Some camping lights use alternative light sources, such as the fiber optic lights in the Nite Ize Radiant ShineLines. These lights are generally not as consistently bright as LED lights, and offer more of a glow than a shine. The fiber optic design means that the light isn’t consistently bright through the cord, but is brighter the more it is bent. Not a very bright light on its own, the Nite Ize ShineLine perks up when it’s wrapped around something; (photo/Maddie Downie) Light Adjustment Many of the best camping lanterns offer additional features, such as the ability to charge your electronic devices and double as a flashlight. These are perks but aren’t real game-changers when choosing a lantern. On the upside, the Selarlyt solar string lights are quite bright. Again, you will need full sun for the solar panel to work its magic. But once charged, they stay illuminated nearly throughout the night which is a huge plus if you’re camping in the wild. These lights have a brag-worthy 72-hour battery life for the three AAA batteries they require. At 100% brightness, they remained bright for 3 days, only dimming at the end of the third. Although these lights aren’t rechargeable, they maximize battery life, making them a great choice for multiday camping trips, or for someone who doesn’t want to have to remember to charge their lights every time before hitting the road.

Additional features These are all well and good, but do consider which ones really count. Simple add-ons, such as carry handles, will prove more useful than you might imagine, but it can also be very handy having a built-in bluetooth speaker like the Coleman 360 Light and Sound. Many of the best camping lanterns incorporate a USB-power port so that you can charge other devices like phones and action cameras, which can be super-handy. A 3,000mAh battery should give one older phone a full charge (roughly), so adjust this according to the number of devices and charge time. Keep in mind that extreme cold and heat losses involved in charging multiple devices will reduce the battery’s overall output. Newer light bulb designs, LEDs are rugged and consume very little energy. In addition, these types of bulbs produce minimal heat, are cost-cutting, safe, and even keep off bugs. As a result, LED camping lights have become the most popular type of camping light. A newer lighting design, LED stands for a light-emitting diode. When choosing between camping lights, the durability of those lights should be a consideration. As a whole, companies designing outdoor lights have put effort into making them durable, such as concealing the lights and wires themselves in some protective material. The ENO Twilights are almost completely plastic-covered, which keeps dust and water at bay for the most part. However, over time, the plastic seems prone to stretch and tear if these lights are handled roughly. Illuminate your outdoor adventures with Decathlon's camp lighting. Our range boasts quality, durability, and style, designed to light up your camping experiences the way you want. Camping LightingLanterns need to be bright enough to light up an area, but not so striking that they’ll temporarily blind you if you accidentally look at them. Brightness is measured in lumens, and while you probably won’t need a lantern to mimic the sun (35.73 octillion lumens, by the way), most lanterns have a maximum lumen output somewhere between 200 and 500 lumens. This is more than enough to light up most camping spaces, and most often is dimmable to adjust to ambient light. These lights have two settings: on or off. There isn’t a way to dim these lights, which means you can’t set the mood right before bed. There also aren’t any color options other than the white light. But the simplicity is nice for a camper who is looking for something easy to set up and take down. If you have stayed in camps before, you must already know about the importance of lights and lanterns. These lights help you find your way and lights up your tent after sundown. While there are several solar-powered camping lanterns, nothing beats the good old portable USB lights for camping.

