The Best Outdoor Solar Lanterns For Camping and Survival

Having a dependable source of light in a survival situation is not just a “good idea”; it’s an essential one.

Not only can it light your way through the deep dark woods or an abandoned warehouse, but it’s an important morale booster.

Light acts like a security blanket in times of uncertainty.

Something to keep your mind strong and hope alive – when all it wants to do is freak out.

It’s sort of like fire in that way…

So it’s no surprise we get a lot of questions about what’s the best survival light source.

Often the right answer is an EDC flashlight, tactical flashlight, or powerful headlamp, but there’s another type of light to consider as well – lanterns. And not just any lantern – Outdoor Solar Lanterns!

Sure, lanterns are less portable than flashlights, but they give off a different type of light.

They cast a wide and welcoming halo of warmth…instead of a single laser-focused beam.

This makes them better at certain tasks and also makes them essential gear for camping.

Lanterns allow you to prepare, cook and eat dinner at camp after dark.

They are a must for playing games with friends and family around the picnic table. And their ideal for campsite cleanups before bed.

So today, we’re going to talk about outdoor solar lanterns, specifically:

• Difference Between Old vs New Lantern Technology
• Lanterns vs. Flashlights – Pros & Cons Of Each
• What To Look For In A Quality Outdoor Solar Lantern
• Best Outdoor Solar Lanterns On The Market Today (with video reviews)

**Note: If you just want our top recommendations, feel free to SKIP AHEAD HERE.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Old vs New Lantern Technology

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Lantern technology has come a long way over the decades – lanterns used to have some serious negatives.

In the past, they were powered by either propane or white gas and went through a lot of fuel.

When I grew up, they didn’t even have push-button ignition, so you had to stick a lit match into the body of the lantern while turning on the gas.

This ran the risk of bumping the fragile cloth mantles that could easily tear if handled roughly.

Glass windscreens, fuel pumps, and delicate gas valves all suffered from wear and tear. Failure was likely just when you needed them most.

Fortunately, today we can have all the benefits without the problems!

The new standard lantern for both weekend camping AND survival is the solar LED lantern.

Solar lanterns are a tremendous source of emergency light.

But what sets them apart from other light sources and how do you choose between a lantern and a flashlight.

The answer is you don’t; you get both.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

LANTERNS VS. FLASHLIGHTS

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A lantern isn’t a replacement for a flashlight or headlamp; it’s an entirely separate tool.

Lanterns produce a wide flood of light to illuminate a large area.

The light is dispersed and not as focused as a flashlight. If you need focused task lighting, a flashlight or headlamp is better.

However, when you need general lighting (especially for multiple people at once), a lantern is the best option.

Think about cooking or eating dinner together in a dark camp. Would you rather have one flashlight to share or one lantern?

Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way how frustrating it is to use a flashlight as a lantern or a lantern as a flashlight…

Get the RIGHT tool for the job!

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

MOST IMPORTANT OUTDOOR SOLAR LANTERN QUALITIES

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Now that we both agree owning a lantern is a wise choice, the next question becomes, which lantern.

The answer is not as straightforward as it seems.

There are hundreds of varieties and differences when shopping for a new solar lantern. So let’s discuss a few differences and some pros and cons of each.

Size Options

There is a vast range of physical sizes available in solar lanterns.

There are small, hanging solar lanterns, ideal for a survival tent or bug out bag.

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These hang near the peak of your camping tent at night. But they’re not large enough to light up an entire workspace or light up a whole campsite.

For those types of tasks, you’ll want a large outdoor solar lantern for general lighting.

So getting the right size depends on how you intend to use your lantern.

Amount Of Light Output

Alongside physical size, the amount of light output makes a big difference in its usability.

Light output is measured in lumens, with higher values corresponding to brighter light.

Small lanterns tend to put out about 100 lumens of light. This is perfect for close tasks like reading a book or searching for items in a pack at night.

If you have a whole camp or cabin to illuminate, look for a solar camping lantern of at least 300 lumens to give you useable light.

