Lighting is an essential part of any camping experience, and choosing the right light can make a significant difference. Whether you're a seasoned camper or new to the great outdoors, a reliable, durable, and efficient light source is an indispensable part of your gear. As it is meant to be used with a camping tent, we will look at LED Lantern only.
The Five Best Camping LED Lanterns for Tents are:
- ZMNT Camping Lantern - This is, in my opinion, the best of the pack!
- COLEMAN OneSource LED Lantern - That Solid Minimalist Look!
- BLAZIN BOLT Lantern - Short and Powerful Light!
- ASFROST Camping Lantern - Extendable Height For that Extra Function!
- CAMMILE Camping Lantern - For that homely and romantic feel!
In my opinion, the best Camping LED lights for a tent have to be versatile, long-lasting, portable and have a wide range of lighting options to suit different types of camping or SUV Tent camping / car camping needs or even Camping Shower Tent. With the advancements in technology, there are now many LED lights specifically designed for camping that tick all these boxes. And the 5 Best Camping Lanterns mentioned above definitely ticked all the boxes (imagine those days with propane lanterns or gas powered lantern and their light quality).
Man Camping at Night with LED Lantern. Author Note: Camping at night with a properly lighted tent is an important safety requirement that cannot be overlooked. In the unfortunate event of an emergency such as snakes or insect crawling inside the tent, you can respond better rather than screaming and groping in the dark.
Why LED Lanterns Only?
Lanterns are a popular choice for camping as they provide overall 360-degree lighting and are easily portable. They come in various sizes, from small handheld ones to larger ones that can be hung up in your tent.
They can be hung from the tent's highest point easily due to their lightweight and cast little shadow due to their small form factor.
If needed, you can bring along an additional flashlight so that you can leave the lantern hanging inside the tent while you wander out of the tent, perhaps to find some relief from all the beer that you have drank.
How We Choose the Best LED Lights for Your Camping Tent?
- Brightness: When looking at LED lights, brightness is an essential factor to consider. You want a light that is bright enough to illuminate your entire tent but also has adjustable settings for different lighting levels.
- Battery Life: It's important to have a light with a long-lasting battery life, especially if you're going on an extended camping trip. Look for lights with rechargeable batteries or ones that use common disposable batteries such as AA or AAA batteries. Preferably rechargeable camping lantern. And you can easily extend the battery life by hooking it up to a power bank for the additional juice.
I have deliberately omitted those with solar panels as solar-powered lantern are easily damaged and their charges are slow, especially those with single solar panel. In addition, solar lantern or solar powered lights are typically more expensive. - Durability: Camping can be tough on gear, so it's crucial to choose a light that is durable and can withstand the elements. Look for lights with water-resistant or waterproof ratings and made from sturdy materials.
- Portability: Since you'll be carrying your light with you on camping trips, it's essential to choose one that is easy to transport. Look for lights with compact designs and lightweight materials.
- Versatility: The best LED lights for camping tents should have multiple lighting options. This allows you to adjust the light according to your needs, whether it's reading in your tent or cooking at the campsite.
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Summary Specifications for the 5 Best Lanterns
Read on for a summary description of each lantern below.
ZMNT Camping Lantern
In my opinion, this is one of the best Camping LED Lanterns available, if not the best camping lantern. Makes me feel right at home and comfortable in my camping tent - the ZMNT C21 Camping Lantern! In all honesty, I am a "Bright" guy and I need bright light, the brighter the better. That's just me!
It features a built-in 15000mAh battery that provides an incredible 336 hours of ultra-long usage time. It also features 5 different light modes - cold white, natural white, warm white, red, and SOS - and is adjustable with a power button and LED screen that displays the brightness value from 1 to 100%.
With its IPX5 water-resistant rating, this camping lantern will keep you safe and sound, even in light rains.
- BRIGHTNESS: 1,500 Lumen max
- BATTERY: 15,000 mAH
- DURATION: 336 Hours on Low Lumen
- WATER-RESISTANT: IPX5
- WEIGHT / DIMENSIONS: 13 Ounces / Dia 4.05" x H9.44"
- FUNCTIONS / FEATURES: Dimmable with 5 Lighting Modes functions.
COLEMAN OneSource LED Lantern
The COLEMAN OneSource LED Lantern is a great and solid companion for your camping trip. With its adjustable settings, you can enjoy up to 1000 lumens of bright light or adjust to as low as 50 lumens for a more subtle atmosphere.
The beam distance can go as far as 12 meters on high, or 4 meters on low, giving you the flexibility you need for any environment. It also comes with a convenient soft-grip handle, and the charging cord fits neatly into the base for compact storage.
