5+ Best Camping Lanterns For Your Next Trip Away

Camping lanterns are essential to avoid the use of candles when you're camping. Camping lanterns are lightweight, easy to pack, and provide ample brightness. There are many features that make a lamp great for camping. It should be lightweight and compact, emit 360 degrees of light for all directions, have a long lifespan with minimal battery usage, resistant to water damage and able to stand up on its own. These are some of the best camping lanterns you can buy.

1. HeroBeam LED Lantern

  • Super bright
  • Water-resistant
  • Compact and lightweight

This camping lantern has a brightness of 350 lumens with the integration of 48mm COB strips and can be used to illuminate various settings such as caravans and garages. This product also functions well during unexpected power cuts and evening events.

There is also a 1-Watt flashlight embedded at the button to deliver more brightness. The main body is constructed out of ABS plastic with no glass structures, making this product resistant to minor drops and impacts.

The flashlight is protected by an acrylic lens. The construction has a protection rating of IPX4, making it water-resistant and suitable for use during fishing trips or other outdoor activities.

This lantern is smaller at 5.5 inches in length with a thickness of 3.5 inches when pressed down upon. This small and dense structure makes this item portable and it can be moved around using the attached handle.

This product can be stored comfortably in a regular backpack when camping or standard cabinets for home use. 3 AA batteries are required to power up this device. This model is available in a sleek slate colourway. It is inclusive of a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.


2. LE 1000lm Rechargeable Camping Lantern

  • Sufficient brightness
  • Two side lights
  • Function as a power bank

This is a portable and unique camping lamp that can be charged on the go due to the USB port available. It is fitted with a 3600mAh power supply that can also double as a charger for handheld devices. The lifespan of this item is listed at around 100,000 hours.

The battery life is displayed using small blue lights. There are two sources of light on this product, one from the front and the other from the side. The front light can shine at a brightness of 700 lumens or switched to 1000 lumens, suitable for outdoor activities.

The side light provides less intense power at 70 lumens or 130 lumens, making it ideal for night time study sessions at home. Both of these light sources have dimmable functions.

This item is made out of plastic construction and has an IPX4 rating, making it water-resistant. This is a mid-sized product with a length of 10 inches and a thickness of 7 inches.

There is an in-built handgrip attached to the main body, making it portable. However, there is also a shoulder strap to hang the lantern on a tree or nearby mount. This product comes in a black and green colour scheme.


3. HONGYAN LED Camping Light

  • High Brightness
  • Water-proof 
  • Function as a power bank

This camping light from HONGYAN is built out of ABS plastic to withstand outdoor environments with an IP66 rating, making it completely water-proof and resistant to drops and bumps. It is engineered with a 5200mAh rechargeable battery that lasts for 100 hours at the lowest setting.

USB charging is required. The battery can also function as a power bank to charge mobile devices and tablets. There are 5 light settings, namely high brightness, low brightness, medium brightness, strobe lighting and SOS.

The high brightness mode shines at around 200 lumens whereas low bright brightness comes in at 24 lumens. The SOS feature is especially useful for emergency situations. Switching between modes involve pressing the power button multiple times.

This is an incredibly small light which can fit into one hand comfortably. Thus, this is a multifunction product which can be moved to illuminate camping groups or function at home as a night light due to the portability.

This item comes with a magnetic plate, which can attach to any metal region without the risk of damage. There is also the option to hang this product with the included hook. It is available in a white, black and green colourway.


4. Tough Light LED Rechargeable Lantern

  • Super bright
  • Water and drop resistant
  • Function as a power bank

This lantern shines at 400 lumens at the brightest setting and is equipped with a large 6000mAh li-ion rechargable battery. This product has an advertised lifespan of 50,000 hours. With one charge using a standard USB cable, this item can last 200 hours on the lowest setting.

Additionally, this battery can double as a power bank for smartphones and tablets. It is made up of plastic and rubber with an IPX6 water resistance rating. There is shock-resistance at a drop of about 5 feet.

There are 6 lighting systems available, namely high, medium, low, SOS, red and red flashing. Interestingly, the red flashing mode can last for 526 hours which is useful for emergencies. There is a battery life measure as well.

This is a mid-sized lantern at 7 x 3.5 inches. This product is designed with a storage base at the top to fit in the charging cable.

There are two means to hang this item, either through the attached handle or through a utility hook which comes along with a purchase. This product is available in a brown and black colour palette. It comes with a 24-month warranty.


5. LuminAID PackLite 2-in-1 Phone Charger

  • Compact All-in-One
  • Two Ways to Recharge
  • Work as power bank

This is a lantern that when fully expanded, has a measurement of 6 x 6 inches. It is shaped by a TPU material which has a protection rating of IP67, making this product waterproof and shock resistant.

It is fitted with a 4000mAh li-ion battery which can be recharged through solar power or a regular USB cable. With typical usage, this lantern can last for around 100 hours before charging is required.

This product can also work as a power bank with the capacity to charge a single smartphone or tablet to full charge, depending on the model. This item shines at a maximum brightness of 300 lumens. There are 5 brightness levels with the inclusion of SOS for emergency situations.

This is a compact and thin product when compressed with a thickness of 1 inch. This quality makes this item extremely portable and suitable for camping and other outdoor activities. It can be held up during a carabiner loop which has a Velcro strip, making it functionable in even rainy conditions.

LuminAID comes in a plastic material and a bright orange loop. This is a multifunction device with the option to be used during power cuts or regular walks on the beach.


How to choose the best camping lantern?

When it comes to choosing a lantern you'll want to ensure it's:

  • Portable, easy to carry and lightweight for your pack or tent, lighter the better
  • Long battery life and either charges via solar or rechargeable battery
  • Emits a 360 degree light so you can light up all sides of your tent
  • Offers a range of lighting brightnesses, sometimes you need bright light, others faded
  • Waterproof if you're going to be using it outside a tent, such as walking to and from camp
  • A carry loop or velcro strap for attaching to your body
  • A hanger for attaching or hanging up in your tent for night time use. 

James Hunter

Last Updated: December 3, 2021 by Rhys