Whether you’re planning a few days away or a week-long camping adventure, the right gear can make a big difference. However, with so many camping lanterns to choose from, finding the right one can be a challenge.
Our camping lantern buyers guide will help you sort through all of the different options, so you can finally enjoy the trail, campsite, patio, or even just your backyard without tripping over old flashlights left over from your childhood.
Each one of the 12 selected lanterns have unique features, pros, and cons that make them stand out in their own unique way.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern | Best Overall |  |
| AYL Starlight | Budget Pick |  |
| Coleman LED Lantern | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern
Pros:
- Bright, big light to hang from the tents (up to 3.5m)
- Cast a warm glow from the inside
- Durable enough for outdoor purpose
- Solid carrying case with strong zippers
- Hassle free: Easy to open, you do not to keep pressing the power button to turn on the light. Just open the case and then light on automatically.
Cons:
- No hook at the bottom of the lantern, a bit tricky to hang the lantern on the wall. (It can be fixed easily, you can click here to learn how)
- A bit noisy; the fan makes a slight whirring noise but does not follow through on all products. It could be caused by bad quality battery inside.
VONT is a well-known brand making many products that are suitable for camping, such as flashlights (click here), cellular phone flashlights (click here), and many other camping accessories. They also make a good flashlight (click here)
Most customers are happy with the VONT, and great thing is, these come with batteries included. So, no need to buy batteries (considering most of us forgot to buy or even misplaced the batteries for the other lanterns).
2. Streamlight 44931 Siege Compact
Pros:
- Uses 3 AAA batteries which are included with the lantern
- This could be a useful item to have in case of a power outage
- Lightweight and portable
This is the kind of lantern that you’ll have no trouble bringing with you wherever you go. It’s powered by 3 AAA batteries, just like the kind in your TV remote.
This lantern weighs less than a pound, which means you can easily take it with you on camping trips.
The Streamlight 44931 has a black powder-coated finish. For people who love the smell of oiled metal, you’d think that this was the ultimate lantern ever.
3. LE LED Camping Lantern
Pros:
- Lightweight – its only 3.2 ounces!
- Attached hook for tent or backpack clip
- Uses three included AA batteries
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Doesn’t seam to use much quality materials
- Difficult to turn on and off (my kids are older and it's still an issue for them)
- Very dim light and goes out easily if bumped
- Not a great lantern for the money
This is very inexpensive and kids can play with it and it will survive! Based upon the reviews I found all around online, including Amazon, Walmart, Cabelas, Bass Pro, and hundreds more, most customers don't seem to be very satisfied with this product. The reviews I found were on or below a 3 star, with one star reviews being the most common.
Most reviews indicate issues with turning on and off and breaking. That being said, many of the other reviewers said they gave it as a gift or as something like a toy for young children.
Many did not anticipate it being a "good" lantern such as those used by outdoor enthusiasts.
4. Coleman LED Lantern
The Coleman LED Lantern is a small lantern measuring 9 x 7.8 x 21 inches in size. That makes it small enough to fit into a vehicle, a tent, a utility closet, toolboxes, boating compartments, and anywhere else you can think of. The Coleman Lantern features four adjustable legs that allow the lantern to stand upright.
The legs can be pulled up to convert the lantern into a hanging design. The lantern also boasts the ability to handle high winds without causing damage to the fixture and to water without causing damage.
The Coleman lantern has an auto shutoff feature that ensures the device turns off when it is unable to sense motion. The lantern can be powered by a nine-volt battery that comes included with the lantern. The lantern can also be powered by a three-volt lithium battery.
5. Coleman Gas Lantern
Pros:
- It has a large size, but is lightweight at less than one pound
- To date, there are many positive reviews from customers
- Users say it works great, and lasts a long time
Cons:
- It requires a propane tank.
With Carrying Case and Auto-Dimming for Camping Hiking, & Emergency Use.
Coleman is a reputable brand of camping lanterns. This is a great lantern that has a large size, but is lightweight at less than one pound. The lantern comes with a case and auto-dimming control.
The case is a nice feature for storage. The auto dimming feature is also a nice feature, particularly if you hate the bright light. You could use that to go to bed, and then turn it on brighter later. This lantern is a great value, and it lasts a long time.
6. AYL Starlight
Pros:
- Ultra-bright lantern with 1000 Lumens
- Weather resistant
- Can act as a flash light
- 2 AA batteries are included
- Can stay dead when not using, saving battery life
- Controlled by 3 buttons
- Can be stored in it’s own travel case
- Affordable
- Lightweight
Canoeing, Hunting, LED Lantern Lights (Black).
Need a bright light that will last for many hours? Check out our best camping lantern list. Make your camping, RV, hunting and desert tours safe with these high quality and popular lanterns that come with extra features that you may not find in other lanterns. People use lanterns for camping, backup lighting, emergency and survival kits, storm preparedness and outdoor activities. See the review of the most popular lanterns available in our best camping lantern review.
7. KYNG Solar Rechargeable LED Lantern Collapsible
‹Built-in 4200mAh power bank for charging digital devices–Solar charging: indoor solar panel charging 15-30 hours, outdoor sunlight charging 4.5-6 hours.
