Best 10 Camping Lanterns Of 2024

Being able to cook at night or see the foods that you are cooking is very important if you are camping in the outdoors. There are a lot of ways to illuminate a campsite but the best one is to get a very good lantern. Camping lanterns can be placed on a table and they will be able to illuminate the area and allow people to eat or cook foods easily. These lanterns below are some of the best that I am aware of that can illuminate a wide area while in the outdoors. Lots of people love these items which is why I know that they are very good. Several of the reasons why I like to recommend these items are that they work pretty well plus they are very affordable. You will like the features of the products I am about to list and that’s why I believe that you will be happy with your purchase.

 

Best Camping Lanterns – Quick Chart

 

 

How To Choose A Camping Lantern

Types Of Lanterns

Battery Powered Table Lanterns

This is the most common and most popular type of lantern. There are many different designs and many different companies creating a battery powered table lantern. This lantern will often use LED bulbs and will have other features and options like music player, power bank and more.

Hanging Lanterns

One Bulb – generally used to illuminate the insides of a tent. This can be used on top of a table to illuminate the foods, cookware, and other items.

String – used to illuminate the inside of the tent as well and often used on top of a table too. This provides more light to the surrounding area and looks beautiful. Great for picture taking or photography.

Gas Powered Lanterns

Lanterns that uses gas instead of batteries. Great if you really need battery power and do not want to waste it on lighting up the place. The cheap ones are very loud. The high quality ones have very little noise.

 

Main Features Of A Lantern To Look For

Lumens

I like my lanterns to have lots of lumens. The higher the lumens the brighter the lantern is going to be. If you are car camping then having a very powerful lantern is very good. You can brighten your whole camp ground with one lantern. You can cook foods and prepare foods rather easily. There are many benefits to have a bright lantern.

Waterproof

A waterproof lantern is a must for car camping and other outdoor activities. The weather can be unpredictable at times. It can be very sunny then after one hour, the weather may change to rain. Lanterns that are waterproof or water resistant will last longer. These lanterns can provide light even when it is raining.

Battery Life

The battery run time is very important. Since you may have a camping trip that may last for a week or more, it is important to know how long the lantern will last. May be you will only have a weekend camping trip, it is still important to know how long the battery will last. This way you can prepare and have spare batteries or go to the store to buy more.

USB Rechargeable

It is nice to have lanterns that can be recharged using the USB. Lots of cars, power banks, and generators can charge devices by using the USB. You can recharge the lantern while in a car camping trip if it can be recharged through the USB.

Options

Make sure that you check out the options that lantern provides. Some lanterns allow you to hand crank it to power it up. Some can be powered using the sun. There are lots of ways to power up the lantern. There are many designs with many options also. Some can be used as a music player as well. Some have different brightness settings. So make sure that the options that you want are included in the lantern.

Price

A lot of good lanterns are very expensive. However, you do not need to buy the latest model or the most brand new model. Usually, the model before that is 40 to 50 percent cheaper. You can just get the previous model and it will usually be just as good. You may not go camping all the time. You may be too busy next year so something affordable may be a wiser decision for you.

 

Important Lantern Features To Consider

Durable / Shock Resistant

Slips and falls can happen while in camping trip. The outdoors is not very friendly. It is important that the lantern can withstand shocks and force. You should make sure that the lantern that you are getting is durable. My lantern fell off the camping table so many times and it is still working. Accidents can happen a lot when you are camping so make sure that your gear are very durable. You can save a lot of money and free yourself off frustration if your gear are very durable.

Solar Powered Lanterns

Being able to charge the lantern with the power of the sun means that you can reuse the lantern over and over. You can recharge the lantern by day and use it at night. The drawback of this is that it takes time to charge a lantern by using just the sunlight.

Detachable Lanterns

There are car camping lanterns that can be detached. What I mean is that one lantern can turn into 4 or more lanterns. The lights can detach themselves. This is a great way to give people light without taking away the lantern from the table. People can detach a lantern if they are going to the bathroom then put it back again.

Power Banks

People cannot live without their phones. They need to be able to check their Instagram, facebook and other social media accounts. They need to be able to charge their phones using a power bank. Lanterns with a power bank are often useful for this especially if you are not going to use all of the batteries that your lantern has.

 

General Thoughts And Things To Consider

Head Lamp Or Camping Lantern

Most of the time, you will wonder whether you would like to buy a head lamp or a camping lantern. Both have their uses, weaknesses and strengths. A camping head light is very versatile in terms that it is always with you. You do not have to think about carrying it or misplacing it in any place. The light is often strong and powerful. The light is often a straight beam illuminating all the things in front of you. A camping lantern would illuminate all the things around it. It is meant to be standing on one spot and it will illuminate all things near it. The light is often easy on the eyes and not very strong. It is ideal for cooking, preparing food, and finding your way around the tent.

