Best Camping Lanterns and Camping Lights of 2023
battery, rechargeable, and solar powered lights for camping, survival, backpacking, and backyard
July 7th, 2023
We tested lanterns on camping trips all throughout the southwest to find the best for most campers, backpackers, emergencies, and backyard gatherings.
When camping or backpacking, an LED lantern creates ambiance around the campfire, helps when prepping a meal in the dark, or is convenient when reading in your tent. A lantern or rechargeable camping lights can add ambiance to your campsite or backyard get-together.
We spent 10 hours researching the 19 best camping lanterns for use in campgrounds, backpacking, and outdoor lighting for backyards. Then, we tested the lanterns for 9 months on camping trips from Joshua Tree to Colorado, from the Bristlecone Pines to Anza Borrego and the Mojave Deserts.
We found the best battery-operated lantern, rechargeable lantern, and solar camping lights to illuminate your tent site, camp kitchen, or backyard.
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Comparison Table
| CAMPING LANTERN | TREELINE AWARD | BATTERY LIFE | LUMENS (MAX) | WEIGHT (OZ) | POWER SOURCE | IPX rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UST 60-Day Duro | Best Camping Lantern Read why |
1,440 (60 days) | 1,200 | 29.3 | 6 D batteries | IPX4 |
| Black Diamond Moji+ | Best Portable Battery Powered Lantern Read why |
70 hours | 150 | 4.9 | Alkaline batteries or rechargeable BD 1500 lithium-ion battery | IPX4 |
| BioLite Alpenglow 500 | Best Rechargable Lantern Read why |
18 hours | 150 | 6.4 | Micro-USB | IPX4 |
| MPOWERD Luci | Best Affordable Solar Lantern Read why |
18 hours | 75 | 4.7 | Integrated Solar Panel | IP67 |
| MPOWERD Base Light | Best Solar Lantern Read why |
50 hours | 360 | 10.1 | Integrated Solar Panel | IP67 |
Best Camping Lanterns
Best Overall Camping Lantern:
UST 60 Day LED Lantern duro
Light Output: 1200 lumen max
Power source: 4 D batteries
Weight: 29.3 oz
Battery Life: 1,440 hours (60 days)
What we liked: longevity, durability, brightness, ease-of-use
What we didn't like: weight, not collapsible, price (though it's often on sale)
The UST 60 Day LED Lantern Duro is the best camping lantern overall. It also won categories for Best Battery Camping Lantern and Best Survival Lantern. In fact, the UST 60 beat out numerous competitors in so many other categories that we decided to name it our overall winner.
It's also our winner for best brightest lantern-outputting whopping 1,200 lumens. The UST 60 Day LED Lantern is also the winner for the longest-lasting camping lantern with a battery life of 60 days using 4 D batteries.
Compare Prices on the UST 60 Day LED Lantern Duro
The UST 60 Day LED Duro lantern is bright enough and big enough to diffuse light that illuminates a campsite. This came in handy when we needed to do camp chores like putting away food after dark or read from the guidebook to plan the next day’s adventures. Photo by Liz Thomas.
The UST 60 Day LED Lantern Duro illuminates a wider area than any other light we tested, with the brightness reminiscent of a car headlight. This lamp is the one we reach for when we've rolled into our campsite at night and have to set up tents in the dark.
While I'm well versed in setting up backpacking tents by headlamp, I tend to overstuff my car during car camping trips. This makes it more difficult to find where I placed the camping items I need, especially in the dark. The broad range of light from the UST makes unpacking, finding lost items, and getting the tent up in the dark less of a stressful experience.
Because of its brightness and long-lasting battery, the UST 60 Day is also the best camping lantern for use as emergency lighting. When a windstorm knocked out our power at home for a day, the 60 Day Duro was the first lantern I reached for from the testing pile. I wanted a lot of light without having to fiddle with a lot of buttons.
It's also the first lantern I bring out during nighttime backyard gatherings. Almost all the other lights combined don't seem as bright as the single UST 60 Day.
The UST 60 Day Duro is the one lantern that was bright and big enough to illuminate the area around camp.
