8 Best Camping Lanterns in 2024

Camping addicts know that a reliable source of light is essential when spending time in the great outdoors. Camping lanterns have a wide range of applications such as lighting the tent or campsite, a light source in the garden, or outdoor lighting with a motion sensor.

Today, the market is flooded with a wide range of camping lanterns, and each offers unique features, designs, and capabilities to enhance your outdoor experience. To help you find the best camping lanterns for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of top-rated options that combine innovation, durability, and performance. We will highlight their key features, advantages, and potential drawbacks.

Best Camping Lanterns of 2024

Our favorite camping lantern is the Black Diamond VOLT Lantern. It offers high performance battery, mobile phone charging, Stepless dimming, blink mode, battery indicator, and more.

Here is our updated ranking of the top 8 best camping lanterns in 2024…

Image	Name	Material	lumens	Price
	Black Diamond Equipment	Plastic	250	Check
	ThorFire CL01 LED	ABS	125	Check
	Goal Zero Lighthouse	Plastic	400	Check
	MPOWERD Luci EMRG	PVC	65	Check
	Primus Unisex Lantern	Aluminum	330	Check
	Lamplight Farmer’s Lantern	Metal	40	Check
	Etekcity Camping Lantern	ABS	140	Check
	Petzl NOCTILIGHT Headlamp	Plastic	20	Check

1. Black Diamond VOLT Lantern

With small dimensions, the Black Diamond Equipment Volt is a practical lantern for camping. It is made with an eco-friendly design. It will follow you in all your camping sessions to support you without flinching. Like a rechargeable headlamp, it offers more flexibility with power options.

When packing, it can be locked so that it does not accidentally turn on in the backpack. Despite its compactness, the device shines brightly and at the lowest level for up to 20 hours. It is infinitely dimmable between 10 and 250 lumens.

If the battery runs low, it will automatically switch to the batteries used. And with the USB input and output, both the lantern and the cell phone can be charged on the go. It can be used standing on the table or hanging. Overall, it is a small all-rounder lantern for camping. I can’t imagine using it as a power bank, but in a pinch, you can do so.

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2. ThorFire Folding Camping Lantern

Thorfire camping lantern is perfect for indoor, outdoor, and emergency use. It has two lighting modes: High and Low. The peculiarity of this product is its compactness. When unfolded it functions as a lantern, when folded it can be used as a flashlight. In two modes, it shines 125 lumens or 30 lumens bright.

The light lasts 40 minutes on the higher setting and about 4.5 hours on the lower setting. If the battery is low, a hand crank can be used to provide additional burn time. You can open it at various lengths and easily control the amount of light it shines. Mobile phones and other devices can also be charged in this way.

Thorfire camping lantern is only 5.9 oz in weight. It is as small as your phone, so you can easily fit it in your backpack or emergency kit. You can charge this device either via a regular 5V USB charging cable or hand cranking when you are out of the power supply.

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3. Goal Zero Lighthouse Bright Lantern

The Goal Zero Lighthouse 400 is the brightest camping lantern in our comparison. LEDs are installed as illuminants. The light can be adjusted to 180° or 360°. In the brightest mode, the battery runs for up to 4 hours. And with dimming and 180° mode, it even manages 350 hours.

This lamp gets very bright and has a wide illumination area. It’s also great for taking to the bathroom at night. You can recharge the internal battery from any USB port or use the built-in hand crank to charge up instantly and never be left in the dark.

It is robust and weatherproof for outdoor use. The base is magnetic for setting up and the lantern is equipped with a carrying handle for carrying or hanging. You can easily install it with its folding legs; a unique and totally ingenious mechanism. However, the adjustment knob is small and slick, making it a bit hard to turn.

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4. MPOWERD Luci EMRG Solar Lantern

The Luci EMRG Solar Lantern is a game-changer for anyone in need of reliable emergency lighting. Its innovative design, featuring a built-in rechargeable 350mAh lithium-ion battery, ensures that you never have to worry about replacing batteries. With the included USB-C to USB-A charging cable, keeping your Luci EMRG powered up is effortless.

