The best camping lanterns are an essential piece of amenity, especially if you plan to stay off-the-grid overnights. With these lanterns, it is easy to prevent accidents and to lose things. They can illuminate your campground and ensure that you have visibility to your surroundings.
Unlike flashlights and headlamps, camping lanterns offer hands-free operation. Once you can affix them on a stable platform, they can keep your outdoor experience cozy and warm.
The following selection features some of the finest camping lanterns in the market today. Check them and see which one suits your requirements for your overnight trip to the campsite!
| Camping Laterns | Type | Maximum Brightness |
| Coleman Powerhouse Dual Fuel Lantern | Gas-Powered | 800 lumens |
| BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern | Electric | 500 lumens |
| Vont LED Camping Lantern | Electric | 140 lumens |
| Eveready 360 LED Camping Lantern | Electric | 280 lumens |
| Black Diamond Apollo Lantern | Electric | 225 lumens |
| Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern | Electric | 600 lumens |
| Coleman Deluxe Propane Lantern | Gas-Powered | 967 lumens |
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Many are still into gas-powered lanterns. If you are among those people, the Coleman Powerhouse Dual Fuel Lantern is definitely an attractive option for you. This lantern guarantees relentless illumination in your campground, regardless of the weather. Its Dual Fuel technology allows its users to use either the Coleman Liquid Fuel or gasoline. It has an adjustable output, too. If you crank it to its highest setting, it can run for 5 hours. On low, it can endure up to 20 hours.
Interestingly, a single gallon of Coleman Liquid Fuel has more efficiency than 4.5 propane cylinders. Hence, there's no need for you to bring extra fuel on your trip, reducing your load and expenditures. With its two-mantle design, the lantern can generate a consistent glow throughout its runtime. Its brightness reaches up to 800 lumens and is capable of illuminating up to 20 meters away.
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One interesting aspect about the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern is that it delivers a seemingly nature-inspired illumination. Unlike other electric lanterns, the glow that it generates is calming and soothing. It also provides 360 degrees of lighting. Its maximum output is 500 lumens, which is already enough for those who need extra illumination. Its ChromaReal LED technology enhances its color rendering, which, in turn, enables more realistic lighting.
This electric lantern has other ergonomic features. By shaking it, its internal accelerometer activates several modes such as color rotation and Candle Flicker. It can become a source of fun while you are camping, or you can use it to set the mood of your nighttime outdoor activities. Its loop is rugged and stable enough to be hung on any elevated platform. It will not also keep you in the dark as its lowest setting can run for up to 200 hours.
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When it comes to price and performance, the Vont LED Camping Lantern is almost unbeatable. This one is a popular choice in the market, given that it can do its job pretty well. It is equipped with 30 LEDs, allowing it to provide 360 degrees of uninhibited illumination. It can perform well even under the darkest night. Its battery pack has a 90-hour lifespan, which is three times longer than its counterparts.
Moreover, the Vont LED Camping Lantern has a collapsible design that increases its portability. Hence, it is not just great for camping adventures but for backpacking pursuits, as well. Once fully collapsed, it can easily fit inside your emergency kit and backpack. The durability of this LED lantern is also one of the reasons why it is an excellent outdoor lantern. It is crafted from aircraft-grade materials, which allows it to survive under harsh conditions. It doesn't break if submerged temporarily or dropped from the height of 10 feet.
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The Eveready 360 LED Camping Lantern is an easy choice when it comes to outdoor illumination. The lantern is definitely rugged and powerful, allowing it to perform even in unfavorable weather temperaments. In its lantern modern, the device can run up to 16 hours. If you crank it to its maximum setting, it can provide a reliable glow for 9 hours straight. Aside from these two modes, the Eveready Camping Lantern also comes with a red night vision mode and flashing red strobe (for emergencies).
You can also ensure that the device enables flexible placement, thanks to its heavy-duty magnet on its base. If you want to hang it overhead, the lantern includes a single base hook. Overall, this lighting equipment is designed to provide 360 degrees of brightness. With this device around, you can do evening outdoor activities with confidence and ease.
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Inside-tent illumination is completely possible with the Black Diamond Apollo Lantern. It has been redesigned better so that it can generate a cozy and soothing glow while inside your outdoor cocoon. Specifically, it has been encapsulated in a diffuser globe so that it can remain bright without any glare. This lantern operates through an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. But at the same time, you can also power it with the use of three AA batteries. Based on third-party tests, the average charging time of this lantern is 3.5 hours.
