Last Updated on September, 2024
Lantern usage goes back a long time. According to history books, in 230 BC, ancient China used lanterns for the first time. Lanterns were used for protection back then, with oil as the power source and fire as the light emitter.
The lantern flashlight has gained popularity in the modern era and has become essential whether you are camping, experiencing power outages, or dealing with an emergency.
I’ll go over our top picks based on quality, functionality, and customer feedback to help guide you in finding the best lantern flashlight for your needs.
Table of Contents
9 of the Best Lantern Flashlights
Out of the many lantern flashlights on the market, we narrowed down the top nine into a list through our testing, research, and findings. Here we go.
1. Olight Olantern Classic 2 Pro (Editor’s Choice)
Olight flashlight company does set the benchmark in the flashlight market.
They have all kinds of flashlights of the highest quality and functionality. Olantern Classic 2 Pro is their best lantern flashlight, made to do its job at its best.
This flashlight is made to look like a traditional oil lantern but is powered by a pack of rechargeable batteries.
It’s built to have more easy-to-carry options, making it a must at a campsite in emergencies or power outages.
Not only that the look is so elegant, but you can also use it for interior, party, or backyard decorations.
It will be the perfect deco since it has 360 degree lighting. Which means the light is going to illuminate all around the lantern. You can use this lantern outdoors without worries because it is waterproof up to IPX5.
This vintage-style lantern flashlight allows you to choose an appearance out of three elegant designs. Forest green, vintage copper, and clay beige. It weighs 751 grams (26.4 oz) and stands 7.32 inches tall.
This is the ideal height for a lantern flashlight. Smaller ones would have questionable performance, while larger ones would have portability issues.
Olantern offers two charging options: magnetic charging and a USB-C charging port. The charging time is 4 hours, but it can run for up to 7.5 consecutive days on 10 lumens with one full charge.
The maximum lumen count is 300 lm with warm white and yellow light modes. It has a rotary switch to adjust the light in between 10 to 300 lumens.
Another cool feature the Olantern offers is reverse charging; in other words, it works as a power bank. You can charge your phone or another flashlight with this.
When it comes to lantern flashlights, the Olantern Classic 2 Pro is, without a doubt, the best overall lantern flashlight.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 300 lumens with warm (white/yellow) light mode
- Size: weight with battery (751g/26.4 oz), height (7.32in/186mm), body diameter (4.88in/124mm)
- Battery: Built-in 3.6V 11200mAh Rechargeable Batteries (4 x 18650)
- Charging: USB-C or Olight MCC charging cable
- Runtime: 180 hours (7.5 days)
- Charging time: 4 hours with USB charging
- Waterproof: IPX5
- Other modes: One rotary switch to turn on/off, increase or decrease brightness (10 to 300 lumens)
Pros
Cons
2. FENIX CL26R (#2nd Best Choice)
The Fenix CL 26R is a multi-directional, portable lantern flashlight that can be handy for various outdoor activities.
Because it can emit light from multiple spots within the flashlight, it is known as a multi-directional flashlight.
This flashlight weighs only 116 grams (4.1 oz) and stands 3.8 inches tall. It’s pretty handy as a camping lantern in emergencies or power outages.
You can hang it, magnetically stick it, mount it, carry it or stand it to get your errands done.
The Fenix CL26R’s distinguishing feature is its multi-directional light, emitting light from the bottom, side, or standard lighting.
It’s 360° lighting. You can direct the light only where you need it, whether carrying, standing, or sticking it.
This flashlight can run for a maximum of 400 hours in its lowest setting and gives you the luxury of enjoying a maximum of 400 lumens in the highest setting. The maximum beam distance is 82 feet (25 meters).
It is a one-button operation with access to all modes and a shortcut to the red flashing light. In addition to all the handy features, you can use it outdoors as it is water resistant up to IP66.
Finally, it has battery indicator lights; four lights indicate the remaining battery level, and when it is time to charge, the remaining light blinks. Using a standard USB-C charging cable, you can charge it for about 4 hours.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 400 lumens
- Size: weight with battery (116g/4.1 oz), height (3.8in/97mm), body diameter (1.9in/49mm)
- Battery: One 18650 Li-ion battery (included) or two CR123As
- Charging: USB-C
- Runtime: 400 hours (16 days)
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Waterproof: IP66 water resistant
- Modes: Low (40lm), medium (150lm), high (400lm), front (25lm), bottom1 (3lm), bottom2 (25lm), red light (1lm), red flash (1lm)
Pros
Cons
3. Nitecore LR40 (#3rd Best Choice)
The Nitecore LR40 is a vintage-style LED lantern flashlight. At first glance, it appears to be a soldier’s combat helmet.
