Overview
If you are looking for a new camping lantern, the Etekcity LED Collapsible Lantern is a product you will definitely want to consider. This camping lantern is without a doubt our favorite one and has thousands of great reviews all across the internet.
If you are curious to learn more about this product and decide whether it will be a good addition for your next camping trip, read through our review below. We’ll cover the features and benefits of the lantern, as well as a few of its downsides.
What We Like about the Etekcity Camping Lantern
The more you use the Etekcity LED Collapsible Camping Lantern, the more you’re likely to enjoy it. This reasonably-priced lanterns certainly isn’t lacking when it comes to useful features. First, and foremost, this is a bright lantern. It has 30 LED bulbs that will help light up the night so you can see during your camping trip. The lantern’s 360-degree design allows light to shine from all sides, helping you see more clearly in the dark.
Another nifty feature for this lantern is that it collapses to make it more compact. If you aren’t using it, you can push the top section down, enclosing the light in the base of the lantern. This will make it shorter than most smartphones, so it will easily fit in your backpack. Being able to collapse the lantern also allows you to control the brightness of the light. You can adjust the height to let less light out, or pull it open all the way for full brightness.
If it starts raining a bit during your camping trip, you won’t need to worry about this lantern getting destroyed. It is made from a weather-resistant material that allows you to safely use it when it is raining. It is also designed to be very durable. The lantern is made with a military-grade material, that will help ensure the lantern will still function well even if it is dropped.
No kidding-we’ve seen people drop this off a small cliff onto rocks without any serious damage.
A hidden feature of this product that many other similar options don’t have is the storage compartment. The top lid of the lantern can be removed to provide a space for you to store smaller items, such as keys or spare batteries. Across the lantern’s top are two metal handles that will allow you to carry the lantern comfortably. You can also use the handles to hang the lantern on a tree branch or inside your campsite.
One final thing to love about this product is the price. For less than the price of some other lanterns, you’ll receive two lanterns for your next camping trip.
What We Don’t Like about the Etekcity Camping Lantern
Now, for the downsides. While the Etekcity LED Lantern offers some really great benefits, there are a few cons that you should consider before purchasing it. First, while the lights are very bright, they don’t always do the best job reaching farther areas. For example, when you turn on the lantern and put it on a table, it will be well-lit in the space around the lantern, but not in areas that are a bit farther away. This makes the lantern a good option for a more enclosed area, such as a tent, but maybe not as great for outdoor areas when compared to other options. Also, since the bulbs are very bright, if it is right at your eye-level, it may be bothersome and seem blinding.
The other potential downside to this lantern is battery life. Three AA batteries will power it for around 12 hours. This isn’t awful, but there are some other lanterns on the market that will operate for longer periods of time before you need to change the batteries. There are also some other lanterns that come with rechargeable batteries, which isn’t an option with this product.
If you are going camping for a weekend, then 12 hours of use will give you more than enough battery. You could run it for 4 hours each night (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and still be okay. If you plan to go camping for a week, however, then you should bring spare batteries.
Who is the Etekcity Camping Lantern Perfect For?
There are many different groups of people who could benefit from purchasing the Etekcity LED Collapsible Camping Lantern. Since it is a very bright lantern, especially in more enclosed areas, it is a good option to consider if you will primarily be staying at your campsite once it is dark. It should do a good job keeping your tent lit up or a smaller area around the tent. You may want to look for a brighter lantern if you’ll be doing a lot of walking outside after dark.
This is also a good option for backpackers or other individuals who need to pack light. Since it collapses, this lantern is very compact and should easily fit in a backpack or bag without taking up much space.
Since you’ll receive two lanterns with your purchase, this may also be a good option to consider if you’ll be camping with another person. This way, you’ll each be able to have your own lantern if you split up or if you want to provide more light at your campsite.
Finally, just about everyone should consider purchasing this set as a backup light source to keep at home or in their car in case of an emergency or power outage. It is so compact, that you’ll be able to store it just about anywhere in your home or car to keep it handy if you need it. Plus, since it is very bright, especially in more enclosed spaces, it will be the perfect product to have on hand if the power goes out.
Our Final Verdict
We think you’ll be happy with your decision to purchase the Etekcity Collapsible Lantern. It will be easy to pack for your next camping trip and will provide plenty of light when you need it. Since this is a pack of two lanterns, you will also be able to add additional light to your campsite or let another user use the second lantern.
You also just can’t beat the price of this item, so why not give it a try. It will be a great asset to have on hand in the event of an emergency or power outage at home as well!
We’ll see you at the camp site!