You don't have to guess whether or not the batteries of this device are running empty. After all, it has a power meter that shows the status of the lantern's batteries. With its dimming and strobe mode, you will be able to configure the lighting of the Black Diamond Apollo Lantern to accommodate various needs in the campsite. Furthermore, its double-hook hand loop and folding legs enable versatility in its placement.
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Keeping the darkness out in your campsite is just a breeze with the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern. It offers highly adjustable, multi-directional illumination so that you can do nighttime activities safely and conveniently. Its maximum brightness peaks at 600 lumens, which is proof of its impeccable performance. Adjusting its brightness is pretty easy, thanks to the presence of a dial knob on its front.
One notable feature of the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern is its set of collapsible legs. It can be placed on the ground with optimal stability. Meanwhile, its built-in handle ensures that you can carry and store it easily. Its lithium-polymer battery is rechargeable, and it can be recharged through alternative means such as hand crank, solar panel, or USB.
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With the Coleman Deluxe Propane Lantern, the absence of the sun will never ruin your enjoyment in the campsite. Like the first gas-powered Coleman lantern, the Coleman Deluxe uses two mantles to generate high-intensity glows. As measured, the lantern can produce up to 967 lumens of light, ensuring that your area will not be overwhelmed by the darkness. You can easily light this device with a match, too.
You can also adjust its brightness by turning its front dial. It is pretty versatile and can efficiently handle your needs and preferences. Meanwhile, its PerfectFlow propane pressure control system ensures that it doesn't consume too much fuel on its operation. Furthermore, the lantern is guaranteed to illuminate consistently, regardless of the fuel level, weather, or altitude.
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Spending your evenings outdoors is quite spectacular. Being able to witness the natural beauty around you is a heartwarming feeling. Things get even better if your family and friends surround you.
But for you to be able to enjoy these things, you need to ensure that you have the proper illumination. If you have no light sources, it is pretty challenging to navigate the dark. There's a good chance that you trip over or stumble due to poor visibility.
Hence, having camping lanterns is genuinely essential. Unlike flashlights, they illuminate a significantly larger area. They can do this while ensuring a hands-free operation. Furthermore, these lanterns are also helpful during emergency and survival situations.
In choosing a camping lantern, the following considerations should be taken into account:
A gas-powered lantern is the best choice if you don't worry about weight and are more concerned about serious lighting. There are two types of gas lanterns: propane and liquid fuel. The latter is pretty similar to the fuel used in various stoves. Meanwhile, propane lanterns use the exact canisters utilized by many types of backpacking stoves. Between the two, liquid fuel can generate more illumination. But at the same time, it is heavy and expensive. Liquid fuel lanterns can light up an entire campground. Some of them are adjustable, too, allowing you to reduce or increase their brightness.
Propane lanterns don't generate the same level of brightness as liquid-fuel lanterns. However, it is a trade-off for their weight and price.
Both liquid and propane camping lanterns use mantles, which play a crucial role in generating light. It is suggested that you bring extra mantles on your trip, especially if it will last for several days. I also recommend that you get a gas-powered lantern that has the same fuel as your camping stove. In this way, you would only need to bring one fuel.
If you decide to get a gas-powered lantern, make sure that you don't use them inside your tent. They are meant for open spaces, where ventilation is adequate. Moreover, they can cause fire hazards if not taken care of properly.
These lanterns are pretty similar to flashlights, as they use electricity for operation. Instead of fire, they are using LED bulbs. Most of the electric lanterns differ in their weight, size, and source of power. Some electric lanterns are operated by rechargeable batteries, while others generate light by plugging them in outlets and other external power sources.
Among the power sources, alkaline batteries are the most popular. They are long-lasting and quite inexpensive. Once they run out of juice, you can replace them easily. Since these alkaline batteries are not rechargeable, the cost of replacements might take a toll on you over time. Rechargeable batteries that come with electric lanterns are considered power packs. Hence, you are allowed to make them a part of the device by sealing or integrating them. If you want to recharge them, you simply have to plug them into a power source.
Other electric lanterns can be charged by alternative power sources, such as hand cranks and solar panels. They also vary in size. You can find models that fit inside your pocket. Others can be as bulky as they can get.
Choosing the best camping lantern isn't really a walk in the park. You need to be specific when it comes to your needs and preferences so that you can find the ideal unit for you. But as long as you got the right one, your evenings in the outdoors would never be stuck in the dark!
That's it for now. If you have inquiries, feel free to ask me in the comment section below.