Lumens And Brightness

I like my lanterns to have lots of lumens. The higher the lumens the brighter the lantern is going to be. If you are car camping then having a very powerful lantern is very good. You can brighten your whole camp ground with one lantern. You can cook foods and prepare foods rather easily. There are many benefits to have a bright lantern.

Brightness is a big factor in picking the best camping light for your needs. You do not want a very bright lantern if your purpose is just to illuminate a certain area all the time. A very bright one can blind people for a few seconds. It can also attract animals if you are camping in the woods. A very bright lantern can also annoy other campers if you are camping in a park. One complaint from your camping neighbors can definitely ruin your camping day. At the same time, you do not want a camping light that does not illuminate properly. You do not want to have lanterns that also have terrible brightness. You will still be in the dark and searching for things if you have a camping light that is very weak. A weak camping light is practically useless. Something in the middle that can illuminate a wide area and not hurt or impair people’s visions would be ideal.

Durable

You should make sure that the lantern that you are getting is durable. One of the most important factors that we need to consider when looking for a camping lantern is its durability. My lantern fell off the camping table so many times and it is still working. Accidents can happen a lot when you are camping so make sure that your gear are very durable. You can save a lot of money and free yourself off frustration if your gear are very durable. The sturdier the object, the better. It should come to no surprise that a lot of camping lights are not very sturdy and some are. The durability of a camping light varies. Some last for 1 week and easily destroyed while others offer years of services. It is very hard to find out which one is good or durable. You maybe paying for a lot of features on an item but at the same time, that particular item may not have any worth while durability. It is important to know which items will last for years and which ones will not.

Price

A lot of good lanterns are very expensive. However, you do not need to buy the latest model or the most brand new model. Usually, the model before that is 40 to 50 percent cheaper. You can just get the previous model and it will usually be just as good. You may not go camping all the time. You may be too busy next year so something affordable may be a wiser decision for you. The price is a significant factor when choosing a camping lantern. We often look at the price first before looking at the features or anything else. The camping light must be affordable while being able to perform its duties. Most people will only use their camping light a couple of times during the summer. It is not wise to spend a lot of money on items that we do not need to use all the time. We have better use of our money. A camping light is no exception. We are in luck though since due to competition and online stores, camping lights are now cheaper than ever while providing even more features than before.

Features And Functionality

There are many different types of camping lights and each one offer different features. There are lights that are bright, portable, rechargeable, can be split into different parts, waterproof, and etc. Camping lights also come in different shapes and sizes. It is important to know what type of item you want and how it will work for your particular needs. You will have to ask if the extra features or built in features are worth the time and money. If they are going to work for your type of camping. We have to consider the shape and size also. Some items are pretty good to be sitting in a table while others are pretty good when they are hanging from a rope. Make sure that you check out the options that lantern provides. Some lanterns allow you to hand crank it to power it up. Some can be powered using the sun. There are lots of ways to power up the lantern. There are many designs with many options also. Some can be used as a music player as well. Some have different brightness settings. So make sure that the options that you want are included in the lantern.

Battery Run Time

The battery run time is very important. Since you may have a camping trip that may last for a week or more, it is important to know how long the lantern will last. May be you will only have a weekend camping trip, it is still important to know how long the battery will last. This way you can prepare and have spare batteries or go to the store to buy more.

Easy To Use

We all want to have easy to use items. As much as possible, we just want to click on the power button and the light will turn on. We do not want to be hassled with a difficult to use items. It is already hard enough to plan a camping trip. Having items that are hard to use will make the camping even harder and not fun. The items that I will recommend are very easy to use. They will provide usefulness without any difficulties or stress. Well at least when I used them, they performed flawlessly. They should be good enough for your camping needs and easy enough to use. It is just very annoying to work with a very difficult camping light.

 

 

 

Best Camping Lanterns

All product links are affiliate links.

1. LE LED Camping Lantern Rechargeable

Short Review: This is one of the best camping lanterns. I love this item a lot, it is one of the very best that I have ever purchased. This features 600 lumen with 360 degree beam angle, providing you sufficient brightness. This amazing lantern is constructed out of IPX4 water resistant camping light, protect from splash water. This has an amazing design with a camping lantern on 2 sides and 2 detachable flashlights on other 2 sides. A very versatile item that gives lots of usefulness while camping and this is very high quality as well. The weight is very light which makes this outdoor friendly as well.

 

2. Fenix CL30R LED Camping Lantern 650 Lumen

Short Review: If you obtain this lantern, you will end up amazed at how outstanding this is. This has a maximum of 650 lumen light, use 3 rechargeable batteries. This amazing lantern allows for recharging via a micro-USB port, but also has a standard USB port which allows you to charge other electronic devices. This illuminates an area of 115 feet in diameter and this lantern can be powered with 1-3 18650 rechargeable batteries. his is an amazing item, very good and better than lots of similar items. I like that this is pretty resilient and works well for outdoor adventures.

