These lights will be fine in normal rain and snow showers, but you may want to bring them inside during heavy downpours combined with wind. You'll often see the water protection listed as an IP rating, an international standard that looks like "IP45." Stake lights: These tend to be spiked stakes with bulbs at the top that provide low-level lighting, ideal for guiding the way along a path or softly lighting flowerbeds.

Solar lights, compared to low voltage and line voltage outdoor lights, are safer and more DIY-friendly since there's little to no wiring required at all," says Sarah Jameson, marketing director of Green Building Elements. "In most cases, there is no need to bring in an electrician to install it." There’s no debate here. Electric LED lanterns with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have become the golden standard of camping lanterns. Battery technology is constantly improving, and that’s great news for campers. Every year battery capacity increases, recharge times get shorter, and rechargeable lanterns get brighter, longer-lasting, and more convenient. The short answer to the gas v. electric question for 99% of campers is to go with electric, and rechargeable electric specifically. That said, there are still a few good reasons to consider the alternatives.The key to a truly versatile camping lantern is adjustable brightness. Some lanterns achieve this with a dial (similar to a dimmer switch in your home), while other use pre-set brightness modes like low, high, turbo, or even strobe. PowerBee says this larger solar panel means the lights should stay on for longer, and that they'll work over winter, which not many solar lights claim. We've found this to be spot on. These lights have been shining brightly around a tree in our test garden for three years now; they're often still shining brightly in the early hours of the morning (6am), even in the depths of winter. We’re particularly impressed by the frosted front, which spreads the considerable light evenly, so that it doesn’t hurt your eyes, or focus the light on any one spot. The whole thing is made from durable plastic. Another great contender in our review of best solar lanterns. The best camping lanterns are extra bright when you need them to be, and much more subtle when a little mood light is all you want. Lanterns with adjustable outputs also tend to live longer on a single charge or fuel canister because lower settings use less energy. The amount of time a lantern stays lit is also an important factor, and we call that “runtime.” How Long Should A Camping Lantern Last? Need to know 20 lights, 14.4m long (1.9m to the first light, then 14.4m, with bulbs spaced at 80cm), USB chargeable as well as charging from the sun, claimed battery life of 12 nights from a full USB charge, eight light settings, warm white light.

The solar lights I have in my garden typically stay on for around three to six hours after dusk in summer but only 30 minutes in winter – it all depends on how much sunlight there is and how efficient the solar panel you choose.” How do you clean and care for solar garden lights?Our team of experts at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa, put 27 outdoor solar lights to the test. We assembled them, sprinkled them with water, dropped a golf ball on them (from 6 feet away on the light and from 4 feet on the solar panel), and even stashed them in the freezer for an hour to see how well they held up to cold temperatures. We also timed how long the lights stayed on from dusk to dawn. Need to know 300 lights, 30m long (2m to the first light, then 28m with bulbs evenly spaced), USB-chargeable as well as solar, eight light settings, warm white light.

Why You Should Get It: If you'd like a sturdy motion-sensing solar light, our testers found this to be one of the best solar lights in this category.Around 100 lumens will create a soft light on a pathway,” Matthew says, “while 150 lumens would work for an outdoor dining space.” Do solar garden lights work in rain and in winter and how long should they last? Why You Should Get It: These solar lights are perfect for those looking for a soft, ambient outdoor lighting option. They're also available in seven colors. The lights have eight different modes (combination, waves, sequential, slow glow, chasing/flash, slow fade, twinkle, and steady), providing plenty of ambient lighting options to choose from. While we tested the pure white lights, the set is also available in blue, warm white, green, purple, orange, and multicolor. They can stay illuminated for up to 10 hours, and you can set them to turn on and off automatically or use the manual power switch. Built with the sort of quality you would expect to last many years, the SUBOOS Ultimate Rechargeable LED Lantern and Power Bank is great for indoor and outdoor use. As a piece of camping kit, this LED Lantern loves getting wet, its pretty tough, so you can sling it in your kit and be off. A great contender for best rechargeable light.

Do combine solar lights with other light types, such as plug in/rechargeable lamps, candle lanterns and so on. The best outdoor solar lights have a battery that can eventually be replaced if it stops working. "Technically, solar lights require rechargeable batteries to act as storage for the electrical energy collected from the sun," Jameson says. Why You Should Get It: Their IPX7 rating means they can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, making them very water resistant. Meanwhile, a propane lantern may only have a runtime of six hours on a lower setting before you have to refill, repressurize, and relight it. Hence,the power source of a lantern has a major impact on its real-world runtime, so let’s dive into those while we’re on the topic. Size and Weight Now we are going to learn how to recharge solar light batteries without using direct sunlight. Despite what may appear to be insufficient lighting during dark, cold weather, solar panels may charge unexpectedly effectively. A small beam of light reaches your solar lights’ photovoltaic cells, which gather, store, and transform into energy. This process, combined with the cool temperature minimizing excessive electron motions, results in increased energy output. 8. Using LED Light SourceThis one often gets overlooked. Like any other piece of outdoor gear, your camping lantern is going to be exposed to the elements at some point. Some lantern manufacturers list their products as either “waterproof” or “water-resistant” but don’t actually support those claims with any hard data.