The 10 Best Emergency Lanterns In 2022
- Last Updated: October 20, 2022
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Do you have what it takes when the lights go out unexpectedly? If you have the right emergency lantern you will. During a power outage, one of the best forms of lighting are LED lanterns. These lanterns also are excellent sources of light when camping and other areas with decreased visibility. Even though these lanterns do not provide the maximum brightness, they keep you out of the dark.
There are many choices of emergency lanterns to pick from when you start shopping for one. This buyer’s guide of the 10 best emergency lanterns is intended to make the job easier. We sincerely hope you get as much out of it as we put into it.
In a Rush? The Winner after 19 hours of testing is:
- Take-along panels included for illuminating
- Built-in directional and flashlight illumination
- Ideal for required lighting in more than one area
- Panel sides fold down and act as stands
- USB port available for charging purposes
- Coleman Quad LED Lantern
- Coleman Twin LED Lantern
- Supernova 300 Lumens Ultra Bright LED Camping and Emergency Lantern
- Tough Light LED Rechargeable Lantern
- UST 30-Day Duro LED Portable 700 Lumen Lantern
- Etekcity 4 Pack LED Lantern
- Streamlight 44931 Siege Compact
- Rayovac Virtually Indestructible LED Camping Lantern
- EdisonBright Fenix CL25R 350 Lumen USB Rechargeable Camping Lantern
- Black Diamond Titan Lantern
Quick Comparison
Coleman Quad LED Lantern
- Take-along panels included for illuminating
- Built-in directional and flashlight illumination
- Ideal for required lighting in more than one area
- Panel sides fold down and act as stands
- USB port available for charging purposes
Coleman Twin LED Lantern
- Lights up with a bright beam
- 390 Lumens
- 299 hours of illuminating light on low
- 85 hours on high
- Weather resistant
Supernova 300 Lumens Ultra Bright LED Camping and Emergency Lantern
- Ideal to emergencies, hiking or camping
- 300 Lumens of power
- Can use for 6 continuous days
- 100,000 hours of guaranteed usage
- Compact, durable & water resistant
Tough Light LED Rechargeable Lantern
- Charges with same USB charger of other units
- Save money by not having to buy batteries
- Extremely bright 400 Lumens
- USB Power bank to charge cell, laptops, etc
- 30-day, 2-Year warranty
UST 30-Day Duro LED Portable 700 Lumen Lantern
- 700 bright Lumens of light
- Case is durable rubberized plastic
- Has a built in hook for hanging
- Lifetime LED bulb
- 30 day running time on low
Etekcity 4 Pack LED Lantern
- Compact, light in weight, collapsible
- Collapsible case making it easy to transport
- Magnetic base makes for hands-free use
- 30 individual 300 degrees LED bulbs
- 4 levels of brightness control
Streamlight 44931 Siege Compact
- Several light modes
- D-rings incorporated top and bottom
- Available in white or red LED
- 1 meter water resistance
- 2 meter impact resistance
Rayovac Virtually Indestructible LED Camping Lantern
- 600 Lumens of brightness
- 3 modes of lighting
- IP67 water resistance up to 3 feet
- Shatterproof pieces up to 15 feet
- Lifetime guarantee by manufacturer
EdisonBright Fenix CL25R 350 Lumen USB Rechargeable Camping Lantern
- 350 Lumens of power
- Operates off 1- 18650 LI-Ion battery
- Has 2- 123A LIthium batteries for backup
- Magnet built in and tripod socket
- 1 white LED, 2 Red LEDs
Black Diamond Titan Lantern
- 250 Lumens of power
- Uses 4 D size alkaline batteries
- Minimal dimensions
- Meter to show battery power
- Has a convenient dimmer switch
Our Reviews
1 Coleman Quad LED Lantern
Coleman makes the Quad Pro 800L 2000030727 LED Lantern to be a quality product for camping and otherwise. Each panel offers the user a built in flashlight. This gives illumination outside the main area of the camp should you choose to take a walk at night.
Multiple Lights
You get the multiple means of illumination that are easily accessible with the Coleman Quad LED Lantern. If you do not need the whole lantern, simply snap off one quad and it becomes a personal lantern.
