Escrito por February 3, 2019 By Ross Spark Best Solar Lanterns for Camping and Outdoors – 2019
Going camping is great fun. You get to spend time with friends and family, plus you get to be outdoors in Mother Nature. Of course, when you go outdoors, especially for a few days, you need to have the right gear in your arsenal. Food, clothing, bedding, and first aid supplies are all important things, but so is lighting. Many people will just bring a couple of flashlights along. However, batteries die, and then you are left literally in the dark. A good way to go is with a lantern that can be charged using solar energy. They are efficient, effective, very useful in a tight spot, and they usually do not even cost that much. Let’s go over some different options right now and find out what is the best solar lantern. We will also be doing a little FAQ section and a short buyer’s guide, just so you know what to look out for before you buy a solar lantern.
Best Solar Lantern Reviews
Best Solar Powered Lanterns
Lumens
Our Rating
Where to buy?
Best Overall Solar Lantern
High – 65 lm Low – 12 lm
0
/10
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Best Value Solar Lantern
High – 65 lm Low – 12 lm
0
/10
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Affordable Multi-pack Option
146 lm
0
/10
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High – 65 lm Low – 25 lm
0
/10
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Best Accent Solar Lantern
5 lm
0
/10
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1 – AGPTEK Solar Lantern – Best Overall
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If you need a very affordable handheld solar lantern that is lightweight and super portable, the AGPTEK Solar Lantern is a great option to look at. It’s very bright, has a fairly long-lasting battery, and can be charged in multiple ways, one of which is of course through solar power.
Product Highlights
One of the neatest parts about this particular lantern is that it can be charged in many different ways. First of all, it features a hand crank which you just have to turn to charge it. A single crank will provide up to 20 minutes of light. You can also use a car adaptor and an AC adaptor to charge it. Moreover, you can also insert 3 x AA batteries as well. Finally, this is of course a solar lantern, which means that you can place it in direct sunlight to charge it. This is neat because it is ecofriendly and efficient too.Do keep in mind that the AGPTEK Solar Lantern needs to be charged for around 7 hours in direct sunlight. This will provide you with about 3 hours of continuous use. It does take a while to charge with solar; it needs bright sunlight, and the battery life from solar charging is not the best. However, with that being said, this is a cheap and efficient way of charging the AGPTEK Solar Lantern, and it’s more than enough for a couple of hours at the campsite or for a bit of reading.The AGPTEK Solar Lantern features 36 separate LED lights and 2 brightness settings. You can turn it on the normal setting for some reading, or turn it on high for group activities. Beware that the battery doesn’t last that long when it’s set on the super bright mode. One of the other really neat aspects is that the AGPTEK Solar Lantern comes with a USB charging port that can be used to charge your phone and other such small devices. It’s a cool, little, portable, and energy-efficient solar powered lantern.
The Good
What we like about the AGPTEK Solar Lantern is that it is solar powered and that it even comes with a USB port that can be used to charge phones and such. It’s also convenient that it can be powered in many other ways, just in case there is limited or no sunlight. Also, the fact that it is small, portable, and easy to transport is another big bonus as well.
The Bad
One thing which we don’t like about the AGPTEK Solar Lantern all that much is the battery life in terms of solar energy. It takes quite a bit of time to charge, up to 7 hours, and a cloudy day won’t do it. It takes bright sunlight for charging, and even then, the battery will only last for 3 or 4 hours at most. Also, this lantern is not the most durable item around. It will not handle being dropped, plus it is not weatherproof.
Pros
Charges in multiple ways
Solar charging
Money saving and energy efficient
2 brightness modes
Cons
Limited durability
Battery life from solar charging is not great
Not weatherproof
2 – SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern – Best Value
This is another cool little solar powered camping lantern to consider. It is super affordable, it can transform into a neat little package for transportation, and it can be charged via USB port or by solar energy too. It even has pretty decent battery life, something which is hard to come by when it comes to this kind of lantern.
Product Highlights
One of the best parts about the SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern is that it is very small and lightweight. It is so small and lightweight that you should be able to fit it in pretty much any backpack you bring to the campsite. It’s also very easy to store. The reason for this is that it can actually collapse down into a very small little package.When you want to use it, simply unclip and expand it, then when you want to put it away, push it together like an accordion and engage the clips. It really does not get any easier than that.What is also quite impressive here is that the SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern does have pretty decent battery life. Ok, so to be noted, this item does require strong and direct sunlight for the solar panels to actually work right and for the battery to charge. On that same note, the SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern comes with 3 brightness modes. These include a normal mode, a super bright mode, and a strobe flashing mode too. The normal mode is great for single person use, while the bright mode is great if you are in groups.One single hour of charging in bright sunlight will provide you with 15 minutes of use on the high mode and 30 minutes of use on the normal mode. If you fully charge the SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern, it can last for 5 hours on the bright mode and 10 hours on the normal mode. However, beware that it will take all day in bright sunlight to fully charge.Thankfully, it can also be charged with a micro-USB port, in which case it will have about 4 hours of runtime, although it also takes a long time to charge. It’s surprising that this lantern is as bright as it is, although also not super durable or weatherproof.
