Best Camping Lanterns of 2025

Headlamps light the way, but lanterns set the mood. Once your campsite’s glowing like a cabin in the woods, you’ll never go back to blinding your friends mid-s’more. We’ve researched 35 lanterns and narrowed our testing to 10 standout options from familiar brands like Goal Zero and BioLite to lesser-known torches like LuminAid and LightUpCamp.

We looked at brightness, chargeability, portability, features and ease of use to evaluate lantern performance while backpacking in California’s Sierra Nevada and car camping in the Rockies. We tested them by cooking dinners during chilly Montana nights and backcountry camping at over 10,000 feet in the John Muir Wilderness. 

Our testing period took place during the transition from summer to fall. The decreased daylight hours proved helpful in assessing how each lantern functioned as a crucial off-grid light source.

For complementary glow-in-the-dark recommendations to keep you going after dark, check out these gear guides for more inspiration: best camping chairs, best backpacking quilts, and best headlamps.

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Quick Picks for Lanterns

This is our first roundup of the best lanterns! Get a quick overview of the best lanterns below, then keep scrolling for more detailed reviews and firsthand insights from the field.

Best Lantern Overall: LuminAid Packlite Max 2-in-1 ($60)

Most Feature-Rich Lantern: BioLite AlpenGlow 500 ($80)

Most Versatile Lantern: GoalZero Lighthouse 600 ($80)

Best String Lights: LuminAid Solar String Light ($66)

Best Combination Lantern: LightUpCamp LED Solar Powered Foldable Camping Light ($72)

Best Lantern for Emergencies: LE 1000LM LED Lantern ($29)

Most Portable Lantern: GoalZero Lighthouse Micro Flash ($35)

Most Budget-Friendly Lantern: Black Diamond Moji ($30)

Most User-Friendly Lantern: Coleman Rugged Rechargeable ($45)

Lantern with the Best Vibes: Coleman Powerhouse Dual Fuel ($110)

How We Test & Methodology

To thoroughly examine these lanterns, we evaluated each product based on factors such as illumination & light quality, chargeability, battery life, portability, features, and ease of use – considering these aspects as indicators of a lantern’s overall usefulness and effectiveness. 

Our testing process included hiking into California’s Sierra Nevada with the lanterns for tent camping and taking them on a road trip to the Rocky Mountains. 

Over weeks at elevation and in weather conditions ranging from clear to rainy, the lanterns served as our main source of light for cooking, reading, and hanging out at camp. We even used them around the house and during evenings in the backyard.

Illumination & Light Quality

Perhaps the most important feature of a quality lantern is light output, which indicates how much light it produces. We measured the number of lumens (a unit of light brightness) each lantern emitted and observed the intensity and distribution of the light.

To evaluate these aspects, we turned on the lantern in a dark environment and observed the radius of the light, noting how far it extended before fading into darkness. We also used vision-critical tasks—such as reading a book—to assess the amount of usable light provided by the lantern.

Battery Life

Lanterns need power to work, which gets more difficult when you’re off-grid. How long a lantern can run on power and how easily it charges are important, especially when shore power isn’t available. 

In our testing, we turned on fully charged lanterns at their various settings and monitored how long they stayed lit before dying. For rechargeable options, we noted the speed of different charging methods, such as USB or solar, and how they varied. Overall, we prioritized lanterns that offered multiple charging options, finding them the most versatile in a range of environments.

Portability

When you’re camping, every ounce matters. Especially when backpacking, lanterns can be a heavy load for your pack, particularly when lighter headlamps are available. We weighed each lantern and considered how its weight might affect its use, such as whether it’s better suited for car camping or backpacking. 

We also examined the material construction and shape of each product to see how easily it can be packed or stowed for travel. While hiking with the lanterns over miles of trail in the Sierra Nevada, we evaluated whether the extra weight was justified by the illumination it provided.

Features

The features metric examines the settings and lighting modes offered by a lantern. Although they often provide more light than a headlamp, what can also distinguish a lantern is the wider range of illumination options. We first assessed the available settings on each lantern, including flashing or emergency light patterns, dimmability or brightness levels, party mode or other “mood” options, and red light or other color choices. 

We put these settings to the test to see if they had practical use. Some lanterns also come with USB ports for charging external devices like phones or can double as a flashlight. In the ultralight spirit of only carrying items with multiple functions, these extra features give the lanterns an added advantage. We observed how these features affected aspects such as run time and how quickly devices could be recharged.

Ease of Use

We appreciate a lantern that’s easy to use and value products with a practical, intuitive design. To assess user-friendliness, we tried operating each lantern without reading the instruction manual to see if we could figure it out on our own. We tested turning the lantern on and off, cycling through any different modes, and adjusting the brightness before referencing the directions.

