In this guide we’ll look at the best camping lanterns.
We’ve compared brightness, weight, waterproof and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What Is The Best Camping Lantern?
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More Detailed Camping Lantern Reviews
Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lanterns
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Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lanterns Review
The Vont LED Camping Lantern is the best battery camping lantern on the market. Available in a pack of 2, these lanterns are super bright and long lasting – equipped with 30 LED bulbs. Light up the tent or entire room with ease.
Compact and lightweight, these lanterns are perfect for camping. The collapsible design allows you to slot it into your backpack with ease, and once collapsed these lanterns are as small as your phone. Despite their lightweight design, the lantern is virtually indestructible – able to survive a 10ft drop and submergence under water.
Finally, these lanterns take 3 AA batteries and last up to 12 hours. They have strong hooks so can be hung around the campsite or in your tent.
Specifications:
- Brightness: 140LM
- Waterproof?: Yes
- Batteries Required: 3 AA
- Batteries Included?: No
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
- Weight: 10oz
Etekcity LED Camping Lantern Collapsible Flashlight Portable Lamp
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Etekcity LED Camping Lantern Collapsible Flashlight Portable Lamp Review
The Etekcity LED Camping Lantern is another ultra bright camping lantern, filled with 30 individual energy saving LED bulbs with a long lifespan. With 360 degrees of luminous light, these lanterns will illuminate your entire tent while saving batteries and energy.
Constructed with military grade materials, these lanterns are seriously durable. Despite their sturdy exterior, they are lightweight and can be carried in your backpack with ease. They collapse down into a much smaller size when not in use.
Enjoy up to 12 hours of continuous use with a full battery, while the 10 year warranty and 90 day guarantee is there for peace of mind.
Specifications:
- Brightness: 60LM
- Waterproof?: No
- Batteries Required: 3 AA
- Batteries Included?: No
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
- Weight: 9.14oz
MalloMe LED Camping Lantern Flashlights
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MalloMe LED Camping Lantern Flashlights Review
The MalloMe LED Camping Lanterns offer 146 lumens of brightness. These high quality lanterns come in a range of colors, and are the perfect addition to any emergency kit. They collapse into a small bundle for easy storage.
With over 100,000 hours of LED bulb lifespan, these lanterns will stand the test of time. The exterior is tough, but the lanterns are super light. While not quite as bright as other camping lanterns, these have a longer battery life and create a lovely soft evening light.
A strong contender for the best camping lantern, these come in a set of 2 or 4. They also come with a 30 day guarantee.
Specifications:
- Brightness: 146LM
- Waterproof?: No
- Batteries Required: 3 AA
- Batteries Included?: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
- Weight: 1.2lbs
Odoland Portable LED Camping Lantern with Ceiling Fan
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Odoland Portable LED Camping Lantern with Ceiling Fan Review
The Odoland Portable LED Camping Lantern and Fan is the best LED camping lantern for illuminating and cooling your tent simultaneously. Simply use the hook to hang the combined light and fan to the roof of your tent, keeping you cool and comfortable all night.
With 18 low powered LED bulbs and both high and low fan settings, this lantern will provide great air circulation. It’s constructed with military grade materials for durability, and it’s also extremely lightweight – collapsing into a smaller size when not in use.
With up to 37 hours of battery capacity, this lantern will last your entire camping trip!
Specifications:
- Brightness: 80LM
- Waterproof?: No
- Batteries Required: 2 D
- Batteries Included?: No
- Battery Life: Up to 37 hours
- Weight: 1lb
SUAOKI Led Camping Lantern Lights Rechargeable Battery
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SUAOKI Led Camping Lantern Lights Rechargeable Battery Review
The SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern is the best solar camping lantern on the market. This eco friendly lantern is a must have gadget for any camping kit, and it charges using either solar power or the built in USB.
This lantern is portable, foldable and durable. Extending or collapsing to fit any particular space, this lantern is shorter than your smartphone and is just 1.77 inches when fully folded.
With 3 lighting modes; high, low and SOS flashing, this lantern is great for emergencies. It lasts up to 10 hours in low mode and 5 hours in high after one full charge. It can also be used as an emergency power bank for your smartphone.
Specifications:
- Brightness: 100LM
- Waterproof?: No
- Batteries Required: 800mAh
- Batteries Included?: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Weight: 5.6oz
Camping Lantern Buyer’s Guide
An ultra smart LED lantern should be on every camper’s kit list. Able to illuminate the campsite for your evening meal, as well as your tent for reading and relaxing, a camping lantern is an affordable way to add a little extra comfort to your camping trip – plus they are essential tools in emergencies.
But what features should you be looking for when it comes to finding the best camping lantern? This buyer’s guide will tell you all you need to know.
Brightness
Brightness is measured in lumens, with the brightest lanterns boasting up to 1000 lumens. Smaller lanterns like the 146 lumen MalloMe LED Camping Lantern can create ambient lighting that sets a peaceful mood in the tent, while larger lanterns will illuminate the entire campsite. Some have adjustable brightness levels.
Weight
Chunky camping lanterns are great while camping, but not so great if you’ve got to hike to your campsite! Ultra lightweight models like the SUAOKI LED Camping Lanterns are easy to find and can be tucked away in your bag when not in use. Others like Etekcity LED Camping Lanterns boast a collapsible design so they take up less space.
Waterproofing
Some camping lanterns will be waterproof or at least water resistant, but unless you are camping by a lake this really isn’t essential. Instead, look for a lantern with a durable exterior and read reviews before you buy.
Power Source
Camping lanterns are powered in various ways. Some use solar panels, others rechargeable batteries and many just use disposable batteries like the Odoland Portable LED Camping Lantern. There is no right or wrong answer, but lanterns with rechargeable batteries tend to be the most reliable. The best rechargeable camping lantern should also be compatible with disposable batteries in case of an emergency.
FAQ
How many lumens do I need for a camping lantern?
It depends what you are wanting to use your lantern for! If you’re camping in the mountains where there is very little light, you’ll need at least 500 lumens. If you’re staying in a campsite with other light sources, and you simply want to illuminate your tent softly for an hour or 2 each evening, a lantern of around 100 lumens will be perfect.
Conclusion
Lightweight, user friendly camping lanterns are easy to find, but our overall winner has to be the Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern. These super bright, portable lanterns pack up exceptionally small and should be on any camper’s shopping list.