10 Best Solar Lanterns For Camping And Backpacking In 2020

Lightweight and incredibly compact when collapsed yet bright enough to light up a tent, the Suaoki LED solar lantern is ideal for camping and backpacking. This top-rated solar camping lantern puts out 65 lumens on high and can shine for 10 hours on the lower setting. 

Brightness and Settings

With a 65 lumens output on high and 25 lumens on low, the Suaoki LED light is bright enough to illuminate a tent even when set on low. On top of this, the lantern also functions as a flashlight, an SOS flashing beacon, and an emergency cell phone charger.

Charging and Run Time

In addition to the built-in solar panels on top, the Suaoki light is also rechargeable via USB so you can power it up using your power bank. When fully charged, the 800mAh lithium-ion battery lasts 5 hours on high and 10 hours on low.

Size, Weight, and Construction

The Suaoki lantern folds down to 1.77-inch making it one of the best solar lanterns when it comes to portability. You can easily slip it in your backpack and the 5.6 ounces won’t weigh you down. The build quality is solid and the design water-resistant.

A 1.5-inch packed size, exceptional brightness, and an excellent runtime have made the MPOWERED Luci inflatable solar powered lanterns a favorite of many campers, backpackers and hikers. It shines bright all night and isn’t burdensome to carry while hiking or backpacking. With an IP67 waterproof rating, it’s perfect for activities by the water.   

Brightness and Settings

Brightness is where the Luci shines, and this is thanks to 10 powerful white LEDs lights. It delivers up to 50 lumens, which is powerful enough to light up a 150 ft² area. The light settings include super bright, bright, and a flashing strobe mode. The color cycle models provide a cozy, ambient light similar to a candle.  

Charging and Run Time

This top rated solar camping lantern also has an impressive run time. A full charge requires 7 hours of exposure to direct sunlight during the day, and this translates to 12 hours of bright light during the night. This lantern can also charge most smartphones to 30-50% in two to three hours.

Size, Weight, and Construction

For packing, this solar camping light deflates to a 1-inch thin size and only weighs 4 ounces. A rugged and waterproof design makes it one of the best solar camping lanterns when it comes to durability. Inflation isn’t a pain. Pinching the nozzle and stretching it upwards will expand it most of the way and you will only need a couple of breaths to inflate it all the way.

When you need a reliable solar camp lantern that won’t break your budget or take much space in you backpack, the Kizen solar powered camping lights fit the bill. Featuring bright and energy-efficient LED lights, it gives out plenty of light and shines for hours.

Brightness and Settings

Housed inside the compact housing are bright LED bulbs that emit a surprising amount of light for a camping lamp this small. Even the lowest setting can light up an entire tent. This solar powered LED camping lantern also has an SOS signal mode and functions as a powerful flashlight when closed.

Charging and Run Time

In addition to charging by sunlight, you can plug the lantern into a USB port and have the camping lantern solar battery fully charged in 4 hours. Once fully charged, it will last 5 hours on high, 10 hours on low, and 6 hours on SOS. You can also use it as an emergency cell-phone charger.

Size, Weight, and Construction 

With a packed size only slightly bigger than a hockey puck and a 6.4 ounces weight, the Kizen is one of the best outdoor solar lanterns for backpacking and hiking. The design is splash proof and equipped with safety features to safeguard the circuitry. 

The Tansoren solar powered camping lanterns are very versatile and reliable solar rechargeable lanterns. You get two lanterns you can power up in three different ways: solar panel, 5V DC USB charging or 3 AA batteries. Adding to this reliability is an 8-hours light duration on a single charge and 100,000 hours of bulb life.  

Brightness and Settings

These solar lanterns are equipped with super bright LED bulbs that emit 60 lumens of 360-degree white light, shedding light all around the campsite or tent. The light emitted is bright but not hard on the eyes. The Tansorens can also function as emergency chargers for Android devices.  