The UST 60 Day LED has a sturdy handle and a 4"x4"x12" box shape, convenient for packing in a car or camp kitchen box. Its grooved handle fits a hand. The bottom also has a hook you can run a small carabiner through. The UST is heavy plastic with a sturdiness reminiscent of metal gas camping lanterns from a bygone era.
Frosted plastic around the light source keeps the light from being sharp in its two dim modes. The brightest setting can be harsh, so I tend to run that only for short periods when I need a lot of light, such as setting up a tent or cleaning up after a backyard party.
We're not alone in our enthusiasm for the UST Duro 60. The UST Duro 60 is highly regarded by Wirecutter and Outdoor Gear Lab. It's applauded for its sturdiness and durable plastic body, brightness, long battery life, and functionality as a survival lantern.
When I started researching lanterns, I found the price of the UST Duro to seem higher than necessary. But after looking at its competitors, its price is essentially the same as camping lanterns in this category.
Downsides of the UST 60: It's heavy and not collapsible. With 4 D batteries inside, it comes to a 29.28 oz–the heaviest of any lantern we tested. Simply put, there's no way I'm backpacking with this light.
But this is my go-to light for camping, cabins, yurts, backyard gatherings, and survival emergencies. Still, it's brighter than any lantern we tested. I can't imagine any other light helping more when I need to clean up the camp kitchen or a backyard BBQ.
Interested in camping gear? See our Camping section for our most popular stories.
Best Rechargeable Lantern:
Biolite AlpenGlow 500
Light Output: 500-lumen max
Power source: micro-USB rechargeable integrated battery
Weight: 6.4 oz
Battery Life: 18 hours
What we liked: Modern design, fun colors, ambiance lighting, reliable charging, Bluetooth light control
What we didn't like: heavy, wanted additional light output for chores
The BioLite AlpenGlow 500 is an aesthetically-pleasing rechargeable camping and backpacking lantern with Bluetooth functionality to control lighting colors and brightness from your phone. While more complicated than other lanterns we tested, that's its appeal: it's for the gadget-lover who appreciates beautiful gear for the sake of some campfire entertainment. Still, its pleasing colors and modern design make the BioLite AlpineGlow a good option for all campers, even if you could care less about Bluetooth capability.
Compare Prices on the BioLite AlpenGlow 500
The AlpenGlow is a medium-sized rechargeable lantern that has multi-color functionality.
We found the AlpenGlow to be the least finicky and most reliable of the rechargeable battery lanterns we tested. It has a protector for the USB charger to prevent water or sand from entering and blocking delicate pins in the micro-USB port. Its buttons and USB ports are more straightforward than other rechargeable camping lanterns we tested, which stopped taking a charge after 6 months of use.
While it's possible to control the lantern from your phone, the phone-free button system is straightforward to control and easy, even for less technologically-inclined people.
What appeals to us the most about the AlpenGlow is the multiple colors and the party trick-like ability to create a light show from your phone. For example, the AlpenGlow can have multiple colors at once, splitting half the lantern with blue and red light. We found this especially lovely when camping during a fire ban, which prevented us from having a real campfire. The ability to gather around a festive colored lantern and control the light with our phone felt like a fun alternative to "cowboy TV" (what some people call having a campfire).
The BioLite AlpenGlow is one of very few lanterns we tested that comes with a red light mode. Most outdoors people prefer red lights because it helps campers preserve night vision and is less jarring to nearby campers. Photo by Liz Thomas.
The BioLite AlpenGlow is a rechargeable lantern with a battery life of 18 hours. At 150 lumens, it isn't the brightest light we tested, but it outputs enough glow to get camp chores done and add ambiance to a camping area.
The AlpenGlow weighs 6.4 oz, which is mid-range for a lantern. It's not the lightest backpacking lantern, but it's also big enough to work as a camping lantern. Price-wise, it's also mid-range among the lanterns we reviewed.
The BioLite AlpenGlow 500 is a top-rated lantern at REI, with customer reviews ranking it at 4.8/5. It also is made the Best Lanterns list in the REI Co-op Journal. Customer reviews overwhelmingly give it 5 out of 5 stars, specifically noting the multiple colors, candlelight "vibe," warm light, quality engineering, and fast charge.