With 25 lumens of brightness emitted by 3 cool white LEDs and 1 red LED, this lantern provides powerful illumination for up to 7 hours on a single charge. Its versatility is unmatched, offering 5 lighting modes including low, high, flashing, S.O.S., and steady red.

Despite its compact size and lightweight design, the Luci EMRG is incredibly durable, able to withstand up to 150 lbs of pressure, and has an IP67 waterproof rating. Its quick shut-off feature and battery indicator add to its convenience and usability. This will ensure you’re never left in the dark when it matters most.

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5. Primus Mimer Lantern Duo

This lantern is screwed onto a gas cartridge, burns soot-free, and shines very brightly. The built-in frosted glass breaks the light into a pleasantly warm glow. Thanks to the piezo ignition, there is no need to carry a lighter with you. The transport box is stable and protects the lantern.

Primus camping lantern can be mounted on both screw and plug-in cartridges. It is adaptable for almost all screw gas cartridges on the market. The quietly burning lantern is particularly suitable for campers who travel with a gas cooker and do not want to carry an additional battery.

It has a hook at the top of the head, you can attach the LED lantern to the car engine, car below, or elsewhere. The durable material guarantees excellent break and wear resistance. The workmanship is truly top notch. And the operation is quite simple.

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6. Lamplight 52664 Farmer’s

A classic among outdoor lanterns: the hurricane lantern from Lamplight. The construction guarantees economical consumption, so the lantern burns for up to 20 hours. The sleek black color adds a touch of sophistication to its design. However, you can only use fuel or pure lamp oil.

It is not only stylish but also sustainable. The base is a renewable and resource-saving material, which stands for sustainability and longevity. Lamplight Farmer’s camping lantern is bright enough to light a dark path and can illuminate a small balcony. The heavy gauge wire handle keeps your fingers from being burnt.

The lantern is sometimes called the Storm Lantern. Because it is robustly built and weatherproof, thanks to the galvanizing. The flame is protected from the wind and can burn calmly and evenly. It is perfect for the patio, garden, or camping. And if you care properly, it will last a long time.

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7. Etekcity LED Versatile Lantern

Etekcity is an excellent outdoor lantern for camping. With a weight of less than 10 oz, this model is easy to collapse into a small size, so you can pack it in a backpack or emergency kit. It is a versatile lantern, making it perfect for camping, hiking, night walking, or emergencies such as a power outage.

Etekcity camping lantern is equipped with 30 LEDs and achieves outstanding brightness without blinding you when you look at it. And with its 360° wide-angle design, it covers a large area. In addition, the lights are IP44 certified, which means it is completely waterproof.

It features the latest lens technology for glare-free warm white light and high energy efficiency. The battery lasts all night (up to 30 hours of bright light) after being fully charged during the day. This device also has a convenient storage compartment at the top of the lantern, allowing you to store keys, spare batteries, loose change, or any other small essentials you might need.

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8. Petzl Noctilight Lantern with Headlamp

For campers and trekkers with a Petzl headlamp, this model doubles as a protective cover and a lantern. The headlamp is placed in the case and can be used as a lantern due to its nature. This model is red at the base and has a black zipper. It will easily find its place in your camping or roaming hiking needs.

This small outdoor lantern can be used standing or hanging. It is also possible to attach it to a belt, for example. Furthermore, the case is extremely light and therefore hardly adds to the weight of the equipment. The protective cover weighs 72 g.

It is very compact and light, you can store your headlamp in a bag when you’re not wearing it. The manufacturer also offers a 5-year guarantee against any defects in material or construction. It is compatible with a wide range of Petzl headlamps. However, it can be tricky to wiggle; make sure to set the right setting before you zip it up.

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What to Consider When Buying a Camping Lantern?