If you’re going with an electric lantern, battery life is a consideration, especially if you’re going to be in the woods for a few days or more. Many lanterns will give you 5-10 hours on high, with longer times in the lower settings. Among the longest-lasting lanterns in our testing were the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern at 200 hours on low, the Fenix CL30R at 300 hours, and the Goal Zero Lighthouse600 Lantern at an impressive 320 total hours of burn time. If you're yearning for some old school lantern-lighting then this modern take on a 1800's Tilley lamp is what you're looking for. Running on screw-in gas canisters (which you'll have for your stove anyway), this will never run out of battery, can't really be damaged (short of physically smashing it to bits), and puts out a whopping 235 lumens in a stainless steel mesh version. A more breakable glass version amps that up to 360 lumens. When choosing the best camping lights for tents to invest in, you must focus on the right features. This buyer’s guide is included to help you figure out the key features you want to focus on when choosing the ideal lighting option. Weight Chunky camping lanterns that provide illumination whilst charging multiple gadgets are jolly handy when car camping, but lugging them off to a wild camp in the Trossachs will be a pain. If you're short on space or carrying your own kit about, keep an eye out for an ultra-lightweight model. For optimal portability, having a set of string lights with a built-in battery will allow you to bring light anywhere without further complications. These lights have the benefit of not needing anything else to work, but that means they’re another thing you’ll have to remember to charge before heading out for the weekend.So if you plan to go camping this summer, here are some portable USB lights for camping that you can consider buying. But before that,

An added bonus? Since it’s burning fuel, this little lantern will give off a bit of hand-warming heat, perfect for when the chill sets in. Just remember to let it cool down before stowing — something we were (painfully) reminded of during our initial use.

4. Garberiel USB Solar Camping Light

Choosing between an electric and a gas-powered lantern comes down to what features you prefer. Electric lanterns are quiet, lightweight, and safe to use inside a tent. A good camping lantern is an outdoor essential. It’s a major help while cooking, is great for nightly camp games, and sets just the right outdoor ambiance. Sure, you could just use a flashlight or headlamp, but a lantern lights up the entire camp and makes two-handed tasks easier. Some people even opt for head torches since they are more convenient. Due to its design, using a head torch leaves your hands free to focus on other tasks. You can even use a head torch for nighttime activities such as hiking to navigate the trails. Decathlon will give you the best camping lighting for all types of campers and tents. Our lighting for camping includes solar-powered lights for the eco-conscious, rechargeable options for extended trips, and battery-operated lights for traditional use. All are designed with a focus on brightness, longevity, and energy efficiency. Camp Lighting Ideas Apart from that, they also provide ample visibility even after the sun has set. All you need is a peg or a hook to string the lights, and you should be good to go.

Other lights have blinking and color-changing effects, which keep the mood more energized. The color ENO Twilights have a setting that will gradually rotate through all of the colors. However, a few lights require that you cycle through these different settings to turn the light off, which can definitely be an annoyance around bedtime. No one likes a strobing light right as they’re about to fall asleep. The gradual color shift mode of some string lights certainly livens the mood; (photo/Maddie Downie) Storage Each light has about four feet of cord with a USB on each end to chain them together. The segments each have their own switches with a brightness function: a 110-lumen function, and a 30-lumen “low” function. This is both handy and annoying. While it gives you greater versatility to adjust the lights when they are separated, it means you have to turn on or adjust each light one by one when they’re strung together. The Radiant ShineLines are also rechargeable, which makes them even easier to bring along. They have a mini USB port, meaning you can plug them into anything with a USB power source. It takes about an hour and a half for these lights to charge completely, and they run for about 6 hours on a full charge. This short battery life means you’ll have to be prepared to charge them on a longer camping trip.

In our opinion, the most versatile camping lanterns on the market are the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 and its smaller sibling, the AlpenGlow 250. We've had both sizes in to test out, and they're both highly functional and about as much fun as you could ever hope to have with a camping lantern. If you just want to be able to see things, these lamps will deliver cool or warm light, with a sliding scale of brightness up to 500 lumens for the AlpenGlow 500 and 250 lumens for the AlpenGlow 250. Depending on the environment, the requirement typically ranges between 100 and 500 lumens. Furthermore, if you intend to use a flashlight or headlight inside your tent, opt for a brightness level of at least 10 to 30 lumens. Using a flashlight allows you to execute smaller tasks without the bigger lanterns, such as going to the bathroom. 2. Can Use a Torch Alone During Camping? However, alkaline batteries lose about half their capacity when temperatures drop below freezing, and rechargeable batteries may not last on multi-day trips without a recharge. Fence lights: Small up or down lights, these sit on fence posts or can be mounted on walls, for lighting all the way along your boundary.