Investing in high-quality camp lanterns can change the way you set up your camp. It will also broaden the number of activities you can do on a campsite at night like board games with friends or reading a good book if alone. If you’re interested in finding the top camp lanterns but don’t know what to look for, you’re in the right place. Here’s a complete guide on finding a camp lantern that fits your needs perfectly.
The first factor to consider when looking for a camp lantern is your own use case. What will you use the light for? If you need something to brighten up the campsite and make everything visible, a bright 360-degree lantern LED light is your best choice. Similarly, if you just want something to create a calm atmosphere, a dim and warm lantern with good defusion is the way to go. But what if you need a light that is both ambient and functional? Well, in that case, smaller lanterns with individual power sources and hooks are the right way forward.
Now that you know the type of lantern you need, it’s time to evaluate their luminance. Ideally, you want the lantern to have at least three different intensity modes so you can change it according to the situation. Secondly, quality diffusion is a must, especially for LED lights. Ultra-bright LEDs on their own can cause discomfort and temporary blindness with prolonged exposure. Good defusion not only makes the lights easier on your eyes but also improves the ambiance by softening the casted shadows as well.
The next key aspect to consider is the power source of the camp lantern, and there are two main options to choose from.
The biggest benefit of disposable batteries is that you can always carry more with you. For example, say a single battery charge lasts around 10 hours, and your camping trip is going to be longer than that. All you have to do is bring a few more batteries, and you’re good for another 10 hours. That said, having to change batteries in the middle of a camping trip is pretty annoying and worse for the environment.
Rechargeable batteries are much less wasteful than disposable batteries. But, there is a limit to the number of charge cycles a battery can hold before it just fails. When that happens, you will have practically no way of repairing or replacing the defective battery – rendering the whole camp lantern useless. Until then, rechargeable batteries are the better option if you can remember to charge them up before the trip.
Make sure the camp lantern you buy is strong enough to handle a few falls on dirt without falling apart because accidents are going to happen when setting up camp or moving the lantern around etc. A durable plastic shell is more than enough for this task, and you don’t have to look for metal. Secondly, water protection is a must. Even slight splash resistance is much better than nothing because the last thing you want is your light source to stop working because the campsite is too humid. Lastly, the hanging hook/handle should be metal or ultra-durable plastic as that is the only thing holding the entire lantern up from the ground.
The LEG camp lanterns from Vont are the perfect solution for campsite lighting. For starters, their design is very reminiscent of actual oil-based lanterns of the past, which ensures complete 360-degree illumination. However, instead of oil wood, these modern lanterns emit light from around 30 crazy bright LED lights. Each one of these LEDs is strong enough to be the primary light source in a basic flashlight. Put together, 30 of them will illuminate your campsite like a mini-stadium flood light. Plus, this package includes two, so you can hang one outside and one inside the tent. This combo of unmatched performance and smart housing design puts this camp lantern a cut above the rest.
The Solight Design Camping Lantern is an innovative, portable camping lantern that allows you to easily illuminate any outdoor environment. It is a collapsible LED lamp with a light sensor, rechargeable solar power, and a velcro handle for hanging. This lightweight, packable lantern weighs only 2.6 ounces and fits in the palm of your hand. Its patented open-and-close design eliminates the need for a mouth nozzle or inflation; the material memory will retain the shape open or closed and keeps its shape when punctured.
This makes it perfect for all types of camping trips, including extreme weather. With up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, you can rest assured that this lantern will provide plenty of illumination in any setting. This durable product is made from heavy-duty and recyclable biodegradable TPU material, making it ideal for any outdoor excursion. It is waterproof and certified to IP68 standards, so it can withstand even the most relentless downpour.
There is already a lot of preparation and work that goes into planning and building a working campsite with everything you need, so adding complicated portable lighting would increase that work. This is the philosophy behind the extremely simple yet highly effective LED camp lanterns from FLY2SKY. Just put in the three AAA alkaline batteries in each bulb, lang them wherever needed, and turn them; it’s that easy to use. Additionally, these bulbs might look small compared to other options on our list, but their illumination is on par with the rest of the market. Not to mention their super portable design that gives you a functioning light anywhere on the campsite.
If you’re camping in an open area with nothing for the light to reflect from, even the brightest camp lanterns will seem inadequate. The camp light from Lighting EVER does not suffer from this issue thanks to its ultra-bright 1000 lumen LED light. It is strong enough to create the sensation of being inside a well-lit building while you’re sitting in the middle of nowhere. These super bright lights are also defused perfectly to ensure a thorough luminance of all areas around the lantern. This diffusion is also how you can put this light in front of your eyes without it getting uncomfortable.
All camp lanterns on this list so far have had crazy bright LEDs, but what if you want to create some ambiance? Well, the Hozuki lantern from Snow Peak offers just that through its expertly creative designs and soft, warm glow. The bulb is attached to a hook and string that can be used to hang the light from anywhere. Or, you can retract the light string all the way in and use the hook as a tabletop stand. You can dim its already soft glow even further with the press of a button – turning this ambient light into a gorgeous night light.
Basic camp lanterns are great for occasional use, but what if you go camping regularly? Well, in that case, you need the ultra-robust camp lantern from Everyday. These LED lights are built to withstand years of camping and home use without any issues. Their batteries can give you a run-time of up to 100 hours on a single charge, while their robust water resistance keeps them going even in rough weather. An excellent mix of quality internals and durable exterior gives these camp lanterns reliability unlike any other option on this list.
A: The minimum light intensity for a camp lantern to be considered functional is 100 lumens. Ideally, you want this to be in the 250-300 range. Also, some ultra bright lanterns can go as bright as 1000 lumens on a full charge.
A: Unless your next camping trip is within the same week, take the batteries out. Leaving them in will only drain the batteries but it can also lead to rust and leakage – destroying the lantern.
A: Quality camp lanterns can cost anywhere between $10 and $20.