In Review: FosPower Camping Lantern

While we didn’t necessarily intend it, this week turned into a bit of a FosPower week. We started things off with reviewing their rugged battery pack, and then turned our attention to their solar-powered emergency radio. Today, we’re going to review the third item that we covered in our earlier roundup, the FosPower Camping Lantern.

When we think of lighting for an emergency or camping, we tend to think about flashlights, headlamps, and potentially candles. And those are all good options, and work well for personal lighting. I’ve found, however, that lanterns – particularly modern LED ones – are invaluable as well. They can illuminate the space around the table or inside a tent easily, and they also work well for walking a gaggle of kids over to the bathrooms before bedtime as well. In other words, I find them quite handy for camping, and should the power go out at home, they’ll work as well to illuminate a room.

When I first got the FosPower Camping Lantern in, I had to do a double take. By that, I mean it looked identical to another lantern I already had (aside from the colors). So, what this tells me is that there’s a stock design somewhere that’s getting recycled, at least for the exterior. As I got into the lantern, I did see that there were some upgrades as compared the one I already had. For starters, it has a much larger array of (covered) LEDs underneath the removable shade. This means it’s brighter, sure, but it also leads to another bit of improved functionality.

With the FosPower Camping Lantern, you can choose whether or not you want a warm hue being emitted (nice for ambiance), or a cooler one (which tends to feel brighter, and helps when working on something in the dark). Not only that, you’re able to dim the light down (and brighten it again) allowing you to dial in the amount of light you actually want for what’s going on. And, of course, if you dim it, those three D-cell batteries are going to last all the longer. There’s also one more lighting mode, which puts it into a bright flashing sequence, which is helpful if you’re trying to draw attention to your position.

There is one other light on the FosPower Camping Lantern that I want to call out, that I feel is a brilliant bit of design. That is the small green LED that’s in the power button of the lantern. When it’s on, that is lit up green, so you know where to press to turn things down, or change the mode. When the lantern is off, though, that’s where the cleverness appears. That green LED flashes every two seconds, and this serves two purposes. First off, it tells you if the batteries inside are still powering things up or not. Secondly, this means you’ve got an easy way to find the lantern in the dark.

This is key, because you’re most likely to go looking for the FosPower Camping Lantern once it’s already dark. If you’re like me, it’s stored in the basement, and if the power is out, it’s dark down there. With that flashing green light, you can hone right in on where it is, and get the portable light going. Or, in another scenario, it’s perhaps tucked in the corner of the tent, or on a table, and again, that green light guides you to where it is.

As far as using the FosPower Camping Lantern goes, you’ve got some options past the lighting modes. You can use it with the shade on or off (depending on what you’re doing), and it can sit on a table, hang from the handle built into the shade, or hang from the small carabiner-style clip on the base of the lantern. That clip would be most likely used to hang the lamp from the loops on the inside of a tent, or to clip onto your pack, I suppose. If you have the shade off, the LEDs are still covered, but you’ll want to have it installed if you’re concerned about needing the IP44 rating (say, you’ve got some rain coming in).

In summary, I think a lantern like the FosPower Camping Lantern is something everyone should have in their kit, both for camping and for emergency situations at home. Or, you know, even for sitting out at the firepit in the backyard if you want. It’s not overly large, so it stores away easily, and it can still manage to output up to 1000 lumens, meaning it gives off a lot of light (or a little, if you dim it down). And really, given how inexpensive the lantern is, there’s no reason to not have one around to be prepared should the lights go out. It’s available directly from FosPower for $34.99, or you can find it about half of that price (as we saw in our other FosPower reviews) over on Amazon if you were so inclined. fospower.com

Tech Specs from FosPower

[LONG-LASTING BATTERY LIFE] 3D cell batteries allow this camping lantern to work continuously for up to 24 hours. No more scrambling for batteries in the middle of the night with this long lasting LED lantern. If you’re planning a long stay outdoors, a fresh set of batteries installed and a second backup set of batteries will keep the lantern going the whole trip.

[3 DIMMABLE MODES + EMERGENCY FLASH] The 3 dimmable modes include Warm Lighting, White Lighting, and a combination of Warm and White. The emergency flash mode is meant to get the attention of any passers-by for assistance. With a maximum output of 1000LM, you’ll have no problem seeing or being seen.
[A MODE FOR ANY SITUATION] This camping lantern features a removable shade and bottom clip that allows it to work as a hanging ceiling light. The handle integrated into the shade is built for comfort and longevity. When hanging as a ceiling light, the LEDs are still covered, protecting you from accidentally touching the LEDs.
[RUGGED BUILD QUALITY] Utilizing a mixture of high quality materials, this water splash resistance IP44 rated lantern will last you for years of adventure. A sturdy metal carabiner clip on the bottom of the lantern allows you to hang it from a rucksack for hands-free use or freeing up space for more supplies