Construction Quality

Like everything else, there can be a wide range of materials and build quality in lanterns.

Many popular, inexpensive outdoor solar lanterns have knock-off competitors. But those knock-offs tend to use inferior parts and don’t last as long.

These lanterns are almost indistinguishable from the originals at first glance.

So make sure you pay attention to reviews and buy only from reputable sources.

Charging Time and Methods

Since solar lanterns have a variety of light outputs and battery sizes, it’s hard to compare them.

For example, solar panels are rated in Watts but if the lantern and solar panel are a combined unit, that spec may not even be provided by the manufacturer.

As a rule of thumb, larger solar panels collect more solar energy and charge batteries faster.

Faster charging can be a big advantage if you don’t expect many hours of full sunlight.

If you can charge your lantern by other means, that can give you a jump start.

So charging versatility is a plus (solar and USB). Most of my outdoor solar lanterns can also charge by USB.

This allows me to leave home with a fully charged lantern and use the solar panel to keep the lantern topped off.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

BEST OUTDOOR SOLAR LANTERNS ON THE MARKET

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Now that you have a better grasp of the differences and options, I want to share what I consider some of the best solar lanterns on the market today.

Here are a few of my favorites:

1. LUCI Solar Air Lantern

I first saw a LUCI light on a canoe trip with some friends and thought it had to be a joke.

A tiny LED lantern that you blow up like a beachball? But that first night, we went out for an evening paddle and get lost on the lake.

There was enough moon to see, but not to tell where our campsite was located.

We called a friend on the walkie talkie radio and asked if they could shine a light out towards us. So someone set up the LUCI light as a strobe on the beach!

We could see it from across the lake and paddled right into safety. After that, I was impressed and convinced!

The newest version, the LUCI Pro takes all the best features of the original and adds on some new tricks.

It’s waterproof, still weighs only a couple of ounces, and is less than 6” in diameter.

It packs down to 1.5” tall, but inflates to 4.5” and casts 150 lumens of warm, white light in all directions.

The integrated solar panel can charge the 2000mAh battery in about 14 hours. But you can also charge via USB before you reach camp.

It can even charge your cellphone via USB!

As a warning, the LUCI light is one that I see copied most frequently but there are no good knock-offs.

I’ve had several friends buy gas station versions, and they generally don’t last long.

So be sure to buy a real one, it’ll last, and the investment is worth it.

2. PackLite Nova by LuminAID

Another great inflatable solar-powered lantern is the PackLite Nova from LuminAID.

Its different light modes let you tailor the output to your specific task, from 50-70 lumens.

Its lightweight, collapsible design packs down to less than an inch thick. Yet it has enough battery power to last up to 24 hours.

This large outdoor solar lantern allows you to charge in approximately 10 hours of sunlight. But the USB cord can cut that to under 2 hours.

If you’re looking for a larger option, check out the PackLite Nova’s big brother, the LuminAID 2-in-1 Charger.

It provides all the benefits of the Nova but adds a larger battery and up to 300 lumens of light.

It also provides a charging outlet to power up your mobile devices.

3. Suaoki Collapsible Solar Lantern

The 3-bladed design of the Suaoki Collapsible Solar Lantern was the first thing that caught my eye.

When stowed away for transport, the lantern is roughly the size of a soda can. But once you reach the camp, three solar panels swing open, resembling a small propeller.

The top side of each blade has a good-sized solar panel, while the bottom features 6 white LED lights.

I like the ability to adjust the angle of the blades, either focusing or dispersing light to suit the task at hand.

Also, the small hanging hook on the top allows you to hang it overhead.

With only 2-4 hours of light on a single charge, this is more an emergency task light than one for an evening in camp.

Or since they’re so reasonably priced you could get a couple of them…

4. Pocket Light 2.0 from Survival Frog

The Pocket Light is one of the best solar lanterns because can perform 4 important survival functions – all in one device.

First off, when you get the Pocket Light you’re actually getting 2 lights in 1!

