Updated 08/27/2026

Tips for choosing camp lighting, plus my favorite lanterns, string lights, and headlamps for a well-lit campsite.

Good camp lighting is often overlooked, but it can make a big difference once the sun goes down, providing useful light at camp while also creating a more inviting atmosphere. All of the lights featured here are rechargeable, which I prefer versus relying on disposable batteries.

Types of Camp Lighting

Task Lighting

Task lighting provides brighter, more focused light for activities around camp. Lanterns with multiple brightness settings are especially useful because you can turn up the brightness when cooking or organizing gear and use a lower setting for reading or other activities. I also use lanterns to light the inside of my tent or car when I need more light than string lights provide.

Ambient Lighting

String lights are my favorite way to add ambiance at camp, whether I’m stringing them around the campsite, along the perimeter of a pop-up canopy over my camp kitchen, or inside my tent for softer light. They’re also useful when I’m camping in my car, providing enough light to see without being as bright as a lantern.

Hands-free Lighting

A headlamp is my go-to for getting around camp after dark. It lights the ground in front of me while leaving my hands free, which is especially useful when I’m carrying items, or when I’m walking to the camp bathroom at night.

What to Look For

Brightness (lumens): The amount of light you need depends on how you’ll use it. Around 100 lumens is generally plenty for a tent, while 500 lumens or more is useful for cooking and larger group areas. For string lights, lower brightness is often preferable for creating ambient light rather than fully illuminating a campsite/

Power source: I prefer rechargeable lights with USB charging because they eliminate the need for disposable batteries. Since I already bring power banks when camping, I can recharge my lights along with my other devices as needed. Solar charging can also be useful as an additional option, although it usually takes longer than USB charging.

Battery capacity: Battery capacity is listed in milliamp-hours (mAh) and indicates how much energy the battery can store. For example, a 1000mAh lithium-ion battery has a larger capacity than a 500mAh battery and will generally provide a longer runtime, although actual runtime also depends on the light’s brightness and other factors.

Runtime: Look for a light that provides enough runtime for how you camp. For a task light over my camp kitchen, I look for 8–20 hours or more since I may leave it on for extended periods. For a lantern inside my tent, I don’t need as much runtime because I’m not using it for very long. The same is true for a headlamp, which I typically only use for walking around the campsite at night or trips to the campground bathroom.

Weather resistance: Camping lights can be exposed to rain, condensation, and damp conditions, so I look for a water-resistance rating of IPX4 or higher. IPX4 protects against splashing water from any direction, making it suitable for general camping use and light rain. IP66 provides greater protection from water and is also dust-tight, while IP67 adds protection against temporary immersion in water. For most camping lights, IPX4 provides adequate protection, while IP66 and IP67 offer additional protection from dust and more significant water exposure.

Recommended Camp Lighting

BioLite AlpenGlow Mini Lantern

The BioLite AlpenGlow Mini is my favorite camping lantern. It’s compact and versatile, with warm white, individual color, and multi-color lighting modes, although I primarily use the white light. I like hanging it from the loop in the center of my tent because it provides good overall lighting, and I also use it when camping in my car. The built-in bungee strap makes it easy to hang, and the power level indicator is useful for keeping track of the battery. It’s more expensive than some camping lanterns, but of all the lanterns I’ve used, this is the one I think is worth paying more for. The AlpenGlow is also available in larger sizes.

Specs

• Brightness: 5 – 150 lumens
• Light modes: warm white, red, blue, green, multi-color
• Runtime: 5 hours on high / 40 hours on low
• Power source: rechargeable (USB-C)
• Battery capacity: 1000mAh lithium-ion
• Weather resistance rating: IPX4

BioLite Luci Solar String Lights + Detachable Power Hub

These are my top pick for string lights because of their brightness and 44-foot length. The high setting is much brighter than typical string lights, making them more versatile for different uses around camp. I use them to light my camp kitchen by attaching them to my pop-up canopy; the high setting is great for cooking, while the low setting works well when I’m relaxing at camp. They’re also useful for stringing around a campsite when I want softer ambient lighting. The detachable power hub can be removed without taking down the string of lights, making it easy to recharge via USB-C or solar power. It can also charge other devices, although I prefer to save the battery for the lights.

Specs

• Length: 44 feet
• Brightness: 140 lumens / 70 lumens / 20 lumens
• Runtime: 8 hours on high / 24 hours on medium / 40 hours on low
• Power source: rechargeable (USB-C or solar)
• Battery capacity: 4000mAh lithium-ion
• Weather resistance rating: IPX4

Ogery Z10 Pro Camping Light

The OGERY Z10 Pro is a versatile camp light with up to 2,850 lumens, making it much brighter than most camping lanterns. I use it next to my camp kitchen for cooking and eating, and the adjustable-height tripod makes it easy to position the light exactly where I need it. The swiveling light panels let me direct the light where it’s needed, and the light can also be used on its own as a lantern without the tripod. I’ve also found it useful at home as a bright task light. Use discount code iheartpacificnorthwest15 for 15% off.