 

3. UST 30-DAY Duro LED Lantern

Short Review: I am confident that this is an amazing rechargeable lantern that you’ll ever find. This features 1000 lumens of bright, clean light with high, medium, low, amber candle flicker and SOS flashing modes. This comes with a recessed hook on the lantern base for downright hanging and a removable globe for use as an area light. This is constructed out of rubberized housing enhances impact-resistance and water-resistant IPX4 for protection against splashing water from all directions. This item has a great deal of positive customer feedback. This is an amazing item with an even better price plus it has lots of features. I know that you will love this item.

 

4. HISVISION Solar Powered LED Camping Lantern

Short Review: One of the things I love regarding this rechargeable lantern is that it is very wonderful. This lantern can be charged by solar power or a USB plug and the charging indicator will tell you when it is fully charged. This features 4 lighting modes: High, Low, SOS and Flashlight modes, which meets different lighting requirements. This is constructed out of high quality plastic. The silicone lampshade of the lantern is waterproof so the lantern can resist water much better. I really like that this is pretty sturdy. The high quality materials should allow this item to last for quite a while.

 

5. LED Camping Lantern Flashlights Camping Equipment

Short Review: One of the best things that you can get is this camping lantern. This features 360 degree light with 146 lumens. This camping lantern use the best in portable brightness technology with zero compromise. This is very portable since this can be as small as your smartphone when not in use, perfect for any backpack, survival kit or to keep in a vehicle. If you would like a really affordable selling price and you do not want to sacrifice any features, you should check this out. I love that most of us can get this item at a really low price. A very versatile lantern that can be used in outdoor adventures or emergency situations.

 

 

Check Out My Other Reviews – camping coffee pot – small charcoal grill – collapsible cooler – camping stoves – camping cups and mugs

 

6. Supernova 300 Lumens Ultra Bright LED Camping and Emergency Lantern

Short Review: I can easily state that this is quite excellent camping lantern. This is constructed with highly efficient LED light generates little heat and can be used continuously for 3 to 6 days. The LED lights are guaranteed for up to 100,000 hours of use before they become unusable. This features a slow-pulse LED indicator light ensures that the lantern can be found during an emergency. I highly recommend this simply because of its sturdiness. Items like this one make camping a lot more fun and a lot easier. This is pretty sturdy and does not crack very easily like several items that I have tried.

 

7. Goal Zero Lighthouse 400 Lantern and USB Power Hub

Short Review: This is among the best camping lanterns that I know of. This is designed with directional and adjustable LED light, up to 400 lumens. The lantern can recharge the internal battery from any USB port. Comes with unique reflection design allows for the optimal amount of quality, usable light. Can run from 2.5 to 40 hours depending on the type of light you are using. You can definitely check out consumer feedback so you can notice that a considerable amount of men and women love this also. This is incredibly budget friendly and also extremely effective. This is because the design is wonderful. This item is extremely high quality and I can tell that this will last which makes the purchase price worth the investment.

 

8. Princeton Tec Helix Lantern

Short Review: This outdoor lantern is extremely budget friendly and it has a lot of pleased buyers. This is an amazing camping lantern that is designed for area illumination, and disperses light in a 360 degree pattern to light up a campsite or other area. This is constructed from IPX6 which have a high level of water resistance. This can take quick dive under water, some precipitation and even a strong spray of water. I am shocked that this is very affordable. This item is excellent simply because of the people that designed it are imaginative. I recommend this item to lots of people. Multi-purpose item that makes camping a lot easier and this is very good as well.

 

9. Tough Light LED Rechargeable Lantern

Short Review: I have been testing plenty of camping lanterns, and this is exceptional. This is constructed from military-grade rubber and plastic molds with built in rubber O-rings, provides IPX-6 water resistance to handle wet conditions. Amazing design that makes this very durable and can handle a drop from 6.5 feet with no damage. This includes a Built-In Hanging Hook for easy of ease and hands free lighting in high places. I see this a lot with people who love to go camping because this makes camping a lot more fun. . I like that this is easy to use mainly because the items that are exceptionally easy to use are often fun to use as well.

 

10. Etekcity 2 Pack Portable LED Camping Lantern Flashlights with 6 AA Batteries

Short Review: This lantern is astonishing that I am loving using it. This is equipped with 30 LED bulbs, the collapsible lantern can get as bright as 140 lumens with a 360° lighting effect that makes it perfect for car camping purposes. The collapsible design makes the lantern very portable like a smartphone and it’s lightweight. This is constructed with military-grade ABS material, this lantern is FCC certified and RoHS compliant. This item is very user friendly that anyone can use it. I often really like items that are pretty effective but I like items that are resilient also such as this one. I find this as one of the most fulfilling that I have ever tried and it comes with a lot of positive customer feedback.

 

Check Out My Other Reviews – camping folding tables – camping canopies – backpacking tarps – small backpacks – compact umbrella