Best Camping Lanterns and Small Lights for Tents, Tarps and Campsites

A head torch is great when you’re moving.

A lantern is better when you’ve stopped.

Once the tent is pitched, the brew is on and you’re trying to find your spoon without wearing your dinner, a small camping lantern makes life a lot easier.

You do not need to light up the entire hillside. You just need enough soft, useful light to cook, sort kit, read, play cards, find your socks, avoid tripping over guy lines and make camp feel less like a damp cave.

For UK camping, wild camping and weekend campsites, the best lantern is compact, reliable, weather-resistant and easy to hang inside a tent or under a tarp.

If you still need a hands-free light for walking, this head torch guide covers the best options for UK camping, hiking and dog walks.

Quick Picks: Best Camping Lanterns UK

Best overall: Black Diamond Moji Lantern
Best rechargeable camp lantern: BioLite AlpenGlow 500
Best compact power-bank lantern: Goal Zero Lighthouse Mini
Best ultralight tent light: Nitecore LR40
Best budget tent light: Vango Lunar 250 Eco Recharge USB Lantern
Best string lights for tarps: MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights
Best tiny backup light: Black Diamond Zip Lantern

Do You Actually Need a Camping Lantern?

Not always.

If you’re moving, cooking quickly and sleeping early, a head torch can do most of the work.

But a lantern is better when you want light that fills a small space rather than points wherever your face is looking.

A lantern is useful for:

Head torches are practical. Lanterns make camp feel calmer.

The best setup is usually both: a head torch for moving, a lantern for camp.

If you’re building your full overnight kit, this one-night wild camp packing guide shows where lighting fits into the wider setup.

Lanterns vs Head Torches vs Small Torches

Each light has a job.

Do not think of them as rivals. Think of them as a small lighting system.

For a simple camp, I’d carry a head torch and one small lantern. For wild camping, I’d choose something compact and rechargeable. For family campsites, a bigger lantern or string light setup makes more sense.

If you like keeping your kit small and useful, this EDC essentials guide follows the same carry-what-earns-its-place approach.

How Bright Should a Camping Lantern Be?

You do not need ridiculous brightness inside a tent.

A lantern that is too bright makes camp feel harsh, kills the mood and attracts every flying thing in the postcode.

As a rough guide:

• 50–100 lumens is enough for a small tent or soft camp light
• 100–250 lumens is good for cooking, sorting kit and small group use
• 250–500 lumens is useful for bigger tents, campsites or brighter area lighting

For most solo campers and couples, 100–250 lumens is plenty.

Brightness is only part of it, though. Light quality matters too. A warm, diffused glow is much nicer in a tent than a cold blast of white light that makes your camp feel like an interrogation room.

Rechargeable or Battery-Powered Lantern?

Rechargeable lanterns are easier if you camp regularly. Charge them before you leave, top them up with a power bank if needed, and stop buying batteries every other trip.

Battery-powered lanterns still make sense as backup lights or for occasional use.

A good camping light setup might be:

For longer trips, think about how many nights you’ll be out, how bright you’ll run the lantern, and whether you can recharge it.

If you’re carrying electronics outdoors, this dry bags and waterproof pouches guide covers how to keep them protected.

What to Look for in a Camping Lantern

A good camping lantern should have:

For tents and tarps, the hanging option matters more than people think. A lantern you can hang from a tent loop, ridgeline, branch or tarp cord is much more useful than one that always has to sit on the floor.

1. Black Diamond Moji Lantern — Best Overall Camping Lantern

The Black Diamond Moji is probably the safest all-round pick for most campers.

It is small, simple and useful. Black Diamond lists the Moji at 200 lumens, with IPX4 weather resistance, a 120-hour max burn time, a frosted globe for even light distribution and dual-fuel compatibility with either the rechargeable BD 1500 battery or 3 AAA batteries.

That is exactly what you want from a small camping lantern: simple light, easy hanging and no unnecessary drama.

Best for: tents, campsites, weekend camps and general outdoor use.

Why it earns its place:

Possible downside: it is not the brightest lantern here, but that is not a bad thing for tent use.

If you want one small lantern that works for most camps, the Moji is a solid choice.

If you’re building a simple camp kitchen, a lantern like this makes cooking and sorting kit under a tarp much easier.

2. BioLite AlpenGlow 500 — Best Rechargeable Camp Lantern

The BioLite AlpenGlow 500 is the nicer, more premium camp lantern.

It is brighter, more atmospheric and better suited to campsite evenings, van setups, larger tents or anyone who cares about light quality.

BioLite lists the AlpenGlow 500 with a 6400mAh battery, USB-A output, 380g weight, 5 hours burn time on high and up to 200 hours on low. It is designed as a rechargeable camping lantern with multiple lighting modes.

This is the one that makes camp feel good, not just visible.

Best for: campsites, larger tents, relaxed weekends, base camps and group use.

Why it earns its place:

Possible downside: it is heavier and more expensive than tiny tent lights.

If you mostly wild camp with a small pack, it may be more lantern than you need. If you like proper campsite evenings, it is a very nice bit of kit.

3. Goal Zero Lighthouse Mini — Best Compact Power-Bank Lantern

The Goal Zero Lighthouse Mini is useful because it is both a lantern and a small power hub.

Goal Zero lists the Lighthouse Mini as a rechargeable lantern with 210 lumens of LED light and a built-in USB port for powering small devices.

That makes it a smart pick if you want one light that can also help top up small electronics in a pinch.

Best for: campsites, weekend camps, van setups, emergency lighting and backup charging.

