On the same Kodachadri trip, after boiling the water using one of the best kettles, we ended up in a place that has absolutely no light. Since it was dark and cold (, we needed light for about an hour along with some protection from durable pants or down pants) till we came back home (and use these wood-burning stoves back home).
Thanks to the incredibly built modern-day lanterns that helped us a lot. These are one of the most important gadgets for travel, especially if it is an adventurous one without a car, apart from the shelter, sleep systems, and nourishment.
Did you say you use headlamps when it is dark? No! Of course not! It could be fine when you are alone and you want a light to show the way out. But not when you are in groups.
Headlamps are more irritating when in groups because of the fact that a person walking from the opposite direction might beam in the face too many times.
What do you use for light when camping?
So, when camping the most effective light that can illuminate a whole group of adventure enthusiasts wanting to use some time off the darkness is to use the classic camping lanterns.
Of the camping lanterns out, be it a store or an online marketplace, you have a lot of options to buy from.
What are the best camping lights?
There are mainly three types of lanterns that shed us camping lights and are available in the market.
- Gas Lanterns
- Rechargeable Battery Lanterns
- Solar Chargeable Battery Lanterns
Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let us see further in this article to figure out what to look for in a camping lantern.
How do I choose a camping lantern?
Let us see in this section, the things to consider before we buy a camping lantern.
Brightness
Brightness is measured in Lumens and before deciding on the brightness, we should first know the brightness of the LED flashlights that we have on our mobile phones.
How many lumens should a camping lantern be?
Our mobile phones are typically anywhere between 12 and 50 lumens. So, we have to consider much brighter camping lanterns, about 200 lumens that come with controlling the brightness.
This makes the optimal usage of the battery and you can use the lantern for a longer time. Extremely bright lanterns might spoil the mood of the camper group.
What is the brightest and most powerful camping lantern?
The brightest camping lantern to our knowledge has been this budget lantern that has a brightness of 1000 lumens.
So be careful to pick the right brightness along with the controls for increasing and decreasing the brightness.
Source
Depending on the place you are visiting, you need to decide upon the source. The source can be one of the three, fuel, battery, or solar.
If you are traditional and you know how to handle a fuel lantern, that would be the best choice for you. As long as there is fuel it burns, now surprises absolutely.
There are battery rechargeable lanterns that in the modern days come with a USB charging facility too. You can charge the lantern via a USB charger. After charging, you can use the lantern as the source of the battery to charge other small devices.
How long does a battery-powered lantern last?
The best battery-powered lantern boasts about 500-hour run-time on its lowest setting and 4+ hours runtime at its highest setting.
Solar rechargeable lanterns are out in the market and there is an increase in their usage too. But when it is cloudy, you might put your dark night at risk by losing out on the light.
Hanging Design
This might not make any sense and you might take this very lightly. But, a source of light spreads its light only when it is at a reasonable height.
For that to happen check if the lanterns can be hooked upside down so that the light source will cover as wide as possible, especially in a tent.
Grip
The grip of the handle is equally important. The lantern should not fall while you are holding it.
Weight and Volume
Check out the weight of the lantern as it might disturb you while you are hiking or rappelling. You might end up getting annoyed to take the heavy lantern all around. The lanterns should not be too bulky too.
Material
Pick a material that is as easy to handle as possible. By picking up fragile lanterns, you might have to warn your fellow campers not to touch your backpack.
Best Camping Lanterns from different types
1. Coleman Gas Lantern | 1000 Lumens Deluxe Propane Lantern
Water Resistant
No
Robustness
Porcelain-coated 2-tier ventilator helps resist corrosion and rust
Charging Time
NA
Grip
Steel Grip
Brightness
1000 lumens casts light up to 23 meters
Runtime
Up to 7.5 hours (high)
Other important features
Pressure-control technology provides consistent performance, even in extreme conditions
2. LE LED Camping Lantern
Water Resistant
IPX4
Robustness
After removing the cap, can use this lantern upside down
Charging Time
New Batteries
Grip
Steel Grip
Brightness
1000 lumens suitable for reading or illuminating the whole space.
Runtime
Daylight White 18 hrs, Warm White 25 hrs, Combined 12 hrs
Other important features
adjust the camp lamp to your desired brightness
3. Energizer Vision LED Camping Lantern
Water Resistant
IPX4
Robustness
After removing the cap, can use this lantern upside down
Charging Time
New Batteries (not included)
Grip
Nonslip Grip
Brightness
1000 lumens
Runtime
High mode for up to 8 hours, 170 hours on low
Other important features
Multiple light modes, USB Port out, delivers 360-degree area lighting, Night light
4. Eventek LED Camping Lantern Rechargeable
Water Resistant
IPX4
Robustness
Hanging Design, Compact, and lightweight
Charging Time
3 hours
Grip
Nonslip Grip
Brightness
800LM & Adjustable Brightness
Runtime
72 hours under normal brightness
Other important features
10000 mAh Power bank, charged via a USB charging cable
5. HAITRAL Camping Lantern with Fan
Water Resistant
IPX4
Robustness
Built-in Hook
Charging Time
2 D batteries(not included)
Grip
Plastic Grip
Brightness
18 ultra-bright LED bulbs
Runtime
- 37 hours for the light;
- 50 hours for the fan(in low-speed)
- 30 hours for the fan(in high-speed)
- 16 hours for light & fan(low-speed)
Other important features
360-degree Rotation
6. LED Camping Lantern, CT CAPETRONIX Rechargeable
Water Resistant
IPX4
Robustness
Easy to hook
Charging Time
Fully recharged via the USB cable around 2 hours
Grip
Steel
Brightness
2 lanterns deliver a total of 800lm+
Runtime
3-10 hours
Other important features
1800mAh battery that allows charging a mobile phone in emergency situations, 3-level Brightness + Flashing, SOS Mode
7. Lepro LED Camping Lantern Battery Powered
Water Resistant
IPX4
Robustness
Easy to hook
Charging Time
3pcs AA batteries (not included)
Grip
Steel Grip
Brightness
190 lumens
Runtime
14 hrs
Other important features
360-degree beam angle and long lighting time
