Top 10 Best Outdoor LED Camping Lanterns in 2018 Reviews
Camping is usually the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Well, it normally is until your camping lantern breaks down and ruins everything. Admittedly, we have become creatures of electricity and only by having the best-LED lanterns for power outages, can we enjoy our camping escapade.
There are too many complexities that are considered in determining the best camping lanterns, some which are best left to experts. As such, below is a simplified list of the ten best outdoor LED camping lanterns.
Top 10 Best Outdoor LED Camping Lanterns in 2018 Reviews:
10. Coleman Quad LED Lantern Special Edition
Product Highlights:
- 75 hours runtime
- 5 by 11.7 inches
- 8m light range
- 190 lumens
- Detachable panels
- 5-year limited warranty
The Coleman Quad LED Lantern is a sleek addition to Coleman’s wide range of the best rechargeable camping lanterns. It is designed with maximum functionality and user-friendliness in mind. You can use the unit as a whole or you can temporarily detach either of the four panels (hence the name “quad LED”). These panels are attached to the main base.
As a whole, it emits up to 190 lumens of light in all directions and runs up to about 75 hours. When you detach either of the four panels, they emit 47.5 lumens of light and can run for 1.5 hours. They are attached back to the main base to recharge. As a whole the light travels for about 8 meters then the darkness takes over.
Thanks to its design, it is very versatile and can be used in a number of situations. The Coleman Quad LED Lantern is also simple and safe, making it suitable for whole family use. Children can take a panel and use it as a nightlight – safely – while leaving you with at least a panel for your own use.
For some people, bigger isn’t always better so its size and weight may be its downfall. At 6.5 by 11.7 inches, it is a little on the large size so if you are looking for a lantern that can save you space or fit in your backpack, this one is not for you. Also, weighing about 2.7kgs, it is not entirely suitable for carrying over long distances.
Pros:
- Detachable lights eliminate the need for multiple light sources
- The carry handles make the unit easy to carry
- The LEDs remain cool even after running for long
- 190 lumens is more than camping suitable
- Water-resistant
9. Deluxe Portable LED Camping Lantern
Product Highlights:
- Dimensions 6.25 by 6.25 by 7.25 inches
- 180-degree adjustable angle
- 2 batteries
- 18 LED bulbs
- 37 hours battery life
- 50 hours low speed and 30 hours high-speed fan battery life
The Deluxe Portable LED Camping Lantern is a battery-powered camping lantern that can be quickly transformed into a fan by hanging it. It is very lightweight and compact, and has 18 LED bulbs at the stand, making it very useful for long night-time walks.
This is arguably the battery-powered lantern with the longest runtime. If you set the fan on low, you will get a whole 50 hours out of it and about 30 hours on high. Using it as a light will get you about 37 hours of runtime. This, considering that you are getting it out of two batteries, is more than efficient.
As a drawback, the Deluxe Portable LED Camping Lantern has poorly positioned LED lights. They are positioned on the base, making it only useful when it is hanging from the ceiling. If you use it as a tabletop, some light escapes, turning it into more of a night light.
Pros:
- Versatile, acting as a fan and a lantern
- Affordable
- Weather resistant
- Adjustable fan-speed settings
8. Image Portable LED Camping Lantern
Product Highlights:
- Weighs 1.28 pounds
- Dimensions 7.3 by 6.6 by 5.7 inches
- 5 and 15 hours runtime in low and high-speed respectively
- One D battery
This is an exceptionally versatile fan/light for both emergency and camping situations. The light is sufficiently bright to light up a small room at home, or a tent. The fan keeps the air moving, keeping you cool.
Image Portable LED Camping Lantern is battery powered. One D battery can run the fan for about 5 hours at high speed, 15 hours in low speed, and 20 hours for LED mild. Using it as a light, normally, will get at least 37 hours from the D battery. The battery is not included in the package, which may serve as a drawback to others.
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The unit has a military-grade construction, so you are assured of its strength and sturdiness. Since it is exceptionally light and compact, you can carry it with you wherever you want to. Storing the unit cannot be simpler as it allows you to collapse it to a smaller size, taking the same small space in your luggage.
There have been complaints on online reviews about the strength of the fan. Even at high-speed settings, its overall performance is poor. You do not feel the strength of the air unless you are close to it.