It’s available in two colors; army green and white. The reflector casing is protected with a stable metal base, which you can use to keep the lantern standing.
The LR40 offers the luxury of three light sources. It is beneficial for a camping trip and ambient lighting.
Since this flashlight has a retro-style appearance, it’s the perfect option for outdoor decoration, events, and parties.
The three light sources are; warm light, a tungsten filament-like LED, white light, which is natural and practical, warm white light, and red light SOS used for emergencies. The maximum brightness is 100 lumens, available in the warm white light source.
The maximum runtime is 65 hours. The LR40 has stepless brightness adjustment; a rotary switch (knob) is used to adjust brightness in each light mode. To change modes, single-click the knob. This is a professional and precise way of controlling the output.
It has a stable metal base, a durable and impact resistant hard plastic housing, and a waterproof rating up to IPX4, so you don’t need to worry about damage.
With a built-in 4000 mAh lithium-ion battery, this flashlight has the ability to pair as a power bank (reverse charging) to recharge other flashlights or electronic devices.
The flashlight weighs 222 grams (7.83 oz) and is 4.61 inches tall. You will have many carrying options, such as carrying in your hand, hanging in a tent or elsewhere, or standing it to light up the entire campsite. This is ideal for keeping in your car’s emergency kit.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 100 lumens
- Size: weight with battery (222g/7.83 oz), height (4.61in), body diameter (3.78X 3.78 inches)
- Battery: built-in 4000 mAh Li-ion battery
- Charging: USB port
- Runtime: 65 hours
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Waterproof: IPX4 water resistant
- Modes: Warm light (15-80lm), white light (15-50lm), warm white light (10-100lm), red light (10lm)
Pros
Cons
4. Wuben F5
In complete contradiction to the other lights on this list, the Wuben F5 is a multipurpose light.
Although it does not resemble a traditional lantern, we have included it because it is excellent for camping and does a lantern’s job perfectly.
The design is distinctive from others. It is square.
One of its main standout features is its many different carrying options.
It is available in three different color temperatures (5700K, 4500K, and 3000K) and can be clipped, magnetized, hooked, or strapped in hand.
Is that it? No, you can carry it by hand or attach it to a tripod or similar device. That’s portability at its best.
It has a handy power bank feature. It not only charges your phone, but it also charges other flashlights and devices. It can produce a maximum of 500 lumens in the highest mode of 5700K temperature, which lasts for 5 minutes and drops to 230 lumens for a 10-hour runtime. The maximum beam distance is 25 meters (82 feet).
The maximum runtime in the lowest mode (10 lumens of brightness) is 190 hours. That’s certainly an admirable runtime. The built quality is so sleek, and available in many different colors. It has a waterproof rating of IP68 and is impact resistant up to 1 meter.
This is the ideal choice if you are the type of person who’s looking for a camping flashlight but prefers something other than traditional lanterns.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 500 lumens
- Size: weight with the battery; 203 g (7.1 oz), body; 3.3 X 3.07 X 1.12 inches
- Battery: rechargeable sealed battery
- Charging: USB charging
- Runtime: 190 hours (approx: 8 days)
- Charging time: 3 hours
- Waterproof: IP64
- Modes (5700K): High; 500 to 300 lumens (5m/10h), Mid; 140 lumens (20h), Low; 10 lumens (190h)
- Modes (4500K): High; 500 to 300 lumens (5m/10h), Mid; 130 lumens (20h), Low; 8 lumens (190h)
- Modes (3000K): High; 430 to 230 lumens (5m/10h), Mid; 120 lumens (20h), Low; 7 lumens (190h)
Pros
Cons
5. Coast EAL22
Bigger in size and bigger in performance, the EAL22 by the flashlight company “Coast” is the biggest in this list.
The height of this beast is 9.13 inches (23.2 cm), and it weighs 1.15 kg (40.57 oz). Given its size, you can tell that it’s serious business.
The maximum brightness you get is 1250 lumens for a 20-meter throw. That’s about a tactical police flashlight’s brightness.
However, on the lowest brightness mode, the battery life can last up to 225 hours and is indeed built with a drop-proof nylon body and polycarbonate dome.
One of its distinctive features is that you can remove its diffuser to get more light and make it smaller. The top side has a folding handle, and the top and bottom sides have carabiners for additional hanging options for ease.
It operates from a single quick-cycle power switch to go through the multiple lighting modes, turning red when it’s time to charge and green when powered on. Another standalone feature is its dual power option. You can use either 3 D-type cell batteries or one rechargeable battery.