The biggest complaint – and one we share with customers – is that it isn't available in USB-C, which is widely considered the future of USB charging.
The AlpenGlow not only provides function, but also camp entertainment. It’s a winner for its good balance of weight, price, functionality, and brightness.
Best Portable Battery Lantern:
Black Diamond Moji
Light Output: 150-lumen max (100 lumens in older models)
Power source: 3 AAA batteries, can accept rechargeable batteries
Weight: 4.9 oz
Battery Life: 70 hours
What we liked:
What we didn't like:
The Black Diamond Moji is a simple, affordable, compact battery lantern that wins our best portable battery lantern award. It's a bestseller among REI customers because of its price, battery life, portability, and durability. This round, pocket-sized light outputs 150 lumens — more than its size would indicate.
The most recent update added 50 lumens compared to earlier models. At 4.5 ounces (the previous model was 3.3 ounces), it's lightweight enough for most backpackers. The light emits through frosted white plastic, so it never appears harsh. While it's not the brightest lantern, it's enough to add to a backcountry campsite or other situations where you don't want to carry a lantern far.
The Moji is the best lantern for folks who want a small, simple, reliable, packable, and affordable headlamp. We liked that the Moji is straightforward to use. In a world where it seems like every lantern wants to give you a Coachella light show, the simple Moji has a single button to turn it on.
It has a metal hook for hanging, which folds down. It comes in five colors. At 4.3 ounces (that includes 3 AAA batteries), it's one of the lightest lanterns out there, and its round shape makes it more packable than other options we considered.
Compare Prices on the Black Diamond Moji
The Black Diamond Moji is pocket-sized and fits comfortably in your hand or pocket for use during backpacking or when you need an extra light in camp.
Unlike other packable lights, you don't have to worry about huffing and puffing to inflate the Black Diamond Moji. You also don't have to worry about moisture from your breath impacting the light quality.
The fixed metal handles on the Moji backpacking lantern are sturdy but don’t fit into every place where you may want to hook your lantern. The single button makes this lantern easy to use, even when fumbling in the dark.
The Black Diamond Moji is a small and lightweight lantern with other light to illuminate the immediate area for camp chores
We prefer the eco-friendliness of a solar-charged lantern. Yet, we also recognize there are use cases where a battery-powered lantern has advantages. With the Moji, you also don't have to worry about whether your destination will have enough sun to charge your lantern. The Moji's battery power is suitable for Pacific Northwest camping or winter trips.
It's also well-suited for climbing or bushwhacking trips where you don't want the hassle of charging a solar-powered lantern on the side of your backpack. And let's be honest: it's also handy for folks like me who occasionally forget to charge their solar lantern the day before a trip. If you prefer a more eco-friendly option to traditional AAA batteries, the Moji will accept rechargeable batteries.
Our one gripe with the Moji lantern is its battery life. In testing, we found that the battery diminished much faster than the 70 hours that are advertised. It also has a smaller globe to output light, making it decent for ambiance but not as helpful for camp chores.
Unlike the BioLite or MPOWERD lanterns, the Moji lacks a battery indicator or battery locking function. We kept our Moji lantern in our car camping box and were disappointed to find that it had turned on during the drive, leaving the batteries dead.
The Moji is Top-Rated at REI and a favorite at Wirecutter/New York Times. It also gets high marks from Outdoor Gear Lab and Gear Junkie for its affordability, lightweight, and portability. The Moji is a great durable, portable, battery-powered lantern if you're headed out on a backpacking trip. Just be sure to put in fresh batteries before your next trip.
Best Solar Camping Lantern:
MPOWERD Luci Base light
Light Output: 360-lumen max
Power source: Integrated Solar Panel
Weight: 10.1 oz
Battery Life: 50 hours
What we liked:
What we didn't like:
The newest iteration of the MPOWERD Luci Base Light is the Best Solar Power lantern. It's a collapsible lantern with a solar panel on the top for easy recharging on your backpack or at base camp. The Base Light is one of the few lanterns we tested that can also work as a power bank to charge your phone in the backcountry.
