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From lighting up the campsite to finding your way inside the tent, a rechargeable camping lantern is irreplaceable when spending time outdoors. In this article, you’re going to read about the best camping lanterns for various uses and situations and find out how they can improve your camping experience.
Choosing a lantern isn’t just about getting one that looks best. Several factors play important roles in this decision – size, weight, power source, battery life, and, of course, brightness.
We paid close attention to all of these when reviewing our products, making sure that they can provide bright and reliable light. Additionally, if you’re interested in how to recognize a well-made lantern, don’t miss out on the buying guide below.
Lighting EVER Rechargeable Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Equipped with a powerful 4,400mAh rechargeable battery
- 360° beam angle with a max brightness of 1000lm
- Four light modes for adjusting to different conditions
- Two light warmth settings available (6000 and 3000K)
- Covered by a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Tough and durable casing with IP44 waterproof rating
- Really easy to use
- Can be used for car camping
Type: LED
Light Output: 1000lm
Power Source: 4,400mAh rechargeable battery (USB)
Battery Life: 12 hours
Dimensions: 3.74 x 3.46 x 7.24 inches
Weight: 1.21 pounds
Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- 30 powerful LEDs spread bright light in all directions
- Two LED lanterns included for a very affordable price
- Metal handle on top for easier carrying
- Collapsible design makes packing easier
- Exceptional run time (90h) on just three AA batteries
- Lifetime warranty coverage with a full refund
- Can be used for car camping
Type: LED
Light Output: 140lm
Power Source: 3 x AA batteries
Battery Life: 90 hours
Dimensions: 9.8 x 3.4 inches (open), 4.8 x 3.4 inches (closed)
Weight: 10 ounces
LE Portable Battery Powered LED Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Different lighting modes
- 1,000 lumens of brightness
- Water resistant
Type: LED
Light Output: 80lm
Power Source: 2 x D batteries
Battery Life: 37 hours (lights only), 5 hours (lights + fan on high)
Dimensions: 11 inches (height) x 6.37 inches (diameter)
Weight: 1 pound
Etekcity Ultra Bright Portable LED Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Magnetic base for securing it to metal surfaces
- Collapsible design makes packing a lot easier
- 30 individual bulbs with a full 360° beam
- Dimmer button to easily adjust the brightness
- Tough ABS plastic casing resists shocks and water
- Covered by a generous 2-year warranty
- Can be used for car camping
Type: LED
Light Output: 60lm
Power: AA battery
Battery Life: 30 hours
Dimensions: 5.39 x 3.27 inches (collapsed), 7.76 x 3.27 inches (expanded)
Weight: 3.4 pounds (4-pack)
Streamlight 44949 Siege LED Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Multiple light modes with blue and white LEDs
- Available in five different cool colors
- Integrated D-rings on top and bottom
- Removable top cover for illuminating large areas
- Tested to be IPX7 waterproof (1m submersion)
- Polymer casing with rubber base withstands 2m falls
Type: LED
Light Output: 200lm
Power: 3 x AA battery
Battery Life: 37 hours (on low), 7 hours (on high)
Dimensions: 5.44 inches (height) x 2.37 inches (diameter)
Weight: 8.8 ounces
SUAOKI Led Lights Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Equipped with a USB-charged 800mAh lithium battery
- Integrated solar panel as a battery-charging alternative
- Easily visible charge indicator on the side
- Can be used for car camping
Type: LED
Light Output: 65lm
Power: 800mAh Lithium Battery
Battery Life: 10 hours (low), 5 hours (high)
Dimensions: 3.35 x 1.77 inches (collapsed), 3.35 x 4.7 inches (expanded)
Weight: 5.6 ounces
Coleman Multi-Panel LED Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Four removable magnetic LED panels on the sides
- Each panel has a stand for setting it on flat surfaces
- Panels are magnetized and easily stick to metal
- USB port for recharging your mobile device
- Excellent water resistance (IPX4)
- Delivers 800 lumens for exceptional brightness
Type: LED
Light Output: 800lm
Power: 8 x D batteries
Battery Life: 20 hours (base), 3 hours (panels)
Dimensions: 13.8 x 13.8 x 2.9 inches
Weight: 3 pounds
Black Diamond Moji Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Three AAA batteries provide up to 70 hours of runtime
- Strong sealed casing protects against water immersion
- Collapsible double hook for hanging inside the tent
- Convenient dimming switch for adjusting the brightness
- Frosted globe makes the light pleasant for the eyes
- Compact and lightweight design for easy transportation
- Can be used for car camping
Type: LED
Light Output: 100lm
Power: 3 x AAA batteries
Battery Life: 70 hours
Dimensions: 4.6 inches (height) x 9 inches (circumference)
Weight: 4.3 ounces
Goal Zero Lighthouse 400 USB Camping Lantern
- What Makes This Camping Lantern Stand Out
- Bright and powerful 400-lumen light output
- Equipped with a rechargeable 4,400mAh lithium battery
- Level indicator LEDs tell you when it’s time to charge
- Quick charging via USB with the provided cable
- Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone
- Multi-directional light spreading (360-degree beam)
Type: LED
Light Output: 400lm
Power: 4,400mAh Battery
Battery Life: 2.5 to 48 hours
Dimensions: 4.5 x 5 x 6.5 inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds
How To Choose A Camping Lantern – Buying Guide
Power Source
When choosing a lantern, you have two power options – electricity and fuel. While each has its upsides, electric (battery-powered) lanterns are more common among the best camping lanterns because they are much cleaner and easier to use.
