The world is changing and people are constantly looking for better and simpler sources of lighting compared to traditional powered lights. Solar lanterns are one of the alternative sources of light that fit the description above. In this article, we will be writing about these lights comprehensively and also be reviewing some of the best solar lanterns available.
Table of Contents
- 8 The Best Solar Lanterns & Our Reviews
- 1. Suaoki LED Camping Lantern
- 2. TANSOREN 2 Pack Portable LED Camping Solar Lantern
- 3. LVJING Solar Lantern, LED Lantern Lights
- 4. LuminAid Solar Inflatable Lanterns
- 5. Lamplust Outdoor Black Solar Candle Lanterns
- 6. CHBKT 4-Pack Solar Powered Mason Jar Lights
- 7. The Goal Zero Crush Light
- 8. Kizen Solar Powered LED Camping Lantern
- Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Lanterns
- Conclusion
8 The Best Solar Lanterns & Our Reviews
There are thousands of solar lanterns available for purchase in the market and it might be difficult to find the right one. This is why we have taken it upon ourselves to pick some of the best solar lanterns available and reviewed them for you below.
1. Suaoki LED Camping Lantern
The Suaoki LED camping lantern is a lantern suitable for all your camping and hiking expenditures. One of the most interesting features of the lantern is that it is totally collapsible which makes it easier to pack for hiking and camping. Also, the light features a two-way charging system which is through solar and a USB port. The solar panel is environment-friendly and just in case there is not enough sunshine to charge the solar panel, then the USB port can serve as backup.
Furthermore, the light has 3 different light modes which are; low light, high light mode, and SOS blinking brightness mode. Apart from giving you a variety of options to suit your needs, you also get to preserve your battery by choosing the low light mode. The expandable and compressible feature is innovative because apart from making it easy to pack the light, the lantern turns into a flashlight when compressed.
The Suaoki Company installed a smart protection chip in the lantern. This chip prevents the lantern from getting overcharged and also ensures that over-circuiting doesn’t happen. This further makes the lantern safer to use. Finally, the light has a clover design which helps to increase the range of the light.
Pros + Key Features
- The light is extendable and collapsible
- It can be charged with solar and through a USB port
- The light has a smart protection chip
- It has 3 lighting modes
2. TANSOREN 2 Pack Portable LED Camping Solar Lantern
The TANSOREN Solar lantern is a powerful LED light that provides immense bright light for the user. It has a total light output of 180 lumens which is more than enough light to brighten your space in the camp. The other features of this light are impressive and one of them is it has 3 power supply options. The options include; built-in rechargeable batteries, solar, and 5V DC USB charging. These options are particularly important because, with them, there is little chance for the light to run out of juice.
Furthermore, it has a USB port that can serve as a backup charger for your android phones. This feature is a great addition because when you are out camping, you might not get electricity or energy to charge your device and this can help in emergency situations. However, you have to note that it cannot charge Apple devices. Also, the light is lightweight and it has a collapsible design that makes it compact and easy to carry.
In addition, the light can last for up to 8 hours and it is designed to be energy saving. For durability purposes, the light was hand-built with military-grade plastics. The lanterns are also water-resistant which means you do not have to worry about leaving them in the rain when camping. Finally, the light is a 360 degree LED lamp which means with the light, every angle of the area gets illuminated.
Pros + Key Features
- The lights are very bright
- It has an S hook
- It is waterproof
- It is 2 in one
- It has 3 power supply options
3. LVJING Solar Lantern, LED Lantern Lights
The LVJING solar LED Lantern is a light with a color temperature of 3000 kelvins. The light is small, compact and it weighs 7 ounces which makes it easier to carry about. It is well suited for outdoor purposes and it has a metal clamp that enables you to hang the light in places of your choice. Also, the light has a weatherproof IP44 feature which means that regardless of how harsh the weather condition is, the performance of the light will not be affected. The weatherproof feature also ensures that the lantern lasts longer.
Furthermore, the light has a flickering candle effect that gives away a sweet ambiance. In addition, the auto on and off feature lets the lantern charge itself when the sun is out and turn on when it is getting dark. The light has a charge time of 5 hours when placed under direct sunlight and it can last for up to 9 hours when fully charged. Note that the light is not very bright and it is better suited for decoration.
Pros + Key Features
- The light is weatherproof
- The lantern is beautiful
- It is lightweight
- It charges quickly
4. LuminAid Solar Inflatable Lanterns
The LuminAid Solar Inflatable Lanterns is one of the best inflatable lanterns around. It is extremely lightweight and it literally doesn’t affect your load which makes it ideal for camping and hiking. The light folds flat to under 1 inch and it weighs less than 5 ounces. In addition, the light has a waterproof IP67 feature which makes it ideal for use outdoors. The light can also float on water which is a really cool feature.
Furthermore, the light makes use of solar energy which means that you will be preserving the planet by using this renewable energy-powered light. One bad feature of this lantern is it takes approximately 10-14 hours to charge which is a long time. But, it tends to last for 10 to 24 hours after a single charge. However, you must make sure that the battery doesn’t get too low before recharging because if it does, it might not hold a charge for long again.
With a light with a total output of over 50 lumens, you are assured of getting the surroundings well-lit. Finally, LuminAid Solar lanterns are dustproof which means that they retain their fresh look for a long time.
Pros + Key Features
- It is waterproof and it floats on water
- It is dustproof
- It can last for up to 24 hours
- It is lightweight
5. Lamplust Outdoor Black Solar Candle Lanterns
Looking for a beautiful and realistic solar lantern? Then the Lamplust outdoor black solar candle lantern is the right one for you. It has double black metal and glass lanterns with a solar candle with an ivory resin finish. The lamplust lantern is designed in such a way that it looks like a real flame. This is evident by its warm flickering flame. The lantern is not only suitable for outdoor uses, but it is also good for indoors and it also has an aesthetic look.
