7 Best Camping Lanterns UK Rated [2023]
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This post is one of a series on the best camping lights in the UK (within this site’s travel gear category). Having covered fairy lights to decorate your pitch, I’m now taking a look at a more practical form of illumination. Hence this guide to finding the best camping lantern in the UK.
When it comes to outdoor lights for camping, a lantern is such a versatile bit of kit. A powerful camping lantern can be your main source of camping tent lighting, and it can also be carried around. Allowing you to see your way clearly in the dark.
We had a camping lantern in our old VW campervan, which we sold last year along with the whole kit and caboodle. Giving me an excuse to invest in the best LED camping lantern available in the UK right now. For us, it’s LED all the way – not least because Mister used to be an electrician and is thus pretty fussy about that sort of thing.
Can’t wait? See the best LED camping lantern right here
My favourite is the Goal Zero Lighthouse. It just has so much going for it, including a 600 lumen output, a wind-up power option plus a solar panel, and a long running time on each charge.
If you too want to find the best camping lamp for in-tent and portable lighting, read on to find the top option. From a portable LED lantern to carry to the toilet block or your friends’ tent to the brightest camping light for your own campervan, caravan or awning, this guide to what to look for plus camping lamp reviews should light the way.
Let’s begin with a quick-reference comparison table so you can compare all the top options at a glance. Next up is a list of the options, what to consider when choosing and camping lantern reviews for UK buyers. Finally, some frequently asked questions are answered to help you make up your mind.
Best Camping Lantern UK contents
- Best camping lantern comparison chart
- Best camp lanterns – Top options
- Best camping lamps – What to look for
- Best camp lamp – Reviews & recommendations
- Best camping lanterns – FAQs
Battery lantern lights comparison chart
| Name | Lumens | Power | LED | Key features | Price |
| Black Diamond Moji | 250 | AC or battery | Yes | Charges devices, 3 power options, dimmable | Amazon eBay |
| Goal Zero Lighthouse | 600 | Solar, USB or crank | Yes | 1 min crank = 10 mins power, 3 sources, 600 lumens | Amazon eBay |
| Vango Lunar 250 | 250 | Solar or USB | Yes | Integral solar panel, Li-ion battery, LG LEDs | Amazon eBay |
| HeroBeam | 350 | Battery | Yes | Magnetic base, collapsible, 5 year warranty | Amazon eBay |
| Princeton Tec Helix | 150 or 300 | Battery | Yes | Tough build, dimmable, water resistant | Amazon eBay |
| Biolite Alpenglow | 250 or 500 | USB | Yes | Sleek looks, good run time, various modes | Amazon eBay |
| Coleman batteryguard | 200, 600 or 800 | Battery | Yes | Great price, top brand, batteryguard tech | Amazon eBay |
Best camping lamp – Top options
- Black Diamond Moji – Best multi-purpose lantern
- Goal Zero Lighthouse – Best all-round lantern
- Vango Lunar 250 – Best solar-powered lantern
- HeroBeam collapsible – Best backpacking lantern
- Princeton Tec Helix – Best rugged lantern
- Biolite Alpenglow – Best stylish lantern
- Coleman batteryguard – Best value for money
Best battery lantern lights – What to look for
Brightness
When considering the best LED tent lights, lumens is what to look for. That will tell you how bright the lantern is. A torch may be about 50 lumens, so the best camping LED lantern will have double that – or higher.
LEDs are the best choice in terms of both brightness and efficiency. Some lamps are also dimmable, so you needn’t have bright light all the time. As well as creating a relaxing atmosphere, this can also save power.
Power source
You might already know you’re looking for a USB rechargeable camping lantern, or you may not mind buying batteries for convenience. If you opt for USB, consider how you’ll recharge that. It may not be an option without mains hook-up!
A rechargeable lithium ion battery is very efficient, however, and better for the environment. Some can even be powered by the sun, as they have a built-in solar panel.
Running time
How long can your lantern run for on each charge or set of batteries? Don’t forget to take into account the season, as the longer, lighter nights of June and early July mean you won’t need light until around 9 or 10pm.
Depending on the power source and how long each charge lasts, you might need to take extra batteries along. Or find a charging spot while you’re away.
Water resistance
It’s no good buying the brightest camping lantern you can find for it to fail in wet weather. If you like to sit outside during darkness, then you may want to look for a water resistant model. The same applies when you want to carry it while it’s raining.
