Best Solar Camping Lanterns 2020 – Reviews & Ratings

If you are planning to go on a hiking trip, along with your traveling gear; the essential thing that you need is a solar lantern. A solar lamp is not only beneficial for hiking trips, but it can also be used in rural situations.

What is a Solar Lantern?

A solar lantern, also known as the solar lamp is a lightening system that is made up of lamps. Solar panels, batteries, charge controller and in some cases an inverter. In simpler terms a solar lantern operated on electricity produced by batteries, these batteries charge themselves through the solar photovoltaic panel. A solar lantern is a great form of renewable energy; it doesn’t produce any kind of pollution. Solar lights are a great addition to a campsite; it will provide you with good light and allow you to carry your chores during the night. The light is long-lasting, so you don’t have to worry.

• Best Solar Power Banks
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Solar lights can be classified on the basis of various factors:

• Few of the solar lights are structured as the original lantern; their design is fixed so you have to carry them everywhere like that. The design doesn’t compress, they work accurately, and their performance is perfect. The only low point is that the portability is tough.
• Now there are new types of solar lights that are collapsible, and you can carry them everywhere without any hassle. Their performance is accurate, and they can be stored anywhere. Most of these solar lights come with a hook or metal handles so you can clip them to your backpack or hand them to your tent.
• Lastly, they can also be categorized on the basis of their charging modes. Some of the solar lights come with a USB port, and some are single charging solar lights, they charge batteries through solar energy.

Factors to Choose the Best Solar Camping Lights:

But the most important thing is that you should buy a solar lantern which compatible with your needs. If you are going to a permanent camping spot, then you can go with a classic lantern, but if you are backpacking, then you should go with a collapsible one since they are easier to carry. Then comes the backup power options the design and the brightness. Once you filter out all this, then you can go on and proceed to buy the lantern of your choice.

Luminosity

Regular camping lights are not going to lit the entire area properly, and this is the same case when it comes to solar lights. The reason behind this is that solar lights aren’t able to consume too much energy and the purpose of a solar lantern is not the same as of a flashlight. A solar lantern will cover a wide area and emit broader light which will not be too bright.

Look for solar lights that are going to cover a 360-degree angle, this way you will be able to give light to the whole camp area.

Area of Use

Before you go and buy a solar lantern, you should consider how you are going to use it, where you are going to use it. As the environment and the area changes your requirements and needs will also change. The placement of the lantern is also very important. If you want a camping light that will light up the whole area, then look for the ones that shine brightly. If you are looking for solar lights that are going to lit the hiking trail, then look for solar lights that will emit a good amount of brightness. In order to get all this in one lantern look for a lantern that offers multiple levels of illumination. A lantern that has a low and high mode will be helpful, and you can use it everywhere.

Charging Time

One of the biggest fear that we face while buying a Solar lantern is “how long will the battery last?” let’s be very honest solar powered solar lights need a lot of time to get charged, and if the weather is gloomy then the charging gets even slower. And a few factors determine the charging.

If you are on a backpacking trip, the solar lantern will hang with your bag and charge itself by catching the sun rays. So the longer you walk, the lantern will charge. Always carry a backup option because you will never know the amount of charging has been received. So, always carry a camping light that can be plugged and used with the help of batteries, or carry a hand crank. Most of the solar lights with a full charge will last at least 10 hours, but still, it is important to make sure that you don’t run out of the charging.

The solar lamp should be Weatherproof

Weather is one of the most unpredictable things, and once you are camping outdoors, you need to make sure that your lantern doesn’t spoil in the rain or suddenly stops working because of heavy winds. Make sure that the lantern is water-resistant and is sturdy so that it can withstand the weather. There are a lot of weatherproof solar lights available on the market, and these solar lights will make sure that you don’t run out of light, and these will withstand extreme climatic conditions. Make sure that you are buying a quality product and do complete and thorough research.

How is the solar light constructed?