Batteries: Depending on the model, lanterns can use either rechargeable or disposable batteries. Rechargeables are convenient (no replacing), but you can charge them in the middle of the forest. This is why campers that go on multi-day camping trips often choose models that use replaceable batteries.
Fuel: Much more common in the past, gas lanterns have slowly been abandoned. While they are bright and very reliable (work in cold conditions), they require a lot of preparation when lighting and emit fumes that can be harmful if used inside a tent.
Size and Weight
For the sake of packing and transportation, the lantern shouldn’t be too large or heavy. With all the other gear you’re bringing, the lantern is the last thing you want to take up too much space.
From this aspect, best camping lanterns weigh less than a pound and aren’t longer or wider than 5 inches. Unfortunately, a smaller lantern also usually means a weaker light source, so you’ll have to find a balance between acceptable size and performance.
Lumens And Light Output
When browsing through the best camping lanterns, you’ll always see their light output represented in lumens. Depending on how you’ll use the camping lamp, a higher number of lumens isn’t always better.
For reference, a normal house bulb has around 800 lumens. While this might be nice for the campsite, it might be too bright for use inside the tent. Luckily, most modern lanterns allow you to adjust the light intensity. Also, keep in mind that the battery will drain much faster if you crank it to the highest setting.
Light Duration
Going from one model to the other, the light duration they provide varies significantly. This mostly depends on the power source that a particular campsite light is using.
With all the benefits they give you, lanterns with rechargeable batteries have the shortest light duration. LEDs can draw a lot of power if used on high, so most of these can’t last a full day on a single charge.
As for models that use disposable batteries, this depends on the type of batteries and the light output. Based on the model, these tend to last between 30 and 90 hours.
Ease Of Use
The best camping lanterns are generally very easy to use, especially if you get an electric model. If you get a gaslight for camping, it will take some time to light it up, but it’s still fairly easy once you get the hang of it. Another important aspect to consider is how easy the lantern is to carry, as well as how easily you can replace the batteries or refill the fuel.Â
Additional Features
While they are not packed with features like some other camping gear, lanterns can still have some very useful additions. From the functionality standpoint, we really like it if the lantern has a handle, a hanging hook, and a stable base.
Another great feature is the USB charging option that is available on many models that use rechargeable batteries. They come equipped with a standard 1.5V USB port in which you can plug a cable and charge your smartphone in emergencies.
Cost Of Operation
Depending on the type of lantern you pick, it’s going to be more or less budget-friendly to use. The cheapest option you can get is an electric lantern with a rechargeable battery. It doesn’t use much power when charging, and you won’t have big running costs.
On the other side of the spectrum are electric LED lanterns with disposable batteries. Even with the improved technology, stronger lanterns will chew through them very quickly, so you’ll probably spend a lot on batteries. Somewhere in the middle are gas-powered lanterns, whose costs depend on the type of fuel and lamp power.
FAQs
Q: How To Maintain Camping Lanterns?
One of the biggest benefits of electric lanterns is that they don’t require a lot of maintenance. If you have a model with disposable batteries, you’ll have to change them from time to time.
Additionally, if the light bulb dies, you might need to replace it (happens very rarely with LED lights). Other than that, you should only wipe the lantern down after use.
Q: How Often Should I Clean My Lantern?
Ideally, you should clean your lantern after every trip, before you store it away. This way, it will be ready to use the next time. However, if you use a moist cloth, always let the lantern completely dry before you pack it.
Q: What Are Lumens?
Lumens are units that represent the quantity of visible light emitted by a light source (a lantern in this case). In other words, it’s a reflection of the amount of light you’ll be able to see. The more lumens a lantern has, the brighter it’s going to be.
Q: How Many Lumens Do I Need?
This depends on how you plan to use the lantern. If you need the light up a whole campsite, you should look for a powerful lantern with at least 600 lumens. On the other hand, if you need a tent light, you can go with something less powerful. In either case, it’s best if the lantern is adjustable (has several light levels).
Q: Are Camping Lanterns Safe?
Yes, camping lanterns are extremely safe these days, especially the electric ones that use LED bulbs (no danger of burning anything). Even the fuel-powered models come with many safety features that prevent any accidents from happening.
Q: How To Light A Lantern For Camping?
If you have an electric lantern, all you need to do is flip the switch (obviously). If you have a gas lantern, there are a few extra steps to the process. After you’ve poured the fuel inside, you need to pressurize the lantern (pump the small lever about 20-30 times).
Then, light up a lighter or a match and put it in the little hole until the lantern catches fire inside. Use the knob on the side to adjust the intensity or to put it out.
Globo Surf Overview
Unless you enjoy stumbling in the dark around the campsite, a rechargeable camping lantern needs to be on your gear list. Like we’ve said, camping lights can make things a lot more enjoyable both in and out of the tent.
We hope that our list has helped you find what you were looking for so that you can extend your evenings and shine a new light on your adventures.