Some of our favorite camping lanterns. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

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There’s nothing worse than setting up camp in the dark. Despite thoughtful planning and valiant efforts, it happens to the best of us. You’re not a true camper unless you’ve pitched a tent in the dark a time or two. That’s why camping lanterns are always near the top of our packing list.

Lanterns have come a long way since the kerosene days, and the best camping lanterns these days are incredible. Most are rechargeable, some use solar-charging, and some offer multiple colors options and brightnesses. We set out to find the best camping lanterns available so that you’re never setting up camp or cooking camp dinner in total darkness. Here are eight of our favorites.

If you want to learn how these camping lanterns compared to one another, take a look at our Comparison Table. Or, if you want to know more about what to look for in a good camping lantern, head to our Buyer’s Guide.

The Best Camping Lanterns of 2024

Best Overall Camping Lantern: Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern
Runner-Up Best Overall Camping Lantern: Biolite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern
Bust Budget Camping Lantern: Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern
Best Lightweight Camping Lantern: Black Diamond Moji+ Lantern

Best Overall Camping Lantern

Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub ($70)

Pros: Can be charged via USB, solar, or hand crank; can charge phones
Cons: No standard night-vision mode (red light mode blinks)

Burn Time: 180 hours
Lumens: 600
Power Source: 5,200 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
Weight: 1 lb 1.6 oz

The Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub was hands down the best camping lantern we tested. For starters, the Lighthouse 600 is rechargeable via USB, but it also can be charged using solar or the built-in hand crank, so you never have to worry about being stuck in the dark. The Lighthouse has a knob that allows you to easily adjust the light from dim to super bright. This lantern got the brightest out of any we tested. Full brightness wasn’t necessary most of the time, but was helpful when setting up our campsite in the dark.

At low output, the battery can last for an astounding 180 hours; at maximum output, the battery lasts about 2.5 hours. The Lighthouse 600 has collapsible legs, so it can stand on its base or on its legs if you want it to sit higher (great for cooking and eating). It also has a collapsible handle on top if you prefer to hang it. The lantern has a small USB port that can be used to charge phones and small USB devices, which proved super useful for juicing up the phone or headlamp before bed. The charging USB cord is built-in, so you never have to worry about losing it, which we want to personally thank Goal Zero for.

Finally, the Lighthouse 600 has a blinking red light on top. We wish there was a way to have it be solid red without blinking for middle of the night activities, but it’s still a nice emergency option to have. All in all, we were blown away by the Lighthouse 600’s design, and we loved how well it lit up camp.

Runner-Up Best Overall Camping Lantern

Biolite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern ($80)

Pros: Nine lighting modes, easy to use
Cons: No carrying handle

Burn Time: 200 hours
Lumens: 500
Power Source: 6,400 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
Weight: 13.8 oz

The Biolite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern is a fun option for lighting while camping. The lantern has nine different lighting modes including cool light, half warm light, full candle flicker, color light, color party, fireworks, and more. Although we mainly gravitated towards the white light modes, it was fun to have the colored options as well.

The rechargeable AlpenGlow has an impressive battery life: It can run for up to 200 hours on low or five hours on high. When it does die, it only takes three hours to reach a full charge, and then it’s back in action. This lantern is also super easy to use — you simply click the power button on the top to turn it on and switch between the various modes. When you shake the lantern, it cycles additional lighting modes like the candle flicker and rotating colors.

The AlpenGlow is a freestanding lantern, but it has a collapsible hook underneath should you wish to hang it. The AlpenGlow also has USB-A charge outport that you can use to charge small devices. The only thing we really missed on this BioLite camping lantern was a carrying handle. The AlpenGlow also comes in two smaller sizes: the AlpenGlow 250 and the AlpenGlow Mini Lantern. We placed this lantern just behind the Lighthouse 600 because it is not quite as versatile, and $10 dollars more, but it still is a top-tier option.