The overall make of the lantern is very important. Make sure that you buy a solar light that is constructed of sturdy materials. Buy a lantern which is of the highest quality and is suitable for all kind of uses. Your solar lamp is going to stay outdoors for a longer period of time and will be fighting strong weather conditions. Your solar lamp should be made of strong ad durable products, and this point should especially be important if you are planning to backpack. If you are just planning to camp, then look for normal solar powered solar lights and if you are planning to backpack then look for solar lights that are foldable.

Power Sources

Your lantern is going to be powered through solar lights; this will only work if the sun is out and the rays are beating down on the lantern. But you should also look for a lantern that gets charged through USB points. This will work as a great backup option because then you can charge the lantern when you are close to a power source, and your lantern will charge quickly and restore its battery.

Along with USB look for a light that has DC power cable or gets charged in your vehicle or a lamp that has batteries in it.

The size of the lamp should be Compact

Before you buy a solar lamp consider its size, the smaller the size, the easier it is to carry. Look for a lantern that they can collapse easily and fit in your backpack. Solar lights for camping and backpacking are different so keep that in mind. If you are planning to go on backpacking, then look for solar lights that are collapsible and can fit in your backpack easily.

Then comes the solar lights which are bulkier in size and don’t fit in your backpack; they are bulky and easy to use and can hang anywhere in the camp. They aren’t ideal for backpacking but make your camping experience a lot better.

The durability of the solar lamps

The durability of the product should be your top priority. Your lantern will face a lot of climatic conditions and will stay in different environments from time to time. So make sure that the lantern is well built and is capable of withstanding harsh seasons. Read a lot about the product check reviews compare the products and then make a decision. One more hack is that if a company is offering a very strong warranty, then the product is very useful.

Design of the solar lights

Lastly, the design of solar light should meet your requirements. First decide how you are going to use the light, where you are going to use it. Whether the light should have a solar panel on top or is it collapsible, does it have a USB charging point. Can the solar panel be collapsed if it is not in use? If the device is cleverly designed, then it means it can be ported easily and can work throughout the night. To protect the LED lights, the solar lights will have a stainless steel guard around it

Best Solar Camping Lanterns:

1. SUAOKI Solar Camping Lantern

Uniquely shaped Suaoki solar camp lantern is one of the most innovative products and a perfect gift for the people who love to venture out in the sun.

Key Features

• It has a lithium battery of 800mAh,
• The Solar Charge has Input Voltage of  (750W/㎡) ≥5.5V
• The Input Voltage of Power Adapter is  0±0.2V
• Max Current produced by the Input Charging ≥180mA
• The Max produced Luminous Flux of High-brightness ≥65 lm
• The Max. produced Luminous Flux of low-brightness ≥25 lm
• The High-brightness Lighting Time after 1 Hour Solar Charging is about (500W/ M2 ) ≥15 min
• The Low-brightness Lighting Time after 1 Hour Solar Charging is about (500W/ M2 ) ≥30 min
• The Flashing Lighting Time after 1 Hour Solar Charging is (500W/ M2 ) ≥35 min
• The Running Time after the Fully Charged battery is (high-brightness) ≥5 Hour
• Its Running Time after the Fully Charged battery is (low-brightness) ≥10 Hr
• The Running Time after Fully Charged (Flashing) ≥6 Hr
• The Fully Charged Time by External Power Adapter is around 4 Hr
• The Output Voltage is (Resistance 500Ω) ≥5.0V
• The Output Current is (Resistance 500Ω) ≥10mA
• The Dimension: 98 x 96 x 55 mm
• The Weight: 5.6 oz

Product Review and Description

It is a collapsible lantern and has two main charging options that are solar and USB. Since the lantern is collapsible, you can carry it anywhere in your backpack. This collapsible lantern has two main charging options: solar power and USB port charging. It is easy to carry and transport, thanks to the plastic handle that is integrated into the lantern’s design.

The product has three lightning modes one is high (above 65 lumens) SOS flashing (basically for emergencies) and low (above 25 lumens to 65 lumens). The lantern has a micro USB input and a USB output, and the micro USB is suitable for charging mobile phones. And lastly, the light comes with a LED indicator and a charge indicator once the solar energy is used for charging the LED it lights up.

