© Suleyman Delil Karakurt / Shutterstock.com
With hundreds of solar lanterns in the market, finding the right lantern can be daunting. You have to compare models and sift through a ton of information. Remember, not every light works for every situation. The best solar lanterns provide the right lumens, longer battery life, and has supplementary features.
We’ve checked out a dozen lanterns on the market to bring you the top-of-the-line products.
Whether spending several nights in the forest or just an evening on your back porch, we’ve got a light for you. Here are the best solar lanterns you can buy in 2022.
- Best Overall: MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0
- Best for Performance: LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern
- Best for Budget:
- Best for Emergencies: AGPTEK Solar Lantern
- Best for Portability: Solight Design SolarPuff
Best Solar Lanterns: Side By Side Comparison
| MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 | LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern | D.Light S3 Portable Solar Lantern | AGPTEK Solar Lantern | Solight Design Solar Puff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 5 x 5 x 5in | 6 x 6 x 6in | 7 x 5.8 x 4in | 10.6 x 5.6 x 5.2in | 4.3 x 4.3 x 4.3in |
| Weight | 5.5oz | 12.5oz | 4.6oz | 25.8oz | 2.7oz |
| Lumens | 150 | 300 | 40 | 240 | 90 |
| Light color | Cool white | Cool white, red | Cool white | Cool white | Warm white, Cool white, Multicolor |
| Battery size | 2000mAh | 4000mAh | 400mAh | 2000mAh | 1000mAh |
| Run time (single charge) | Up to 50 hours | Up to 100 hours | Up to 12 hours | Up to 20 hours | Up to 8 hours |
| Charging options | Solar, USB | Solar, USB | Solar, USB | Solar, USB, Car charger, AAA batteries, Hand crank | Solar |
| Phone charger | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $44.95 | $74.99 | $14.99 | $29.99 | $30.00 |
Best Overall: MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0
- BUILT-IN RECHARGEABLE 2000 mAh LITHIUM-ION BATTERY. With 150 lumens, mobile charging, and lasting up to 50 hours on a single charge, Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 is a must-have solar lantern for any adventure
- BRIGHT AND LONG LASTING. Emitting 150 lumens of power via 10 cool white LEDs, and shining through a clear finish, this light provides up to 50 hours of light on a single charge, so you can keep your...
- POWER UP WITH PRO SERIES. With mobile charging capabilities, when you choose to go back “on-the-grid” you’ll always have juice to let people know you’re ok, answer some emails, or just make...
- COMPLETELY SOLAR & NEVER NEEDS BATTERIES. Luci's built-in high efficiency solar panel means that no batteries are needed - ever. Recharge fully via solar or quick charge via USB (14 hours/2-3 hours)....
- POWERFUL, PORTABLE, AND ADVENTURE READY. With its compact size, this little light can travel with you on any adventure. Plus, with an adjustable base strap and fixed top strap, it can be easily...
Whether you’re lighting up your next camping trip or looking to add ambiance to your backyard, the MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 is one of the best solar lanterns available.
This light comes with solid battery life for long trips, a slender compact design, and up to 150 lumens. It’s also incredibly durable, with the ability to withstand up to 150lbs of pressure and an IP67 waterproof rating.
The Lucie Pro also comes with unique features, including four lighting modes for the right amount of light and a flashing mode for emergency situations. And for extra safety (or simply to show your friends your awesome campsite), you can charge your phone using a USB cable. For all the benefits that come with this solar lantern, the MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 comes at an affordable price.
Check out the MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 on Amazon.
©CC7/Shutterstock.com
Best for Performance: LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern
- EXTRA BRIGHT SOLAR LANTERN - With 300 lumens of LED light and multiple brightness settings, including Red Light mode and Turbo mode, this is the perfect indoor or outdoor light solution. Great for...
- ULTRA-PORTABLE & COMPACT ALL-IN-ONE - This device is a solar powered phone charger, expandable camping lantern, and backup battery all in one. At just 12.5 oz, this must-have camping essential is...
- SOLAR OR USB RECHARGEABLE FOR CONTINUOUS LIGHTING - Titan's larger solar panel fully recharges in 16-20 hours of direct outdoor sunlight (approximately 2-3 days depending on location and time of year)...
- LONG BATTERY LIFE - Equipped with a 4000 mAh built-in battery to recharge most phones 2-3 times and provide approximately 100 hours of light on Low mode when fully charged. Perfect for repeated use...
- WATERPROOF, SHATTERPROOF & DURABLE - The smartly designed Titan allows you to effortlessly expand or collapse your lantern in one motion! Made from heavy duty, rugged TPU to endure tough environments,...
While the MPOWERD comes with many great benefits, the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern takes them even further with nearly twice the lighting capabilities and a massive battery.
LuminAID has one of the most powerful lanterns on the market. And its twist-to-inflate design makes it easy to set up and pack away. The Titan also outshines the Luci Pro in its features. This solar lantern comes with five brightness settings and a red-light feature for darkness. Additionally, its phone charger can fully charge up to three phones on a single battery. LuminAID isn’t the cheapest, but certainly worth the investment.
