Camping is a wonderful way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in nature. However, as the sun goes down, it’s important to have a reliable source of light to keep your campsite well-lit and safe. A good camping lantern is an essential piece of equipment for any outdoor adventure, but with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.

In this review article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best lanterns for camping, from rechargeable and portable models to powerful and feature-rich options. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, we’ll help you find the perfect camping lantern to keep your campsite well-lit and comfortable throughout the night.

Be sure to check out our guide to the best camping mattresses, too!

Best Lanterns for Camping 2023

BioLite Alpenglow 500 Camping Lantern

The BioLite Alpenglow 500 Lantern is a versatile and powerful lighting solution designed for outdoor enthusiasts. With a maximum output of 500 lumens, this camping lantern is more than capable of lighting up your campsite or outdoor living space. This BioLite lantern for camping also has a dimming function that lets you adjust the brightness to your liking.

The Alpenglow 500 camping lantern also offers several lighting modes to suit your needs, including white, RGB, and Party mode. The RGB mode allows you to choose from a range of colors to create a customized lighting experience, while Party mode offers a dynamic light show with flashing colors.

When it comes to portability, this battery operated lantern is 5.1 inches tall and 4.8 inches in diameter, making it compact and easy to pack. It weighs just over a pound, so it won’t weigh down your backpack. It can conveniently be powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery or three AA batteries. The battery life varies depending on the brightness level and lighting mode, but the camping lantern can last up to 200 hours on low mode with a fully charged battery.

While it’s not the cheapest lantern for camping on the market, it offers a range of features and lighting modes that make it a great value for outdoor enthusiasts who want a versatile lighting solution. Overall, the BioLite Alpenglow 500 Camping Lantern is a great choice for anyone who needs a bright, versatile, and portable lighting solution for outdoor adventures. Its range of lighting modes and compact size make it a standout product in its price range.

Black Diamond Moji Lantern for Camping

The Black Diamond Moji Camping Lantern is a compact and reliable lighting solution for camping and other outdoor activities. With a maximum output of 100 lumens, the Moji Camping Lantern is capable of providing ample illumination for a small to medium-sized campsite or tent. It has a dimming function that allows you to adjust the brightness to your desired level. This battery operated lantern for camping also features two lighting modes: dim and bright. The dim mode conserves battery life and provides a soft, ambient glow, while the bright mode offers a brighter and more focused beam of light.

At just 4.2 inches in height and 3.2 inches in diameter, the Moji Camping Lantern is compact and lightweight, making it easy to pack and carry in your backpack. It weighs just 122 grams, making it one of the lightest camping lanterns on the market. It runs on three AAA batteries, which are easy to replace when needed. This camping lamp can last up to 70 hours on its lowest setting and 8 hours on its highest setting.

The Moji Camp Lantern is incredibly durable, built with a sturdy plastic housing and a frosted globe that is impact-resistant and weather-resistant, making it suitable for use in a variety of outdoor conditions. It is also an affordable option for anyone looking for a reliable and compact camping lantern. Overall, the Black Diamond Moji Lantern is a great option for anyone looking for a lightweight, compact, and reliable camping lantern. Its two lighting modes and easy-to-replace battery make it a practical choice for outdoor enthusiasts, and its durability and impact resistance make it a lantern that you can depend on for years to come.

UCO Original Candle Camping Lantern Kit

The UCO Candle Camping Lantern provides a warm and natural light that is ideal for creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in your tent or campsite. It can burn for up to 9 hours with a single candle, making it a long-lasting lighting solution. The Candle Lantern for Camping is compact and lightweight, measuring 4.25 inches in height and 2.125 inches in diameter. It weighs just 8 ounces, making it easy to pack and carry in your backpack.

This UCO Camping Lamp is made from durable aluminum with a powder-coated finish that resists corrosion and withstands the elements. It also features a glass chimney that protects the flame from wind and rain. The Candle Camp Lantern can be used with a variety of candles, including UCO’s own 9-hour candles, beeswax candles, or tea lights. It also has a spring-loaded candle tube that keeps the flame at a consistent height, even as the candle burns down.

While it may be more expensive than other camping lanterns, its unique design and long-lasting burn time make it a worthwhile investment for outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate the charm of natural light. Overall, the UCO 9 Hour Original Candle Lantern Kit is a great option for anyone looking for a unique and reliable lighting solution for camping and outdoor activities. Its warm and natural light creates a cozy atmosphere, and its versatility allows you to use a variety of candles to suit your needs. While it may be pricier than other camping lanterns, its durability and long-lasting burn time make it a worthwhile investment for those who appreciate the charm of natural light.

Ledlenser LED Camping Lantern

The Vont Spark LED Camping Lantern provides up to 200 lumens of bright white light, which is more than enough to illuminate a trail or a campsite at night. It has three lighting modes (high, medium, and low) that you can switch between to adjust the brightness to your needs. This camping LED lantern is powered by three AAA batteries, which are easy to replace when needed. It can last up to 90 hours on its lowest setting, making it a long-lasting lighting solution for extended outdoor trips.

