When you plan to spend a night under the stars in a tent, you will find a camp light an invaluable piece of kit for getting around your campsite or walking through the woods in the dark. There are many different types available on the market and we stock a wide range of handheld lamps, different types of lanterns from solar panelled, rechargeable, gas based and even easy to use lamps for children! We also sell a variety of lamp fuels for the gas based lamps.
Deciding on which lamp to purchase can be a difficult task, as many boast their useful features but neglect the practicality of using each lamp in a tent or on a campsite. To help you with your decision, we have taken 5 of the most commonly purchased camping lanterns and have put them to the test; taking them out in to the wilderness and seeing how much physical brunt they can withstand, how practical they are to carry, their battery life and trying out their other features. They have also been ranked on their value for money.
Each lamp has been rated on a scale of 1-5.
We hope you enjoy reading our reviews and that they will help you choose your perfect camping lamp.
Goal Zero Lighthouse, Mini Goal Zero Lighthouse
This little lamp has received many high reviews and upon using it, it is easy to see why. Firstly, its size and weight make it very convenient to take out on hikes and camping trips. It’s almost handheld in size and it weighs hardly anything, so I didn’t notice it whilst walking, which is obviously great.The multitude of ways to charge it are interesting and handy. It has a USB cable too which means it can be charged via a port and it also allows you to charge other important devices that may run out of battery, such as a mobile phone. Though I didn’t have to use it for as long as many others have, it can reportedly hold a charge for 500 hours and the battery is removable, so a freshly charged battery can be put in if needed. What I found especially great was the ability to charge it from its solar panels. It also has a clear battery indicator, which is very useful and takes out the guessing game of how much power it has left.
When using it in a tent, it has hooks and magnets, meaning it can be attached to a tree or the inside of the tent easily and without much fuss. However, it’s USB port means it is susceptible to damage in weather such as rain or snow. It also takes quite a while to charge but the light output is very bright.
Rating – 4.3/5
Tao Tronics LED Flashlight
Similar to the Goal Zero Lighthouse, this small lantern is lightweight and very small, which adds to its convenience but it is also more economically friendly.
I was extremely impressed with its dual purpose, as when it is not collapsed, it functions as a lantern but when you collapse it, it becomes a nifty handheld flashlight, which is great if you have to trek in the dark! This ingenuity is matched only by its simplicity, as it runs of 3AA batteries, which are easy to carry, easy to obtain and cheaper than many of the other fuels used for camping lanterns. It has 3 light settings, low, high and strobe, which may seem odd but I feel this is useful for signalling in an emergency. The LED light makes it environmentally friendly as it is long lasting, with no need to replace it.
It also has an added benefit of being water resistant and weather resistant, so it can be used all year round. The designers seem to have taken this in to account, as they have made it very durable, so if you drop it in the rain, it is unlikely to break. One issue I found was that even on its brightest setting, it is not as bright as the other lamps but this seems a minor issue compared to all the awesome features of this light.
Ratings-4.7 /5
LE USB Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern
One thing I liked about this LED lantern was its dimmable light setting, which obviously can increase its life if you use it on the lowest setting. The batteries are rechargeable and similar to the Goal Zero, it has a USB charger port for charging the batteries and it can charge phones or cameras, great for emergencies. The battery indicator light means you can check on its battery life, even in the dark, and can charge it easily overnight. It is weatherproof and has a skid resistant base- great for ensuring it stays in one piece in wet or slippery weather conditions.
There are a few downsides though- the adapter and charger for the USB are not included and have to be bought separately, adding to its overall cost. It is also quite heavy and it takes quite a long time to fully charge the batteries.
Rating-3.9/5
Colemans Battery Lock Twist Lantern
A battery lock seems like an obvious idea to preserve power but seems to have been missed in all the other lamps in this list! The Colemans lantern ensures the connector disengages with battery when the lamp isn’t in use, which ensures that you keep all the power and extends the battery life. The lithium ION battery is rechargeable and has the charging USB firmly attached to the lantern base, meaning its not possible to lose the charging cable.
Similar to the Tao Tronics flashlight it has adjustable light settings, one of which is the flash setting. I’m impressed at this feature as it means it would be useful in an emergency for signalling your location, so in the worst case scenario you are covered. It is also water resistant, which has obvious benefits in unpredictable weather and ensures it will work all year round.
Even with its battery lock feature though, it can only run on its highest setting for 5 hours, which won’t get you through the night, so it forces you to use a lower setting, which may not be practical. It is also quite heavy and 1.5 kg, so it puts pressure on your back when you are carrying it!
Rating-3.8 /5
Campingaz Stelia Lantern
Our only fuel based lamp in this list, this lantern is easy to light, is bright and is also warm- great for colder nights in a tent. It is very durable, hardy and the fuel tanks are easy to get hold of from any camping based shop.
This lamp however, is heavy at 1.5 kg and expensive, has a 12 hour life from one cannister on the highest setting, which once again, may be inconvenient and forces those using I to use a lower light setting. Depending on the length of your trip, you may have to carry several cannisters which are not only expensive, they are heavy and have to be purchased separately from the actual lamp.
Rating- 3.2/5
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