It's good to be prepared when camping season comes around. Camping lights have advanced a lot in the last few years with many of them providing longer battery lives and different light settings among other features.
What you look for in a camping light depends on your style of camping (or, how exposed to the elements you like to be). Camping lights with tested weatherproofing are ideal, particularly in the UK's unreliable climate.
Other features like brightness adjustment or warm lighting are useful for when you want to preserve your night vision, and you don't want to attract hundreds of moths – who are drawn to blue light. However, if you're mostly walking or hiking, a standard bright lantern can do the job.
Energy efficiency is important, too, especially if you have limited charging capabilities. Lights that can be powered by sunlight are a good choice, as are ones that can easily be recharged by a power bank (if you have one).
We've chosen our favourite camping lights available, and they all come with some helpful features. Read on for our top picks.
- Get closer to rare wildlife such as red squirrels and nightingales at a forest campsite this year.
Find similar alternatives in our lantern guide:
Best camping lights to buy in 2023
Princeton Tec Helix Lantern
Pros: Collapsible, hanging attachments, legs.
Cons: Expensive.
These types of camping lights can be particularly versatile as they're built for camping and outdoor use. This lantern from Princeton Tec can stand up on its four adjustable legs or there are multiple hanging options available - perfect for late nights in the tent or under the gazebo after dark.
The Helix Lantern can pack down to half its height which is ideal when you're trying to save as much space as possible. It's battery powered with three included AAA batteries, and it has a 150 lumen white mode that's dimmable to 30 lumens.
Vango Lunar 250 Eco Lantern
Pros: Solar charging with USB top up, 250 lumens light.
Cons: Inclement weather could mean it will sap your portable battery pack.
The Lunar 250 camping light from Vango can be powered by sunlight via the panels on top, or it can be recharged via the USB cable that's included. A full charge grants it up to three and a half hours of runtime, using a 2000mAh lithium battery, and it takes around four hours to charge it fully via USB.
Using LG LEDs, the lantern can produce a warm light of up to 250 lumens. This should be perfect for illuminating your campsite when it's late, but also for providing visibility when walking and hiking.
Coleman Duo Panel Light Lantern
- Check availibility from GO Outdoors (£39.97).
Pros: Removable magnetic side panels, USB charging ports for devices.
Cons: Not solar powered.
This camping light allows you to remove the side panels, which can act as independent lights without extra batteries. It's a great way to spread the lighting around your campsite for more ambient lighting, and for taking the light into different tents at the end of the day.
The removable panels can be attached to metal surfaces using the built-in magnets. The lantern's base also doubles up as a charger with a USB port for your portable devices.
For more camping gear:
Coleman BatteryGuard 200 Lantern
Pros: Hanging handle, weather-resistant, 360° lighting.
Cons: Batteries rather than rechargeable.
With weather-resistant materials and a shatterproof lens, this 200-lumen camping light is designed to be extra protective with an IPX4 rating. The lamp offers 360° lighting with a convenient hanging handle to put it where you need it. It has a runtime of seven hours and is powered by four AA batteries.
LE Camping Lantern
Pros: Bright 1000 lumen light, different light modes.
Cons: Battery rather than rechargeable.
Brighter than most, this camping light from Lighting Ever produces a light up to 1000 lumens. The brightness can be adjusted, so you can illuminate your campsite without overdoing it.
There are different lighting modes to switch between daylight, warm white, combined and flashing. Powered by three D alkaline batteries, the camping light can run for up to 12 hours.
BioLite AlpenGlow Lantern 250
Pros: Energy-efficient LED lights, different colour modes and brightness, rechargeable.
Cons: None!
Using energy-efficient LED lights, these lanterns can provide an adaptable lighting setup for your campsite. You can choose bulb brightness and colour, allowing you to select from modes like task-based brightness or colour rotation.
These lights work particularly well when used as a set, syncing them up to create ambient lighting conditions for the whole area.
YFW Camping Light
Pros: Different colour and brightness modes, rechargeable, magnetic.
Cons: A bit small.
With four modes, including SOS, the YFW Camping Light uses LED lights to illuminate your surroundings. Simple buttons on the outer let you adjust the brightness, with settings for warm or bright lighting.
The lights have 5200mAh batteries for an extended runtime. Plus, with an IPX4 rating and magnets to attach them to metal surfaces - these are a versatile choice.
Fulighture Camping Lantern
- Buy now from eBay (£15.99).
Pros: Multifunctional design, different light modes, stand, great value.
Cons: Not solar-powered.
Super bright light, six light modes and a multifunctional design make this a stand-out choice for camping. The lantern has an LED flashlight on the top and three COB lamps that can project outwards on the side. There's also a sidelight that can be used as a desk lamp!
Regardless of which camping lamp you ultimately choose, be sure to prioritize your specific needs, such as brightness levels, battery life, and portability. With the right camping lamp by your side, you can illuminate your outdoor experiences and create lasting memories.
Looking for more options? Check out more of our camping must haves.