This LED lantern for camping is built with a durable and water-resistant body that can withstand the elements and the wear and tear of outdoor activities. It also features an adjustable headband that is comfortable to wear for extended periods. As one of the best lanterns for camping, the Ledlenser is compact and lightweight, weighing just 2.6 ounces and measuring 2.3 inches in length and 1.5 inches in width. This makes this LED camping lantern easy to pack and carry in your backpack without adding too much weight.

Overall, the Vont Spark LED Camping Lantern is a great option for anyone looking for a versatile and durable lighting solution for outdoor activities. Its bright and adjustable lighting modes, long battery life, and compact size make it a practical choice for camping, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits. And at an affordable price point, this camping LED lantern is great value for anyone on a budget.

LE Rechargeable Camping Lantern

The Black Diamond Spot Rechargeable Camping Lantern provides up to 300 lumens of bright white light, which is more than enough to illuminate a trail or a campsite at night. It has several lighting modes, including full strength, dimming, strobe, red night vision, and lock mode. This rechargeable LED lantern is powered by three AAA batteries, which are easy to replace when needed. It can last up to 200 hours on its lowest setting, making it a long-lasting lighting solution for extended outdoor trips.

The Black Diamond Spot Rechargeable Lantern for Camping is built with a durable and water-resistant body that can withstand the elements and the wear and tear of outdoor activities. It also features an adjustable headband that is comfortable to wear for extended periods. This rechargeable camping lamp is also super compact and lightweight, weighing just 3.2 ounces and measuring 2.25 inches in length and 1.5 inches in width. This makes it easy to pack and carry in your backpack without adding too much weight.

Overall, the Black Diamond Spot Camping Lantern is a great option for anyone looking for a versatile and durable lighting solution for outdoor activities. Its bright and adjustable lighting modes, long battery life, and compact size make it a practical choice for camping, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits. And while it may be pricier than some other camping lamps, its durability and range of features make it a worthwhile investment for serious outdoor enthusiasts.

Harper Living Rechargeable Camping Lantern

The Harper Living Rechargeable Camping Lantern provides up to 370 lumens of bright white light, which is more than enough to illuminate a campsite or a tent. It also has several lighting modes, including dimmable and color-changing options, that you can adjust to your preferences. This lantern for camping is powered by a long-lasting rechargeable battery that can last up to 8 hours on its highest setting. It also comes with a USB charging cable, making it easy to recharge on the go.

The Harper Living Rechargeable Camping LED Lantern is built with a durable and water-resistant body that can withstand the elements and the wear and tear of outdoor activities. It also features a rope handle that is comfortable to hold and easy to carry. The camp lantern measures 7.9 inches in height and 3.9 inches in diameter, making it a compact and portable lighting solution that can easily fit in your backpack. It weighs just over a pound, making it easy to carry around without adding too much weight.

Overall, the Harper Living Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern is a great option for anyone looking for a stylish and versatile lighting solution for outdoor activities. Its bright and adjustable lighting modes, long battery life, and durable design make it a practical choice for camping, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits. And while it may be pricier than some other lanterns for camping, its unique retro design and range of features make it a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants to add a touch of style to their outdoor adventures.

Vango Wood Nova 200 Rechargeable Lighting

The Vango Wood Nova Camping Lantern provides up to 1200 lumens of bright white light, which is more than enough to illuminate a campsite or a tent. It also has several lighting modes, including dimmable and strobe options, that you can adjust to your preferences. This rechargeable camping lantern is powered by a long-lasting rechargeable battery that can last up to 72 hours on its lowest setting. It also comes with a USB charging cable, making it easy to recharge on the go.

The Vango Recharge 1200 Lantern for Camping is built with a sturdy and water-resistant body that can withstand the elements and the wear and tear of outdoor activities. It also features a hook and a handle that are convenient to hang and carry. The camping lantern measures 18.5 cm in height and 11.5 cm in diameter, making it a compact and portable lighting solution that can easily fit in your backpack. It weighs 695 grams, which is relatively lightweight for a lantern of its brightness and battery life.

Overall, the Vango 1200 Rechargeable Camping Lantern is a great option for anyone looking for a bright, versatile, and durable lighting solution for outdoor activities. Its powerful and adjustable lighting modes, long battery life, and sturdy design make it a practical choice for camping, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits. And while it may be more expensive than some other camping lamps, its high-quality components and performance make it a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants reliable and bright lighting in the great outdoors.

A camping lantern is an essential item for any outdoor adventure. With the wide range of options available on the market, it’s important to consider the features that are most important to you, such as brightness, battery life, durability, and portability. From compact and lightweight lanterns for backpacking to larger and more powerful models for car camping, there is a lantern to suit every need and budget.

After researching and reviewing some of the top camping lanterns on the market, it’s clear that each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The Biolite Alpenglow 500 Lantern offers innovative features such as color-changing modes, while the Black Diamond Moji Lantern is affordable and user-friendly. The UCO Original Candle Lantern offers a nostalgic and eco-friendly option, and the Vango Recharge 1200 Lantern is a versatile and powerful rechargeable lantern.

Ultimately, the right camping lamp for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. However, investing in a high-quality and reliable camping lantern will provide you with the necessary lighting to enjoy your outdoor adventure comfortably and safely.

Be sure to check out our guide to the best camping windbreakers to complete your set-up!