In a matter of seconds, the Pocket Light converts from lantern to flashlight with nothing more than a simple push and pull.

While in it’s collapsed position it can be used as a handheld flashlight complete with a hidden handle for easy use.

Push and pull and in seconds the accordion-style cone on this light turns into an ultra-bright room brightening lantern – making this a collapsible solar lantern.

Because it’s so versatile the Pocket Light eliminates the need to carry separate flashlights, lanterns, or survival candles for emergencies.

The Pocket Light is also specially programmed to help get you rescued.

The Pocket Light has multiple light settings including an emergency strobe setting.

Once activated the emergency strobe turns your Pocket Light into an emergency beacon that can help you escape the most perilous situations.

Not to mention its high and low settings are perfect for the times you need ultra-bright light to see where you’re going; or when you need low light to save your eyes or eliminate detection.

Perhaps its most unique benefit is its ability to use solar energy to charge its built-in light and almost any USB charge device.

The Pocket Light is 100% powered by solar, so it never needs batteries to generate bright, white light.

That same solar energy can easily be used to charge phones, GPS units, solar radios, and more so you’ll be able to use them in emergencies.

The bottom line is:

The Pocket Light is a solar-powered lantern worth adding to your survival gear, bug out bag, or camping equipment.

SOLAR LANTERN WRAP UP

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They say “what goes around, comes around” – and that seems to be true even in outdoor gear!

It’s been 30 years since I last turned off my propane lantern in favor of a fancy headlamp. But now I’ve added another source of light as a favorite piece of cool camping gear.

A solar lantern.

A lantern that provides bright, even light for all campsite activities – by way of the sun.

Whether you love the outdoors or you’re planning for a doomsday scenario, it’s good to have a backup you can trust.

Utilizing solar gear makes a lot of sense nowadays, and a solar LED lantern is a great start!

Jason K.

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The post 4 Best Outdoor Solar Lanterns On The Market Today [With Video Reviews] appeared first on Skilled Survival.

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This article was originally published by Michael Snyder at The Economic Collapse Blog. 

I realize that the headline that I have chosen for this article may sound a bit wild to many of you, but keep reading because what we are potentially facing is extremely serious.  Right now, we are already in the midst of an epic global energy crisis.

There have already been significant power outages all over the planet, and prices are spiking at a pace that is absolutely breathtaking.  With each passing day, it seems like supplies of oil, natural gas, propane, and coal just keep getting tighter, and what is really odd is that it is happening so early in the year.  Summer just ended a few weeks ago, and the heart of winter in the northern hemisphere is still several months away.  So if things are this bad already, what are things going to look like when we get into January and February?

This morning, I was stunned when I pulled up the Drudge Report and saw that one gas station in California was now selling gasoline for $7.59 a gallon…

Gas keeps getting more and more expensive, especially in California. But perhaps nowhere is it pricier than the remote central coast community of Gorda.

The town’s only gas station is offering regular unleaded for $7.59. Premium is nearly $8.50.

The good news is that a gallon of gasoline is not nearly that high in most of the rest of the nation.

But the bad news is that prices are rising aggressively from coast to coast.  As of yesterday, Fox News was reporting that the price of gasoline had risen “for 22 straight days”.

The main reason why prices are skyrocketing is because supplies are starting to get really tight.  In fact, it is being reported that the crude oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma could be “effectively out of crude” in just a few weeks…

In a note predicting the near-term dynamics of the oil market, JPMorgan’s commodity Natasha Kaneva writes that in a world of pervasive nat gas and coal shortages which are forcing the power sector to increasingly turn to oil (boosting demand by 750bkd during winter and drawing inventory by 2.1mmb/d in Nov and Dec), Cushing oil storage – which just dropped to 31.2mm barrels, the lowest since 2018…

… may be just weeks from being “effectively out of crude.” The bank’s conclusion: “if nothing were to change in the Cushing balance over the next two months, we might expect front WTI spreads to spike to record highs—a “super backwardation” scenario.”

Needless to say, we have never seen anything like this happen before.