Give it two more features. A red-colored beam mode is available, and the rechargeable battery can be used as a power bank facility. Its body is built with fiberglass filled nylon and a polycarbonate globe. On top of that, it has passed the impact resistance test and has a waterproof rating of IPX4.
This camping lantern flashlight is the ideal choice if you are looking for quite a big one with heavy-duty potential. It will be your best buddy in camping as a camping lantern, in outdoor activities, or during power outages. But not the best choice as a decorative lantern.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 1250 lumens
- Size: weight with battery (1.15kg/40.57 oz), height (9.13in/23.2cm), body diameter (4.09 / 10.39 inches)
- Battery: 3XD batteries or rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
- Charging: USB charging
- Runtime: 225 hours
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Waterproof: IPX4
- Modes: Low (77 lm), medium (675 lm), high (1250 lm)
Pros
Cons
6. Sofirn BLF LT1
Sofirn built these camping lanterns to look and feel like conventional flashlights.
The body fits perfectly in an adult’s palm, just like a tactical flashlight would, and the length is 6.9 inches, and the weight is 642 grams (22.6 oz).
Even though this flashlight does not look like a traditional lantern, it does a lantern’s job perfectly.
It can produce a maximum of 800 lumens, lasting about six hours. That’s awesome, and you get five light modes to enjoy it with.
This camping lantern flashlight has a wider, flat bottom that provides more stability when standing.
The appearance is 7 out of 10. You can use it for decoration, but it is not ideal; it is IPX7 water resistant, so you can use it for outdoor events and run for nearly 24 hours on medium brightness.
The most distinguishing feature is the availability of two color temperatures: warm white (2700K) and neutral white (5000K).
This feature allows you to use the flashlight for various purposes, such as ambient lighting, nighttime running, or tent lighting. Neutral white light as a camping lantern, an emergency lantern, a power outage, and daily errands.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 800 lumens
- Size: weight with battery (642 grams/22.6 oz), height (6.9 inches/176 mm), body diameter (50 mm/2.0 inches)
- Battery: 4x Sofirn 3000 mAh 18650 button-top batteries
- Charging: USB charging
- Runtime: 24 hours in the medium mode
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Waterproof: IPX7
- Modes: Level one (8 lm), level two (77 lm), level three (253 lm), level four (472 lm), level five (800 lm)
Pros
Cons
7. LUMINTOP CL2
This LED lantern is produced by none other than one of the renowned flashlight giants, Lumintop.
They built this lantern after carefully analyzing customer feedback and the shortcomings of other camping lanterns on the market.
For me, the CL2’s size is perfect for electric lanterns. It measures only 5.3 inches (137 mm) in length. It weighs about 306 to 315 grams (10.7 – 11.1 oz), depending on the type of battery.
Speaking of batteries, the CL2’s power source can either be a rechargeable 14500 lithium-ion battery or four AA batteries.
This dual power mode is a convenient feature for camping lanterns and to use in a power outage. You can use whatever power sources you have available under different circumstances.
It has five different brightness modes as well as a strobe mode. This is the only flashlight lantern that has this mode. Turbo mode has a maximum of 650 lumens lasting 1 minute and 50 seconds before dropping to 400 lumens. But the maximum battery life in the lowest mode (moonlight) is 28 days.
This has a similar appearance to the Sofirn BLF LT1, but is smaller in size. Both are built to look and feel like tactical flashlights. In addition, the flat bottom has a tripod screw hole and can be used to keep the flashlight standing.
It has a small handle on top of the light, making it easy to carry or hook onto a surface. This is the perfect handy lantern flashlight.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 650 lumens
- Size: weight with battery (306-315 grams/10.7 – 11.1 oz), height (5.3 inches/137 mm), body diameter (39 mm/1.5 inches).
- Battery: rechargeable 14500 lithium-ion battery or four AA batteries
- Charging: USB port
- Runtime: 28 days in moonlight mode on AA batteries
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Waterproof: IPX8 water resistant
- Modes in 14500 battery: Moonlight (2 lm), low (10 lm), medium (160 lm), high (400 lm), turbo (650 lm)
Pros
Cons
8. Streamlight Super Siege
Streamlight Super Siege is the latest edition of the Siege flashlight family and is the most convenient.
Unlike its ancestors, this model’s power source is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and can reverse charge (power bank facility) to charge your electronic devices.
This LED lantern flashlight is charged the old-school way. With an AC power adapter. As you assumed, it’s a classical LED lantern that weighs 852 grams (30 oz) and is 7.5 inches tall.
The second tallest on the list.
There is a firm handle on the top, and both the top and bottom sides have carabiners for more carrying and hanging options.
It has a removable diffuser, a plus for such a big lantern. When you remove the diffuser, the flashlight is brighter and lighter.