Although we always recommend reading the manual to fully understand a product, lanterns are often used in less-than-ideal lighting conditions, and easy operation ultimately means less fumbling around in the dark. We also examined each lantern’s exterior for features such as handles, feet, and hooks that might help in hanging or setting up the lantern for different situations.

Why Trust CleverHiker

At CleverHiker, we did a deep dive into 35 different products from top brands to create this gear guide featuring our best picks and highlighting lanterns suitable for a wide range of uses. 

With years of experience backpacking and kayak touring, gear analyst Marion Tucker understands the importance of a reliable light source in the backcountry and the key features that make a lantern stand out. She tested these products side by side, using them tent-side while camping in California’s John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park.

 As her primary source of light while backpacking, Marion was able to examine the key features of each product. The testing period overlapped with a road trip to the Rocky Mountains, where Marion could test how each lantern performed while car camping, providing additional insight into each product’s functionality.

Analysis & Results

We review lanterns based on key aspects such as value, illumination quality, chargeability, battery life, portability, features, and ease of use. Continue reading to see how our recommendations highlight these categories. 

VALUE

Lantern prices vary greatly depending on their shapes and sizes. While a higher price might indicate better materials or more features, it doesn’t always mean the lantern is superior. Since budget is an important factor in purchasing decisions, we consider how a lantern’s price and performance combine to show its overall value. 

The LuminAid Packlite Max 2-in-1 is a standout when it comes to delivering an excellent product at an affordable price. Sitting at the low end of the mid-price range, the Packlite skillfully blends quality with cost-effectiveness. It’s the lantern we kept returning to for everything from camping to providing extra light around the house. Its collapsible design and relatively light weight make it ideal for travel and backpacking, while also serving as a practical light source whenever you need a boost of brightness. Featuring a weatherproof exterior, a built-in solar panel, and the ability to charge other devices, the Packlite is versatile and designed for outdoor use. This lantern is durable, practical, and multifunctional — all at a reasonable price. 

Similar to the LuminAid, we found ourselves impressed by the range of functionality and features offered by the GoalZero Lighthouse 600. Although it is slightly more expensive than the Packlite, it’s still not the priciest option available. For the cost, the Lighthouse 600 offers exceptional brightness and features a thoughtful design that seamlessly combines form and function. Its shape is sleek and compact, and the neatly tucked-away legs and top handle offer alternative ways to set up the lantern. With a maximum of 600 lumens, the Lighthouse 600 delivers strong illumination that can be easily adjusted. Its ability to operate at half or full brightness and full dimming capability allow you to customize the light to your specific needs. Practical features like the hand crank, built-in USB charging cable, and extra USB port improve its usability, making it suitable for a variety of settings 

Illumination & Light Quality

Brightness is the key feature of a lantern, and lumens, a measure of light output, are a clear indicator of a lantern’s power. We were blown away by the LE 1000LM LED Lantern and LightUpCamp LED Solar Powered Foldable Camping Light, which, maxing out at 1000 lumens and 2400 lumens respectively, clearly outshone the other products. In our testing, we measured the distance a lantern could illuminate before losing brightness.

Both the LE and LightUpCamp’s brightness extended for over two dozen feet. When you need to light a larger area or during emergency power outages when your house is left in the dark, these lanterns with their high lumen outputs are powerful sources of brightness.  

While brighter might be better in some cases, it’s not the only factor that affects a lantern’s performance. Light quality is also crucial, especially when a lantern is used to light a space and create a mood. The BioLite AlpenGlow 500 and GoalZero Lighthouse 600 do an excellent job blending brightness and quality. Housed in a frosted globe, the AlpenGlow produces a diffused, soft light that’s gentle on the eyes, while still offering a 500-lumen output bright enough for reading and detailed tasks.

Similarly, the Lighthouse 600 provides up to 600 lumens of warm, bright light. Although the clear, unfrosted globe delivers a harsher output than the AlpenGlow, we appreciated the split bulb feature on the Lighthouse 600, allowing you to use half or the full bulb, both fully dimmable. This unique feature gives you extra control over the lantern’s output, helping you direct the light more effectively. We often used the entire bulb when hanging the lantern overhead to prepare meals, but switched to just half the bulb when we didn’t want the light to spill onto neighboring campsites- all without diminishing the brightness of the active half. 

Depending on the size of the space you need to light or the tasks you’re doing, you won’t always require the highest lumens available. While having a lantern with a higher lumen maximum can be helpful, we appreciated lanterns that also consider light quality and offer dimming options to adjust as needed.