In such a scenario, how high could the price of oil potentially go?

And if oil price records are being shattered in the months ahead, what will ordinary Americans have to pay when they go to fill up their vehicles?

I have a feeling that we are about to enter uncharted territory.

Meanwhile, one expert recently told Bloomberg that we could soon be facing “propane-market armageddon”…

In the report by Bloomberg, Ang says prices for the first quarter of 2022 are already far above later supplies, saying, “it may indicate players are preparing for propane-market armageddon.” He added that some areas could see outright shortages before winter ends.

To add to the stress, Poynter says some weather forecasts are already calling for a colder than normal winter, thanks to the La Nina effect. Experts call for an 87% chance of the system bringing an early and harsh winter season.

The use of the term “outright shortages” definitely alarms me, because there are millions of Americans that use propane to heat their homes.

If the propane runs out in the middle of the winter, what are those people supposed to do?

On the other side of the globe, a tightening of natural gas supplies has become an enormous problem.  According to Global News, natural gas prices in Europe and Asia “have more than tripled” in 2021…

Regional natural gas markets in the United States are seeing prices for this winter surge along with global record highs — suggesting that the energy bills causing headaches in Europe and Asia will hit the world’s top gas producer before long.

Gas prices in Europe and Asia have more than tripled this year, causing manufacturers to curtail activity from Spain to Britain and sparking power crises in China.

In addition to a lack of natural gas, a severe coal shortage has also contributed to the economic chaos that we are witnessing in China at the moment.

Just recently, CNN reported that energy shortages had already spread to 20 different provinces…

Power shortages have spread to 20 provinces in recent weeks, forcing the government to ration electricity during peak hours and some factories to suspend production. These disruptions resulted in a sharp drop in industrial output last month and weighed on the outlook for China’s economy.

India is being hit really hard by the global coal shortage as well.

In fact, we are being told that most of India’s coal plants “have critically low levels of coal inventory”…

Most of India’s coal-fired power plants have critically low levels of coal inventory at a time when the economy is picking up and fueling electricity demand.

Coal accounts for around 70% of India’s electricity generation.

So the truth is that my headline for this article is not over the top at all.

The shortages aren’t something that we have to wait for.  They are already here, and they are going to get a lot worse.

Of course, this new energy crisis is going to make our global supply chain headaches even more frustrating.

In our economic system, it takes energy to literally do just about anything, and as energy becomes more expensive virtually every form of economic activity will also become more expensive.

That means that all of the stuff that is made for us in Asia and shipped halfway around the planet is going to start costing a lot more.

As toy shortages intensify heading into the holiday season, we are already seeing some resellers pricing toys at nearly 400 percent of their normal levels…

American Girl’s sold-out blonde winter princess doll, which retailed for $250, is now going for up to $999 on platforms such as Mercari and eBay.

The cat-themed Gabby’s Dollhouse, which is all the rage for this year’s preschoolers, has nearly quadrupled on some sites from its original $55 price tag.

This is the “new normal”, and so you might as well get used to it.

I am shocked that things have deteriorated so rapidly, and this new global energy crisis is definitely setting the stage for so many things that I have been warning about.

As global energy supplies get tighter and tighter, all of us will feel the pain.

And the experts are telling us that things are not going to turn around any time soon.

So I hope you have a plan for this winter and beyond because things are really starting to get crazy out there.

***It is finally here! Michael’s new book entitled “7 Year Apocalypse” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “7 Year Apocalypse” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book, I have written five other books that are available on Amazon.com including  “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, “Get Prepared Now”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  By purchasing the books you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream, and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial, or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and anyway that you can share these articles with others is a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

The post This Winter, We Could Potentially Be Facing Simultaneous Shortages Of Oil, Natural Gas, Propane And Coal first appeared on SHTF Plan – When It Hits The Fan, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You.

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This episode of the Survival & Basic Badassery Podcast will talk about the get home bag.

RELATED: The Hidden Benefits of Prepping & the Preparedness Lifestyle [PODCAST]

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Don’t forget to stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!

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