A lantern is a portable and versatile source of light that you can use when you are camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, or backpacking. Or when you need an extra source of light at home when the power grid goes down. Whether you need a lantern to place on the picnic table, a reading light inside your tent, or a strong night light for working in your garage, there is a lantern to suit all types of activities and lifestyle needs.
The 7 Best Lanterns
- Etekcity Camping Lantern
- MalloMe LED Camping Lantern Flashlights
- TANSOREN Solar USB Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern Flashlight
- Supernova Halo Extreme Rechargeable LED Camping and Emergency Lantern (Our Top Pick)
- SUBOOS Gen LED Camping Lantern
- LE Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern
- LE LED Camping Lantern
Our Top Pick for the Best Lantern
Our top pick for the best lantern is the Supernova Halo Extreme Rechargeable LED Camping and Emergency Lantern. This power-packed and compact lantern is tagged as being “300% brighter than other top-selling lanterns”. It will not disappoint you with its superior lighting performance. The Supernova provides a whopping amount of light considering it is such a small lantern.
It also has 5 settings. It will also generate up to 5 hours of continuous bright, warm light, which makes it the perfect traveling companion for backpackers. Also, it is an excellent gift idea for friends and family.
Check the price on AmazonHow to Choose the Best Lantern
The first thing to consider is what do you want to use the lantern for?
- Is it for general camping purposes like an extra source of light while eating at the picnic table, playing cards around the campfire, or emergency lighting for finding your way along a wilderness track?
- Are you looking for a portable, lightweight lantern that can be easily stored in your backpack?
- Are you a camping enthusiast who is looking for a lantern that doubles as a flashlight so that you can find your way back to your tent in the dark, or to hang it up inside your tent?
- Do you need an everyday light to use in your garage or around your home when there is no electricity available?
So then, whether you need a lantern for camping, fishing, hunting, backpacking, or a backup supply of emergency lighting at home, there are many different types of lanterns for you to choose from.
Type of Lanterns
- Sturdy freestanding lanterns
- Easy-to-carry lanterns that also doubles as a flashlight
- Collapsible lanterns that pack away easily in your camping gear
- Small compact lanterns that can fit into your backpack
In a world full of illumination devices, here are some important specifications or features that can help you choose the perfect lantern for your lifestyle.
Lantern Features
– Battery-Operated Lanterns
Battery-powered lanterns may use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries which you can charge at home in advance before you leave for your camping trip and then recharge them once you are at the campsite from your cigarette lighter in your vehicle. Some give you the option to either use rechargeable batteries or 3 regular AA 1.5V batteries, while others only take alkaline batteries.
So if you choose a regular battery-operated lantern, take some extra batteries along with you so that you are not left out in the dark.
– Battery Power
Most lanterns can operate up to 100 hours depending on the power source. Solar-powered may have a shorter run-time depending on their exposure to the sun. While battery-operated lanterns provide the longest run time. Some people find that their lantern run out of lighting juice too quickly, which can be caused by running it on the highest setting for long periods of time.
As most lanterns have 2 settings: high and low, the best way to save energy so that it will provide the lighting you need for a longer runtime is to use the lower setting most often, and only use the high setting when you really need it.
– Solar-Powered Lanterns
Solar-powered lanterns are a great environmentally friendly and also an energy-saving option. Those that harness the power of the sun have a strong solar cell that can store the sun’s rays for long periods of time. The only downside of using a solar-powered lantern is that it needs to be in full sun to fill its solar cell.
Some lanterns like the TANSOREN Solar USB Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern Flashlight have a low power consumption which keeps the lantern-lit for up to 8 hours. You also have the option of using regular alkaline batteries for cloudy days. So you will never be without the lighting you need.
– Brightness
The brightness of the lantern is determined by the power level of the LED bulb that is measured in lumens, which relates to the intensity of the light beam that comes out of the lantern. Lanterns can range in light power, from 146 lumens up to 1,000 lumens. However, the strength of the light will also be determined by the high or low setting on the lantern.
– Adjustable Lighting
The best type of lantern is one that allows you to adjust the level of lighting according to your needs. Most have at least 2 settings – high and low, while others may also have different lighting modes. The high setting gives you a super bright light that can illuminate a large area. And the low setting generates a soft ambient glow for reading in your tent.
The LE Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern has 2 lighting modes and 2 settings, a flashlight mode that has 2 brightness settings: 1000 and 400 lumens, which generates a strong beam that can reach a distance of up to 500 meters on the 1000 lumen setting. The lantern function has 2 settings 130 or 70 lumens, which can light up the inside of a tent.
