The best camping lanterns can make your camping trip an extraordinary one. They not only provide light to your camping site, but they also transform a seemingly barren camp into something fairly close to home with just one flick of a switch.

A camping lantern is designed to light up a broad area, like the living space inside a large tent, or your picnic table outside without holding it. It frees up your hands so you can cook, eat, read, or enjoy a relaxing drink as the sun sets on the horizon.

Camping lanterns come in either gas or electric-powered ones. Gas lanterns use either liquid fuel or propane as their energy source, while electric lanterns use either alkaline or rechargeable batteries or an outside power source.

We focus here on electric LED lanterns powered by batteries as they are cheaper, more reliable, and easier to replenish compared to gas lanterns.

Camping Lanterns

 

Read on as we present you the 3 best camping lanterns we have found, and find out which one will best suit your needs.

Top 3 Best Camping Lanterns

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

 

Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern

The Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern is an excellent option not only for camping but for emergencies such as storms and power outages, too.

It measures 7.2” x 3.4” x 7.2” and weighs 1.04 Pounds. Its patented collapsible design gives you a button-free operation.

You just unfold the handles and pull them up to increase the light. You can pull all the way through for the brightest light or you can pull just halfway to dim it. Turning it off involves pushing the handles back to collapse the lantern. Once collapsed, it’s almost the size of your phone.

It is equipped with 30 super-bright LED bulbs to light up through 360 degrees of darkness on even the stormiest and bleakest of nights. Its battery life lasts over 90 hours or 3x longer than its nearest competitors.

It is constructed from military-grade materials: strong enough to withstand drops from as high as 10 feet, and durable enough to survive the toughest weather.

Vont backs this lantern up with a lifetime warranty that covers not only defects in materials and workmanship but also against theft and loss. You can rest assured you have a high-quality product in your hands.

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Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern

The Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern gives you 4 times the awesomeness of its original collapsible LED lantern. No more stumbling around in the dark.

It is equipped with the same features such as 30 LED bulbs to give you 360 degrees of the brightest light, button-free operation, fold-away handles, and military-grade construction.

It is tough enough to survive 10-foot drops and being briefly submerged in water or drenched in rains.

Many users are raving about how “crazy super bright” this lantern is. One user stated that it is bright enough to light his camping site and everything else within a 10-mile radius, and another commented that he “never knew LED lights are powered by the sun!”

Its battery-efficient feature is another thing that users love about this lantern. It provides up to 90 hours of light on 3 AA batteries which is 3x the average of its rivals. What’s more, the batteries included in the package are rechargeable.

This lantern package is also covered with Vont’s lifetime warranty. They are committed to providing you with unique and affordable electronic products that are hand-crafted with detailed attention and the use of eco-friendly materials.

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Streamlight 44931 Siege Compact

The Streamlight 44931 Siege Compact is a cordless alkaline battery-powered hand lantern that has proven its efficiency whether it is scorching hot, freezing cold, or desert or rainforest humid.

It has a base diameter of 3.8” and a height of 7.25”, and weighs 1 lb. 15 oz. including batteries.

It features a polycarbonate thermoplastic construction with elastomer over-mold, tough polycarbonate lenses, and a rubber-molded base for stability on uneven surfaces.

It floats on water and is IPX7 waterproof up to 1 meter deep. It also boasts of impact resistance when dropped from up to 2 meters.

It also has a multiple mode C4 LED Technology featuring:

1. White LED light with 4 C4 LED bulbs

The high mode for the brightest light can run for 30 hours, the medium mode for bright light good for 70 hours, and the low mode for low light can run for 295 hours.

2. Red LED with 1 red LED bulb

The red high for a steady night vision preserving mode can run for 235 hours, and the flash SOS mode for emergency signaling good for 430 hours.

The Streamlight Siege Compact is a powerful yet affordable option that provides rugged performance for your outdoor needs.

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Things to Consider When Buying a Camping Lantern

 

Before going out to buy your next best camping buddy, it is best to keep these factors in mind so you can choose what is right for you and your specifications.

1. Brightness

A lantern’s brightness is crucial to the success of your camping trip. You need a lantern that will allow you to move around your camp at night comfortably so you can enjoy the cool breezes while lounging around or better yet, barbecuing your favorite steaks.

2. Size and Weight

Choose one that is lightweight, compact, and easy to transport. A bulky and heavy lantern can wear you down fast before you even leave the house. You should also consider one that enables to you pack it up in your backpack or store it away in your cabinet when not in use.

3. Battery Life

Battery life is very important. You do not want your lantern to conk out on you in the middle of the night now, do you? A lantern that allows you to adjust its brightness, thus preserving battery life is a perfect option.

4. Ruggedness

Opt for lanterns that are solidly built with high-quality materials that can withstand whatever conditions you drag it through. It should be able to withstand being dropped, banged around, or rained on.