Battery Life

We often use lanterns when overhead lights aren’t available, such as while camping, off the grid, or during a power outage. A lantern that stays lit for a long time and provides easy charging options once it dies is very useful when power isn’t readily accessible. 

For this reason, we were especially interested in products that offered multiple ways to recharge and avoided the necessity of carrying disposable single-use batteries The lanterns from LuminAid, the Packlite Max 2-in-1 and Solar String Light impressed us with their easy-to-use USB ports for charging, along with the solar panels built into the lanterns themselves. 

Although they charge more slowly than USB—especially in cloudy weather—the solar panels ensure the lantern will always have power. We took the Packlite Max backpacking and strapped it to the top of our pack so the solar panel could soak up the sun and passively charge as we hiked.  

The Packlite also lasts for 50 hours on its lowest setting, which is much longer than similar-sized lanterns. The combination of a long-lasting battery and flexible charging options makes it especially useful for longer trips or when power access is unreliable. 

Similar to the solar panels of the LuminAid lanterns, the GoalZero Lighthouse 600 marks itself as a lantern where no power is no problem. It is the only product we tested that features a hand crank, which, with a little elbow grease, allows for instant recharge wherever you are. The lantern is USB rechargeable, making it the most efficient and fastest way to recharge its battery. However, 1 minute of hand cranking provides 10 minutes of light when no other options are available or you want a quick arm workout.

Portability

Headlamps are often considered an essential for camping or backpacking trips, which can make it difficult to justify the extra weight or space occupied by a lantern. However, whether traveling alone or with a group, lanterns can light up a larger area and provide ambient light that headlamps cannot. Despite the specific role lanterns serve, when every ounce counts, it’s useful to find one that can be easily packed away without notice. 

The GoalZero Lighthouse Micro Flash takes low profile to the max as the smallest lantern we tested. With its combination lantern and flashlight design, its conical shape resembles a miniature flashlight and is small enough to fit in your palm. We tossed it in our pocket, later using the flashlight part to guide us down a trail at night, and its light 2.4-ounce weight was almost unnoticeable. Being so tiny, it easily tucked into any available gap in our pack, removing the need to find a specific spot in a bag already filled with gear. 

Though not as small as the Micro Flash, Black Diamond’s Moji keeps weight and size to a minimum, all while maintaining a brightness and spread that support its inclusion in a backpacking kit, versus simply relying on a headlamp. Its rounded orb-like shape still fits within the palm, and like the Micro Flash, it fit without notice into our pack’s available nooks and crannies. At 4.2 ounces, it’s lightweight without sacrificing light intensity. 

Measuring 12.5 ounces, the LuminAid Packlite Max 2-in-1 seems a huge step up in weight compared to the Micro Flash and Moji, but it remains significantly lighter than most lanterns. While it may not qualify as “ultralight,” the Packlite’s design truly makes it one of the most portable options. Squished into a compact square, a valve on the bottom opens to let in air and inflate the lantern into a cube.

When not in use, simply press to deflate and reshape it into a flat square. Its ability to flatten and expand as needed makes it much easier to travel with, allowing it to fit into a side pocket or a pack. The compact design also allowed us to keep a low profile by attaching it to the outside of our pack and using the built-in solar panel to recharge.

Features

Features are the elements that give a lantern an extra edge, both practical and aesthetic. Boasting nine lighting modes, the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 is a powerhouse for customizing your lighting to fit your specific needs. Unlike other lanterns we tested, the AlpenGlow embraces color, providing a range of colored lights to choose from and multi-color gradient options when the goal is setting a mood rather than simply eliminating darkness. 

When you need functional lighting, the AlpenGlow offers up to 500 lumens of dimmable cool and warm white light, including a gentle flickering “candle mode” on the warm light setting. With the various customization options in the AlpenGlow’s modes, BioLite recognizes that lanterns are not only practical for illuminating the dark but can also be essential for creating an atmosphere. 

Though it lacks the BioLite’s range, the LuminAid Solar String Light employs a similar blend of function and aesthetic as a combination between a lantern and string lights. The tiny points of light hanging in strands across a campsite create a magical atmosphere. 

However, most string lights are just that: a string of lights with a low lumen count that’s more decorative than brightening. Instead, LuminAid maintains the charming twinkle of a string light and combines it with the practical brightness of a lantern. Packaged as a compact square, the 32 feet of string light unwraps from between two panels, one of which is a light source providing up to 300 lumens of brightness. With its hybrid design, LuminAid offers the aesthetic mood of a string light and the functional brightness of a lantern in a single product, with each part able to be used separately or together.