Some manufacturers design their lanterns with multiple settings which allow you to have more control over the level of light and its appearance. The Supernova lantern has 5 settings: maximum, medium, low, and also 2 pulsing settings. Or the Coleman lantern that has 4 light settings: high, medium, low, and a strobe light.
– Additional Features
Camping lanterns do more than just provide stationary or on-the-move lighting. Some have a USB port to charge your smartphone or MP3 player. Or they may have a rechargeable battery that also acts as a power bank for your digital devices. The lantern may have a red light for night vision, a strobe light for emergencies or it may also double as a flashlight.
Some lanterns have a hook for hanging the light inside your tent or they may have a magnetic base so that you can attach it to a tent pole. Or a versatile handle to hang it from a tree or caravan.
Lastly, if you are going to be using the lantern for base camping or hiking over uneven terrain, and it may be subject to tough weather conditions, consider a lantern that is impact-resistant or water-resistant. If you want a lightweight light that you can take anywhere, choose a collapsible or a small portable lantern that can fit into your backpack without taking up too much space.
7 Best Lanterns – Reviews
1. Etekcity Camping Lantern
This very versatile and stylish Etekcity Camping Lantern is a good choice for emergency lighting, for around the house or to provide ambient light in your tent or around the picnic table. Each lantern has 30 individual energy-saving low-powered LED bulbs that provide 360° lighting for up to 12 hours.
The light generates full brightness for 8 hours. The brightness will dim to an energy-saving mode to provide longer-lasting illumination for up to 4 hours.
The lantern is made from lightweight, water-resistant military-grade construction ABS plastic and the handle is foldable, allowing it to compress to a small size so that it can easily be packed away in your camping gear or in your vehicle for quick and easy access. You can also use the sturdy handle to hang the lantern from a tree branch or inside your tent.
Although the lantern is small and compact it provides a surprisingly strong level of illumination. You can also control the amount of light the lantern emits by adjusting its height. The Etekcity lantern comes with 12 AA standard batteries and a 10-year warranty cover. For longer battery life, invest in some Energizer lithium-ion batteries.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- High functionality
- Very bright white light
- Omnidirectional lighting
- Provides up to 12 hours of illumination
- Durable construction
- Good water-resistance
- Lightweight and compact
- Foldable handle
- Energy-saving mode
- 10-year warranty
Cons
- Batteries run out of power quickly
- Not ideal for reading or heavy-duty lighting needs
2. MalloMe LED Camping Lantern Flashlights
With an ultra-bright light, strong construction, and a range of attractive colors, the battery-powered MalloMe LED Camping Lantern Flashlights are an excellent choice. Whether you are camping or need a stylish lighting option for a garden party, or some lighting for emergency situations, the MalloMe lantern contains 146 lumens that provide all-around 360° illumination.
A highly functional lantern, the MalloMe light has a sturdy handle so you can carry it around or hang it from a tree branch. The level of light can be controlled by just adjusting the lantern’s height. With 2 devices in 1, the portable lantern is designed to pack away easily as it collapses into a compact unit that can fit into your camping gear and you can also use it as a flashlight.
The lantern is made from military-grade ABS plastic and it is weather resistant and can handle tough outdoor conditions, so you can carry it in the rain. However, it is not designed for full water immersion. As well as its high-level functionality, the lantern 2-pack comes in a range of fun colors, like red and purple, blue and green, and black and gold.
So they will be an instant hit with your kids and an attractive energy-saving lighting solution for entertaining out in the garden or on the patio, while it also makes an excellent gift idea for family and friends.
The 2-pack is covered by a 100% satisfaction guarantee and MalloMe is dedicated to addressing any product or service issues and is also committed to delivering a 5-star experience for all buyers. The lantern 2-pack also includes a 6-pack of AA Alkaline batteries.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Very bright light
- Durable
- Water-resistant
- Attractive colors
- Compact and collapsible design
- Adjustable illumination
- Versatile
- Ideal for camping and traveling
Cons
- Light is too powerful for ambient light
- Not waterproof
- Color may not be as bright as the advertised image
3. TANSOREN Solar USB Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern Flashlight
The TANSOREN Solar USB Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern Flashlight offers you lots of lighting functionality around the campsite, while you are fishing, or during a power outage at home.
This lantern gives you 3 power options. Its solar panel on top of the unit absorbs power from the sun to generate a super bright light. There is a built-in rechargeable battery that can be charged via a power cord. On overcast days, you can use 3 AA batteries. It even has a USB port for charging Android devices, but you cannot charge Apple devices.