The Luci Base Light is a collapsible lantern that inflates with a few breaths, making it extremely packable. Because it can grow in size, it's able to throw a lot more light than the smaller battery-powered Black Diamond Moji.
Compare Prices on the MPOWERD Luci Base Light
The Luci Base Light hanging in my camp near Ojai, California. For a solar powered lantern, it puts off an impressive amount of light.
One advantage of the Base Light over other models of solar-powered lanterns is the ability to charge your phone on the solar panel. Many backcountry campers and off-the-grid overlanders appreciate the dual functionality of the Luci Base Light.
As with other solar panels, we've found that the charging is most effective with consistent solar exposure. Thus, it'll be more difficult for the panel to charge if you're moving between strong sunlight and shaded areas, such as on a backpacking trip in the forest.
If you're backpacking in the desert without shade, you may find it can charge while hanging off your backpack. But we had the most luck charging the Luci Base Light's solar panel in the car’s front dashboard on the way to the trailhead. You can read more about how solar panels work in our Best Solar Panels guide.
For backyard parties, I'll set the Base Light up outside in the afternoon to get the charging I need to provide ambiance at night.
The Luci Base Light has a protected USB port so you can use the solar panels to charge your electronics. Here, the lantern is charging my power bank.
The Base Light also has the best handles and hanging systems of the solar lanterns we tested. We love that the Base Light has snap handles on both sides of the lantern-the only lantern to do so. This means can hang it with the solar panel up (when you are charging) or down (at night to let the glow come out of the top of the lantern). With other lanterns, like the base Moji, the hook is only on one side; it doesn't snap, and it can be tricky to hang without an additional carabiner. This small design feature on the Base Light makes it stand out from other solar-powered lanterns.
The Luci Base Light is a Top-Rated lantern at REI and one of the bestselling lanterns. In our experience, a solar lantern rarely is bright enough for chores, but customers laud the Base Light for its brightness. Of the few customer complaints, most were addressed by customer service and covered by its 1-year warranty.
The Luci Base Light lantern has among the best handles of any of the lanterns we tested with an easy to use snap system that allows you to secure the lantern in tight spaces and where fixed hooks would not otherwise fit.
One thing to note about any solar charging lantern is that solar panels have specific condition requirements for charging. Of the negative reviews we found, many customers had unrealistic expectations of what solar charging is capable of doing. In our Best Solar Panels review, we dive into the science behind how panels work. Ultimately, the best way to charge your panel is with continuous, uninterrupted sunlight.
If you were hoping to charge your lantern while backpacking through a forest, this isn't the lantern for you; solar panels cannot charge in those conditions. If you are looking for a basecamp light, a campsite light, or a backyard lantern — conditions where you can ensure continuous uninterrupted charging — then this lantern will be a great choice.
Best Affordable Solar Camping Lantern:
MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0
Light Output: 75-lumen max
Power source: Integrated Solar Panel
Weight: 4.7 oz
Battery Life: 18 hours
What we liked: price, ease of use, collapsible and compact
What we didn't like: could use more handles
If you don't need Base Light's ability to charge a phone or a lot of light power, we love the MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0. This simple, affordable, and elegant light is about half the size and price of the Base Light. While the 75-lumen Luci doesn't output enough light to illuminate a campsite or confidently do camp chores like chop vegetables, it's a favorite for providing ambiance.
We tested the Color version of this lantern, which rotates between 8 colors or can be set to a single color-yellow, red, green, blue, or white. Like the Luci Base Light, it charges via solar panel, is compressible and inflates to expand, and has built-in hooks (though not nearly as many as the Luci Base Light).
Compare Prices on the MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0
The MPOWERD Luci Color comes in several fun hues and is a great campfire alternative during fire bans or high alpine adventures where there is no firewood.
Supposedly, battery life for a fully charged Luci Color should last 9 hours, but in our experience, we're happy to get a whole night's enjoyment out of it. The Luci Outdoor 2.0 has only 1 color light but significantly more battery life: 18 hours reportedly. Given our experience with the Luci Color, we think the 18 hours quoted may be optimistic. Still, we think it will be much longer than the Luci Color.