Magnetic Attachments
There is an attachment on each lighted panel that is magnetic. This allows you to stick it on a car hood, toolbox, any metal areas to give you hands free illumination.
Cost & Value
You will find Coleman has made a very valuable product with this item for camping illumination. The batteries automatically recharge when put back inside the base unit. If you are running short of battery power, the base light remains lit.
- Take-along panels included for illuminating
- Built-in directional and flashlight illumination
- Ideal for required lighting in more than one area
- Panel sides fold down and act as stands
- USB port available for charging purposes
- A little heavy at 3 pounds
- Not really reliable during a power outage
2 Coleman Twin LED Lantern
The Coleman Twin LED Lantern uses eight D batteries to operate. With 390 Lumens of performance you will not need a change of batteries until after the camping, hiking trip.
390 Lumens
This high performance emergency lantern will light up the night with a maximum of 390 Lumens. It also has 4 LED lights that will not require exchanging. You have a guarantee of an effective, energy efficient method of illumination.
Customized Settings for Lighting
The knob on this lantern spins around allowing for a personalized setting to the user’s preference. Settings are from low to high–up to 299 hours on low and 85 hours on high.
Cost & Value
The value of this product has the name Coleman backing it. Customer’s rave about how bright a beam of illumination it puts off. Well worth the price you pay.
- Lights up with a bright beam
- 390 Lumens
- 299 hours of illuminating light on low
- 85 hours on high
- Weather resistant
- Battery indicator light not efficient
- Battery does not hold a charge
3 Supernova 300 Lumens Ultra Bright LED Camping and Emergency Lantern
The Supernova 300 Lumens Ultra Bright LED Camping and Emergency Lantern is the ideal tool needed for camping or whatever. This LED lighting is extremely efficient; generating very little heat for up to six days.
100,000 Hours of Guaranteed Usage
There is a very low generated usage which goes beyond six continuous days. In addition this effective little light puts on no extra heat while running. The 300 lumens of brightness is ideal for any hiking, camping, or emergency coming your way. It is not powered by solar in any way.
LED Indicator Light
This lantern comes with a slow-pulsing indicator light so you can be found in the event of an emergency. Lantern is compact in size and is constructed of a durable rubber/plastic molding that is water-resistant.
Cost & Value
The value of this lantern is so much more than monetary. You are going to love how the rubber molding on this durable, compact lantern gives it the most water resistance possible. This LED light is guaranteed for a maximum of 100,000 hours–that’s a lot of illuminating power.
- Ideal to emergencies, hiking or camping
- 300 Lumens of power
- Can use for 6 continuous days
- 100,000 hours of guaranteed usage
- Compact, durable & water resistant
- Didn’t last that long on fresh batteries
- Poor quality control
4 Tough Light LED Rechargeable Lantern
This Tough Light rechargeable LED lantern offers 200 hours of illumination to the camper, hiker, or survivalist on your list. This camping light is also a cell phone charger–all complete with a 2-year warranty.
USB Charger
The purchase of this light is like 6,250 D Batteries with the 2-cables that are included. You can use any USB charger block–however, a charging block is not included in this purchase. You can use the same charger for your cell phone, digital camera, or tablet to charge the Tough Light lantern.
Extreme Illuminating Power
This LED lantern has a 6000 mAh Li-ion battery with 400 lumens of extremely bright light. The battery can hold a charge for up to 9 months when not in use. As long as you charge it a couple times a year it will be ready in an emergency.
Cost & Value
The value of this emergency light is much greater than its monetary cost. You will agree it is one of the best LED lights available. It has a 30 day guarantee and 2-year warranty against any deficiencies.
- Charges with same USB charger of other units
- Save money by not having to buy batteries
- Extremely bright 400 Lumens
- USB Power bank to charge cell, laptops, etc
- 30-day, 2-Year warranty
- Completely dead battery after 2 years
- Charging indicator light confusing
5 UST 30-Day Duro LED Portable 700 Lumen Lantern
The UST LED portable lantern is a powerful little tool with 700 Lumens of bright light. It is an excellent addition to your emergency kit, as well as to use for hiking or camping.
