Wouldn’t it be nice if you could walk outside in the dark and see as you do in the light? Unfortunately, that is not the case, and lights are a necessity to move around when the sun goes down. When the lights go out, you need to find some source of light such as candles, matches and flashlights. However, emergency lanterns are ideal when you suddenly find yourself without power.
Most people know what their disaster survival kits need, but emergency lanterns are often an overlooked necessity. Emergency lanterns are necessary, but there are all kinds of them on the market. How do you know which emergency lantern will work for you and your family?
What should you consider when looking for emergency lanterns for your emergency kit?
5 Factors to Consider in Emergency Lanterns
- Battery Backup Time – When you see the phrase “battery backup time”, it means how long the lamp will work at full brightness and won’t fluctuate with a full battery. A full battery has an average backup time of four to eight hours. If you find one that offers 10 or more hours, then you really need to look at that model.
- Battery Charging Time – It should take no longer than 10 hours for a lantern to be fully charged and give up to 15 hours of battery backup.
- Charging Option – Be sure to find out what charging option comes with the lamp. Can it be used with the grid and solar power? Choose the lantern that best fits your needs. It’s always best to find one that will work with both options. If you go with the solar option, be sure it comes with a solar panel.
- LEDs – There are so many reasons why you should consider getting LED lantern lights – low power, stronger light intensity, extended lifetime, etc. If you go with LED lanterns, be sure it’s a rechargeable lantern light.
- Light Intensity – How many LEDs a lantern has directly correlate to the lamp’s brightness? There are tons of LEDs with various intensities on the market. Even if two lamps have the same number of LEDs, the light intensity may differ. Make sure to find out what the light intensity is of each considered lantern. If you plan to use a lantern for a study lamp, you want at least 450 lumens of intensity. If you plan to brighten an entire room, you want 1,700 lumens of light intensity.
5 Brands of Emergency Lanterns Worth Serious Consideration
LE Rechargeable 1000 Lumen LED Camping Lantern Torch
It’s essential to have both a lantern and flashlight on hand in cases of emergency, and the LE LED Camping Lantern provides both in one. This is one of the best lanterns on the market, as it offers five light modes, comes with a 3,600mAh power bank that allows you to charge your phone, and has an IPX4 waterproof rating. The lantern will brighten a large swath of area and is rechargeable.
When it comes to its flashlight capability, you can brighten up to 1,650 feet of the area where you point it at. It also has a red hazard light that will flash when you’re in trouble.
The lantern and flashlight get a 1,000-lumen brightness, which is extremely bright – practical when there is no other light anywhere else, and you need to move around the area.
There is a power bank built-in to charge your smartphone in case of emergency, but its primary light only offers four hours’ worth of light. On the other hand, the side light provides up to 12 hours.
GearLight 2-Pack LED Lantern with Magnetic Base
GearLight is a two-pack LED lantern with the novel COB LED design that gives off more light than you’d see with the standard 30 LED. Not so shabby for a product that uses three AA batteries.
There are many things that make GearLight so great:”
- Its light capacity can last up to 12 hours
- It’s easily transportable, as it weighs less than a soda can
- It’s weather-resistant
- Extremely durable, handling tiny drops and bumps
- Comes with a magnetic base
- Has a hook so you can attach it to where you need to
- Has a one-year return guarantee
Goal Zero Lighthouse 600
If you need high-quality light products, Goal Zero is a brand worth looking at. The manufacturer provides products that include flashlights, lanterns and solar panels. If you want an emergency lantern, then the Lighthouse 600 with a hand-crank function is the way to go. This crank lantern is better than most because of its size, simplicity and durability. Cranking it for 60 seconds will give you 10 minutes of low light.
However, you can also use a USB cable to charge the lantern’s internal battery. Goal Zero made sure to install a 5,200mAh battery that is also available to charge smartphones, tablets, etc.
The only drawback is that the Lighthouse 600 only offers 2.5 hours at 400 lumens, but its dimmable light settings can extend that to 48 hours of light time.
When you have a real emergency, give the lantern a crank, use a portable solar panel and connect a phone to it.
LE 1000 Lumen Rechargeable LED Camping Lantern with Dimmer
LE designed this lantern to look like a lantern but does not have a built-in flashlight feature. It comes with a 4,400mAh power bank that lets you charge your smartphone.
One notable feature of this lantern is its 1,000 lumens of light, which can be a little bothersome to any campers nearby. If there is any emergency, this lumen amount can brighten up a considerable area. The sacrifice of such brightness nets you just 12 hours of light time. What are some notable features of the LE 1,000-lumen rechargeable LED Camping Lantern?
- Rechargeable
- Water-resistant
- Four light modes
- Dimmable feature to choose your brightness level
- Two-year warranty
Vont 2-Pack LED Portable Camping Lantern
If you don’t need four lanterns, but need more than one, then Vont’s 2-Pack LED Portable Camping Lantern is worth looking at. It has a collapsible design that gives you the power to increase or decrease the light the lantern gives off. It comes with 30 bright LEDs that will cover 360 degrees of area. Best of all, it comes with batteries that can last at least 90 hours long.
This portable camping lantern is extremely lightweight, which is why it’s no surprise people often forget they have a lantern with them. Despite its ultra-lightweight, it’s comprised of aircraft-made material and has been dropped from 10 feet high to determine its durability. It’s designed to withstand the weather of all types and can be fully submerged in water without issues.
On top of that, Vont has made sure to include a Lifetime Warranty.