The MPOWERD Luci is popular for its style and price, demonstrated by 2000+ reviews on Amazon and an average 4.7/5 star rating. Still, if you want a lantern for anything more than amusement, you're better served by the Luci Base Light, which can provide more serviceable light.
It's worth noting that solar panel technology is one of the quickest to update from year to year. As a result, MPOWERD has updated the Luci Outdoor often. We tested several models of the Luci Outdoor, and each subsequent model has been brighter, charged quicker, and had longer battery life than older models.
As the solar panel technology is updated, you can find older models on sale. We highly recommend this fun and easy-to-use light, even if you're on a budget.
Other camping lanterns we tested
The LE LED Camping Lantern
Light Output: 1,000-lumen max
Power source: 3 D alkaline batteries
Weight: 14.0 oz
Battery Life: 10-14 hours
What we liked: price, sturdiness
What we didn't like: battery inefficiency
The LE LED Camping Lantern is the brightest camping lantern we tested and the highest-rated camping lantern on Amazon, with over 26,000 customer reviews and a nod from Gear Junkie. At only $20, we were skeptical but had to test it out. It looks like a smaller version of our Overall winner, the UST 60-Day Duro. The plastic is more pliable and isn't as sturdy, and the handle isn't as ergonomic, but the design is otherwise quite similar.
VIEW Price oF the LE LED Camping Lantern
The LE LED Camping Lantern (right) is a smaller but similar looking alternative to our overall winner, the UST 60-Day Duro (left). We didn’t like the color hue as much, but the real difference is the battery life: 10-14 hours vs. 60 days.
Like the UST 60-Day Duro, the LE LED Camping Lantern runs on D batteries (in its case, three D batteries instead of the UST's four batteries). The LE is shockingly bright for its size — 1000 lumens to the UST's 1200. This makes it the second brightest camping lantern we tested.
But we found the amount of brightness coming out of such a small lantern to be less useful than the 1200 lumens on the UST 60-Day Duro. The larger UST lantern has a bigger globe, meaning those lumens are more useful for completing chores. The LE's light is also harsher, though you can reduce it to a lower yellow-orange setting that is gentler on the eyes.
While we almost awarded the LE LED Camping lantern a spot as a budget lantern, ultimately, we were disappointed with the battery life. Those 3 heavy D batteries will get you 10 to 14 hours of light on the LE LED camping lantern. The same batteries would last 60 days (or more than 1400 hours) on the UST 60-day Duro.
So, for about 20 bucks extra, you can find the UST 60 Duro lasting 100 times longer than the LE LED Camping lantern. With the price of D batteries running at about $5 for 4 batteries, the UST will more than pay for itself.
Princeton Tec Helix
Light Output: 150-lumen max
Power source: Built-in rechargeable battery
Weight: 6.4 oz
Battery Life: 18 hours
What we liked: whimsical shape, lots of hooks and features
What we didn't like: many parts, swipe difficult to use with cold/wet hands, price
The Princeton Tec Helix is a portable battery-powered lantern that was a favorite of all the sci-fi fans at our campsite. The Helix resembles a four-legged robot octopus with a glow-in-the-dark collapsible "head." Each leg of the spider turns into hooks, convenient for hanging in a tent or an adventure mobile. All the legs are removable to save weight. The glow-in-the-dark head has a helix pattern that makes it look futuristic.
Compare Prices on the Princeton Tec Helix
The Princeton Tec Helix is a fun-shaped camping lantern that brought out the inner-child / sci-fi fan in many campers.
Unlike other lanterns we considered, the Helix is a touch light. It swipes to turn on and off, which some people love (especially to play with!). However, we found it challenging to turn on with gloves or wet hands.
The Helix was one of two camping lanterns we considered with a dedicated red led bulb. To use in red light mode, simply swipe to that setting (the MPOWERDs have a pink light, but it's not quite the same). Red light mode can save night vision and is generally considered the most courteous color light to use around other campers.
The Helix, unlike the Black Diamond Moji, has lots of parts. Some parts detach from each other, which can mean more parts to lose or break. The Helix also has many settings, which some testers liked and others found confusing.