Pros:
- Can be folded down for convenient storage
- Lightweight, highly portable
- Two-speed
7. Streamlight 44931 Hand Lantern 540 Lumen
Product Highlights:
- Dimensions 3.8 by 7.25 inches
- Weighs one pound
- Night vision light
- SOS capability
The Streamlight 44931 seems to take everyone’s breathe away as it has very few if any, negative customer reviews. It is lightweight and waterproof, and thanks to its sturdy construction, it is impact-resistant, able to withstand a six-foot drop without any damage. If dropped on water, it automatically floats and is water resistant. This sleek lantern has a recessed button so you cannot turn it on by accident.
The Streamlight 44931 has a long runtime, regardless of the LED that you are using. It has five, four white and one red for use as night vision. When using the white light, it emits 340 lumens and runs for about 30 hours. If you set it at medium, it emits 175 lumens of light for 70 hours and emits 30 lumens for 295 hours on the low setting. The night vision runs for about 235 hours at 10 lumens and the SOS pulse for 430 hours at 10 lumens.
There is an indicator that lets you know the level of the battery power. It turns green when full, yellow when low, and red when unusable.
You have two different options to hang the Streamlight 44931, facilitated by the D-rings at the top and bottom. The ring returns to position and the handle folds down when it is not in use. if you hang it upside down, you can extend the lighted area by removing the cover.
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Pros:
- Well designed
- Sturdy
- Comes from a reputable company
- Magnetic base is convenient
6. Etekcity Portable LED Camping Lantern
Product Highlights:
- Dimensions 5.3 by 3.6 by 3.6 inches
- Ten-year
- 90-day refund guarantee and a two-year warranty
- Weighs 358h
- 3 AA batteries
- 30 LEDs
This Portable LED Camping Lantern provides a full 360-degree lighting for clarity wherever you turn. It has 30 individual LED bulbs which are designed for a long lifespan, and they don’t disappoint. It takes them about 12 hours to drain the battery, which is just enough. Note that of the twelve hours, 8 are at high brightness, the last four being dimmer to save on energy.
Although lighter, brighter and more portable than other models, the Etekcity Portable LED Camping Lantern is capable of withstanding the harsh outdoors. It has a military-grade exterior, making it ideal for most types of environment.
The simple design on this unit enables you to save on energy, time, and luggage weight. It comes with a handle that is collapsible for ease of hanging and portability.
On the downside, this Portable LED Camping Lantern is not entirely waterproof. The bottom of the lantern is not sealed by a rubber ring, allowing moisture to sip through, corroding the batteries. But if you are not looking to go on a rainy camping trip, then you don’t have to worry about this.
Pros:
- sturdy build
- ultra bright
- RoHS certified
- Brightness adjust
- Good value for the money
- Ease of use
5. MalloMe LED Camping Lantern Flashlights
Product Highlights:
- Weighs 2.4 pounds
- CE and ROHS certified
- Dimensions 5 by 3 inches
- 2 AA batteries
MalloMe has made worthy products for a while now, and this 4 pack LED Camping Lantern maintains the tradition. It comes as a complete set of four at an affordable price.
The MalloMe LED Camping Lantern has six big LEDs that glow at 146 lumens. While most other camping lanterns make use of small LEDs which may not dissimilate light uniformly, this unit makes use of big LEDs to produce omnidirectional light that is much safer for our eyes. It is entirely water resistant and makes use of 2 AA batteries to last for very long hours.
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This camping lantern is built with the utmost portability in mind. Weighing about 2.4 pounds with dimensions 5 by three inches, this a very compact unit that will take a small space in your luggage bag. The collapsible handle at the top is convenient when you want to hang it on a campsite.
What I really like about this unit is that, unlike the above-discussed models, this can be used as a power bank. It has a power outlet that lets you charge your phones and tablets if need be.
With over two thousand reviews on Amazon and an almost 5-star rating, the MalloMe LED Camping Lantern has been vetted over and over again and always manages to come out among the best option for many people.
Pros:
- Compact, lightweight, and portable design
- Compact pack
- Muted dome
- Economical 4 pack
4. Etekcity Portable LED Camping Lantern with 12 AA Batteries
Product Highlights:
- Dimensions 7.4 by 5.4 by 7.2 inches
- Weighs 0.79 pounds
- Ten-year
- 12 AA batteries
- 12 hours runtime
- Dual suspension
The Etekcity Portable LED Camping Lantern is your ideal option if you are looking for an easy to use, portable camping lantern with a long-term backup. It is packed with enhanced technology, aside from its robust construction, aimed at meeting all needs.