Furthermore, the light has an efficient solar panel that allows the light to get charged quickly. This is made possible due to the solar panel of the light being situated on top of each of the lanterns. The lanterns are also made from high-grade weatherproof material which means that regardless of the weather condition, the light will work perfectly. Another feature we like about this lantern is the extendable handle it has which makes it easier to carry.
The lantern also comes with 1 rechargeable 1.2V, 600 mAh Ni-Mh battery which means that you get to use the lantern immediately you purchase it. Finally, the lamplust company is known for having good customer relation, just call them in case you have any problem with the product.
Pros + Key Features
- The lanterns have a 90-day warranty
- It has a flickering light design
- The lantern is weatherproof
- It has an efficient solar panel
- It is aesthetically pleasing
6. CHBKT 4-Pack Solar Powered Mason Jar Lights
CHBKT Solar light is a unique solar lantern designed with a scaled pattern glass jar. The body of the lantern is specifically attractive and strong. It glows warmly and it adds a romantic feeling to anywhere it is being lit. Because of this strong jar, you are assured of having a long-lasting solar light that is easy to handle. In addition, the light is 100% solar powered which means that when using the light, you are also helping to preserve the planet. This also makes the light easy to set up because of the absence of wires which makes things complicated.
Furthermore, in case of insufficient sunshine, the light comes with an AAA rechargeable battery for backup. In addition, the light has a light sensor that turns on the light automatically when it is getting dark and off when it is dawn. This helps to reduce the stress of having to manually turn the light on. Also, the light has an integrated IP65 waterproof feature which means you get to use the light even if it is raining cats and dogs. This feature ensures that the light lasts longer.
Finally, the light can be used for many things ranging from using as outdoor lighting to using it as decoration in events. We would have liked it if the light is brighter but the light is still an amazing product regardless.
Pros + Key Features
- The light is waterproof
- It is beautifully made
- It is easy to install
- It has a backup battery
7. The Goal Zero Crush Light
As a hiker or a camper looking for solar lanterns to carry on your adventure, then you should definitely consider the Goal Zero Crush Light. This is due to the fact that this light is lightweight and it is collapsible making it easier to carry and fit into backpacks. In addition, the lantern has a total lumen output of 60 which means that you get enough light to illuminate the area. Also, the lantern has flickering candle mode which makes it aesthetically pleasing to look at.
In addition, the lantern has two light modes which are the high and low modes. When the light is set on low mode, you can get to use the light for up to 35 hours which we can all agree that it is impressive. Furthermore, the lantern can also be charged with the use of a USB cable which is included in the package of the lantern. However, you have to note that the lantern is best charged with direct sunlight.
Pros + Key Features
- The lantern is beautiful
- It can be charged with a USB
- It can last for up to 35 hours in low mode
- The lantern has a total output of 60 lumens.
8. Kizen Solar Powered LED Camping Lantern
The Kizen solar-powered lantern is a bright light that is well suited to camping activities. The light has an impressive space-saving design which allows the light to be folded into almost 3 times smaller than its full size. With this light, you do not have to worry about the light taking up space in your luggage. Also, when the lantern is folded, it can serve as a flashlight. In addition, the light has two different charging sources which are through a USB port and through solar. This means that even if the sun doesn’t come out, you have a backup way to get the light charged.
Furthermore, the light can also serve as a backup power bank for your phones in case of an emergency. Although the lantern is incapable of fully charging your phone, you can rest assured that it will charge it enough for you to make that important phone call. Also, the lantern has 3 lighting modes namely; High mode, low mode, and SOS mode that can be used in case of emergency.
Another interesting feature of the Kizen solar-powered lantern is its smart circuitry feature that prevents the lantern from overcharging. This feature is important because oftentimes than not when overcharging occurs, it can blow the circuit of the light. Finally, the manufacturers promised a lifetime warranty on their product thereby giving the customer confidence in their purchase.
Pros + Key Features
- It can be used to charge phones
- It has 3 lighting modes
- The light has a smart circuitry system that prevents it from overcharging
- It is foldable
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Lanterns
Question: What is the best condition to charge a solar lantern?
Answer: The best condition to charge is when there is a high UV index. However, a sunny day does not usually mean there’s a high UV index. To know when the UV index is higher, you can get weather forecast apps like Accuweather.
Question: How can I know that my solar lantern is receiving direct sunlight?
Answer: The lantern is receiving direct sunlight when there is nothing blocking the rays of the sun from hitting the solar lantern. For example, the sun hitting the solar lantern through a transparent window doesn’t mean the sun is shining directly on the lantern. To get direct sunlight, you have to eliminate this obstacle completely. Also, some of the new solar lanterns have indicators that show if the lanterns are being charged efficiently.
Question: Will the solar lantern lose its charge when unused for a long time
Answer: Yes the lantern will lose its charge but it will be at a very slow pace. On average, the solar lantern will only lose about 5% of its charge every month it remains unused.
Conclusion
We have come to the conclusion of this article and we are sure that you have learned about the benefits of using solar lanterns. We also ensured that we wrote about the factors to consider before purchasing a solar lantern. We are sure that if you follow the tips we wrote about, you will definitely purchase a good solar lantern. We also made sure we reviewed some of the best solar lanterns available for you.
After our review, we concluded that the Suaoki LED camping lantern is the best from the lot. This is not to say that the other lanterns are of low quality but the Suaoki LED lantern is just head and shoulders above the rest. This decision was made based on the lantern’s smart protection chip, its different lighting and charging modes, bright lights, and durability.
Read more: Top 10 Best Outdoor Solar Lights
