Best Camping Lanterns, Tested and Reviewed

Whether you’re organizing a post-dinner card game or setting out all the fixings for some evening s’mores, a camping lantern is a must for long weekends in the outdoors. But from bright-white LEDs to the warm glow of a single mantle lantern to a string of solar-powered lamps strung up over a picnic table, there is a surprising amount of variation in what is available. To help you choose, I tested some of the best camping lanterns from top outdoor manufacturers to compare side-by-side. 

Testing the Best Camping Lanterns

I evaluated the best camping lanterns on the level of light provided, including its brightness, quality, and reach as well as how long the lantern lasted at full power.

While I have noted in my review when a lantern can also serve as a power bank, the size of their batteries mean that most campers will end up using a power bank to recharge their camping lantern, rather than the other way around. I also took cost into consideration, including both the upfront cost of the camping lantern and the recurring cost to power it. 

I will continue to use the top-ranking lanterns in both my day-to-day life and in outdoor environments, as well as putting new camping lanterns through the testing regimen, and update my recommendations list accordingly.

The Best Camping Lanterns: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall: BioLite AlpenGlow 500

More than any other camping lantern in my arsenal, the one I return to again and again is the BioLite AlpenGlow. The battery lasts a surprisingly long time, it lets off a pleasing, bright light. And it’s just a lot of fun.

The aesthetic of the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 is more nightlight — or maybe lava lamp — than camping lantern. And that whimsical look when set on one of the best camping tables next to the best camping cookware is only heightened when you start flipping through its color options. 

There’s your typical LED white, a warm neutral tone that’s closer to a traditional camping lantern (shake your AlpenGlow 500 to activate “candle mode”), a bright blue tone that then cycles through a medley of colors that you can pause at any time, and, finally, a setting that fuses together multiple colors at a time. In practice, this was all a bit less intuitive to use than I would have expected (my three-year-old ended up being much better at selecting specific colors and patterns than I was), but the longer I played around with it, the easier it got. 

If you find yourself chafing at the colors produced by LED lights and wish you could customize them to get something a bit more aesthetically pleasing than you’re almost certain to find an option you like here. The BioLite AlpenGlow 500 also had the most impressive battery of anything I looked at—it could actually power a smartphone twice over if used as a power bank, and it lasted for 12 hours during testing (although it switched to a dimmer setting at the seven hour mark).

Longest Lasting: Coast EAL22

There is always a trade off with camping lanterns (or flashlights or headlamps, for that matter) that use rechargeable internal batteries versus those that use disposable ones. The rechargeable batteries are extremely convenient, especially when paired with the best solar generator for camping, but don’t last as long as the ones that use conventional batteries. But if you’re using conventional batteries, you’ll need to make sure you have the right kind of spares on hand or you’ll be sitting in the dark. 

The Coast EAL22 requires three D batteries to operate. In my case, that required a trip to the store, as I don’t typically keep D batteries on hand. They also raise the overall cost of the Coast EAL22, as you can expect to pay around $10 for them. But the tradeoff here is that your lantern is going to last a heck of a lot longer: in testing, the Coast EAL22 ran for 60 hours on its highest setting and wasn’t showing any signs of slowing down. If you’ve been frustrated by your camping lantern giving it out unexpectedly, this could be the solution you need. 

Warmest Light: Goal Zero Lighthouse 600

If you’re looking to purchase a multi-purpose lantern for both camping adventures and at-home blackouts, then the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 is a great option. Its warm light (no fancy color options here) most closely resembles the warm light of a traditional propane lantern — but without the hassle of finicky fuel sources. 

In fact, it’s the Goal Zero’s approach to recharging that really stood out during testing. While other camping lanterns I looked at relied on a single power source (power outlet, solar, propane), the Goal Zero also included an optional handcrank, which during testing did indeed provide about 10 minutes of light for every one minute of crank, an especially useful feature if you end up leaving this lantern in the closet for years before an unexpected power outage hits. 

Further, while I have some concerns about the long-term durabiliy of the attached recharge cord for the Lighthouse 600, I appreciated that Goal Zero correctly anticipated how likely I am to lose the Micro USB charging cables that came with both the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 and the Black Diamond Apollo. While there are still are a few other electronics in my household that use this Micro USB port, they are rapidly being replaced by the common USB-C. 

Finally, while the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 is not rated for waterproofness, it’s clear from looking at it that leaving it on the picnic table overnight when there is rain in the forecast is a terrible idea. In addition to the attached (and exposed) USB charging cable, there is also an exposed USB port, which can be used to recharge a device directly from the Lighthouse 600. I hope in future iterations of this device that Goal Zero provides a secure cover for the charging cable and removes the charging port entirely (realistically you’re going to be charging this camping lantern with a secondary power bank, given the size of its battery and max lumen output). 

Best Budget: luminAID Nova

I’ve used the iconic Luci lanterns for years, but after experiencing the luminAID version, I might be a convert. During testing, I was impressed by how much easier it was to inflate the luminAid. It probably takes a minute or longer to force enough air into a typical Luci to get it looking right, but a couple of easy puffs with the luminAid and it was ready to go. I appreciated too that it diffused the light nicely on its own, which made it more pleasing to have on, if not quite as bright as the Luci. I also appreciated the option to recharge this lantern via a Micro USB, helpful, given the lack of sun that sometimes exists where I live in the Pacific Northwest. 