The lifetime LEDs never need replacing and its IPX4 water-resistance rating makes it suitable for wet conditions. The 4800 mAh lithium-ion battery can power your lantern up to 100 hours on low or 2 hours on high, giving you plenty of time for your camping and outdoor adventures.
- BRIGHTNESS: 1,000 Lumen max
- BATTERY: 4,800 mAh
- DURATION: 100 Hours on Low Lumen
- WATER-RESISTANT: IPX4
- WEIGHT / DIMENSIONS: 5.5" x 5.88" x H10.0" / 2.14 Pounds
- FUNCTIONS / FEATURES: Dimmable
BLAZIN BOLT Lantern
The BLAZIN BOLT lantern features an extraordinary 1000 lumens of light and a robust 12000mAh battery pack to help you stay powered for up to 350 hours of illumination. And it is only 7 inches tall!
This lantern shines 150% brighter, providing 360-degree coverage with six versatile modes, including a red light option. Its water-resistant and durable exterior gives it the ability to withstand drops from up to five feet.
- BRIGHTNESS: 1,000 Lumen max
- BATTERY: 12,000 mAh
- DURATION: 350 Hours on Low Lumen
- WATER-RESISTANT: Water Resistant
- WEIGHT / DIMENSIONS: Dia 3.5" x H7.0"
- FUNCTIONS / FEATURES: Dimmable with 6 Lighting modes
ASFROST Camping Lantern
The ASFROST Camping Lantern is a classic departure from the standard Lantern look. This camping comes with a tripod and 4-section telescopic pole, making it incredibly easy to set up and take down on your camping adventures.
Its foldable design means it only takes up 24.5 cm after folding, allowing you to store the light easily in a backpack and take it wherever you go. The fully extended height is 97cm.
The adjustable lamp head can rotate 180° and the tripod base has built-in magnets with anchor holes for flexible use in a variety of ways. With infinitely adjustable color temperatures from Amber light to White light and three brightness levels up to 450 lumens.
The built-in 10000mAh rechargeable battery lasts up to 9-45 hours of continuous use. It's also made with durable materials like aluminum alloy and ABS, making it both wear-resistant and scratch-resistant as well as IPX7 waterproof.
- BRIGHTNESS: 450 Lumen max
- BATTERY: 10,000 mAh
- DURATION: 45 Hours on Low Lumen
- WATER-RESISTANT: IPX7
- WEIGHT / DIMENSIONS: Dia 2.6" x H9.69" / 2.2 Pounds
- FUNCTIONS / FEATURES: Dimmable with 3 Color Temp / Height from 24.5cm - 97cm.
CAMMILE Camping Lantern
This CAMMILE Camping Lantern is a vintage design lamp that provides a warm light in your tent. It has the lowest brightness of all the 5 lanterns featured here, but it gives that homely feeling and a little romantic to say the least.
Crafted with mature bamboo, it has a built-in 5,000 mAh battery providing you with sufficient power for 2-3 nights of lighting (est). For an extended stay, just bring along your USB power bank to charge it during the daytime.
The IP20 waterproof rating means it can withstand splashing water from all angles in both indoor and outdoor environments.
- BRIGHTNESS: 350 Lumen max
- BATTERY: 5,000 mAh
- DURATION: Not Rated but estimated to be below 30 hours.
- WATER-RESISTANT: IP20
- WEIGHT / DIMENSIONS: Dia 4.96" x H10.2" / 1.98 Pounds
- FUNCTIONS / FEATURES: Dimmable
There you are, the 5 Best Camping LED Lights For Tent. These are available on Amazon. Just click on their link below the product photos to check the updated prices.
My faithful camping lantern - 4 years old and going strong. Served me well over several camping trips. Minimalist, nothing fanciful and a very affordable compact lantern. On longer camping trip and in more deserted camping grounds, such as in the wilderness or up some mountain slopes, I would prefer a more powerful rechargeable lantern with bigger battery capacity.
Wrapping Up
I believe the information given above is sufficient for you to make a better decision if you are looking for a great LED lantern for your camping trips.
Stay safe and have fun with your new LED camping light for your tent. Enjoy the great outdoors with confidence knowing that your trusty lantern will guide you through the night. Enjoy that cup of hot coffee with loved ones sitting around the picnic table, before you retire to your lighted tent for the night.
If you wish to read on everything you will need for the best camping experience ever, click Best Camping Tools to read more about our carefully curated list of 22 tools you must have.
Happy Camping Folks
The fun of camping in tent at night. Help build relationship and bonds. Night light camping with LED lights for tent.