Charging and Run Time

These little solar lanterns hold charge for a long time making them perfect for multi-day trips. Each lantern can provide 8 hours on a single charge. In addition to the solar panels, we love that you can also plug them into a wall socket or use 3 AA batteries.

Size, Weight, and Construction

The Tansoren solar lanterns are lightweight and compact to around half of their size for ease of packing. Quality is top notch as well. The lanterns are hand-made using a military-grade plastic and have a water-resistant design. The bulbs have a staggering 100,000 hours of bulb life. 

The unique clover-shaped design of the Suaoki camping tent lantern makes it ideal for hanging in a tent where it will spread light all around the tent. The flexible shape also gives you incredible versatility. Besides hanging, you can set the lantern on the floor or table, and even adjust each panel separately to direct the light where you wish. 

Brightness and Settings

The 18 LED bulbs on this solar lighting for camping are white and bright. Even the low setting is bright enough to light up a huge tent. It’s a lantern with the panels expanded and a flashlight with the panels folded. Settings include a high, low, and SOS blinking mode. 

Charging and Run Time 

The three solar panels maximize sun exposure enabling the Suaoki to charge fast. You can also charge it from a USB power source in 3.5 hours. Fully charged, the 680mAh lithium battery provides 4 hours of use at a low light setting or 2 hours in high mode.

Size, Weight, and Construction

Measuring 6 x 2.5 inches when closed, this collapsible camping lantern is shorter than an iPhone 6 plus when folded down and weighs 6.4 ounces. It’s built tough enough to withstand the rigors of camping and backpacking without breaking. A smart protection chip protects the lantern from overcharging, over-discharging, and over-circuit.

Coming from the global leader in solar-powered solutions, the d.light A2 boasts a fast charging solar panel and a high-efficiency battery that enable it to charge faster and shine longer than most other portable solar lights on the market. It’s ultra-portable and inexpensive without sacrificing brightness, runtime, or durability. 

Brightness and Settings 

Thanks to an ultra-bright LED, this is the best solar lantern when it comes to brightness. It puts out 33 lumens and is three times brighter than a kerosene lamp. The adjustable wire stand allows you to set it on the table or floor, carry it, hang it, or direct the light where you wish.    

Charging and Run Time

While the 300 mAh battery it uses may not sound like much, it is pretty efficient and enables the d.light A2 to shine bright for 4 to 6 hours on a single charge. Charging requires 4 to 5 hours under the sun and the best thing is that it can still charge even in cloudy weather.

Size, Weight, and Construction 

Super compact with an adjustable stand, the d.light A2 solar-powered LED light is ultra-portable and fits neatly in a backpack. At only 3.5 ounces, it also won’t burden you on the trails. It’s ideal for camping, backpacking, and hiking trips. Impact-resistant and sealed to resist dust and moisture, the d-light has a lifespan well over 5 years.

Equipped with 24 white LED bulbs that put out 157 lumens, the Nebo Eco is one of the brightest solar-powered lights on this list. With four power sources, it’s also one of the most versatile and reliable solar lamps. The ability to charge it via solar, AC power, DC power, and by winding it up guarantees that you will never be in the dark. 

Brightness and Settings

The LED housing has reflectors that evenly distribute the 157 lumens of light the 24 white LEDS give out, ensuring the entire tent or campsite is illuminated well. The only thing missing is a knob to reduce brightness and extend the battery life.   

Charging and Run Time

Thanks to a built-in 6V 2.5AH valve-regulated rechargeable battery, the Nebo Eco lantern is very powerful and efficient. It can light up multiple nights on a single charge. Furthermore, this is a solar hand crank lantern rechargeable by solar power, AC power, DC power, and manual wind up.

Size, Weight, and Construction 

Measuring 9.88 x 5.75 x 14 inches and weighing 1 pound, the Nebo is an ideal RV and car camping light. Since it isn’t a collapsible solar camp lantern, it’s too bulky for backpacking. Featuring a sturdy plastic construction and a wired guard protecting the LED housing, the Nebo camping light is built to provide portable lighting for years to come. 