The Good
The good part about the SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern is that it does actually have a pretty good battery life, which is true when charged with either solar energy or with the micro-USB cable. We also like how it is so small and portable, and how it can fold down into a small package for easy transportation. The fact that it comes with 3 light modes, and is fairly bright, are both great features.
The Bad
The bad part about the SUAOKI LED Camping Lantern is that it is not very durable. It won’t handle too many bumps very well, and it certainly cannot be left out in the rain either. Also, the batteries, while the runtime is decent, it does take quite a while to charge, plus a cloudy day won’t do you any favors.
Pros
Folds down for easy transportation
3 light modes and fairly bright
Charges with solar energy or USB
Pretty good battery life
Cons
Takes a long time to charge
Needs direct sunlight
Not too durable or weatherproof
3 – Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern
When it comes to affordable solar lanterns, this one is the least expensive on our list so far. It might be cheap in terms of its price, but it does work quite well. It comes with a couple of charging options, the battery life is alright, it’s pretty bright, and it’s quite lightweight and portable too.
Product Highlights
Just like the above solar light, the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern is also very lightweight, compact, and portable. It can be expanded or contracted depending on your needs. When you want to use it, simply undo the clips and let it expand to expose the lights. When you want to put it away, just press it together and engage the clips like an accordion. This makes it very easy to stuff into any small space and to transport, plus being lightweight does not hurt either. It also comes with a convenient carrying handle.We like how the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern comes with a great 3.7 Volt lithium-ion battery which serves as a nice power bank. You can use the USB port and included USB port in order to charge it if need be, which is nice in case there is not much sun out on any given day. However, the best part about the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern is of course that it can be charged using solar energy. This makes it very efficient and cost effective.On a side note, it also comes with 3 lighting modes. It features a normal light mode which is ideal for reading and other such things, a high lighting mode which is good for multiple people, and an SOS mode for emergencies too. However, the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern does take quite a while to charge; it requires more or less a full day’s worth of bright sunlight for a full charge, so it is convenient that it can be charged via USB in case there is not much sun out. With that said, if you can fully charge it with the sun, the battery should last for about 10 hours on the normal mode. Just like the other models we have looked at so far, the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern does not excel at durability and it is not waterproof either.
The Good
We like how the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern is a solar powered lantern that can provide up to 10 hours of light on a single charge. In other words, it does have a pretty good battery life. The fact that it can be charged via USB port in the event that there is not much sunlight is convenient. Furthermore, the way it folds down, is small, and lightweight, are all things which help to make this solar lantern very convenient to use. What is pretty cool is that it comes with a USB system that lets you charge your phone and other devices.
The Bad
One thing which is not great about the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern is its durability. It’s not waterproof and it certainly cannot handle being dropped very often. Also, as is the case with these things, you need direct and bright sunlight for the Bigfoot Outdoor Products Solar Lantern to really charge well.
Pros
Long-lasting battery
Charges via solar or USB
Folds down to size and is lightweight
Allows you to charge USB devices
Cons
Needs lots of direct sunlight to charge
Takes a long time to charge
Not super durable
4 – EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern
If you are looking for a durable outdoor camping lantern, one that is rugged and fairly waterproof, the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern might be a good option for you. Not only is it strong, but you also get 3 in a single package. There’s also the fact that it folds down, charges in multiple ways, and can even charge your phone too. It is quite surprising that this lantern does not cost more than it does.
Product Highlights
Something which we really like about the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern, something which has not been seen with any of the other options on this list, is a high level of durability. Although the shell is fairly thin, it is made out of durable materials. You can drop it once or twice and it should be fine. However, the really important part here is that the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern is waterproof. If you are outdoors or camping, you need a waterproof light source, something which you do get with this lantern.Of course, the fact that you get 3 lanterns in one package here is also pretty neat; it’s a cost-effective option to go with. Moreover, the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern is very portable. Although it has a solid shell, it is really not very heavy at all, plus it comes with convenient carrying handle. On that same note, it can also be collapsed to form a smaller package that is even easier to carry and store in a small area. When you want light, simple expand it to expose the LED lights.The EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern does not come with various light modes. It only has one standard light mode, which is fine for basic uses. Some people might not like that it does not have more light modes, but what can be said here is that the battery life is pretty good and that the one mode it does have, manages to be fairly bright. It is certainly not a dull lantern. For one, it provides 360° lighting as a lantern should, making it good for group purposes. The EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern can of course be charged using the sun. However, keep in mind that you will need a full day of very bright sun for a full charge. The battery life is pretty decent, but you won’t get far if the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern did not get much sunlight. Thankfully, the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern comes with a battery that can be charged via USB port, plus it also takes 3 x AA batteries in emergency situations. What is also neat is that the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern has an outgoing USB port that can be used to charge your phones and other devices too.