Designed with a smart power-saving feature, the TANSOREN lantern uses less power than other conventional lanterns as its low powered LED bulbs are designed for a longer lifespan. The lantern’s high-intensity white light can last up to 8 hours, while also providing 360° illumination.
TANSOREN has constructed this lantern from military-grade ABS material which is durable and water-resistant. It is also designed to be user-friendly as the lightweight lantern collapses to a smaller size. So you can pack it away in your camping gear or in your vehicle without taking up too much storage space.
Other stand-out features are the bright red exterior which makes it a very attractive lighting option. The sturdy metal handle can be used to hang the lantern from a tree branch or a tent pole.
The TANSOREN lantern 4-pack comes with 4 S-hooks, and a DC charging cable. It does not come with the AA batteries but they can be purchased from any shopping center.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Good bright light
- Lightweight and compact
- Three power options: solar power, built-in rechargeable battery, and also regular AA batteries
- Smart power-saving design
- Water and impact-resistant
- Bright red color
Cons
- Light is not bright enough for a large area
- Not fully waterproof
4. Supernova Halo Extreme Rechargeable LED Camping and Emergency Lantern
If you are about to embark on a backpacking trip around the world or just want a lightweight lantern for your next camping trip, then the Supernova Halo Extreme Rechargeable LED Camping and Emergency Lantern is destined to be your new lighting buddy. It may be one of the smallest LED lanterns on the market, but it is one of the most powerful.
Good things come in small packages, which sums up this compact and super bright lantern that is tagged as being “300% brighter than the top-selling lanterns”. It is also the winner of the 2015 Best Scouting Gear Gift. Whether you give it as a gift to your kids or a friend or use it yourself, you will not be disappointed.
The Supernova is a sturdy little lantern that gives out a substantial amount of light due to the 180-lumens power output, which creates a soft warm glow that can light up the inside of a tent or even provide the illumination you need for repairing your car.
This versatile little light has 5 settings for you to change the lighting according to your needs: maximum, medium, low, and also 2 pulsing settings: slow and quick flashing. The 1800mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery can provide up to 5 hours of illumination on a single charge and the lantern has a magnetic base that can be virtually mounted anywhere.
So you can attach it to a tent pole or a bicycle handle and the retractable hook allows you to hang it inside your tent.
The battery can be easily charged using any USB computer or phone charger, and a mini USB charging cable is also included. The Supernova Halo comes in 3 colors: Cadmium Orange, Forest Green, and Midnight Black. There is a 5-year warranty cover and a no questions asked return policy.
Pro
- Perfect for hiking, camping, and also everyday use
- Very affordable
- Multi-purpose
- Very good battery life
- Super bright
- Five lighting settings
- Compact and lightweight
- Magnetic base
- Retractable hook
Cons
- Handle is not very durable
- Not ideal for heavy-duty lighting purposes
5. SUBOOS Gen 2 Ultimate LED Rechargeable Tent Light
If you are planning to head out into the wilderness or just need extra light for your patio, then snap up this super-powered versatile SUBOOS Gen LED Camping Lantern. This innovative lantern features an improved design: a superior weatherproof ABS material casing that can handle tough outdoor conditions and extreme weather, and the frosting on the plastic cover gives you a nice soft light.
So you do not have to worry about being blinded by a harsh light.
With 280 lumens of power that can light up to a distance of 65-feet. and can last up to 18 hours on the regular setting plus 8 hours on the low setting, this high-quality light delivers a superb lighting performance.
The SUBOOS light has a lot of handy lighting features like 3 brightness levels: a super bright light, a regular bright light that can be easily adjusted for your changing light needs, and also a red light for night vision. The strong metal hook can be shifted up to 5 different positions, which means you can use it anywhere and adjust it to fit your lighting needs.
The 2600mAh 18650 rechargeable battery can also be used as a power bank to charge your cell phone, tablet, or MP3 by opening the battery compartment and connecting your device to the USB port with the universal USB cord, or your own USB cord. It is very easy to keep an eye on the battery’s charging level as the transparent push button level indicator shows blue for normal or full battery and red for low power.
Whether you are at home or exploring the great outdoors, SUBOOS gives you all the tools you need to operate your lantern: 2 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which equals a total power capacity of 5200mAh battery power, 1 universal micro-USB, a recharging USB cable, and a sturdy clip to hook up the lantern. A helpful tip for conserving battery life: only use the higher setting when necessary as it can drain the battery.