If you are not a heavy backpacker and want a lantern, that can charge your phones on the go.

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2. AGPTEK Solar Camping Lantern

The AGPTEK solar camping light is a great option. It has a versatile charging option that is why it is a very unique product.

Key Features

• It has multiple charging methods
• This light is made up of Polycrystalline solar panels
• It has a Hand crank dynamo included
• The Dimensions are L x W x H 5.5 x 4.9 x 10.5 inches
• The Weight is 1.8 pounds
• The solar camping light consumes LOW ENERGY because of the Built-in the Polysilicon solar panels, it is brighter than the other camping light and has a lower energy consumption
• It has 2 BRIGHTNESS MODES: one is Bright mode [adequate for reading and most normal activity], and the other is Super bright mode [extended vision or to share

 Product Review and Description

This lamp is a five-mode camping lantern, it has about 36 LED lights, and it has five charging methods. The LEDs are placed inside in a curved shape manner. This feature will ensure that the lantern never runs out of charging. The first charging option is solar energy; the lantern has a solar panel on its top. The second is the USB charging; the third option is the adapter on the car. You can also use a hand crank for charging the lights, and lastly batteries the charger requires a set 0f 3 AAA batteries.

The reason why the LEDs are designed in this way is that the energy consumption is low and you can maximize the available power. The light comes with two brightness modes one is a simple bright mode, and the other is super bright mode. The body cap and the handles of the lamp are made of plastic.

If you are okay with carrying a bulkier lantern and the shadows, don’t bother you then opt for this lantern.

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3. SUAOKI Collapsible Solar Camping Lantern

The SUAOKI collapsible solar camping light is absolutely perfect for your exploration. The reason why this is popular is that it has a turbo charge mode.

Key Features

• It has a Built-in battery of 680mAh/3.7V Lithium battery.
• The LED specifications are 18 Leds 3528 white light 6000-6500K.
• The Solar charge input voltage is (750W/M2): 5.5V.
• The High-level lighting time after fully charged is 2 hours.
• The Low-level lighting time after fully charged is 4 hours.
• The Flash level lighting time after fully charged is 4 hours.
• The High-brightness lighting time after 1-hour charging under sunlight (500W/ M2) is  15 minutes.
• The Low-brightness lighting time after 1-hour charging under sunlight (500W/ M2) is 30 minutes.
• The External diameter is (Close): 62.7*149.8 mm (2.47*5.9 inches).
• The External diameter is (Open): 291*27.1mm (11.47*1.067 inches).
• The Weight: 168g (0.37 pounds).

Product Review and Description

This brand is very famous for making solar products. And the product comes with a turbocharge mode when it is being charged through the USB port. The lamp has a built-in 680mAh lithium battery and can get charged within 3.5 hours with the help of turbocharging. The design of the lantern is beautiful and aesthetic, and you can collapse the LED into a smaller size and carry it in your backpack while you are backpacking. The LED is light in weight so you can hang it on your backpack. It has a three-leaf structure, and the LEDs are embedded in the leaves. This lamp can also be used as an emergency light. You can also use this lamp for fishing and hiking.

This is one of the best lamps available in the market you can buy this one without thinking twice.

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4. D Light S30

The D Light S30 is one of the best lanterns which can be used inside and outside, resembling a cute water bottle.

Key Features

• It has a Smart LED indicator for solar charge intensity
• This light gives a 360-degree lighting
• It provides light for 12 hours
• This has 0.45Ah LiFEPO4 battery
• It has 0.3W integrated PV panel
• The light comes with Dual charging solar & AC (through Nokia standard charger)
• It has Multiple-setting handle allows flexible usage
• This has two brightness settings (Standard and High)
• It has a High-efficiency integrated solar panel
• This solar camping light has a Glow-in-the-dark button
• It is Weather resistant for sun and rain
• The life of the LED is 60,000-hour
• The Lifetime of the lamp is well over five years (inclusive of battery)
• It is Maintenance-free

Product Review and Description

The best feature of this lamp is it is designed as bottled water; the solar light comes with two brightness setting and has a lightening exposition of 360 degrees. The solar light comes with a LED indicator that turns on when the lamp is getting charged through the LED. It also has an AC charging point, so you can charge it with a plug point when you are at home.  It comes with a glow in the dark button. The multiple setting handle will allow the person to use the lamp flexibly.