‹The power bank can be fully charged with the solar panel within 15 hours. (It can be fully charged in the sun, but the output current is limited to 1A)
‹Cheerful rainbow LED lights. 4 modes: steady on, slow flash, fast flash, SOS.
8. IMAGE Portable LED Camping Lantern
This is the camping lantern that offers users with 360 degrees of lighting. Not only it has a 3-Way Adjustable brightness, but it also has a built in 360 Fan that for air circulation.
This lantern is designed with a built-in rechargeable battery also comes with a power adapter and a USB output port. Turning on the lantern is very convenient as you can just twist its bottom.
With its 3-way adjustable button, you can manage to select the light level depending on your need from an extremely dim light that is useful for preserving night vision up to a bright light that is perfect for reading and paperwork.
9. E-TRENDS 2 Pack/4 Pack Compact LED Lantern Tent Camp Light Bulb
Pros:
- Price
- Compact design
With 4 Bright LED Lights, for Indoors and Outdoor.
Short battery life (approx. 3.5 hours)
10. SUAOKI Led Camping Lanterns
Pros:
- Bright and powerful, shines 360°
- It’s really compact and easy to carry
- It’s cheap
Cons:
- The brightness of the light isn’t that bright
- The plastic isn’t that durable
- It has a few cheap batteries made in china
This set of camping lanterns is some of the best you can buy, especially for the price. The powerful built in LED bulbs shine a powerful 360° beam of light when needed, and it has two settings for brightness. The lanterns are also collapsible for easy storage and transportation.
This is one of the most popular camping lanterns. Most people are happy with how compact and easy to use this camping lantern is. Some of the other most popular features of this lantern are its bright light, collapsible, and two-mode brightness.
The set comes with two lanterns that each have a solar panel. The built-in batteries can be charged with the sun and/or a USB charger.
11. Hillmax LED Camping Lantern
Pros:
- The head swivels 180 degrees to let you adjust the light where you need it, as well as focus it where you’re walking
- It’s light weight
- It’s portable
- It’s collapsible
- Waterproof
- It comes with 12 AA batteries
- All batteries will last for about 100 hours, giving you plenty of light
Hiking, Tent, Emergency Lights for Power Outages, Power Failure, Fireplace, Boats, RV, Home.
12. Coleman Quad Elite 360l LED Lantern
Pros:
- * Adjustable brightness * USB chargeable * Very bright * Durable
The Coleman Quad 360 Elite is a simple, easy to use, multipurpose lantern. It can light up a large area as long as you’re not looking for anything super bright.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best camping lanterns?
When it comes to choosing a set of camping lanterns, you really need to have a good understanding of what you’re going to be using them for. Everyone has a different set of priorities when it comes to a good set up for outdoor activities. What is great for you might not be for the next person. However there are some features that are universal which can be used to make your decision as well.
Which is the best rechargeable camping lantern?
In our opinion if you are looking for the best rechargeable camping lantern that does not cost a whole lot of money, the Fenix HP25R is perfect. It is a good mid-range lantern that offers a lot of light in a lightweight design. Unlike some fancier lanterns it’s not quite as water resistant, but as long as you don’t let water get inside of it and dry it out quickly if it does get wet it should do fine.
The Fenix HP25R offers a floodlight, a spotlight,and two more settings for a total of 2,600 lumens of light output. It also offers a battery level indicator so you know how much power you have left with before it needs more juice. You can easily recharge this lantern by using an AC adapter connected to a USB charging cable, a USB cable attached to a computer, or you can use the included solar charger.
What is the best lantern for power outages?
The best lanterns for power outages have those features which, make them ideal for emergencies. The primary criterion is the lantern needs to be compatible with standard batteries such as AA and AAA. These lanterns also have sturdy adjustable legs, which allow the lanterns to be positioned conveniently on uneven surfaces. In case you want to place the lanterns a table, you can adjust them for that purpose as well. When it comes to the light output, the best lanterns for power outages are the ones which have been designed to utilize LED technology. The reason for this is that they generate significantly more lumens than incandescent lamps. These lanterns will keep on producing light even when the power grids in their surroundings have gone off. This is because they are more efficient and consume less energy. It is very important that you purchase a lantern with a storage compartment for the batteries.
How many lumens do I need for a camping lantern?
It really depends on the situation and how much light you need. Most of the time, a lantern in the 100 lumens to 300 lumens range will be enough to see what you need to see around the camp. If you’ve only got a lantern that’s 100 lumens, you could also use that light in combination with other lights around your tent or campsite.
A 1,000 lumen lantern will do the trick in most situations, but you’ll often be able to see the lantern’s light bulb itself, which can be distracting. You can get a good idea of what brightness you need by reading the campsite reviews and considering what they’re using.
Conclusion
We’ve put together the best camping lanterns guide to help you get an idea of what factors to consider when shopping for your new lantern. We’ve included each feature that is important to consider when looking for a new lantern, including brightness, modes, battery type, battery life, and more. Once you’ve settled on what you need in your ideal lantern, you can refer to our individual lantern reviews for an in-depth analysis of the 12 best lanterns on the market today.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern | Best Overall | |
| AYL Starlight | Budget Pick | |
| Coleman LED Lantern | Upgrade Pick | |