Best Collapsible and Inflatable Lanterns for Backpacking

Professional reviewers and editors highlight the MalloMe lantern as a top-value camping equipment option, emphasizing its status as one of the brightest collapsible lanterns available. They praise the COB technology for outperforming traditional 30-LED models in brightness and illumination area. The military-grade durability, CE/RoHS certification, and water resistance are noted as key strengths for survival gear and emergency preparedness scenarios.

Professional reviewers praise the Etekcity lantern for its compact collapsibility, adjustable brightness, and reliable runtime of up to 12 hours on low settings. They highlight the IPX5 waterproofing and emergency red modes as key strengths, noting it is dependable for hiking and emergencies despite lower maximum brightness compared to rivals.

No direct quotes from professional reviewers or editors are available in the search results. One non-professional YouTube reviewer praised it as a shiny new upgrade from an older Coleman lantern, highlighting the 1,500 lumens output and ease of #95 mantle installation.

Professional reviewers and editors praise the Bell+Howell TacLight Lantern for its long-lasting illumination, compact design, and reliable performance during power outages and camping trips. Retail specifications highlight extreme brightness, lightweight portability, and IP65 durability as standout features for emergency preparedness, with some noting it is more dependable than standard flashlights.

Professional reviewers and editors highlight the KPKJOO Lantern's exceptional portability and dual-function design, noting its ability to collapse into a pocket-sized flashlight. While praised for its durable ABS construction and water-resistant finish, experts caution that the runtime is shorter than competitors and actual brightness may fall short of marketing claims.

Professional reviewers and editors praise the lantern for its versatility, combining emergency lighting with camping functionality through its foldable construction and uniform light distribution. The design is noted for reliable performance across different usage scenarios, with specific confirmation of approximately 32 hours of runtime in testing.

Professional reviewers and editors highlight the Eveready 360 LED Lantern as a versatile and robust tool ideal for camping, hiking, and emergency preparedness. They praise its powerful 360-degree illumination, long runtime, and multi-functional mounting options like magnets and hooks. While noting that the flashlight mode is less bright than dedicated flashlights, experts recommend it highly for its value in rugged survival kits and compare it favorably to competitors like GearLight and Etekcity for portability and durability.

Professional reviewers highlight the product's multifunctionality and brightness, noting its ability to brighten campsite or outdoor work areas with up to 4x standard LED output. Video demos emphasize practical features like strong magnets that easily hold the unit horizontally and hybrid power for emergencies. However, reviewers consistently note that the flashlight mode is not the brightest feature, positioning it as a convenient area light rather than a high-performance torch.

Professional reviewers and editors consistently praise the LuminAID Nova Colors for its exceptional compactness, shatterproof durability, and reliable floating capability. They highlight its versatility with color options and adequate brightness levels up to 100 lumens, positioning it as an ideal solution for tents, power outages, and emergency kits. While no major negative critiques exist, experts emphasize that the product prioritizes portability over high-output power.