If you are looking for a compact solar panel that can fir in your bottle pocket then go for this one.

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5. Lumin AID Lantern

The Lumin AID Lantern is one of the best solar lights available in the market. It has about 5 lighting mode options.

Key Features

• It is Floatable and waterproof
• This solar camping light has five lighting modes
• It has USB and solar charging mode available
• The Turbo mode light: 75 lumens.
• It has a 1,000mAh battery capacity.
•  It Weights around: 5 oz.
• It has four bright white lights

 Product Review and Description

The light is designed with a white color structure, and it has five lightening modes low, high, one-second flashing, white & red S.O.S., steady red. The light will allow you to use turbo settings the turbo provides you with 75 lumens of light for up to 3 to 5 hours, and it can illuminate the area up to 125 sq meters. If you are someone who wants a less intensive light then you can use three lighting modes which are: high (50 lumens, 6-8 hours), medium (25 lumens, 12-14 hours), and low (12 lumens, 18-24 hours).

If you want to use it for intermittent lightning, then you will be able to use the lamp for about 48 hours. The lamp comes with a 1,000 mAh battery, and it can be charged via a USB port or solar energy. The lamp is 100% waterproof, so you can use it if you are planning to go on fishing and other water activities.

If you want a lamp which is suitable for water sports, then get this one. It is inflatable, waterproof, and it is reasonably compact. It casts a good lightening if you hang it. The reason why it stands out is because of the USB port, which is available.

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6. Kizen LED Lantern

The Kizen LED lantern is a fantastic rechargeable product that comes with a lifetime warranty and has a smart circuitry.

Key Features

• It has a Collapsible design
• This solar light is Waterproof
• It has three lighting modes: high low and SOS
• It weighs around 8.8 ounces
• Has a space-saving design
• You can charge it anywhere
• It comes with a lifetime warranty.

 Product Review and Description

It is an amazing LED camping lantern; this can charge with solar energy or can be used as an LED source of light with the help of batteries. It is versatile in nature, making it be one of the best solar panels. The LED panel has three lightning modes the high, the low and the SOS. You can also use it as an emergency light in case you have a power outage. You can use it as a powerful portable power bank, so if you ever run out of charging you can charge your mobile through it; it is waterproof so you can use it for sailing and fishing activities.

If you want a waterproof solar light that can be used as a power bank too then go for this one.

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 7. MPOWERD Luci EMRG

The MPOWERD Luci EMRG offers a small and robust package that can be used as an emergency light too.

Key Features

• The charging can last up to 7 to 8 hours
• It comes with a battery level indicator
• Has five charging modes low, high, one-second flashing, white & red SOS, steady red
• It weighs around 2.5 0z/ 72 gms
• It is durable waterproof and inflatable

Product Review and Description

The lamp uses PV cells which are located on the bottom of the lamp. You will have to keep the lamp upside down so that it can charge itself through the sun rays. The solar-powered LED’s generate around 25 lumens of cool white light via its three bright LED bulbs. The red-coloured LED light has multiple lightning modes, low, medium, high, 1-second flashing, SOS, and it has a steady red functionality as well, which can work in emergency situations. The charging times of this solar light is about eight daylight hours and once fully charge, and it can provide light for 7 hours straight.

It comes with a battery level indicator that is located close to the PV, which lets you know about the level of charging available. It is lightweight and waterproof so you can take it for water sports as well as hiking.

If you are looking for a smaller compatible and a waterproof solar light, then go for this one.

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8. Longans Portable Led Emergency Light

The Longans Portable LED emergency light is a great choice for campers. Made up of rubber material this is one of the best anti-corrosive and anti-ageing solar panels.