700 Lumens of Light
This lantern has modes in high, low, and medium; there is also a SOS mode. All these levels come out in a crisp, clean, beam of illumination.
Compact, Light Dimensions
The UST 30-day Duro LED Portable lantern has compact dimensions. It is 7.5 inches height x 3.75 inches wide and weighs in at 1.1 pounds. This lantern uses 3 D size batteries, not included with purchase.
Cost & Value
The value of this lantern will soon be discovered right out of the box. With a runtime of 30 days on low and the high mode lasts 22 hours. It also has an LED bulb that is lifetime, it will never go out. The case is resistant to weather and impact, constructed of ABS rubberized plastic.
- 700 bright Lumens of light
- Case is durable rubberized plastic
- Has a built in hook for hanging
- Lifetime LED bulb
- 30 day running time on low
- Poor quality control
- Batteries may start leaking acid
6 Etekcity 4 Pack LED Lantern
This is a 4-pack LED lantern that is portable and made for camping or survival situations. It uses AA batteries, has a base that is magnetic and a button for dimming light. This is the ideal LED lantern for storm outages and emergency situations alike.
4 Brightness Levels
The brightness/dimmer switch can modify the beam of light for reading, camping, or storm outage needs. This lantern has 30- 360 degree, reduced power bulbs that are LED. These bulbs can be used inside or out, the AA batteries they required are included.
Base is Magnetic
The base of this lantern allows it to be stuck magnetically to any metal surface. This permits for a hands-free usage. When new batteries are installed, it has up to 12 hours of continued use.
Cost & Value
This lantern made by Etekcity is constructed of a material that is ABS military grade. Certified by the FCC, and in compliance with all RoHS requirements. The manufacturer guarantees you will be satisfied; however, if you are not for any reason you may contact them. These are all factors that give this product tremendous value for the cost.
- Compact, light in weight, collapsible
- Collapsible case making it easy to transport
- Magnetic base makes for hands-free use
- 30 individual 300 degrees LED bulbs
- 4 levels of brightness control
- Not very bright
- Small firestarter tool not durable
7 Streamlight 44931 Siege Compact
The Streamlight 44931 is a cordless, 7.25 inch alkaline hand lantern. It has 540 lumens of brightness available as well as several settings for lighting. It is available in both red and white LED.
Mode for Night Vision
This setting is ideal for an emergency situation. The setting for night vision preserves the time the battery is capable of running during an emergency.
D Rings on Top & Bottom
These D-Rings have been placed on the top and bottom of the lantern. It allows for hanging in an upright or inverted position.
Cost & Value
The value of this emergency lantern is far greater than monetary. It is IPX7 water-resistant up to a submission of 1 meter. Impact has been tested for up to 2 meters of resistance. You can take the cover off to allow for illuminating areas that are larger.
- Several light modes
- D-rings incorporated top and bottom
- Available in white or red LED
- 1 meter water resistance
- 2 meter impact resistance
- Diffuser not reflective, cuts light beam off
- Not very rugged
8 Rayovac Virtually Indestructible LED Camping Lantern
Rayovac makes this LED camping lantern “Virtually Indestructible”. It makes the ideal addition to anyone’s camping or survival equipment.
600 Lumens
This little lantern can brighten up any work or camping area with its super bright 600 lumens of power. There are 3 settings to choose from–almost 260 hours of illumination when on energy saving mode.
Rugged and Waterproof
Tested to withstand the impact of being dropped from up to 15 feet distances. Pieces are shatterproof and the rubber bezel absorbs shock. Water resistance is IP67–can be immersed in up to 3 feet of water for almost half an hour. This lantern has been designed to have a sealed body to make it so rugged.
- 600 Lumens of brightness
- 3 modes of lighting
- IP67 water resistance up to 3 feet
- Shatterproof pieces up to 15 feet
- Lifetime guarantee by manufacturer
- Was not fog resistant
- Puts off an annoying greenish light
9 EdisonBright Fenix CL25R 350 Lumen USB Rechargeable Camping Lantern
EdisonBright makes the Fenix CL25R USB rechargeable camping lantern with 350 Lumens of lighting. It is the ideal little light to use while camping or working. Includes a rechargeable 18650 battery with 2- rechargeable 123A Lithium batteries for back-up.