Cascade Mountain Tech Monahan

While budget camping lanterns have their time and place (especially in emergency kits), the glaring white light they produce is decidedly unpleasant. If you’re transitioning from an evening spent around the campfire, a glow reminiscent of your laptop screen is frankly jarring. But, it can also be hard to justify spending over $50 on one of the best camping lanterns when you can pick up a set of two for less than $20.

What you’re looking for is the Cascade Mountain Tech Monahan. During testing, I was impressed with the quality of light this produced at such a low price point. There are two settings on the lantern which come on as you turn the dial on top a full rotation. The first is a warm light, not too bright but reminiscent of an Edison bulb. This is the light you pick for sitting around the picnic table chatting during the evening hours. The second is a bright white light, still pleasant and with enough oomph to see you through a round of cards. The only downside to this lantern is that the internal battery doesn’t have a ton of juice. If you plan to use this light for more than incidentals, keep one of the best power banks for camping handy to keep it going.

MPOWERD Luci Outdoor 2.0 

The MPOWERED Luci has long been popular with backpackers, due to its low weight (4.4 ounces) and the ability to recharge it by strapping to the top of your backpack while hiking in the sun. During testing, I noted that while it does provide plenty of light for the inside of a small backpacking tent, it was significantly less efficient than other models at lighting up a picnic table — plan to purchase two or even three of these if it will be your primary lighting source.

If you’re in the market for the best camping lantern, then you should probably give this one a pass. It’s just not that bright. The solar-only recharge means that you have to be thoughtful about where you leave it during the day. And it’s kind of annoying to inflate and deflate (although I do appreciate it’s travel-ready size). But it’s absolutely what you should impulse buy while waiting in line at checkout. Or as a stocking stuffer for the camping devotee in your life. Or to string up in your backyard. (I even saw someone float one of these in a hot spring.) As long as you’re not actually trying to see anything more than your friends’ faces across the picnic table in the evening, you’ll be thrilled with this purchase. 

Black Diamond Apollo

With three foldable legs that extend down to double its body height, the Black Diamond Apollo was one of the most compact camping lanterns I looked at. Despite having the second-lowest lumen rating in my test, the Black Diamond Apollo’s light punched above its weight. Several individuals noted that it seemed as if this lantern was providing at least as much light coverage, if not more, than the higher-lumen LED models.

But what really stood out during testing was its battery life. While other batteries only lasted a few hours, this camping lantern was still going seven hours later in warm temperatures, meaning it has enough juice to get you through an evening around the picnic table (its IPX4 rating means it can also handle a little rain). And in the event it does still kick out while the night is young, you still have the option to plug in three AA batteries to keep it going. 

While this model does have the option to recharge a secondary device directly from its internal battery (USB connection), it doesn’t quite have a large enough battery to make this a smart choice — bring a battery pack instead. 

Coleman Classic Recharge

The Coleman Classic Recharge is a great pick if you’re looking for an option that captures the aesthetic of the old-school mantle-style camping lantern but without the hassle. During testing, it produced a warm, if not especially bright light that lasted about six hours. Plan to bring a backup power bank to recharge this one during the day if you are out camping for more than one night.

luminAID Max

In testing, the luminIAID Max camping lantern was larger, but did not last longer than the smaller Nova. The major difference here is that it provides the option to recharge devices via USB-A port. Given how long it takes to recharge these lanterns via solar, my sense is the extra cost here isn’t worth this added benefit. I’d recommend instead opting for one of the best solar chargers and pairing it with a small power bank. 

How to Choose the Best Camping Lantern

Burn Time of the Best Camping Lanterns

While some of the camping lanterns I looked at could only hold a charge for a handful of hours, others were capable of burning long enough to last two or even three evenings. If you will have limited access to power, then consider how many hours of light you think you’ll need at a time before making a purchase. 

Lumens and Light Quality of the Best Camping Lanterns

While brightness is one factor that can and should influence which camping lantern you choose (no one wants to be squinting at their playing cards at the far end of the picnic table), the quality of the light coming off is another important consideration. After spending all week under the bright white light of your laptop screen or overhead lighting, the last thing you want is to replicate that experience on your weekend getaway. 

Packed Size of the Best Camping Lanterns

While even the largest camping lantern doesn’t take up as much space as the smallest sleeping bag, too many oversized items in your kit can make packing a nightmare. If you are at all vehicle constrained, look for a camping lantern with a small packed size.

Long-Term Durability of the Best Camping Lanterns

Like a lot of people, I have one of those telescoping lanterns in my closet—a Christmas gift, I think. Mine says its from the Bell & Howell, but the same exact lantern is being sold by other brand names such as Vont, Etekcity, and Lichamp (occupying an outside share of the top search results on Amazon for “camping lantern”). Since I already had this product on hand, I planned to include it in my test of the best camping lanterns. When I had used the lantern on a handful of camping trips in the past, the light was certainly bright, if also extremely unpleasant. However, when I went to open it the battery was dead. While theoretically it’s possible to change the batteries on this thing, the case of the one I had on hand appears to have rusted shut, and no amount of elbow grease was prying it loose. Like plenty of other off-brand camping and backpacking gear that have made their way into my closet over the years, this one is destined for a landfill. 

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Camping Lanterns

While choosing the best camping lantern might seem like a bit of an afterthought, the right one can turn the evening hours into one of the most memorable parts of your trip. Here are our picks for a variety of scenarios and needs.  

 

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