Bust Budget Camping Lantern

Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern ($20)

Pros: Lightweight, can be solar powered
Cons: Not many lighting modes

Burn Time: 20 hours
Lumens: 60
Power Source: USB cable or built-in solar panel
Weight: 3.2 oz

The Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern is a lightweight, packable lantern. Weighing just 3.2 ounces, the Crush Light lantern is the lightest camping lantern we tested, making it a great pick for car camping as well as backpacking. The lantern flattens down for packability and can be expanded while in use.

The Crush Lantern can be charged using a USB port or via the solar panels on the top of it. If you plan to use it for backpacking, it is convenient to hang the lantern from the outside of your pack while you hike. The lantern has a normal light as well as a candle mode, which you can access via the power button. Finally, the handle works well for carrying or hanging the Crush Light.

Best Lightweight Camping Lantern

Black Diamond Moji+ Lantern ($30)

Pros: Small and compact
Cons: Not rechargeable

Burn Time: N/A
Lumens: 200
Power Source: 3 AAA Alkaline batteries
Weight: 2.6 oz

The lightest and most compact lantern on our list, the Black Diamond Moji+Lantern burns bright despite its size. Weighing just 2.6 ounces, the Moji+ fits in the palm of your hand so it takes up hardly any space when packing. The lantern is powered by three AAA batteries or a rechargeable Black Diamond 1500 battery (not included). Editor’s Note: You can also purchase a fully-rechargeable Moji R+ for $45 at the time of publishing). 

Although it’s small, the Moji+ is mighty and can withstand splashing water, rain, or sleet, so you can take it camping anytime, anywhere. The two-button interface allows you to switch between standard lighting, campfire mode, or rainbow colors. The Moji+ has double hooks on the bottom for hanging or four small magnets that can be used to secure it to a metal surface. This camping lantern makes a great backup or backpacking option.

Best of the Rest

Most Durable Camping Lantern

Wren Hanging Camp Lantern ($65)

Pros: Stainless steel frame, retro look
Cons: Base doesn’t work great on uneven surfaces

Burn Time: 45 hours
Lumens: 250
Power Source: 3,350 mAh rechargeable battery
Weight: 1.1 lb

The Wren Hanging Camp Lantern sports a sleek, modern design, but still has all the modern features we want in a good camping lantern. The Wren has five different lighting modes including low, medium, high, candle, and night vision-saving red. The knob on the top makes it super easy to switch between the various modes.

The Wren is splash proof, which is a great feature for us as we do the majority of our camping at the beach. Surrounded by a powder-coated steel frame, the lantern is well-protected and very durable — great for the inevitable dings and dents that camping brings. The Wren can run for up to 45 hours and has a rechargeable battery. Finally, the handle on the top can be used for carrying or to hang in your tent.

Best Hanging Camping Lantern 

Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern ($100)

Pros: Sleep mode automatically turns off lantern when surroundings are quiet
Cons: No red light option, expensive

Burn Time: 80 hours
Lumens: 100
Power Source: 4 AA batteries, USB Mini plug-in
Weight: 5.8 oz

If you like hanging a lantern in your tent then you’ll love the Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern. While the Hozuki Lantern can be set on a table, it’s best suited for hanging. It has hook at the top, so it’s super easy to attach to your tent or a sturdy tree branch.

One of our favorite features of the Hozuki is the “sleep mode.” In sleep mode, the light automatically turns off when the surrounding space is silent, so you don’t have to worry about wasting battery life if you fall asleep with it on. The Hozuki lantern is lightweight, and its squishy frame means there’s little fear of it breaking should it end up packed at the bottom of a bag. The Hozuki also has a soft candle mode, but we wish it had a red light option to preserve night vision as well.