4-Season Camping
The EdisonBright Fenix is camping gear for all seasons. With a maximum of 350 Lumens this little lantern can illuminate an area up to a 25 meter diameter. It has a powerful 18650 rechargeable LI-Ion battery or 2-123A lithium batteries. It also has 2 white and 1 red LED light.
Easy Attachment
The built-in magnet on this lantern makes for hands-free usage when needed. There is also a tripod socket to attach it easily.
Cost & Value
The value of this lantern is greater than what it costs. The versatility in battery use gives it more value as well. You will never be without power to illuminate your lantern. This little light ensures you are not left in the dark.
- 350 Lumens of power
- Operates off 1- 18650 LI-Ion battery
- Has 2- 123A LIthium batteries for backup
- Magnet built in and tripod socket
- 1 white LED, 2 Red LEDs
- on/off switch doesn’t work well
- Needs a lampshade
10 Black Diamond Titan Lantern
This Titan lantern made by Black Diamond is compact and an ideal addition to anyone’s emergency survival kit. It is powered with 250 Lumens to illuminate the maximum area possible.
Minimal Dimensions
The Titan is a compact tool that is a mere 2.5 inches high and 6.5 inches wide. Uses 4 D-size batteries and has a meter to allow you to keep track of the battery’s power level.
Unique Design
A unique design based on the idea of Apollo & Orbit’s already successful brand of lantern. It has a network of double reflecting devices to which traps illuminate the bright light.
Cost & Value
You are going to love this tiny lighting unit. It is compatible at 7.9 inches, protruding out to a maximum of 9.8 inches high. The switch that dims or brightens the light beam on this lantern is another ingenious feature giving it value.
- 250 Lumens of power
- Uses 4 D size alkaline batteries
- Minimal dimensions
- Meter to show battery power
- Has a convenient dimmer switch
- Contact points for batteries not durable
- Not very bright illumination
Buying Guide
Battery Life
The life of the batteries in which you use to power an emergency lantern is important. Some lanterns use AA batteries, others use heavy duty D size batteries. The D size batteries will provide a stronger, more powerful beam of light. However, AA battery powered lights also work very well to power the lanterns they are intended to.
Always ensure to have a fresh supply of batteries on hand in case the ones powering your lantern should die.
Durability
The way a LED lantern is constructed is also very important. The quality of how a lantern is built guarantees its durability. You do not want to have to buy a lantern every year when you go out camping. Therefore, ensure the one you purchase has extreme durability and is constructed well.
Ease of Use
The ease of use is another important feature with an emergency lantern. Is it easy to illuminate in the dark? The ideal lantern should have features that make it easy to use. Features such as an easy on/off button. When the lights go out, the last thing you want to be doing is fumbling for a switch.
Modern technology has ensured the creation of some of the best emergency lanterns. Before you decide which one is best, your need to measure all options. There are so many lanterns available, and each one has its own set of special features. You just need to ensure the one you purchase meets all your requirements.
Effectiveness
In order to make an emergency lantern effective, it must have good batteries. The power of the batteries ensures the brightness For an emergency lantern to have the maximum effectiveness, it needs to be the brightest it possibly can be. However, in order for this to occur, it will need a lot of batteries. Yet, a lantern that isn’t as bright will have a longer run time.
Power Outage
A power outage can be a scary thing. Particularly, if you do not have an efficient form of illumination. When the lights go out unexpectedly, you need a reliable source of light to immediately switch on. The emergency lanterns in this buyer’s guide are intended to provide this source of light. So next time there is a power outage, you will not be left fumbling in the dark.
Expert Tips/Advice
Choosing the Right Emergency Lantern
Modern technology is slowly replacing LED lighting for the former gas-powered, glass-windowed, bulky camp lantern. The gas-powered lanterns are very reliable. However, they are cumbersome in size and get extremely hot to touch when in use. This section is going to advise you how to choose the best LED lantern for camping or an emergency survival kit.