It's not for everyone, but there's undoubtedly a group of lantern users who love to nerd out on the aesthetics and abilities of this small but versatile lantern.
Klymit Everglow Light Tube
Light Output: 270-lumen max
Power source: USB input
Weight: 4.0 oz
Battery Life: N/A (requires USB input)
What we liked: brightness, weight
What we didn't like: battery system, battery drain
We had a lot of fun playing with this inflatable LED light tube. It’s designed to illuminate the edges of a vehicle for #vanlife or to energize a tent. These collapsible tubes are a creative solution to the problem most light strings have: they take up space and often get tangled.
Compare Prices on the Klymit Everglow Light Tube
Our gripe with the Everglow Light Tube, like the BioLite string lights, is that they require an external USB battery source. In our experience, the Everglow Light Tube drained our 10000 mAh battery in a few hours. While a light tube can provide a lot of lumens over a big surface area, the extra weight and hassle of running off an external battery source cancel out the advantage of lightweight inflatability.
UST Spright
Light Output: 100-lumen max
Power source: 3 AAA batteries
Weight: 7.0 oz
Battery Life: 120 hours
What we liked: price, brightness, battery life
What we didn't like: weight, harshness of light
The Spright was one of our recommended gifts in our Best Gifts Under $25 guide. At $15, you'd be hard-pressed to find a brighter and more affordable camping light. It runs on triple-A batteries and compresses down to make it quite portable.
Compare Prices on the UST Spright
The UST Spright collapsible lantern has a collapsible silicone pop-up globe to throw out more light than similarly sized lanterns.
Yet, at 7 oz, it's more than twice the weight of the portable battery lantern we recommend, the Black Diamond Moji. We also found the LED light on the Spright to be harsh compared to the Moji.
New York Times/Wirecutter also reviewed the Spright and complained that even after the lantern is turned off, it is made with glow-in-the-dark silicone that bothered the testers while they were sleeping. We found the glow-in-the-dark feature to be an advantage in our testing.
We think glow-in-the-dark material can make it easier to find a lantern in the dark amongst a pile of clothes and sleeping bags when we have to rush out to use the pit toilet or check on a weird sound outside. Still, we get why some people may find the glow-in-the-dark annoying.
Primus Easy Light Camping Lantern
Burn time: 10 hours (8 oz fuel canister)
Light Output: 490-lumen max
Power source: Isobutane canisters
Weight: 7.4 oz
Battery Life: 10 hours
What we liked: Burn time, high lumen
What we didn't like: runs on a fuel canister
The Primus Easy Light Camping Lantern is a classic gas lantern with 10 hours of burn time and 490 lumens. It's similar to the Coleman Gas Light but with a few upgrades, like longer battery life and less harsh light. We didn't test any gas lanterns for this guide because they are more flammable than LED lanterns and can sometimes be banned during high fire seasons. However, many people enjoy them for backyard gatherings, so we wanted to include them here as an option worth considering.
Compare Prices on the Primus Easy Light Camping Lantern
Coleman Gas Light
Burn time: 7 hours (8 oz fuel canister)
Light Output: 1,000-lumens max
Power source: Propane fuel tank
Weight: 16.4 oz
Battery Life: 7 hours
What we liked: price, extreme brightness
What we didn't like: runs on fuel canister
This classic gas lantern is what most people think about when they want a gas camping lantern. Of the gas lantern models by Coleman, the Coleman Gas Lantern is the least expensive of these options. In contrast, Coleman has a dual fuel lantern that is more than 3 times the price.
Compare Prices on the Coleman Gas Light
The Gas Lantern is bright-almost 1000 lumens-with 7 hours of life on high. While gas lanterns are increasingly becoming a relic of the past, we think it's hard to beat the Coleman gaslight's price, brightness, and amount of "battery" life. With over 2000 reviews on Amazon and high marks from Gear Junkie, many outdoors people are happy with the Coleman gaslight.
Still, we have issues with the gas lantern as a category. With many forests banning gas-powered lanterns for their flammability, we think you'd be better served with an LED lantern — even if it doesn't feel quite as classic.