The Good
What is good about the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern is that it actually manages to be quite durable, and even waterproof too. It is a true outdoor lantern. Also, the fact that it comes with 3 individual lanterns for a very low price is impressive. Moreover, being able to charge it and power it in 3 different ways is nice, plus being able to charge your phone with it is convenient too.
The Bad
One of the bad parts about the EACHPOLE Outdoor Solar Lantern is that like with other solar lanterns, to charge it with the sun, it needs a lot of direct sunlight. Moreover, although the battery life is decent, it is not exceptional.
Pros
Durable and waterproof
3 lanterns for the price of 1
Charges via solar, battery, or USB
USB Allows you to charge your phone
Collapsible and portable
Cons
Long charging time
Requires bright and direct sunlight
5 – Falove Vintage Solar Lantern
Now, these are not really camping lanterns as the other ones were. These solar lanterns, a pack of 4, are best used for hanging on umbrellas, lighting up patios, driveways, and other such areas. Although lightweight and small, they are not really meant to go camping or to be moved all that much. With that said, they are inexpensive and work pretty well for what they are designed to do.
Product Highlights
What is cool here is that you get 4 Falove Vintage Solar Lanterns in a single package, and they do not even cost that much. They are very small solar lanterns, ones that are best used for hanging on umbrellas or placing on patios; they come with little clips which can be used for hanging. Seeing as there are 4, they work well to illuminate a space such as a patio or driveway. What is also neat is that the light looks like candle light, which can add ambiance to the mix.Now, they are not super bright, but bright enough to illuminate an area, especially seeing as you get 4 of them in a single package. What you should also know is that they cannot be charged in any other way other than solar energy. They need about 4.5 hours of strong and direct sunlight to charge, and on a full charge, the lights will last about 6.5 hours. Beware that they will not work well if there is not much sunlight, especially seeing as they cannot be charged any other way. The Falove Vintage Solar Lanterns are heatproof, so they won’t melt, they are fairly rugged, and they are waterproof too, making them perfect for outdoor use. They also come with an auto sensor so they will automatically charge during the day and turn on when it gets dark.
The Good
The good part here is that the Falove Vintage Solar Lantern are great for illuminating patios, plus they have a long runtime on a single charge, and you get 4 of them in a single package.
The Bad
The fact that they can only be charged using solar energy is a bit of a drawback, plus they are not designed for being on the go.
Pros
Fairly durable and waterproof
Great to illuminate patios
Have a fairly long runtime
Cons
Not really designed for portability
Not all that bright
Solar Lantern Buyer’s Guide
Yes, there are lots of different options out there in terms of solar lanterns. This means that you don’t want to buy the very first one you see. Here is a list of considerations to keep in mind before you buy any solar lantern.Battery Life and Charging TimeOne of the main things to look for before you make a purchase is what the battery life on the solar lantern is. Some solar lanterns will only last a few hours on a single charge, and others can last for up to 10 or 12 hours. On a side note, some solar lanterns have different brightness settings which will also affect run time. Moreover, some solar lanterns will take just 5 or 6 hours to charge, while others might take longer. Power MethodsAnother thing to look for is how the solar lantern is charged. Yes, they all use solar energy for charging, but some also come with other charging methods. It is convenient if there is no sunlight for the day, if the lantern can be charged via USB or Micro USB, through a DC power outlet, and some can even run on normal batteries too.DurabilityThe solar lantern in question should also be durable. Now, the fact of the matter is that none on these lanterns have super high impact resistance; LED lights and solar panels will break when dropped. However, the really important part here is that they are waterproof, especially if you plan on taking them outdoors for camping. PortabilityHaving a small, lightweight, portable, and collapsible solar lantern is always important too. You don’t want something huge that is cumbersome to carry around. Other FeaturesAnother feature that tends to come in handy is an outgoing USB port that can be used to charge phones. If you are stuck or have an emergency, being able to charge your phone or other devices can be useful.
Solar Lantern FAQ
How long will a solar light run?When it comes to solar lights, when charged with the sun, they can last anywhere from 5 to 15 hours depending on the sunlight they have gotten and what kind of battery they have.When do solar lights work the best?The best time to use solar lanterns is on sunny days during the summer. Summer days have the most sunlight, the sunlight is directly above and at its strongest too. Using solar lights in the winter probably won’t work too well. Are solar lanterns waterproof?The fact of the matter is that most solar lanterns do not appear to be waterproof. Yes, there are some that are, but many or not, so take this into consideration when making a purchase. Do solar lights come in different brightness modes?Yes, most solar lights and lanterns will have different brightness settings. Most will come with 2 or 3 settings which include a normal light mode, a bright mode, and an SOS mode. The SOS mode can come in handy in an emergency. Are solar lanterns cost effective?Yes, they are cost effective. For one, most tend to be quite inexpensive, especially the ones we looked at above, plus solar energy is free to harness, which helps cut down on costs.
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SummaryReviewer RossReview Date 2019-02-03Reviewed Item AGPTEK Solar LanternAuthor Rating 5
Filed Under: Buyers Guides
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