Style
Not all camping lanterns look alike. Some of the battery-powered or rechargeable lamps available in the UK are in fact seriously stylish – while others have a far more rugged appearance.
Are you a military style camper, or more into glamping? Whichever is is, you can pick a lamp to suit your camping trips. Should you want to take that into account. (Which I, for one, do!)
Handle, hook & stand
Do you want the best camping lantern with LED light that you can carry, or is it to use solely indoors (such as when you already have a head torch for walking around in darkness)? Look out for how you can stand or hook the lamp up inside the tent, caravan or camper.
If you do want a lantern to carry around, then a handle is a must. Look for one that’s smooth and seems like it would be comfortable to hold.
Best Camping Lantern UK – Reviews & recommendations
Black Diamond Moji charging station lantern
Best multi-purpose lantern
- Brightness: 250 lumens
- Power source: AC, rechargeable battery or AA batteries
- LED: Yes
This cute little Black Diamond camping lantern can be charged by several means and can even power up your phone.
I had to start with this multi-functional light. It’s not only the best car camping lantern around – as it can be charged via AC – but can also use AA batteries or the lithium ion battery that’s rechargeable.
But the really clever thing about this Moji lantern from Black Diamond is the fact that it’s also a charging station. The USB port can charge your smartphone while you’re away from home. So once you charge this lantern up, you have light plus a source of power in one ingenious device.
Up to 250 lumens is provided and the light is dimmable. There’s a retractable hook for hanging, and you can even power it by using simple, readily available and convenient AA batteries.
High points:
- Dimmable light
- 3 power options
- Charges devices via USB port
Low points:
- AC adaptor not included
Goal Zero camping lantern
Best all-round lantern
- Brightness: 600 lumens
- Power source: Rechargeable battery, solar panel & hand crank
- LED: Yes
A hand crank makes this one stand out, though you can also power it via a solar panel or USB, making this a true off-grid option.
When you want the best wind up lantern in the UK this product can go one better – it can also be powered via the solar panel or USB. One minute of turning the crank can produce up to 10 minutes’ worth of light, which is pretty impressive.
It’s a powerful, bright camping lantern too, with 600 lumens at your disposal. The light is also multi-directional. A handle, hook and stand are supplied, and a micro USB cable is also provided.
This wind up, solar or USB camping lantern was developed in the US and comes with a one year warranty. Run this on low power and it can last for up many hours – though on high, with both sides lit, the running time is about 2.5 hours.
High points:
- USB, solar or crank power
- 600 lumens of multi-directional light
- 1 minute cranking = 10 minutes’ power
Low points:
- Most costly option
Vango Lunar 250 Eco Recharge
Best solar-powered lantern
- Brightness: 250 lumens
- Power source: Rechargeable battery & solar panel
- LED: Yes
An integral solar panel, LEG LEDs and a USB port makes this rechargeable lantern an efficient and versatile choice.
If it’s the best rechargeable camping lantern in the UK you want, then check out this one from Vango – a big outdoor brand. The lithium-ion battery is rechargeable, and the best thing is that you can use the integral solar panel for this.
When there isn’t enough sunlight (this is Britain, after all) you can also charge it via USB. Making this a serious contender as best solar camping lantern in the UK. There’s a handle and hook on the top for carrying and hanging.
The battery can last for up to 3.5 hours on a single USD charge and it takes 4 hours for charging to complete. 250 lumens are supplied by LG LEDs.
High points:
- Rechargeable Li-ion battery
- Solar or USB powered
- LG LEDs
Low points:
- Charging takes a while
HeroBeam collapsible lantern
Best backpacking lantern
- Brightness: 350 lumens
- Power source: 3 x AAA batteries
- LED: Yes
A 5 year warranty is supplied with this magnetic, collapsible lantern that can stick securely to a metal surface.
If a backpacking lantern is what you want then this one by HeroBeam is ideal. It’s also a very affordable option – and highly rated too. What more could you want? A clever magnetic base perhaps, so it secures to metal surfaces?
This collapsible camping and backpacking lantern comes with an incredible 5 year guarantee, supplied by a UK company with customer service staff in this country. The latest COB LEDs are used here to provide brighter, more reliable light.
