Buyer’s Guide: The 6 Best LED Lanterns for Power Outages

According to 2016 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average U.S. residential customer lives with nearly 198 minutes of electric outages every year. Of course, that’s child’s play compared with the potential for extended outages during a grid-down scenario, where it can take months to fully restore power to an area. For those dark nights when the luxury of electricity is gone, LED lanterns are a must.

IMAGE	NAME	RATING	PRICE
	Rayovac SE3DLNBL Sportsman 240 Lumen 3D LED Lantern
	Streamlight Super Siege Lantern
	LUXPRO Waterproof, Floating Rugged Camping LED Lantern
	OLIGHT Olantern 360 Lumens LED Rechargeable Camping Lantern
	Internova 1000 LED Camping Lantern
	CORE 500 Lumen CREE LED Battery Lantern

What to look for in an LED lantern

LED lanterns employ fairly simple technology, so you don’t have to worry about sifting through complicated tech specs as you’re searching for the best LED lantern for power outages. There are just three key things to look for:

• Brightness: you’ll notice on the packaging that brightness is measured in lumens. Most LED lanterns will have a lumen rating that denotes the maximum brightness, as well as options to lower the brightness (consequently prolonging battery power).
• Red light: brighter isn’t always better. Red lighting can be useful when you want to preserve your night vision (like when you’re stargazing), preserve battery power, or activate an SOS beacon to attract help. If these are important to you, look for an LED lantern that offers both white and red lighting modes.
• Power source: lanterns with a rechargeable lithium ion battery usually hold a charge longer than standard batteries, and they often have a built-in power bank with a USB port to recharge your accessories. However, recharging your lantern during an a power outage isn’t an option, so rechargeable batteries can be problematic during extended outages.

6 Best LED Lanterns for Power Outages

1. Rayovac SE3DLNBL Sportsman 240 Lumen 3D LED Lantern

The Rayovac Sportsman LED lantern comes in two colors: green and blue (I like blue), and it’s a great choice for outdoor excursions.

It comes with three light modes: bright, low, and strobe, and is composed of 4 watt LEDs. It has a maximum output of 305 lumens and a beam distance of 18 meters. The battery life on high mode is remarkable at 70 hours – more than enough for most excursions – and can be extended to 140 hours if necessary by switching to an energy saver, making this a highly adaptable light.

This lantern is travel-ready since it is compact and water-resistant. It feels sturdy as well. Oh, and it’s backed by a lifetime guarantee.

2. Streamlight Super Siege Lantern

Highlights

• 6 Lighting modes with flashing SOS
• Unbreakable polycarbonate lenses
• Built-in power bank to recharge accessories
• Removable cover and glare guard
• IXP7 Waterproof

The Streamlight Super Siege may stretch your budget, but it’s worth every penny for the added functionality and longevity. At maximum power, the LED lantern emits 1100 lumens of stunningly bright light for up to 5.75 hours. You can crank it down to 550 lumens for 11.5 hours of use, or 125 lumens for over 36 hours of light.

You can also switch to red light to preserve your night vision and extend the battery even longer. The standard red light mode produces 2.7 lumens and lasts for 140 hours, while the ultra-low red light mode produces 1 lumen for 348 hours. There’s also a flashing SOS mode that produces 2.7 lumens for up to 320 hours.

On the outside, the Super Siege has everything it takes to handle severe weather and rough environments. It’s constructed with a durable polymer that’s rugged and waterproof and features a rubber base for added stability on slippery, uneven surfaces. The lantern floats in water and has a watertight compartment in the base to keep valuables dry. It also features unbreakable polycarbonate lenses to protect against accidental drops.

Like many of the other LED lanterns on this list, the Super Siege has a built-in power bank that you can use to recharge your electronic accessories. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs enough juice to fully charge four smartphones or two tablets. The battery level indicator makes it easy to track how much juice you have left so you can conserve your power when recharging isn’t an option.