Why it earns its place:

Possible downside: if you already carry a separate power bank, you may not need the charging feature.

For general camping and backup use, this is a practical little lantern.

If your phone is part of your navigation setup, this map and compass guide explains why you still need a backup plan.

4. Nitecore LR40 — Best Ultralight Tent Lantern

The Nitecore LR40 is a compact rechargeable lantern for people who want small, simple camp light without carrying a chunky unit.

Nitecore describes the LR40 as a multifunctional USB-C rechargeable camping lantern with three light sources, stepless brightness adjustment and a maximum runtime of 65 hours. It also features a 360-degree light design and a built-in battery.

It is not the most powerful lantern in this list, but it is a good little tent and tarp light.

Best for: wild camping, lightweight tents, solo camps, backup lighting.

Why it earns its place:

Possible downside: 100 lumens is enough for tent use, but not ideal for lighting a large campsite.

If you want a small lantern that fits into a lightweight setup, this is a good option.

If you’re trying to keep your overnight kit lean, this UK wild camping setup guide is worth pairing with compact lighting.

5. Vango Lunar 250 Eco Recharge USB Lantern — Best Budget Tent Light

The Vango Lunar 250 Eco is the kind of lantern that suits beginners, family camps and anyone who wants a simple rechargeable light without spending loads.

It gives you a sensible amount of campsite light, recharges by USB and is easy to understand.

Best for: budget camping, family tents, weekend camps and beginner setups.

Why it earns its place:

Possible downside: bulkier than tiny backpacking lights.

This is a practical choice if you want a lantern for campsites rather than ultralight wild camps.

6. MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights — Best String Lights for Tarps

String lights are not essential.

But under a tarp, they are brilliant.

The MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights are useful for campsites, festival setups, van awnings, gazebos and relaxed tarp camps where you want soft light spread across a space.

Best for: tarps, campsites, van setups, festival camps and relaxed evenings.

Why it earns its place:

Possible downside: not the best choice if you need a rugged, compact wild camping light.

If you are building a proper campsite setup or a cosy tarp area, string lights are a nice upgrade.

If you’re planning a weekend camp rather than a stripped-back wild camp, this simple camp kitchen guide pairs well with a more comfortable lighting setup.

7. Black Diamond Zip Lantern — Best Tiny Backup Light

The Black Diamond Zip is a small hybrid lantern and torch-style light.

It is useful as a backup light, tent light or emergency option in a camping bag.

Best for: backup lighting, small tents, emergency kits and kids’ camp lights.

Why it earns its place:

Possible downside: not powerful enough to be your main campsite lantern for a group.

This is a good “leave it in the bag” light. Not exciting, but useful when your main torch disappears into the chaos.

For more compact backup gear, this pocket-sized survival kit guide covers the small tools worth carrying outdoors.

Best Camping Lantern for Tents

For tents, I’d choose the Black Diamond Moji.

It is small, soft, simple and bright enough without being annoying.

For solo tents, the Nitecore LR40 also makes sense because it is compact and rechargeable.

For bigger family tents, the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 or Vango Lunar-style lantern will feel more useful.

Best Camping Lantern for Tarps

For tarps, you want something you can hang.

The Black Diamond Moji is good for simple tarp use. The MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights are better if you want a wider spread of light and a more relaxed campsite feel.

A lantern hanging from a tarp ridgeline makes cooking, sorting gear and sitting around much easier.

Best Camping Lantern for Wild Camping

For wild camping, keep it small.

The Nitecore LR40, Black Diamond Moji or Black Diamond Zip are the best fits here.

You do not need a huge lantern for wild camping. In fact, you probably want the opposite: low, soft light that does the job without advertising your camp to the entire valley.

Use low brightness, keep it subtle, and save battery.

If you’re new to overnight trips, this one-night wild camp guide covers what to pack without overloading your rucksack.

Best Camping Lantern for Campsites

For campsites, comfort matters more than weight.

The BioLite AlpenGlow 500, Goal Zero Lighthouse Mini and Vango Lunar 250 Eco are all better campsite picks than tiny ultralight lanterns.

You can go a bit bigger because you are not carrying everything over a ridge. A softer, brighter lantern makes evenings around the tent much more pleasant.

Lantern Features That Actually Matter

Lantern Mistakes Beginners Make

If you’re trying to avoid beginner outdoor kit mistakes, this bushcraft mistakes guide is worth a read before packing your bag.

Simple Lighting Setups by Trip Type

Small Light Accessories Worth Having

A few extras make camp lighting easier:

Useful little additions:

Nothing dramatic. Just the bits that stop a good light being annoying to use.

Final Verdict: Which Camping Lantern Should You Buy?

If I had to recommend one camping lantern for most people, I’d choose the Black Diamond Moji.

It is small, simple, reliable and bright enough for most tents and camp setups.

If you want something more premium and atmospheric, go for the BioLite AlpenGlow 500.

If you want a lantern with a small power-bank function, look at the Goal Zero Lighthouse Mini.

If you want a compact wild camping light, choose the Nitecore LR40.

If you’re on a budget, a Vango Lunar-style rechargeable lantern will do the job.

And if you’re building a comfortable tarp or campsite setup, solar string lights are a surprisingly good upgrade.

Do not overthink it. Get a light you will actually pack, keep it charged, and make sure you can hang it where you need it.

A good lantern turns camp from “I can just about see” into “this is actually quite nice”.

Once your lighting is sorted, this waterproof jacket guide covers the rain shell worth carrying when the weather turns.

Camping Lantern FAQs