When you are shopping for a lantern for your emergency kit you must compare the performance of each lantern. If you are looking for a light with maximum brightness, you want one with higher lumens. However, you also need to look at energy efficiency. Remember, the more lumens a light has is going to cost more in energy. Higher energy usage is also going to mean a sacrifice in the life of your battery(s).
Which brings us to the next feature to look for when shopping for a lantern. That is the burn time (gas-powered) or run time (LED powered) of an emergency lantern. This is only an estimate on how much illumination you will get on a single charge or full fuel tank. The manufacturer sets this estimate based on practice runs when the lantern was first created. Running periods vary according to settings. High settings provide brighter light, with shorter run time; keep this in mind when shopping for a lantern.
How to Take Care of your Survival Lantern
This is a fairly easy task to do and unless you drop it you most likely are not going to harm your lantern. The first thing you want to do is clean any dirt accumulated on the base. The way you can clean out any dirt and other debris is to remove the lense and clear away anything that has fallen behind it. Make sure you also clean the outside of the lense, as well.
Next, clean the lens interior. You can use a regular piece of cloth or rag to clean the inside of the lantern’s lense. First, you must remove the lens so you can thoroughly wipe everything inside and out. By ensuring you occasionally clean the lenses on your lantern you will slow down the damage continued usage causes your lantern.
In order to keep your lantern in the best condition, you should clean it each time following usage. Taking a few minutes to clean your lantern will ensure it will work and look perfect every time you take it out to use.
Other Factors to Consider
Size
When you are shopping for the perfect emergency lighting gear you must think of size. You are a light that is compact and fits easily in a backpack or other travel bag. A heavy, cumbersome lantern has no place in an emergency survival kit.
A frequent camper is going to need a lantern that is small and lightweight. A smaller light is going to have the perfect output of illumination that a camper requires. If you want to read while camping in a tent, you will need a low-output lantern. On the other hand, you want to light up the entire campsite, then a higher output light would be needed.
Water Resistance
When you are shopping for an emergency lantern, you need to look for the International Protection Marking. This marking can give you all the insight you require a lantern to handle.
For example, if a lantern has the rating of IPX-0 it has zero water resistance. But, if it has the rating of IPX-8, it can handle up to three meters of water resistance.
Value
If you look for the value in something and consider the cost second, you will buy the better item. A less costly lantern might save you a few dollars. Yet, you need to weigh the options of quality versus cost and purchase a lantern based on its value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an LED lantern?
A: LEDs in the acronym for Light Emitting Diodes and it is a form of lighting device that produces light in this manner. LEDs are not unlike incandescent and fluorescent lights; however, an LED requires no warm-up period to achieve maximum brightness.
Q: How many LED lights are there?
A: There are 3 different kinds of LED lights that can be used: LED bulbs, panels, and tubes. These LED lights can create a warm or cool white or a cool daylight illumination.
Q: How long do LED lanterns last?
A: A LED lantern can last from 30,000 to 50,000 hours. According to the US Department of Energy, the best quality of LED lanterns will last from 30,000 to 60,000 hours. The type of fixture and temperature during use has a lot to do with the lifespan of an LED lantern’s light bulb.
Q: What LED type is the brightest?
A: The brightest LEDs are 5630 types, but this isn’t primarily because of a larger lighting area. Other things that make LEDs brighter are the amount of Lumens that goes into the output of the light.
Q: Can you use LED lights 24/7?
A: The answer to this question is yes. LED lights use incredibly less energy than fluorescent or incandescent lighting does. Some of the less costly LED manufacturers go skimpy on the dissipating heat factor which can make prolonged use a fire hazard. Six hours is usually the limit until you discover how long you can run it before it gets too hot.
Q: Do LEDs get hot enough to start a fire?
A: The electroluminescent technology that LEDs are made of is different from other forms of light. It does not require heat to operate an LED; therefore, the answer to this question is no. An LED light will not start a fire.
Q: How bright should a camping lantern be?
A: The brightness of a lantern is measured by lumens. Camping lanterns range from 40 to 700 lumens. Most lanterns range an average of 150-300 lumens; however, for just hanging around the campsite 100 lumens is sufficient.
Q: How bright is 2000 lumens?
A: 2000 lumens is the equivalent to 125 watts of energy.