Ease of Use

When you’re in need of light, it’s nice to have a lantern that provides easy and immediate relief without needing to fumble around in the dark. The LE 1000LM LED Lantern is about as simple as it gets for usage, operating entirely with a single button. Just press the button to turn the lantern on and off, and to cycle through its cool white, warm white, and maximum brightness modes. As long as the lantern already has batteries, it’s ready to use immediately, and the single button makes it foolproof.

The Coleman Rugged Rechargeable also favors simplicity in its design. A single dial offers three options: “off,” “high,” and “low.” With a quick turn, the lantern switches between settings and is easy to use in the dark. 

Some of the lanterns we tested weren’t as “plug and play” right out of the box. There’s nothing wrong with taking the time to read instructions and learn how a product works, especially when it has multiple features. However, when you’re in the dark, it’s helpful to quickly figure out how a lantern functions and get immediate light. 

Intuitive operation is a useful aspect of a lantern’s design, along with built-in features that make it easier to use. Many lanterns include hooks, handles, and feet that provide options for hanging or setting it up on a table or the ground. We especially liked the options available on the GoalZero Lighthouse 600, with its flat bottom, feet for raised illumination, and top handle for overhead hanging. While car camping, we put all three modes to use when cooking and hanging out at our campsite.

How to Choose a Lantern

There are a few key factors we suggest considering when selecting the lantern that best meets your needs.  

Use

Knowing how and where you plan to use a lantern is a crucial factor in choosing the most helpful product. Are you hiking miles into the backcountry? Is the lantern in case of an emergency at home? Or are you simply looking to set the mood at your next backyard gathering? Where you are using a lantern and how you’re getting it to its destination will drastically impact your preference on size and weight.

For backpacking, the total weight and packability of a lantern are especially important, and features like external device charging and solar recharging become more valuable in backcountry settings. Lighting modes, whether flashing or color-changing, are less important for backpacking but appealing for close-to-home use, and when traveling by car, the weight of a lantern becomes a minor concern.

Durability

When choosing a lantern for different environments, it’s important to consider how its design and materials will affect how you use it. Glass is more fragile than plastic, making it a riskier option for rough roads or when packed into a bag. 

Even plastic isn’t immune to damage, and the globes surrounding lantern bulbs can crack. For trips where you’ll face rougher conditions, lanterns with a compact design and sturdy materials are more suitable. If you mainly plan to use your lantern outdoors, it’s best to select an option with better weather resistance made from materials designed to handle moisture and varying conditions. 

Durability also promotes longevity. Although they aren’t the most expensive gear, it’s not ideal to replace a lantern each year. Choosing a well-made, solidly built product increases the chances of it lasting for many years to come.

Lumens

Lumens measure a light’s brightness. However, having the highest lumen count doesn’t always mean a lantern is the best choice. Not all situations require intense brightness, and lower-lumen lanterns might be a better option, especially in smaller spaces or for tasks close at hand.

When using a lantern for emergency lighting or as the main light source for a large area, more lumens are preferable! The extra brightness helps distribute light more evenly for better visibility. 

Lanterns with bulbs that emit 360 degrees of light also offer a wider range of illumination. We found the ability to dim a lantern and adjust the lumen output especially helpful.

While staying at a campground in Glacier National Park, we used a lantern as an overhead light while cooking, setting it to its brightest for the clearest and broadest light spread. Once the detailed tasks were finished, we appreciated being able to dim the light while sitting around the picnic table to eat; the lantern provided enough illumination for us without affecting nearby campsites.

Batteries

Lantern power sources range from rechargeable internal batteries, single-use disposable batteries, and solar power. The ability to recharge a lantern’s battery greatly influences whether it is suitable for backcountry use. For backpacking, when access to power is limited or nonexistent, we prefer USB or solar rechargeable options. 

Although we usually hike with a power bank, which serves as the recharging source for USB-powered lanterns, we especially appreciate lanterns that function as a power bank themselves. Lanterns equipped with a USB port for charging external devices are perfect for camping or emergencies, providing a backup to keep phones and other gadgets charged. 

Although their burn times and resistance to colder temperatures are often better than rechargeable options, we found that lanterns using single-use batteries are unnecessary weight when backpacking, since they cannot be recharged. While ultimately disposable, D batteries last longer than AA or AAA batteries, but they are significantly heavier. It’s important to choose a lantern whose battery type fits into your charging system, whether on the trail or at home.

Conclusion

A good lantern is a light in the dark that provides the necessary illumination for activities around camp or outdoors even after the sun has set. We thoroughly examined how brightness, chargeability, portability, features, and ease of use were demonstrated in each lantern. Using these metrics as a framework, we tested each product in various environments to fully assess their functionality and performance. Our recommendations are supported by rigorous field testing and designed to help you find the perfect lantern for your needs.