Snow Peak Home & Camp Lantern ($160)

Pros: Charging stand, adjustable brightness
Cons: Expensive

Burn Time: 23 hours
Lumens: 400
Power Source: USB Charging
Weight: 1.6 lbs

The Snow Peak Home & Camp Lantern looks a bit like your grandpa’s camping lantern, but with some modern upgrades. The lantern uses LED bulbs, which provide light for up to 23 hours. The lantern stands tall but you can flip the handle around to the base for a different lighting experience. We preferred using it the way it came, but inverting is great for hanging the lantern. Although the handle is adjustable, it doesn’t collapse down which would be helpful for storage.

The Home & Camp lantern has a simple on and off button that can be held down to adjust brightness. We liked the stable base and easy-to-hang handle. The Home & Camp lantern is also rechargeable and a USB charging stand is included. An easy-to-use and sleek lantern, the Snow Peak Home & Camp is a great choice, but it is pricey.

Black Diamond Orbiter 650 Lantern ($65)

Pros: Collapsible legs, waterproof
Cons: Only 10 hours battery life

Burn Time: 10 hours
Lumens: 650
Power Source: 5,200 mAh Li-Ion rechargeable battery
Weight: 1 lb 1.6 oz

A versatile and easy to use lantern, the Black Diamond Orbiter 650 Lantern is cleverly designed. The Orbiter 650 features bright, even light, and it has various lighting modes — including fun rainbow colors. It also has a campfire mode for those times when you’re staying at a campsite that doesn’t allow fires but you crave that campfire flicker.

The legs fold in so you can set it directly on the table or prop it up on the legs if you want your lantern to sit higher. It also has a small handle on top that you can use for hanging. The handle is a little difficult to flip out, but it’s a great option for the tent once you get it unfolded. The Orbiter is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about storms or if you leave it out overnight.

When fully charged the Orbiter will run for about 10 hours, which was sufficient for a single night trip, but compared to our top picks it left a bit to be desired. We also found that we had to get a sufficient charge to use the lantern at all which was annoying when we wanted to charge quickly. The lantern does feature electronic locks to prevent turning on while traveling (necessary for an option without great battery life to begin with). While we love the functionality, if this camping lantern had better battery life we’d recommend it more highly.

Best Camping Lanterns Comparison Table

How We Tested the Best Camping Lanterns

Our lead tester has spent many, many nights sleeping under the stars. In that time, she’s set up camp in the dark enough times to appreciate the value of a good camping lantern. To test out the best camping lanterns, she went camping with friends and used the lanterns to help light up the campsite, whether that meant setting up a tent or cooking a delicious camp dinner.

The best way to test out camping lantern is to use them to help you set up camp in the dark. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Camping Lanterns Buyer’s Guide

Types of Camping Lanterns

Camping Lantern

A camping lantern often takes design cues from a propane lantern (think of the classic Coleman lantern). The best camping lanterns typically have a generous battery life, emit generous amount of light, and have handles and platforms that allow them to sit flat on a table or be hung from a tent or tree. Most camping lanterns weigh somewhere in the range of one to two pounds. They typically aren’t the most small or packable, which is why they are best suited for car camping.

Backpacking Lantern

If you’re looking for a camping lantern to take backpacking, then you’ll want something lightweight and compact. Some backpacking lanterns are always small, whereas others collapse to cut down on packed space. Some backpacking lanterns are solar powered, others are battery powered, and a few are plug-in rechargeable. Backpacking lanterns aren’t typically as bright (in lumens) as camping lanterns due to their smaller size.

The Black Diamond Moji+ Lantern is so compact it fits in the palm of your hand, making it a great pick for backpacking. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

What Makes a Good Camping Lantern?

Lumens/Brightness

When it comes to camping lanterns, brightness is measured in lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the lantern. Depending on how you plan on using your lantern, you may want a super bright lantern for things like setting up camp. But, if you simply want your lantern for use in your tent, you may not want or need a high-powered lantern. In our opinion, the ideal lantern is capable of shining really bright, but features lower-light settings for versatility. Boasting 600 lumens, the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub is among the brightest of any camping lanterns we tested, but it can be adjusted to lower the light output.

The Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub was our favorite camping lantern. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Light Modes

Traditional, old-school lanterns simply had an on and off switch but lanterns these days have lots of options. All of the lanterns on our list have various brightness settings. Some also have various colors, others have red light options to preserve your night vision around camp, and some have candle or campfire modes (great for fire ban season). Varying brightness settings are an essential of the best camping lanterns.

Battery Life

Noting the battery life of your camping lantern is important. Before setting out for your camping trip, make sure your lantern is fully charged. If you use your lantern at full brightness your battery is going to drain quickly, whereas if you use it a low brightness it will greatly extend your battery life. On our comparison table, all the burn times listed are for use in the lowest light setting. The longest burning lantern on our list is the Biolite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern, which is capable of emitting light for 200 hours when used on the lowest setting.

You can crank the handle on the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub if you need more charge. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Rechargeable vs. Disposable Batteries

Most camping lanterns these days come with rechargeable batteries. Of the eight lanterns we tested, only the Black Diamond Moji+ Lantern has the option to use traditional batteries. We tend to recommend rechargeable lanterns because they produce less waste and often feature longer battery life. Most of the rechargeable lanterns must be plugged into an outlet to charge but the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub can be charged via the sun or its hand crank. The Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern also uses solar charging. If you’re camping for just a night or two, then alternative charging options aren’t necessary, but if you’ll be camping for awhile, or are backpacking, having a solar charging option is a huge bonus.

Ease of Use

Some camping lanterns require you to push a power button and you’re good to go. Others have lots of features and buttons and take some time to figure out. We prefer a lantern that is self explanatory and that we can figure out quickly. This includes all aspects, including charging and packing.

Weight

If you’re car camping, weight might not be an issue, but if you plan on backpacking with your camping lantern then you’ll want one that is lightweight and compact. All of the lanterns we tested weigh less than 2 pounds, but the Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern weighs just 3.2 ounces and the Black Diamond Moji+ Lantern weighs 2.6 ounces, making them great picks for backpacking as well as car camping.

A nice, bright, easy to use lantern is the name of the game. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Packed Size

Similar to weight, packed size isn’t as critical for car camping as it is for backpacking. But in our opinion, the more compact camping gear is, the better. For the full-size tabletop lanterns, we appreciated when the handles collapsed or folded in to minimize the amount of packed-space they took up. For backpacking, we were looking for something as small and compact as possible.

Weather-Resistance

If you camp often, you’ll likely face rain or snow at some point. As such, it’s important to have a camping lantern that is capable of withstanding the elements. Many of the lanterns we tested were labeled as splash proof, meaning they can hold their own against some light weather. Our tester lives in Hawaii where small showers are frequent, but she didn’t encounter any major storms during her testing — the lanterns all performed well in the short rain showers she did experience.

Best Overall Camping Lantern

The Lighthouse 600 is rechargeable via USB, but it also can be charged using solar power or the built-in hand crank, so you never have to worry about being stuck in the dark. It also has a knob that allows you to adjust brightness and plenty of handles.

Check Price on REI

Handles

Handles are an essential feature of camping lanterns. A main center handle for carrying the lantern is nice as well as some sort of handle, clip, or hook that you can hang the lantern by. We found that most of the handles collapsed or folded into the lantern to minimize space when they weren’t in use which was a feature we appreciated. Some lanterns had just one handle, while others had both a carrying handle and a hook to hang the lantern with.

The Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern has a hook that makes it easy to hang in your tent. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

On-Board Charging

Many of the lanterns on this list have the ability to charge cell phones and other small items using their built-in batteries. Obviously doing so will drain your lantern battery more quickly, but it’s a great feature to have. We didn’t deem this the most important factor, but certainly an added bonus for those of us who let our phones hover a little too close to empty.

Editor’s Note: Need a tent to take camping? Check out our The Best Camping Tents review. Looking for a place to plant your tush? We ranked the Best Camping Chairs. Got a camping trip planned with you S.O.? The Best Camping Gear for Couples can help with that. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here. 

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