Buying Advice
Ease of Use
While multi-colored lanterns connect via Bluetooth to your phone, ultimately, we think every headlamp should be easy enough to operate so a sleepyhead can turn it on and off with little fuss.
Battery Life
Almost everything we tested can be categorized as an LED camping lantern. Camping lanterns these days take advantage of the impressive battery life of LED lights, with run times up to 60 days in the case of the UST. Battery life on lanterns can differ starkly between maximum light and low light modes. In general, we found the battery life of manufacturers to be exaggerated.
Light Brightness
With LED lanterns, brightness depends on how many LEDs are inside the lamp. The brightness of a light is measured in Lumens. We tracked brightness in max light mode and low light mode and report that information for each.
LIGHT OUTPUT
We found that even high lumen smaller lights were less functional than bigger lanterns. In our Best Headlamps guide, we described this as the difference between floodlights and spotlights.
Power source
Smaller lanterns operate on AAA batteries or require a AA battery or two. Larger lanterns may require D batteries.
Red Light or Warm Light
The rods in our eyes are less sensitive to red light and allow many people to have better peripheral vision at night than with white light. A lantern with a red light mode allows us to improve night vision for when we are no longer next to the light. Red light also is less visible from a distance, which allows you to have a stealthier campsite. Leave No Trace outdoor ethics recommend using red light mode when camping near others to avoid accidentally shocking the eyes of other campers with an overly bright light.
Weatherproofing
Lanterns are a piece of outdoor gear with significant potential for getting wet. Whether it's a rainstorm at the campsite, a spill packing up the kitchen after a car camping trip, or sprinklers going off after the backyard party, moisture happens.
Unfortunately, even the smallest amount of moisture has the potential to damage battery connectors or USB ports on lanterns. We damaged at least one lantern beyond repair during our testing because of it. Some lanterns come with international waterproof ratings, such as the BioLite AlpineGlow, which has an IPX4 water resistance rating.
Battery capacity (For solar-powered lights)
If you're using solar-powered lanterns, they work by charging during the day and storing that energy in a battery pack (included with the lantern). This time spent charging will determine the number of hours you'll get out of your lantern before you need to recharge it in the sun again. This battery capacity also may allow you to recharge your cell phone or another USB device.
Size, weight, and portability
We tested lanterns that weighed as little as 3 oz to lanterns that weighed several pounds. Choose the lantern based on how much area you need to illuminate, how far you are carrying it, and how you are bringing it to your camping location. For example, if you’re driving to your campsite, you can usually handle a heavier and bulkier camping lantern. If you’re flying to a destination and then renting a vehicle or carpooling, you may want something more minimal.
Additional features (e.g., adjustable brightness, hanging options)
Although not necessary, many lanterns have features that can make them easier or more fun to use. Most lanterns we tested have adjustable brightness, but the Biolite lantern can change to blue, red, and yellow. Some lanterns have handles, but others do not.
We tested camping lanterns side-by-side in several wild camps in the desert.
How To Choose the Camping Lantern For You
Should I get a Rechargeable camping lantern vs. Battery lantern vs. Solar lantern?
A Battery operated lantern tends to have the most extended battery life. But as we write in our Eco-friendly Gear guide, disposable batteries come with a long-term environmental cost from producing additional waste.
Our recommended rechargeable camping lantern winner comes with cool features like Bluetooth-enabled control from your phone so that you can direct colors and dimming.
Rechargeable lanterns also don't have the failure points of lanterns that use disposable batteries. Corroded disposable alkaline batteries can become an issue for those who camp a few times a year, especially if stored in a garage or basement that gets moisture. Rechargeable lanterns are less prone to that possibility. Rechargeable could be better for those who use their lantern a few times a year.
Pros and Cons of a Glow-in-the-Dark Lantern
Being glow-in-the-dark wasn't a make-or-break-it criterion for us, but it may be for you. Some lanterns feature glow-in-the-dark plastic or silicone that makes it easier to find your turned-off lantern in the middle of the night, say, if you need to go pee. Still, some media and customer reviewers found it difficult to sleep with the eerie glow in their tent. I'll leave it up to you — but it is a feature of lanterns you should know about.
