When you ditch the city lights for a few nights camping under the stars, the darkness is part of the charm, until the sun goes down and you can barely see your dinner. Beyond outdoor essentials like a tent, sleeping bag, and camping stove, a high-quality camping lantern is an absolute must.

While old-school campers fondly remember the days of kerosene lanterns and canvas tents, today’s camp lanterns have made some serious advancements in technology. From charging via built-in solar panels to using the lantern itself to charge your smartphone, today’s camping lanterns can do so much more than just light up your campsite.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best options from brands like Goal Zero, Colemanand MPowerd that will work for everyone from serious backpackers to casual campers.

The Best Camp Lanterns

1. Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern and USB Power Hub

Goal Zero’s flagship offers a ton of features. It can be fully charged via USB port, hand crank or solar panel (sold separately), and it also acts as a power hub for your phone or other devices. It can illuminate your entire campsite with 600 lumens of 360-degree LED light, and the internal lithium battery packs enough juice for 320 hours of light on the light’s lowest power setting.

[$70; goalzero.com]

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2. MPowerd Luci Solar String Lights

Add a festive atmosphere to your campsite with these solar powered string lights from MPowerd. Featuring 10 knots on an 18 foot cord, the Luci will generate 100 lumens of warm light to illuminate your outdoor (or indoor) space. It can be recharged either by a built-in solar panel or a USB port, and it can run for up to 20 hours on low mode and five hours on high mode. When the night is over, the lights store neatly in the compact unit for easy storage.

[$45; mpowerd.com]

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3. LuminAID PackLite Titan 2-in-1 Lantern

If you’re a backpacker or just want a great collapsible lantern, the LuminAID PackLite Titan 2-in-1 is a great choice. Weighing just 12.5 ounces and featuring a clever twist-open design, the Titan puts out an impressive 300 lumens of light on its highest setting, lasts over 100 hours on its lowest setting and can also charge your telephone. It’s waterproof and dustproof, and the adjustable Velcro straps and carabiner loops make it easy to attach to your bag. In addition, with its large solar panel, it will recharge its batteries during your hike.

[$75; luminaid.com]

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4. Ever Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern Lighting

This model from Lighting Ever is like the Swiss army knife of lanterns; its 1000 lumen light makes it the brightest option on this list. The carry handle lets you use it as a powerful flashlight, while the side lights, equipped with both white and flashing red modes, are perfect for illuminating a wide area or acting as a hazard light when on the move. a road emergency. The lantern is USB rechargeable and doubles as a power bank to charge your devices.

[$39; amazon.com]

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5. Duro 7 Day UST LED Lantern

the 7 Day Duro Lantern makes the list thanks to its simplicity, durability and affordability. About the size of a soda can, it’s powered by four AA batteries and produces 320 lumens on high mode or lasts seven days on low mode. The Duro can also be transformed into a pendant luminaire thanks to its recessed hook integrated into the base and its removable globe.

[$25; amazon.com]

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6. Black Diamond Moji

Don’t let its small size and even smaller price fool you: the Black Diamond Moji is a perfect choice for lighting up your tent or table. It produces 100 lumens of light, can be fully submerged in water, and runs on three AAA batteries. Its double hook hanging loop is perfect for lighting up your tent, while the dimmer switch makes it a great night light too.

[$20; blackdiamondequipment.com]

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7. UCO Original Candle Lantern

While electric camping lanterns certainly have their benefits, you’ll be left in the dark if you run out of juice. This candle lantern from UCO is ideal for an emergency kit or regular camping kit, as it will burn for nine hours on just one candle (and a pack of three candles only cost you five dollars). In addition, it also releases heat and eliminates condensation.

Simply slide the glass down to light the candle and its spring system will keep the candle at a constant height. Added bonus: Swap in a citronella candle to keep bugs at bay.

[$25; ucogear.com]

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8. Coleman Powerhouse Dual Fuel Lantern

This classic Coleman lantern is a great all-weather choice that runs on Coleman liquid fuel or unleaded gasoline. It produces 800 lumens of powerful light, but can be dimmed when you need a softer glow. It lasts up to five hours on high and 20 hours on low, and as long as you have fuel on hand, refilling the canister only takes seconds. We also love its old-school aesthetic; it will really put you in the camping mood.

[$110; basspro.com]

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