A tough, water resistant and shock-proof build makes this the ideal choice for festivals, or keeping at home in case of a power cut. It even comes with some AA batteries to get you started.
High points:
- Magnetic base
- Collapsible design
- UK-based 5 year warranty
Low points:
- Budget looks
Princeton Tec Helix camping lantern
Best rugged lantern
- Brightness: 150 or 300 lumens
- Power source: 3 x AAA batteries
- LED: Yes
The Princeton Tex Helix features rugged looks, and is also waterproof and dimmable with an integral stand and hook.
The Princeton Tec Helix comes as a 150 or 300 lumen LED camping lantern. It’s a solid, outdoorsy bit of kit that looks like something a special forces soldier might carry around (and I know a former one personally).
You can place it via the hook at the top or the stand. The powerful LED light is dimmable, which is great when you don’t want a brightly-lit tent during late evenings. It’s also pretty waterproof, though you should dry it out after a soaking.
Princeton Tec seem to have a sense of humour (read the Amazon listing and you’ll see what I mean), and I like that about a camping brand.
High points:
- Tough build
- Dimmable light
- Good water resistance
Low points:
- Relatively expensive
Biolite Alpenglow
Best stylish lantern
- Brightness: 250 or 500 lumens
- Power source: Rechargeable battery
- LED: Yes
This super sleek camping lantern has a decent running time, a good waterproof rating and lots of colours and modes to enjoy.
This rechargeable outdoor lantern looks – well, nothing like a camping light. It’s really sleek, with a minimalist Scandi kind of appearance. Although the ‘Alpen’ part sounds more Swiss.
Anyway, this Biolite camping lantern comes in 250 or 500 lumen variants and is powered via a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It can run for longer than other lanterns – up to 5 hours even on high – and has a decent waterproof rating too.
A really cool feature is the fact that you can shake it to access a variety of lighting modes and colours – great fun for kids. It needs 2.5 hours to charge via USB and the battery indicator LED will tell you when this is required. This lantern also has a hidden folding hook at the bottom.
High points:
- Sleek looks
- Good run time
- Lots of lighting modes & colours
Low points:
- Quite pricey
Coleman batteryguard camping lantern
Best value for money
- Brightness: 200, 600 or 800 lumens
- Power source: 4 x D batteries
- LED: Yes
With batteryguard technology, this Coleman lantern offers great value for money plus big brand reliability.
If you want a non-nonsense source of light, then this Coleman camping lantern is ideal. It’s come from a big brand, is available in three lumens options and offers very good value for money.
The batteryguard technology not only helps to preserve battery life, it also serves to stop corrosion and leakage that could damage the lamp. If you want a lot of light for a big tent or group, go for the 800 lumens option.
Though you need 4 D cell batteries, these can provide between 30 and 200 hours of power depending on the mode used and the model selected. The smooth handle is rubber-coated for comfort and the lantern is splash-proof. Coleman lamps in the UK are very popular products.
High points:
- Top brand
- Great value price
- Batteryguard technology
Low points:
- 4 D cell batteries required
Best rechargeable lantern UK – FAQs
How many lumens should a camping lantern be?
If you want a bright LED lantern, then the minimum lumens to look for is 100. Lumens simply refers to the brightness. A typical torch may have a lumens of around 50, so you can expect a 100 lumen camping lantern to be twice as bright. In short, the higher the lumens number, the more light you’ll get.
How many lumens do you need to light up a tent?
The answer really depends on the size of your tent. 100 lumens is a minimum, but for one or two people 200 would be better. If you’re a family or group, then 250 lumens or more is a good level to look for. The bigger the number of people and the tent, the more light you’re going to need.
What is the most powerful camping lantern?
There are a couple of high power camping lanterns recommended. One is the Coleman batteryguard lamp that comes in an 800 lumen option, while the other is from Goal Zero. This ‘Lighthouse’ one is a 600 lumen model with a very powerful built-in battery.
Which is the best rechargeable camping lantern for you?
I hope this guide to the best camping lantern has helped you find the perfect product. Choosing a battery, USB, wind up or solar backpacking lantern means access to a reliable source of light – both inside and outdoors.
Having good light can make a camping trip so much more fun, as you can read books, play games and dine while seeing properly. Good lighting can even help to keep everyone safe, as they can see their way.
Polly x
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