer dimensions are 2.8" diameter x 6.1" height. Weight is given at 10.5 ounces, which I assume is without batteries. I had no problem sliding it into a Camelback when I took it out night mountain biking. The Magic 185 runs on four AA batteries that pop into the handle via a twist off bottom.

Operation

The light features an easy one-handed push button that provides two separate light settings and a flash setting. Changing between lantern and flashlight is as simple as twisting the tab (pictured on the lower right). The tab is small and tight enough that it requires one hand holding the handle and the other turning to operate. Overall, it's a very easy design that's quick and intuitive to use.

Function

My first several times using the Magic 185 I was disappointed. I used it when walking my dogs after sunset and found that it didn't quite provide a strong enough beam to be effective either for lighting up the walk in front of me or for spotting things--like the dog dirt that I needed to clean up. The lantern was equally ineffective. However, I was using the light in my apartment complex where other artificial light was present and the light from the 185 seemed to get lost in the mix.

When I took the 185 camping in Moab, I had better results. In the darker setting, the flashlight provided enough light to illuminate the path in front of me and make walking easy. It's definitely not the choice for a strong, solid beam, as the light is dispersed, but it was enough for casual walking at night. The lantern was effective at lighting up the campsite to search the cooler or bags and also worked well in the tent.

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a really powerful torch or a bright lantern, the Magic 185 isn't an ideal choice. However, for camping, it does a solid job of blending the function of lantern and flashlight into a small, portable package. The dual function is nice for backpacking, but there are smaller, lighter options on the market, like the Black Diamond Orbit, that would be better for fastpackers. For my money, I think the $50 would be better spent elsewhere, since this light is a little bulky for backpacking and isn't the best solution for car camping. If you can find it cheaper, it is a solid light for what it offers.

• Eureka
• reviews
• Magic 185
• flashlight
• lantern
• camping
• backpacking