Can your lantern charge your phone or other USB devices?
Not all lanterns can do this, but some solar and rechargeable lanterns can charge your phone or other USB devices. It wasn't an essential must-have to make our winners list, but it is a nice perk — especially if you'll be far off the grid.
Dimming and Colored Lights
Dimming and colored lights weren’t essential criteria for us, but it is pretty neat to be able to dim your lights or for them to change colors. A Coleman lantern-style camping lamp won't be able to do that.
We like dimming and colored lanterns to add ambiance to the campsite or backyard party. During fire bans or while camping in alpine areas where fires aren't allowed, it's nice to gather around a colored lantern like a campfire.
The novelty of a lantern that changes colors will make the night more fun for some campers. For others, it's an unnecessary gimmick. I'll leave it up to you, but we highly recommend paying a little extra for the functionality if you think you may enjoy a lantern that changes colors.
Camping lanterns care and maintenance
Proper care and maintenance of your camping lantern will help extend its lifespan and ensure optimal performance. Here are some special tips for lantern light care and maintenance:
Read the manufacturer's instructions
Start by reading and understanding the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines specific to your lantern model. This will provide you with the most relevant information on maintenance, cleaning, and any specific care requirements.
Handle with care
While camping lanterns are designed to be durable, they still require gentle handling, especially around USB ports (for rechargeable lanterns). Avoid dropping or mishandling the lantern, as rough handling can damage internal components or the lightbulb.
Clean regularly
Regular cleaning is essential to keep your lantern in good condition. Wipe the exterior of the lantern with a soft cloth to remove any dirt, dust, or grime. For more stubborn stains, use a mild detergent or cleaner recommended by the manufacturer.
Check and replace batteries
If your lantern uses disposable batteries, regularly check the battery compartment for any signs of corrosion or leakage. Replace the batteries as needed and ensure they are inserted correctly according to the polarity markings.
Rechargeable batteries
If your lantern has rechargeable batteries, follow the manufacturer's instructions for charging and maintaining the batteries. Avoid overcharging, as it can reduce battery life. If the lantern will not be used for an extended period, it's recommended to partially charge the batteries before storage. Be careful around temperature extremes—either extreme cold or heat—with batteries.
Keep it dry
While some lanterns are designed to be weather-resistant, it's important to keep them as dry as possible. Avoid exposing the lantern to excessive moisture, rain, or water immersion, as it can damage internal components or the electrical circuitry.
Store properly
When not in use, store your camping lantern in a cool, dry place. Remove the batteries if the lantern will not be used for an extended period to prevent potential battery leakage or corrosion.
Test before each use
Before heading out on a camping trip, test your lantern to ensure it's working properly. Check the brightness settings, adjust the focus if applicable, and ensure the power source (batteries or rechargeable) is fully charged or has sufficient power.
Carry spare parts
If possible, consider carrying spare batteries or spare bulbs specific to your lantern model. This will ensure you're prepared in case of any battery or bulb failures during your camping trip.
Liz Thomas is Treeline Review’s editor in chief and a long-time gear reviewer.
Why you should trust us
I’ve backpacked over 20,000 miles and have at least 1000 nights sleeping outdoors. I'm editor-in-chief here at Treeline Review and oversee all our gear articles. I’ve written about outdoor gear for numerous publications, including as contributing editor and columnist at Backpacker Magazine and the New York Times’ product review site, Wirecutter.
After too many car camping trips lying to myself that a headlamp was enough lighting (I also wrote our Best Headlamps guide), I decided to do a deep dive into camping lanterns.
Testing camping lanterns has been a nine-month journey that has made all my camping trips exponentially more enjoyable. The humble camping lantern was the small piece of gear that made a big difference–and those are my favorite pieces of gear to write about.
I’m the author of the National Outdoor Book Award winning Long Trails Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike. My book has extensive gear chapters. I regularly book speaking gigs with outdoor clubs, non-profits, colleges, and universities to talk about the outdoors and lead gear panels.
You can read more about me at www.eathomas.com or @lizthomashiking or on my author page.