It features the omnidirectional light technology and uses 30 LEDs (just like the above mentioned Etekcity product, number 6) to give sufficient visibility. The low power consumption of the unit enables it to run for about twelve hours. The first eight hours are usually high brightness while the last four dim out, to save on energy.
It has a simple build, designed to save on space and enhance its portability. It is collapsible, offering you utmost convenience. The material used to construct it is military grade, promising durability, and sturdiness.
The package includes a manual, the lantern, and (unlike most battery-powered models) 12 AA 1.5 V DC batteries.
Pros:
- Tough design with a military
- Ultra bright
- Very reliable
3. Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern
Product Highlights:
- Dimensions 7.6 by 5.4 by 3.8 inches
- Water resistant
- 12 hours battery life
- Plastic and metal coating
As opposed to many big companies that deal with a wide array of products, Vont is a small company that deals with a few products that they produce exceptionally well. They are consistently rated by outdoor enthusiasts well, so it is no surprise that not one, but two of their products made it to the top three.
The Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern is constructed with a combination of plastic and metal, making it one of the sturdiest models out there. This design accounts for its ability to withstand the toughest of conditions aside from making it collapsible, hence compact and portable. With this, you can save a lot of room for other equipment.
The thirty powerful LEDs consume very little power. At maximum brightness, the lantern will last about 12 hours, with the last four being slightly dimmer.
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What serves as the downfall of the Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern for others may be the reason to purchase it. These lanterns are too bright for the indoors and there is no way to turn them down. If you need that extra brightness indoors and know you will never need to tone it down, then by all means, this is the product for you. It is this same brightness that makes this such a great product for the outdoors.
Pros:
- Efficient
- Possesses advanced portability
- Low battery consumption
- Feather-light
- Extremely bright
2. Etekcity 2 Pack Portable LED Camping Lantern
Product Highlights:
- Dimensions 7 by 5 by 3.5 inches
- Weighs 1.2 pounds
- Water resistant
- Ten years warranty
Coming in as our number two is this top notch 2 pack camping lantern by Etekcity. Etekcity 2 Pack Portable LED Camping Lantern, like other Etekcity lanterns, makes use of 30 low power-consuming LEDs to emit omnidirectional luminous light for about 12 hours of continuous use. It has a lightweight design, making it convenient to carry around.
Furthermore, the unit features fold-away handles used to suspend or carry it in. Etekcity 2 Pack Portable LED Camping Lantern guarantees you a long service as it is made of military grade material. Whenever you are not using it, you can easily collapse it to save on space.
The main selling point of the unit is its effectiveness and efficiency. How it produces such bright light and still manages to last up to twelve hours is a wonderful mystery that most customers buy to experience. When you purchase the unit, it comes as a complete set containing the lantern, 6 AA 1.5 V DC battery, and one user manual which you won’t really need because operating it is as easy as pie.
Just like the above discussed Vont 2 pack, the drawback associated with this product is in its brightness. There is no dimmer switch, and this can cause eye discomfort.
Pros:
- Extremely powerful
- Collapsible, hence easy to carry
- Energy efficient
- Retractable handles
1. Vont 4-Pack LED Camping Lantern
Product Highlights:
- Dimensions 5.2 by 3.5 by 3.6 inches
- Weighs 0.62 lbs
- Ten-year
- Collapsible design
This is easily the holy grail of the best-LED camping lanterns. The Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern is so reputable that it was awarded Amazon’s Choice for LED Camping Lantern. It is actually the brightest lantern available in Amazon, aside from it having a superior construction and a high-quality design.
Furthermore, the unit is highly efficient. It has built-in 30 premium bulbs that provide the outstanding brightness. Each lantern has over a 20,000-hour lifetime and can be used either indoors or outdoors thanks to its exceptional brightness.
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The streamlined construction and smart design of the 4-Pack make it easy to pack and move around, comfortably fitting in a backpack. It is designed using practically indestructible military-grade materials, making it capable of withstanding the most vigorous country excursions and natural disasters.
For added convenience, the unit features a foldaway handle that can be used to carry it or to hang it from a branch when camping.
Pros:
- Highly efficient
- Exceptionally light
- Convenient fold-away handle
- Extra-long lasting
- High-quality materials
- Collapsible with a single push
Conclusion
The one thing that you can’t do without when looking for the best camping lantern to meet both outdoor and indoor needs is information–information on your needs, and on what is available.
Up until this point, it is safe to say that you have all the information on what is available. Now the ball is in your court. What needs do you want your ideal LED lantern to meet?