As you thought, the maximum brightness is also relatively high. With a maximum of 1100 lumens on the high mode, it can last for 5.75 hours. In the lowest mode, the battery life is about 36 hours, ideal for a power outage.
Not only that, it has three different light modes for white light and two modes for the red light. How about SOS mode? Of course, yes, it has an SOS mode as well.
One of the additional advantages of this flashlight is that it can charge your electronic devices. It is built with durable polymer construction, a rubber base that provides stability on slippery or uneven surfaces, and rubber covers for charging ports.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 1100 lumens
- Size: weight with battery 852 grams (30 oz), height (7.5 inches)
- Battery: Rechargeable 8800 mAh Lithium Ion battery
- Charging: AC power adapter
- Runtime: 36 hours on the lowest mode
- Charging time: 7 hours
- Waterproof: IPX7
- Modes in 14500 battery: Low (125 lm), medium (550 lm), high (1100 lm), red low (1 lm), red high (2.7 lm), and flash/SOS mode (2.7 lm)
Pros
Cons
9. Energizer Weatheready
The Weatheready by the battery company “Energizer” is an excellent addition to their relationship with flashlights.
Energizer is recognized for their long-lasting batteries but also produces their flashlight line, which is pretty strong.
The Weatherready is a multi purpose LED lantern-type flashlight that weighs 539 grams (19.01 oz) and stands 6.26 inches tall. This size is perfect for modern camping lanterns.
Can you guess what kind of battery is used to power this?
Most of you might have guessed the correct answer. It is a disposable cell battery. You have to use three D batteries or three AA batteries.
Three D batteries are recommended for the best brightness and performance; you can only use one battery type at a time. This LED lantern is not rechargeable. That can be a downside of the Weatheready.
Even though it’s not rechargeable, the maximum battery life is 650 hours. That’s 27 days straight on the lowest setting. It gives you three lighting modes in cool white light.
Low, medium, and high modes: In addition, a warm white night light is specially designed to provide you with the right amount of ambient lighting throughout the night’s sleep or to keep your tent occupied.
This gives you a maximum of 500 lumens in high mode, reaching a 360° area. It’s also equipped with a glow-in-the-dark operational button and a foldable handle to carry or hang it anywhere convenient.
The body is made of durable, water-resistant hard plastic. This is the ideal companion for camping trips, hikes or as an emergency lantern.
Key Features:
- Maximum lumens: 500 lumens
- Size: weight with battery 539 grams (19 oz), height (6.26 inches)
- Battery: 3-d Or 3 Aa cell Batteries
- Charging: N/A
- Runtime: 650 hours on the lowest mode
- Waterproof: Yes
- Modes: Low, medium, high (500 lm), nightlight (yellow)
Pros
Cons
Things to Look in a Lantern Flashlight Before Buying
Battery type: one of the main things to look into when buying a lantern is its battery type, whether it’s rechargeable or cell battery powered. The option is a rechargeable lantern. They last long and give you higher brightness. Some lanterns have the feature of using both rechargeable and cell batteries.
Brightness/lumen count: lanterns do illuminate a 360 degree surrounding and are used for outdoor activities or emergencies. So you want sufficient brightness to get you through your activities.
Durability: you need your lantern to perform and survive outdoors. Therefore a lantern that has a good waterproof, dustproof and impact resistant rating is a must to have.
Carrying options: plenty of carrying options will come in handy in many activities. Handles, carabiners, hooks and a proper grip is a critical factor to consider when buying a lantern.
Why Buy a Lantern Flashlight?
You might be wondering if it is worth buying a flashlight lantern or why you should consider going with an LED lantern flashlight instead of an LED flashlight. Both devices will get you through the dark, but each is made for different purposes.
For example, if you want to light up a specific area or a room, go with an LED flashlight because it’s easy to carry and is small and portable enough to fit in your pocket.
On the other hand, let’s say you have the most face to carry a bigger item and want to light up a large area for a long time.
An LED Lantern flashlight would be ideal. One of the most distinctive differences between a Flashlight and a lantern is the run time and the size. Usually, an LED Lantern is bigger and will run much longer than a conventional flashlight.
This flashlight lantern would be your best buddy for camping, hiking, power outages, decorative purposes, or ambient nighttime running light. Flashlights are often used for everyday carry and other tactical purposes.
FAQs
Final thoughts
Buying a lantern flashlight is one of the wisest decisions you can make. It can get you through many unpleasant situations without hassle.
Each of the above flashlights has its pros, cons, and differing features, and they are ranked based on what we think is the best, which may differ from yours. However, if you’re looking for the best overall lantern flashlight, the Olantern Classic 2 Pro is the way to go.
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