This post contains affiliate links.
Nothing is more frustrating than buying a lantern for camping and realising it is no good. Over the years, I have purchased various styles, alkaline batteries and rechargeable lanterns. Many of these have either been thrown away or gathering dust in the garage.
I don’t want anybody to make the same mistakes and waste money, especially with a limited budget. I needed a lantern that did not require recharging or replacement batteries during our camping trips. It had to have different light settings during the evening, be robust, and above all, being a mother, have a dimmer setting for nighttime. Plus, I do not want to be restricted to family camping. I needed a lantern I could use while we were wild and car camping.
Is the Lanktoo 2-in-1 lantern worth buying?
Everything you buy has good and bad points, and the same for the Lanktoo 2-in-1 rechargeable lantern. It is not all 100% positive for me. But for under £30, it is reliable and does not break the bank.
| Good points | Bad points |
|---|---|
| Compact size – ideal for placing in a backpack, travelling light, wild camping, plus sits easily in a side pocket of a car for emergencies | Hanging hook – rigid handle and difficult to clip onto a tent light ring, so not ideal for hanging in a tent. |
| The remote control is a novelty but fun. Plus, I am short, so it can be hard for me to reach lights hanging from the roof of a tent. Using the remote control is a great solution. | Not able to use alkaline batteries for emergencies |
| Waterproof – If it is left or used in heavy rain, it will not stop working | The battery did not last 70 hours on the brightest setting |
| Magnetic base | There is no X rating for sealing against dust, so you must be careful where you place the light to avoid damaging dirt particles. |
| Multi usage – Input and output for charging lantern and can charge an electrical item simultaneously | It does not save the last light setting when it’s turned off. You must go through the different light settings each time you turn it on. |
| The dimmer setting, which is ideal for low lighting at night in a child’s sleeping area | Only micro USB cable supplied, no plug adaptor for charging ideal for mains adaptor with USB, otherwise need to charge via plug adaptor. |
| The body is bright, cheerful colours available, | Can quickly lose the remote control and USB charging lead |
| Visual light display battery monitor | The magnetic base is not suitable for air tents; it must be on a table. |
| You will not need to recharge during your trip unless you continuously use it to back up other electrical devices. | The Remote needs a CR2032; it would have been great if the remote control could be connected to the lantern to recharge. |
| During wild camping trips, I could recharge my phone several times. | |
| The magnetic base is unsuitable for air tents; it must be on a table. | |
| My favourite light setting is warm white, especially if it is cold outside. It provides the illusion of warmth rather than harsh light. |
Testing of Lanktoo 2-in-1 rechargeable lantern: Drop, water, remote and battery life
| How we tested | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Dropped onto a hard and soft floor from different heights 4 feet 5 feet 6 feet 7 feet | No damage to casing or light Light still worked – able to control manually and by remote control LED light displayed worked | 5/5 |
| Waterproofing (not submerged in water) The lantern was left in the rain for over 2 hours Lantern left outside overnight, on poles underneath a tarp shelter | The lantern was covered in dew in the morning and still worked whilst wet. The same result when left in the rain | 5/5 |
| Remote control distance Advertised as 33 feet / 10 meters Distance testing between 15 – 25 feet | Between 15 and 24 feet – control light via remote From 25 feet, remote control usage was not consistent | 2/5 |
| Battery life Lantern left on different settings | Warm light – 60 hours Bright light – 50 hours Dimmed light – 70 hours | 3/5 |
| Magnetic base Knock test on tables and tent poles | Walking past and slightly knocking – remained in place Shook tent poles slightly – remained in place Continuous moving of poles as per high winds – lamp fell, but no damage | 3/5 |
| Hanging test Ease of attaching to a tent light ring – not using the magnetic base | Failed – it was fiddly and a struggle to clip at a height. It was easier to clip onto a hook at eye level, but I used a band and carabina snap hook | 0/5 |
| Brightness inside Hanging from a hook or tent pole ay above eye level Tabletop Light facing upwards and attached by the magnetic strip Light placed face down with charge display showing. | Hanging or attached to a tent pole. Bright light – from a hook has perfect brightness to read, write and see clearly around the inside of a tent. Warm and white light – ideal for relaxing inside a tent, but not for reading or any other activities Tabletop Facing upwards using the bright light setting was too harsh and blinded you. It needs to be a warm light or dimmed, Lose the effect of the brightness if the light is facing down. There is no benefit to using the light this way if you want a bright room. | 5/5 1/5 |
| Brightness outside | Bright light – excellent to see around a pitch, cooking Lower lights – not required Sufficient lighting to walk around the campsite at night. However, because it is 360-degree lighting, it is impossible to direct the beam. Not ideal to use. | 5/5 1/5 |
Overall score – 3/5
How does the Lanktoo 2-in-1 work?
Lantern base control
One-Click – Blue light display for battery power
Two-clicks – Turn on / turn off
Light sequence
- Bright light
- white light
- Red emergency strobe light
- Flashing emergency light
- Warm light
Remote control
Two-clicks – Turn on / turn off
- The same sequences and lantern base
- Dimmer – plus and minus
Who is the Lanktoo 2-in1 suitable for?
- Camping with no EHU
- Don’t want to worry about the charge running out
- Always having to recharge another electrical device
- Not just for camping, it can be kept in a car for emergencies as it tucks away in a door side pocket.
- Wild camping as it fits into a side pocket of a rucksack
- Car camping as you can stick to the door of your car
- Additional lighting backup at home
- Usable in a child’s bedroom to replace a night light.
If you are unsure that the Lanktoo 2-in-1 lantern is not suitable, read our article guide on what type of lantern to buy. We break down all the different powered lanterns available. How bright do you need inside and outside of your tent? Or we have budget alternative lanterns that are multi-purpose and can be split into several lights and torches.
Related questions
How often do you need to replace rechargeable batteries?
On average, rechargeable batteries will last up to 5 years. Deterioration will be evident, as the battery will no longer retain energy for long periods. Stored batteries will lose, on average, energy 1% power per day. A battery should be removed from its charger once fully energised and not left longer than necessary to avoid damaging the battery.
What lumens do you need for camping?
On average, 200 lumens is suitable for use inside a tent. Using higher-rated lumens inside will be too bright and uncomfortable visually. A camping area between 1000 and 2000 lumens will be sufficient to light.
Why do lanterns have an IPX grading?
Lanterns have an IP65 rating that distinguishes how waterproof and dust-protected it is. The lower the IP (Ingress Protection), the least waterproof. The higher the IP, the more resistant to water and dust particles. If X replaces 65, a light will be damaged by water or solid dust particles.