Specs

• Brightness: 60 – 2,850 lumens
• Light modes: warm / neutral / cold / flashlight / SOS
• Runtime: up to 59 hours
• Power source: rechargeable (USB-C)
• Battery capacity: 18,000mAh
• Weather resistance rating: IPX4

Luno Camping String Lights

I use the these string lights inside my tent and car when I want softer ambient lighting rather than the brighter light of a lantern. They have several lighting modes, including a candle-flicker setting, along with three brightness levels. The controls are built right into the string, and the included rechargeable battery bank and carrying case make them easy to pack and use.

Specs

• Length: 20 feet
• Brightness: not specified
• Light modes: 7 variable light modes
• Runtime: 8 hours
• Power source: rechargeable (USB-C)
• Battery capacity: 550mAh lithium
• Weather resistance rating: not listed

Ogery Solar Camping String Lights & Lantern

This combination camp light is a versatile option because it combines string lights with a lantern and flashlight. The lantern has multiple lighting mode options that work well for task lighting. The string lights wind up into the lantern base and have a 49-foot length, which gives me plenty of cord to use wherever I want to use them. The retractable design also keeps the lights from becoming tangled when I pack them away. My favorite way to use this light is under a pop-up canopy, with the lantern hanging in the center for task lighting and the string lights wrapping around the sides of the canopy.

Specs

• Length: 49.2 feet
• Light modes: 11 total, including white and multi-color string lights, lantern, and flashlight
• Runtime: up to 20 hours
• Power source: rechargeable (USB-C or built-in solar)
• Battery capacity: 5400mAh lithium-ion polymer
• Weather resistance rating: IPX4

luminAID Nova Solar Lantern

This clever little lantern from luminAID packs down flat, so it’s easy to stash in a pack, glove box, or camp kit — anywhere you might need extra light. It offers both solar and USB-Micro charging, a battery level indicator, and four levels of soft, usable light ranging from 75 to 12 lumens. I keep one in my day pack in case of an emergency when hiking during shorter winter days, and in my camp kit for reading at night. And as a bonus, luminAID’s Give Light, Get Light program helps provide light and power to families in need in more than 100 countries.

Specs

• Brightness: 12 – 75 lumens
• Light modes: turbo, high, medium, low, flashing
• Runtime: 3-5 hours on turbo / 18-24 hours on low
• Power source: rechargeable (micro-USB or built-in solar)
• Battery capacity: 1000mAh
• Weather resistance rating: IP67

Nitecore NU25 headlamp

The NU25 is my top pick for a headlamp because the dual-button design makes it especially easy to use. I like that I can turn it off without going through every light setting and turn on the red light directly with the mode button, without having to cycle through the white lights. I especially appreciate this because I’ve struggled to find the red-light setting on other headlamps without accidentally going through several options and affecting my night vision.

The headband has a dual design, with a wider elastic fabric band across the front and a lightweight bungee cord section in the back. While this keeps the headband lightweight, I prefer an all-elastic fabric band because the bungee cord can easily twist or tangle, so I often have to fuss with it and check that it’s straight before putting the headlamp on. Fortunately, the headband is replaceable, so I can swap it out for my preferred style.

Specs

• Brightness: 1 – 400 lumens
• Light modes: high, medium, low, ultralow, red light
• Runtime: 2 hr 40 min on high / 160 hours on ultralow
• Power source: rechargeable (USB-C)
• Battery capacity: 650mAh lithium-ion
• Weather resistance rating: IP66

Flextail Tiny Helio 600Z headlamp

The Flextail Tiny Helio 600Z is a reliable, affordable option with a 600-lumen maximum output and multiple useful light modes. I especially like the mixed-light mode, which combines the spotlight and floodlight, and the red light for preserving night vision. The beam reaches up to 328 feet on high, giving it an impressive range when I need to see farther down the trail. Another feature I appreciate is the replaceable rechargeable battery, which can be swapped for a higher-capacity battery or replaced when it eventually stops holding a charge. One drawback is that you have to cycle through the various light modes to turn it off.

Specs

• Brightness: 5 – 600 lumens
• Light modes: high, middle, low, moonlight, red light
• Runtime: 3 hours on high / 50 hours on moonlight
• Power source: rechargeable (USB-C)
• Battery capacity: 700mAh
• Weather resistance rating: IP67

Gear Reviews: My goal is to share clear, unbiased information about outdoor gear. I am not sponsored by any gear companies and I don’t accept paid posts or links. I regularly receive products from brands for review, with no expectation of a positive review and no compensation for my opinions. As an independent gear reviewer, I only review items I’ve personally used on multiple trips and that I believe are high-quality and worth recommending.

Affiliate Links: I Heart Pacific Northwest is a participant in affiliate link programs which provide a small commission if a purchase is made through gear links on this site (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for supporting this website!