Check out the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern on Amazon.
Best for Budget:
The illuminates your space perfect for a fraction of the price of the LuminAID.
If you’re just looking for light in a pinch, you don’t need to break. This solar lantern provides up to 12 hours of light and its solar panels charge the battery in no time, making this simple device reliable when you need it.
The S3 is fully waterproof and durably built, but it doesn’t fold up as easily as some of our other choices. It also features two pieces, meaning it won’t function nearly as well if the metal stand is lost. Still, for just under $15 this is an easy purchase for a solar light option.
Check out the on Amazon.
Best for Emergencies: AGPTEK Solar Lantern
Ideal for an emergency situation, the AGPTEK Solar Lantern features one of the highest lumens on our list and a 2000mAh battery.
What makes this model stand out from the others are the multiple charging methods. In addition to its solar panels, this lantern can power its light using USB, batteries, and even a hand crank. It even includes a small phone charging port in case of emergencies. However, its design makes it the largest and least portable model.
Check out the AGPTEK Solar Lantern on Amazon.
Best for Portability: Solight Design SolarPuff
- PATENTED EASY PULL-OPEN & CLOSE: Our flat-packable collapsible solar camping lantern, never requires a mouth nozzle to inflate or deflate. Material memory retains shapes open or closed and keeps shape...
- COMPACT PORTABILITY: Folds flat to less then .25“ and weighs less than 2.65oz making it the perfect backpacking lantern.
- LONG BATTERY LIFE: Up to 12 hours of warm light with only 8 hours of solar charging in sunlight. Velcro handle makes this rechargeable led camping lantern easy to hang on a backpack or tent to charge.
- BRIGHT LIGHT: LED solar lantern outputs 60 lumens on Low, 90 lumens on High and features a blinking mode. This lantern also features a light sensor to enable dusk to dawn mode.
- BRIGHT LIGHT: LED solar lantern outputs 60 lumens on Low, 90 lumens on High and features a blinking mode. This lantern also features a light sensor to enable dusk to dawn mode.
When portability is one of your priorities, the Solight Design SolarPuff is your best bet. This solar lantern offers plenty of light while folding down to the smallest and lightest model on our list. When fully collapsed, the SolarPuff measures less than half an inch tall while weighing less than three ounces.
The Solight Design solar light is made of recyclable sailcloth using eco-friendly manufacturing processes. The SolarPuff comes in both warm and cool white as well as multiple colors, making it one of the more fun and versatile models on our list.
Check out the Solight Design SolarPuff on Amazon
How to Pick the Best Solar Lantern: Step by Step
When choosing the right USB-C charger for your Apple MacBook, there are four main considerations.
- Brightness
- Battery life
- Features
- Price
Let’s review each one in more detail.
Brightness
How bright do you want your solar lantern to be? Brightness is typically measured in lumens. Think about how you plan on using your light. You might not need as many lumens for singular activities. However, if you need to light an entire camp or a backyard, a low-lumen lantern might not work.
Battery Life
Next, you’ll want to think about how often you’ll use your solar lantern. In areas with long periods of darkness, such as Alaska or Norway, you might want a light with a larger battery. Brighter lights use more power, so you’ll also want to know if the solar lantern has different levels of light to save your battery.
Features
Some solar lanterns come with a variety of additional features for convenience and safety. Others come with universal USB ports to charge phones. And some have a variety of light modes, including flashing and red lights. Get an idea of how you’d like to use your solar lantern and how it can enhance your camping experience.
Price
Fortunately, solar lanterns don’t have extreme swings in price. Even for a quality product, you can expect to spend about $30. However, there is a fine line between well-built lanterns and ones that will fall apart. If you’re searching for affordability first, take extra time to research your options.
What to Know Before Buying a Solar Lantern
When searching for the best solar lanterns, it’s easy to assume that they will reliably charge through their panels. Keep in mind that to charge your lantern, you’ll have to completely expose the panels to the sun. Any shade will cut the efficiency considerably, including cloud coverage.
For the best results, keep an eye out for multiple charging methods. Most solar lanterns come with a USB charging port, but some come with more. You can change the light to full capacity for your camping trip and use the solar panels to keep it topped off.
Using a Solar Lantern: What It’s Like
When testing the best solar lanterns for camping, users tested each device for light quality first. Most models produce an appropriate amount of light to illuminate an entire campsite, while the S3 is ideal for reading or moving around inside a tent.
The LuminAID got the brightest, sometimes providing more light than needed. However, the solar lantern also has a red-light option, allowing users to appreciate the darkness without blinding peers.
Users also tested for battery performance. While some models have higher capacity, their higher luminosity drains power faster. The MPOWERD Luci Pro can run through its battery while on high power for about 5 hours. This makes a case for the SolarPuff, can last 8 hours on high.
Three of the models feature phone-charging capabilities, so users tested that as well. While the MPOWERD and LuminAID charged mobile devices at an acceptable rate, the AGPTEK charged considerably slower. Fortunately for the model, it is easy enough to keep it charged with its hand crank.
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Last update on 2023-05-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