Key Features

• It is made up of ABS/composite rubber
• The LED is of 12 watts
• It is waterproof IP68; basically, it can be used in rains and can get soaked
• If you are charging it through a USB port then 1 hour and if it is kept in the sun then 10 hours
• size:5.51*4.92*3.93 in
•   It weighs around 0.21 LB
• It has three modes one which provides 1.2W LED lighting 2.5 hours, second which provides 0.6W LED lighting for 4 hours and third which provides 0.12W lighting for 20 hours

Product Review and Description

This solar panel is made up of composite rubber material which is excellent and innovative. The solar panel is anti-corrosive and has an anti-ageing performance. It generated power even in the freezing weather of -40°C. It has a suction pump on its top so you can attach it to any window or a door. The suction also helps in adjusting the lightening angle and helps in providing a good direct source of life. It has a lithium-ion polymer battery and can charge with the help

The Longans lantern lights integrate a lithium-ion polymer battery that can be charged using the renewable energy generated by the solar panels located on top of the product. Using the same solar power generated, you can charge small electronics like a smartphone through a micro USB port that is available in the product. The solar light comes with three brightness levels (high, medium, low). It is water-resistant; it can withstand water and dust. So you can use it for fishing and other water sports.

This is one of the best solar panels available in the markets. If it fits in your budget, then go for it.

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9. Odoland USB Rechargeable Light

One of the most aesthetically pleasing solar powered lamps is the Odoland USB Rechargeable light. It has valuable features.

Key Features

• This is a Collapsible Solar Lantern.
• It has a Foldable silicone lampshade.
• This solar camping light is a Durable silicone luminous lampshade.
• It has three light modes: cold white, high warm white, low warm white.
• This light has Built-in solar panels in case emergency.
• It is Solar Powered & USB rechargeable.
• This solar camping light has a Charging indicator.
• It has a Foldable carabineer at the top of the lantern for hanging.
• This solar light is great for camping, hiking, backpacking, adventure, travel, picnic, backyard & emergency.
• It is made up of ABS & silicone.
• It can be charged through Solar powered & battery powered.
• This can be charged through a USB port.
• The dimensions of the products are Diameter: 87mm/3.4inch Height: 57mm/2.2inch Extended height: 108mm/4.6inch.

Product Review and Description

One of the most aesthetically pleasing with valuable designs this lamp is a favorite of many people. It has two charging points, and you can charge the lamp either with sun rays or a USB port. The light comes with multiple brightness modes. If you want high lumens output then choose the cool LED white lantern this will give around 150 lumens, and you can use the lamp for like 5 hours. If you want high warm white light that has a 90 lumens output, then the light will last for 7 hours, and if you are planning to use low and warm white, then it will give 20 lumens of light and will last for around 20 hours. It comes with a flashlight option one which is the intermittent and the other a luminous lampshade (green colour).

The lantern is of collapsible design, and you can adjust it according to space which is available. It is perfect for hiking; camping etc. the lamp comes with a charging indicator and will let you know once the lamp is getting charged through the solar energy.

If you are looking for a solar lamp that is aesthetically pleasing and does a great job then buy this one.

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10. Tansoren USB Rechargeable Lantern

The Tansoren USB rechargeable lantern is one of the strongest and powerful models present in the market.

Key Features

• Three charging methods Solar, 5V DC USB charging, 3 AA battery, DC input
• 3 LEDs
• Includes four magnets for support
• It works as a power bank too
• The life spreads at an angle of 360 degrees
• It is multifunctional you can use it as an emergency light.
• This has three attachment options, metal loop[, a top loop and a magnetic base
• It has a COB LED bulb

Product Review and Description

It is one of those solar lights that can be used in emergency light, and you can attach it to the surface with three-way options like a metal loop a top loop and a magnetic base. It works as an emergency light when you have a power cut or a natural calamity. Apart from being a solar light, it works as a Powerbank too but only for android phones. The solar light charges through a solar panel that is situated on the top of the light, it can also charge through a DC port or AA rechargeable batteries. The three individual strips last a lifetime. The light is spread out an angle of 360 degrees. It is compressible so you can carry it easily anywhere. It can also be placed securely on a metal surface because of its magnetic base.

If you are an android user and want a solar lamp that works a power bank too then go for this one.

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