10 Best Camping Lanterns
10 Best Camping Lanterns to Buy in 2024
Camping lanterns are an essential tool when you are living off the grid.
Though campfires generate a ton of light, the downside is that they are localized and can’t help you in pitch black situations when you need to leave your campsite. Outdoor lanterns allow you to bring light (and in some cases, power) everywhere you go, making them an extremely underrated outdoor accessory.
Lighting your way in the wilderness has never been as easy as it is now with our camping lantern buyer’s guide.
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Are Gas Lanterns Inefficient now? Certainly not. While electric lanterns are extremely popular, gas lanterns can do things their counterparts cannot.
Emitting a very high lumen count, warming up your hands when it gets cold, and eliminating your dependence on batteries or a campsite’s electrical outlets are all ways that gas lanterns excel over LED ones.
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10 Best Lanterns for Camping Reviewed
The Super Siege from Streamlight is a solid rechargeable lantern with multiple light modes and a bright 1000+ lumen output. With 5, C4 LEDs (4 red, 1 white), you can control your light output with various levels of white light, or use the red bulbs to preserve night vision.
Housed in rugged polycarbonate thermoplastic, this portable light is designed to withstand anything you might throw at it.
The 10,400 mAh lithium-ion battery gives you a full charge in about 7 hours and returns anywhere from 5 – 36 hours of power depending on your application. SOS flashing and USB device charging are also included.
Note: For a more indepth look at our handpicked list of LED Camping lanterns available on today’s market, check out our dedicated article.
Key Features
Multiple Color Options
Red Light/Night Vision Mode
Extremely Durable
Rechargeable and Portable USB Charger
Compact and versatile, the Quad Pro from Coleman is a great LED option that gives you a ton of brightness (up to 800 lumens) as well as some pretty cool features.
With 20 hours worth of light in high usage mode and up to 400 hours in low usage mode, this packs some serious longevity for the price, creating great value for users. Also, it may not be the brightest camping lantern available, but it is versatile and can be used as a single light, or four, as the panels are removable and double as portable flashlights.
Each panel is waterproof, magnetized for attachment to metal objects, and also includes a kickstand to prop them up. The base doubles as a beacon light and has a USB charger on it as well.
While it takes 8 “D” batteries, investing in rechargeable ones will help keep your bills down as you will want to use this a lot, this also makes it a bit bulkier to manage in comparison with a solar powered lantern. However, bulkiness isn’t always a negative, depending on your situation and environment.
Key Features
4 Lights In 1 Versatility
Waterproof
High Lumen Output
While not the cheapest lantern on the market, the price is more than fair for when you look at what it can do.
Standing 7 inches tall and coupled with a rugged build, made out of military-grade rubber, the unit is drop-resistant, waterproof, and can charge your devices on the go.
Top of the line Cree LED lights provide around 200 hours of illumination, the 6000mAh Li-ion battery holds a charge for a ridiculously long time, and the Tough Light also has emergency beacon/flashing hazard lights built-in.
Charging the lantern can be done through any USB connection, and an assortment of hooks round out the features on this unit.
Key Features
Holds Charge For a Long Time
High-Quality Bright LEDs
Versatile Charging Options via USB
This is a really well made lantern from UST. Boasting a lifetime LED bulb that will never burn out, a rugged housing, and almost unmatched durability, you can literally run this for 30 days straight on the low setting using only 3 “D” batteries.
The output mode also includes medium, high, and SOS (which can run for 15 days), the unit itself is splash-proof, and it emits around 700 lumens.
Available in various color options, the unit glows in the dark, has a removable globe if you quickly need a forward area light, and various practical hooks are also included on this 7” tall gem.
Key Features
Excellent Bang For Your Buck
Long-Lasting
Lifetime LED Bulb
With its retro aesthetics, this LED lantern from Coleman could easily be mistaken for their famous gas lantern at first glance.
Getting about 85 hours of high output usage and 300 hours of low output usage, you get very respectable runtimes out of the 8 “D” batteries it requires.
4 powerful LEDs brighten up the night at distances between 19 and 32 feet with up to 390 extra-bright lumens of blinding white light.
A rugged build gives it stability and durability, the dial on the front conveniently regulates your power output, and the lantern is also waterproof for any downpours you may encounter.
Key Features
Retro Look
Water-Resistant
Deceptively Bright LEDs
Standing 5 inches high, under 1 lb. in weight, and created with military-grade construction, Sinvitron’s LED camping lantern might look small but it packs a big punch.
One of the only lanterns on the market that include a display screen with a clock and power consumption-tracking capability, the LEDs are bright (but dimmable), and you can get over 500 hours of use in its low function mode.
The built-in SOS will keep you safe during emergencies, and the 15,000mAh battery doubles a power bank. For indoor or outdoor use, this versatile option can be hung with the provided carabiner, and will withstand below-freezing temperatures, as well as hotter environments.
Key Features
Powerful Battery Life
Robust Design
Lightweight Survival Lantern
The PackLite charging lantern is a really cool LED cube lantern that allows you to bring power and light to any situation that requires it.
