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When camping at night, a good and reliable lantern is a must. It illuminates the area, preventing accidents and even possibly keeping predators away. Any serious camper will have one or two lanterns in their backpack all the time.
There are lots of camping lanterns available in the market today, and we love the ones that no longer have to rely on batteries, as many are now rechargeable or solar-powered.
Additional features can also make a particular product more desirable than another. Of course, lighting capabilities are the essentials and everything else is just gravy.
We have tried and tested numerous models of camping lanterns, and here are eight of the best ones that you may consider purchasing and bringing along for your next trip.
Why Do You Need a Camping Lantern?
A camping lantern provides a good source of light when camping in locations that do not have a power or light source. This is required for moving around, cooking, and doing other activities at night.
Camping lanterns are good alternatives to other lighting products like flashlights or headlights because they can be placed on an even surface or hung from a wire, string, or branch.
Camping lanterns provide even lighting within a certain radius. They also typically have longer operating times due to the larger space for internal or external batteries.
These types of lanterns may also have extra features that flashlights or headlights may not have.
Best Camping Lanterns
BioLite AlpenGlow 500
The BioLite AlpenGlow 500 is on the heavier side at 13.8 oz. However, it has one of the longest burn times as it can operate for around 200 hours when using extremely low light settings.
This camping lantern can go as bright as 500 lumens to as low as just 5 lumens. The latter has the similar brightness of a 1-watt lightbulb, which is more than enough for basic visibility.
The BioLite AlpenGlow 500 also serves as a 6,400 mAh power bank so you can charge other devices in a pinch. The battery is made up of Li-Ion cells and the product itself is rated IPX4.
The product can also change colors aside from the usual white and natural lights. This can be done either by tapping or shaking the device. Unfortunately, shaking to change lighting modes seems to be a bit unresponsive based on our tests.
Lighting up your campsite in a variety of colors is definitely one of the more charming and enticing features of the BioLite AlpenGlow 500. This makes this product easily one of our favorites among the bunch.
Fenix CL30R
The Fenix CL30R is a powerhouse of a lantern, capable of having up to 10,500 mAh worth of storage as the unit accepts replaceable up to three 18650 batteries.
The Fenix CL30R has a lumen range of 10 to 650. At its lowest setting, it can burn for 300 hours or longer. The device can also serve as a power bank that can offer plenty of juice for your devices.
This camping lantern is IPX7 rated for water resistance, and it also has a socket at the bottom for a tripod so you do not have to place it directly on the ground.
The Fenix CL30R is more on the expensive side of things and can be a bit heavier than most models included here, but the ability to have virtually unlimited burn time depending on the amount of batteries that you can carry is a huge plus.
Goal Zero Crush
The Goal Zero Crush barely weighs anything. At just 3.2 oz, it’s a lightweight. However, don’t underestimate the Crush as it is a no-frills camping lantern that packs a punch.
Boasting operating times of 3 hours on 60 lumens and about 28 hours on the minimum 6 lumens, the Goal Zero Crush can be charged either via USB cable or via the solar panels integrated into the device.
When charging via solar, the Goal Zero Crush’s 500mAh Li-Po batteries can be topped up in around 20 hours. Thus, charging solely via solar is not entirely ideal but it is a good way to add a couple more hours’ worth of light when the sun is out.
Another cool feature of this product is the candle flicker mode. Not only does this save on battery life, but it also gives a fireplace or candlelight vibe to your site.
The body of this device is collapsible so it barely takes up any space in your backpack. What’s best about it is that it only costs around 20 bucks, making the Goal Zero Crush a definite steal in our book.
UCO Original Candle Lantern
If you don’t want to rely on fancy electronics and would like to go a little old school, then the UCO Original Candle Lantern can definitely be a top choice for you.
The UCO Original Candle Lantern utilizes an actual candle with a burn time of about 9 to 12 hours. It provides natural lighting and is easily one of the most reliable lanterns that you can have.
It is also quite cheap, light, and compact, and the amount of light that you get will depend on the number of candles you can bring with you.
Different candles can be used for a little bit of variety. Our favorite is the citronella candles that help ward off mosquitoes while giving off soft illumination that can also be directed towards a specific location.
Of course, there’s no way to adjust brightness and the glass can get a bit hot once the candle gets going. Still, there’s no beating the simplicity and reliability of the UCO Original Candle Lantern.
Black Diamond Moji Lantern
The Black Diamond Moji Lantern is quite cheap but is easily one of the best camping lanterns on our list.
It can be charged either by AAA or similarly sized Li-Ion batteries. Under low settings, the Black Diamond Moji Lantern can last for around 70 hours. It has a maximum brightness of 200 lumens and a minimum of 4 lumens.
The Black Diamond Moji Lantern weighs just 6 oz with a diameter of just 3 inches. It is also IPX4 water resistance rated so it is sure to last even when it rains on your campsite.
If this product seems a bit basic, Black Diamond also offers other models that have internal batteries as well as one that can serve additionally as a power bank.
Snow Peak GigaPower Lantern
The Snow Peak GigaPower Lantern burns pretty bright as it maxes out at 400 lumens. It can also serve as a source of heat in emergencies aside from being a light source.
This device uses isobutane, which means that you can share fuel sources with your cookware. The Snow Peak GigaPower Lantern is also quite compact with a diameter of less than 4 inches.
The glass globe on the product is a bit fragile so you should handle it with care. However, it can take some pretty good knocks if it’s inside the carrying case that’s included with the product.
We recommend the Snow Peak GigaPower Lantern for short to medium-distance camping trips. This is also pretty good for night picnics especially if there is going to be some cooking involved.
The product looks pretty good on top of a picnic table, too.
Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash
The Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash weighs in at just 2.4 oz. It is also one of the cheapest camping lanterns on our list.
Of course, features are pretty basic, but it can hold its own well enough on simple trips. Brightness maxes out at 150 lumens. It is also dimmable and can be turned into a 120-lumen flashlight easily.
Depending on brightness settings, the Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash can run anywhere between 7 to 170 hours. It can be charged via USB or via solar panels which would need to be an additional purchase.
The product is IPX6-rated and can be used to charge small devices. We absolutely love this product and we highly recommend that you have one in your car even if you are not going camping simply because it is such a handy tool.
Ledlenser ML6
The Ledlenser ML6 is one very tough lantern. It is also one of the brightest camping lanterns we’ve found with a 750 lumens maximum.
The ML6’s power source comes from 18650 batteries that you can replace and recharge directly from the unit. It can also serve as an emergency power bank in a pinch.
Under dim mode, the Ledlenser ML6 Lantern can burn for around 70 hours. Under high settings, that number drops down to 4 hours.
The unit has a magnetic base and it can also be hung from the built-in hook. It is IP54 waterproof and charges to full in about 5 hours.
The Ledlenser ML6 is not cheap as it is priced at around 90 dollars. Still. You can’t really beat its toughness and durability, especially in the field where you need it the most.
Conclusion
Here are our picks for the 8 best lanterns for camping. Each one has what it takes to turn any dark campsite into a safe and well-lit area.
Of course, there are some pros and cons for each, so choose the one that best suits you. There may even be other products not included in the list that can potentially become a favorite and be part of your future camping gear.
A camping lantern is a must-have for any camping trip. Hopefully, one or more of the products mentioned above can help improve your camping experience.