With such high-quality materials and super lighting performance, SUBOOS guarantees 100% customer satisfaction. However, if you are not happy with the lantern for ANY reason, let them know and you will get your money back, no questions asked! This proves how confident SUBOOS is about its product, and the lantern is also backed by a 5-year warranty that covers accidental damage.
Pros
- Super bright light
- High-quality design
- Three lighting modes
- Adjustable hook
- Frosted cover
- Compact rechargeable batteries
- Multi-functional
- Five-year warranty
- Very good customer service
Cons
- Not ideal for lighting up a large area
- Smaller than advertised
- Battery runs out of power quickly
6. LE Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern
This innovative LE Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern is a great choice for any sort of outdoor adventure from camping to hiking. It is also very handy for emergency lighting purposes at home. LE has designed its lantern with a lot of user-friendly lighting features. It also functions as a portable flashlight that has 2 brightness settings: 1000 lumens and 400 lumens and illumination can last up to 4 or 5 hours on a single charge.
There are 2 lights to choose from, the light on the left side of the lantern gives off a soft white light, which can be adjusted to 130 or 70 lumens, and it can also provide light for up to 12 hours on the lower setting. The light on the right side is a red signal light that can be set to flashing mode, which is very handy for emergency situations.
The camping lantern also has a spotlight you can adjust to a high or low beam and it can reach a distance of up to 500 meters on the high beam setting.
If you need to keep your hands free while exploring a cave or riding your bike at night, there is an adjustable shoulder strap. Or you can use the strap to hang the lantern from a tree branch or from a tent pole for extra illumination around the campsite.
As well as being a multi-functional lighting device, the LE lantern comes with 2 lithium-ion batteries that have a total battery capacity up to 3600mAh. The lantern/flashlight can be recharged via a USB port and it takes up to 5-6 hours to be fully charged. There are 4 blue LED indicator lights that show you when the lantern needs to be recharged, and it can also be used as a power bank to charge other digital devices.
Whatever type of outdoor activity you enjoy, the LE lantern can handle tough conditions and is made from durable plastic and also has IPX4 water resistance.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Powerful light
- Three lighting options
- Adjustable lighting
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Highly versatile: can use it as a lantern and flashlight
- Low power indicator lights
- Very good level of water resistance
- Comfortable handle and adjustable shoulder strap
Cons
- Bulky
- Flashlight beam is too narrow
- Batteries are hard to remove
7. LE LED Camping Lantern
With a super bright 360° omnidirectional light and plenty of lighting versatility, the LE LED Camping Lantern is an excellent choice for camping, fishing, hiking, and home emergency lighting.
This lantern allows you to choose the perfect lighting to suit your mood. It has a step-less dimming mode that is accessible by just the press of a button. It generates a powerful light that banishes the dark, less intense light for reading, but if you prefer a softer light, you can change the bright light to create ambient illumination inside your tent.
You can even change the color temperature of the lantern’s glow from cool white to a warmer tone by selecting 1 of the 4 lighting modes: daylight, warm white, combined, and a flashing light for emergencies. For long-lasting illumination, the daylight mode lasts up to 18 hours, warm white up to 25 hours, and the combined mode up to 12 hours.
Featuring a conveniently portable design, the LE lantern comes with 2 hooks, the one at the top is for carrying the lantern and the hanging hook at the base can be used to hang it upside down in a tent.
Although it has a sturdy anti-slip base and it is impact and water-resistant, it not designed for full water immersion. The lantern is powered by 3 D-size batteries which are simple to insert and remove. However, the batteries have to be purchased separately.
Pros
- Good quality
- Very good value for money
- Exceptionally bright light
- 360° omnidirectional lighting
- Stepless dimming
- Four color temperature lighting modes
- Good impact and water-resistance
Cons
- High setting uses battery power quickly
- Need to keep it away from moisture as the battery pack insert is on the bottom
- Plastic can get very hot when used on high for a long time
Our Top Pick for the Best Lantern
Our top pick for the best lantern is the Supernova Halo Extreme Rechargeable LED Camping and Emergency Lantern. This power-packed and compact lantern is tagged as being “300% brighter than other top-selling lanterns”. It will not disappoint you with its superior lighting performance. The Supernova provides a whopping amount of light considering it is such a small lantern.
It also has 5 settings. It will also generate up to 5 hours of continuous bright, warm light, which makes it the perfect traveling companion for backpackers. Also, it is an excellent gift idea for friends and family.
Check the price on Amazon