Harnessing the sun as its fuel source, this battery-less, 6-inch solar-powered unit collapses flat to a single inch so you can pop it into your pocket or backpack and go.
Constructed with durable thermoplastic polyurethane and offering multiple brightness settings as well as an SOS function, this lantern is also waterproof and charges devices via USB.
An incredibly forward-thinking and technologically-advanced option which eliminates the need for lugging around batteries and bulky lanterns.
Key Features
Multi-Functional Survival Lantern
Extremely Compact and Lightweight
Provides Light and Power
This lantern gives you the hands-on experience that propane lantern enthusiasts enjoy at a price point that won’t break the bank.
With ultra-bright output at 1500 lumens, this lamp has an adjustable dial, and can be used in harsh conditions with the utmost confidence in its performance.
Built to withstand high temperatures, the globe has a metal guard to avoid breakage, and the feet stabilize it well. A bail handle is included for carrying or hanging, and you get anywhere from 4-9 hours of use out of a single propane cylinder.
Key Features
Ultra Bright Output
Consistent Performance
Durable For Years of Use
Free Carry Case
These are great collapsible lanterns from Vont that are roughly the size of a smartphone and contain 30 small LED lights for full 360-degree illumination in the darkest of conditions.
Boasting an indestructible and waterproof design with aircraft-grade materials, 3 “AAA” batteries ensure about 30 hours worth of use, making this one of the top choices when it comes to longevity.
Backed by a multi-year warranty, not only does it function well as a camping lantern, but it is also a serious option for any type of survival situation.
Key Features
Handheld Size
Ultra-Bright Light
10 Year Warranty
For the camper that has a tendency to overheat or spend their time in warm climates, this circular camping lantern is a hybrid light/fan that is about 6.4 inches in diameter.
Operating on 2 “D” batteries, the fan and light offer versatile options, working in unison or independently of each other in both high or low modes.
Depending on what functions you are using, you can get anywhere from 5-15 hours of fan usage coupled with 20 hours of light, and the entire unit can be hung or oriented in a variety of positions to maximize your comfort levels.
At an attractive price point, its a cool little gadget to add to your adventures.
Key Features
2 in 1 Fan + Light Combo
Low Power Consumption Provides Long Hours of Use
Can Be Positioned in a Variety of Configurations
How To Choose a Camping Lantern?
The top of the line camping lanterns come in a wide assortment of looks, sizes, and include a number of different features.
Here is everything you need to know when you are searching for an outdoor lantern.
Gas / Propane vs. Battery-Operated Electric Lanterns
Camping lanterns are available in two choices: gas/propane lanterns, or battery-operated LED lanterns.
While gas lanterns are still used, battery-operated lanterns are usually the preferred choice.
Battery-Operated:
uses LED lights
eliminates the need for fuel
endless use due to recharge-ability
power output is adjustable
minimal safety concerns
Gas / Propane:
uses gas and fire for the light source
need to carry fuel with you
can equal or beat battery-operated lanterns in brightness
old school appeal
potential safety issue/fire hazard
Light Output
Having an adjustable light level is important when you are using your lantern.
The electric lanterns make this feature extremely simple to use and can even include a strobe or SOS effect for those rare emergency situations you may find yourself in.
Gas lanterns require you to manually brighten/dim the lantern by regulating the amount of gas, and the only way to block light is by forging some sort of shield.
The limits of gas lanterns can be a bit cumbersome to deal with when you are scrambling around in the dark.
Flame vs. LED Lights
Aside from the obvious safety concerns that gas lanterns pose, you can get a bright light source from both options. However, LED lights offer a bit more flexibility for light levels, and in case of emergencies.
LED bulbs are also more compact, and power-efficient than some older technology models that use incandescent bulbs.
Lumens
Lumens are how a light source’s brightness is measured. If you have a big area to light up, you need a high lumens rating, whereas a small area requires fewer lumens.
Tents can get away with a few hundred lumens, but a full campsite needs something in the 700+ lumens range. In some cases, multiple lanterns maybe your best option to keep the area well-lit.
Size
Lantern size is to be taken into consideration as you will potentially be carrying it for long periods of time.
Obviously, the smaller the lantern, the less room it will take up in your backpack or car, the lighter it will be, and the happier you will be.
Longevity
The best lanterns will be well-built to give you years of use no matter what you may throw at it.
Tools get knocked around a lot when you are camping, so a rugged and durable lantern should be on the top of your shortlist.
Gas lanterns can be more delicate, so if you are not one who obsesses over the state of their tools, you might want to look at the LED options.
Additional Features
With dollar value in mind, manufacturers are always trying to find ways to include new features in their camping lanterns.
In addition to rechargeable battery lanterns, some have solar panel options, while waterproof lanterns are very popular for when you encounter rainy nights, and there are even ones that float in case you drop your lantern while out on the lake.
For the tech-savvy camper, there are lanterns with built-in GPS, and some lanterns can even re-charge via USB so you never have to stay disconnected.
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