Finally, the Super Siege lantern features a removable polycarbonate cover for 360 degrees of light distribution. This works best when the lantern is suspended from the ceiling with the attached D-ring, though you can also hook onto horizontal edges or place it on the table.

3. LUXPRO Waterproof, Floating Rugged Camping LED Lantern

This LED lantern is the ideal companion for all those who want to go on adventures. It’s nice and strong, with a tough rubber base that can withstand being thrown in a backpack.

It won’t make you feel sluggish either, weighing in at less than half a pound. This light is fully waterproof, making it ideal for kayaking missions, boating expeditions, or fishing outings that may last till night. And don’t worry if your lantern falls overboard; it’s not only waterproof, but it also floats.

In high mode, the LED light provides 360-degree light with 340 lumens of brightness, which is more than I’d anticipate given its small size, but this can be decreased by switching to medium or low mode to conserve electricity. Now for one of my favorite features: the top of the lantern includes a detachable flashlight that generates 145 lumens in high mode.

You can hang this light almost anyplace thanks to the lanyard ring, magnetic base, metal hooks for hanging, and carabiner ring. It’s powered by four AAA batteries that come with the lantern, which saves you money on top of the lantern’s already low price. If you’re looking for something compact, lightweight, and long-lasting, this is the way to go.

4. OLIGHT Olantern 360 Lumens LED Rechargeable Camping Lantern

The Olight Olantern is the ideal combination of traditional camping lighting and cutting-edge technology.

The stylish camping light is packaged in a plain cardboard box with the brand’s logo. A second light bulb, the mandatory charging cord, operation instructions, a microfiber cloth, and the warranty card are all included in the package.

When I first touched the lantern, I noticed that it’s somewhat heavyweight, which might be considered a good thing. As a result, the Olight Olantern is always in a favorable position and is never blown over by the wind. At the same time, the dimensions are relatively small, yet this has no effect on performance and is a significant benefit while traveling or camping.

The foundation has a pleasant softness to it. The transparent and durable acrylic that surrounds the lamp is a nice touch. Overall, the feel suggests a high-quality product, which is ideal for the Olight Olantern’s intended use in the outdoors, such as camping, gardening, and parks. The design is often restrained and straightforward. Only a blue ring with a brand name sticks out on our gray model.

5. Internova 1000 LED Camping Lantern

Highlights

• Dimmable arc LED light
• Up to 1000 lumens of brilliant white light
• Toggle between white and red light
• Water resistant
• Runs on four D batteries

With the Internova 1000 LED Camping Lantern, you can crank the brightness up to 1000 lumens for up to 5 hours of non-flickering, cool-running, 360 degree arc lighting. You can also dim the lights to preserve battery power, switch to red LED for stargazing, or activate the SOS strobe light in case of emergencies. All of this is possible with four standard D batteries, so it’s easy to swap out the batteries when you’re on the go.

This lantern is built to weather the elements. Its water-resistant shell performs well in the rain, and the rubberized-plastic molded base provides a sturdier grip on uneven surfaces. The top handle is also coated in rubber for a more comfortable, secure grip in your hand.

6. CORE 500 Lumen CREE LED Battery Lantern

The CORE 500 Lumen CREE LED Battery Lantern has two modes of operation. It’s water-resistant and designed for emergency camping as well as backyard activities. 

Its overall design is adaptable. That, I think, makes it ideal for use as a camping tent. A battery lantern should be kept and carried in case of an emergency, DIY tasks, or outdoor activities.

Its structure is long-lasting, and the materials utilized are highly impact-resistant. The CREE LED bulbs are covered by a lifetime guarantee. It can handle any extreme outdoor situation with ease. This product is composed of water-resistant construction material, thus it can withstand rain or water.

Because of its maximum light output of 500 lumens, this lantern is ideal for camping, DIY projects, and emergency scenarios. This lantern makes use of Lifetime Cree LEDs, which are designed to last a lifetime.