Choosing the best camping lanterns depends on a few features. This way everyone is guaranteed to see the light when making a decision! The following properties are important when buying a camping lantern:

Operating mode

You can choose between three drive types for camping lanterns:

Fuel lamps

Fuels used for lanterns are typically kerosene, lamp oil, or gas. Gas can usually be plugged or rotated onto gas cartridges. If you have them with you for cooking anyway, you can use such a model. These types of lamps are characterized by their bright light. But they are usually noisy and associated with a certain safety risk. Camping candles also belong in this category. Above all, they provide a nice ambience, but can become very bright with a reflector.

Rechargeable battery lanterns

Cordless and battery-operated lanterns are safe alternatives to fuel lanterns. Before the trip, the burning time should be checked and extra batteries or a way to charge them (power bank, solar charger) should be taken with you. These lanterns are not recommended in winter as the batteries lose their charge at low temperatures. When it comes to batteries, you should pay attention to the correct battery type, otherwise, the lantern can break.

Solar lanterns

The most sustainable variant of outdoor lamps. They are suitable for long outdoor activities, as no fuel or batteries have to be carried along. They are also lighter than other options. Most solar camping lanterns have a built-in backup battery. Some manufacturers rely on battery/rechargeable batteries and solar in combination.

Luminosity

Depending on the application, the brightness of the camping lantern is decisive. Before buying, it should be clear what the lantern is used for. To find your way around in the tent, a lower lumen number is sufficient than for cooking or reading. With many models, the luminosity can be adjusted in steps or even continuously. Some manufacturers even let you choose whether 180° or 360° should be illuminated.

Burn time

Before the trip, it is necessary to consider how long the lantern should ideally burn. The longer the lamp lasts on one charge or fills, the better. It is best to estimate the period of use higher, just to be on the safe side. Remember that the lamp will run out faster in a brighter setting. If possible, the lantern should be used dimmed for longer periods.

Weight

When trekking or camping, an ultra-light lantern is suitable, which turns a headlamp into a lantern with a protective cover. Other models are very light thanks to the solar drive. Rechargeable batteries are comparatively heavy. A fuel-powered lamp that matches other equipment, such as the stove, will help.

If you are traveling by car or RV, you can also use a heavier lamp.

Size

The dimensions of the lamp also depend on the type of travel. Those who travel with a backpack prefer a very small or foldable lantern. Larger models are available for motorized campers, which can also illuminate the entire campsite if required.

Additional accessories

• Suspension: Most camping lanterns have a hook, handle, or other suspensions so that they can be conveniently placed in the tent or gazebo.
• Cell Phone Charging: Many battery-operated lights come with built-in cell phone charging via a USB cable. MP3 or GPS devices can also be loaded with it.
• Crank: In an emergency, devices with a hand crank are convincing. In this way, electricity can be generated. For example, the mobile phone can be charged or the light can be used.
• Handling: The placement of buttons such as charging or lighting the lamp should be checked before the purchase. The easier and faster, the better.
• Foldable: Some models come with folding design for easy storage and are sometimes used as a flashlight.
• Legs: Lanterns often have collapsible legs that provide a secure footing.
• Weather resistance: Many models are waterproof or at least splashproof. Depending on the application, this should be an exclusion criterion.

FAQs

Which LED lantern is suitable for camping and hiking?

Light and small models are particularly suitable for camping and hiking. Foldable models are also ideal. Look for lanterns that offer both high and low brightness settings to conserve battery when needed.

How expensive are good camping lanterns?

The price of good camping lanterns can vary significantly depending on various factors, including the brand, features, brightness, and durability. Expect to pay between $20 and $60 for good camping lanterns.

How long do camping lanterns last?

With proper use, camping lanterns can last for years, if not decades. The individual burn time varies depending on the model and should be checked before the purchase.

What alternatives to camping lanterns are there?

Flashlights and headlamps are popular alternatives to camping lanterns. However, these products do not provide even lighting as a lamp does.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the best camping lantern for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Investing in a quality camping lantern is essential for a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience. Now you know the best and most popular outdoor lanterns in each category and what should be considered when buying. With this information, you’re guaranteed to find your favorite!

Read Also…

• Smart Tips on Camping in Thunderstorms & Lightning
• Best Battery Operated Fans for Camping
• Why Bring a Headlamp When Hiking?