With a 400 lumens light output and 360-degree light emitting design, the HISVISION LED solar camping lantern is one of the brightest solar powered camping lights you can get. It shines bright and evenly enough to illuminate the whole campsite. It’s also one of the most affordable options and the best solar camping lantern to get when looking for a powerful light on a budget. 

Brightness and Settings

For such a little lantern, you will be absolutely amazed by the amount of light it emits. It puts out a super-bright soft light and disperses it all around, making it a great campsite light. As for versatility, it’s a camping lantern when extended, a mini flashlight when folded, and also has an SOS/strobe mode for survival situations.  

Charging and Run Time

The runtime from a full charge is 3 to 6 hours, which should be enough for a night.  Another advantage of getting this light is that it’s equipped with a USB port and comes with a cable for charging your smartphone. In addition to charging from direct and indirect sunlight (on overcast days), it also charges via USB in 4-5 hours. A red light flashes to indicate its charging and stops when it’s fully charged.   

Size, Weight, and Construction 

Even though it’s one of the brightest LED solar lanterns, the Hisvision is very lightweight and convenient to carry when going camping. It collapses down to 2 inches, weighs 163 grams, and has a handy carabiner ring. Made of high quality plastic and a silicone lampshade with a waterproof design, the Hisvision is built to last.

The Goal Zero Crush collapsible solar lantern has an impressive 35-hours runtime on low. It can easily get you through a three-day camping, backpacking, or hiking trip. Goal Zero is renowned for innovative designs and the Crush Light lives up to this reputation. It’s lightweight and compact, bright when needed, and a joy to use.

Brightness and Settings

The Crush Light solar powered lantern gives off 60 lumens on high, 25 lumens on medium, and 6 lumens on low mode. The light it emits has a nice warm glow making it one of the best solar tent lights. It also has a soft, flickering candle mode for when you want a cool ambiance. 

Charging and Runtime

One of the best things about the Crush light is its runtime: it provides 35 hours of runtime on low mode. This longevity doesn’t mean that it’s dim on low. It’s still bright enough to read comfortably while in a tent. In addition to a built-in solar panel, the lamp has a USB port and comes with a USB cable you can use to charge it fully in 3.5 hours.

Size, Weight, and Construction

When it’s time to pack, the handle folds flat and the Crush light collapses into a very compact form slightly over 0.5 inch. It weighs 3.2 ounces and you can detach the handle to make it even lighter. As for build quality, the lantern is sturdy and the entire electronic module is sealed from the elements (IPX4 waterproof rating).

Besides lighting up your campsite or tent bright, the TomCare outdoor solar lights will add a beautiful and welcoming ambience to your home away from home. They give off a warm yellow flow with a flickering flames effect just like a real flame. This makes these vintage-style solar lanterns both functional and decorative. 

Brightness and Settings

One of the reasons these are top rated solar camping lanterns for outdoor use is their light output. They are super-bright and will easily light up the entire campsite. Their voltage rating is 3.7 volts while the wattage is 7.4 watts. You get two lanterns in the pack, perfect for illuminating a larger campsite or a two-roomed tent.  

Charging and Runtime  

It’s also impressive how efficient they are. Equipped with a 2000mAh rechargeable battery, they burn all night and into the morning. As for charging, all you have to do is ensure the solar panels are facing direct sunlight then turn on the light. The average charging time is 8 hours.  

Size, Weight, and Construction 

With each lantern measuring 8.4 x 4.7 x 4.7 inches and weighing 1.48 pounds, these are larger camping lanterns suitable for car camping trips. Made of metal with a rustproof bronze finish and poly plastic sides with a glass-like effect, they are sturdy solar lanterns for outdoors use. With an IP65 waterproof rating, you can hang them outside without worry that rain or snow will damage them.