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This Rechargeable Mini Lantern Is Great for Camping and Emergencies

The BioLite Alpenglow Mini lantern is the perfect size for camping and emergency bags or an unexpected power outage.

Clifford Colby Managing Editor
Clifford is a managing editor at CNET, where he leads How-To coverage. He spent a handful of years at Peachpit Press, editing books on everything from the first iPhone to Python. He also worked at a handful of now-dead computer magazines, including MacWEEK and MacUser. Unrelated, he roots for the Oakland A's.
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Clifford Colby
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Teeny tiny handheld lamp for camping or go bag.
BioLite

My plan was to use this lightweight, palm-sized lantern for several camping trips I am taking this summer and for a go bag I've spent way too much time fussing over. (Here's the multitool I finally chose for my emergency kit.) It turns out that I needed it before I got to a campground. I'll explain.

When looking for a portable light source, I didn't want to spend too much money. Sometimes these cool small things come with premium price tags.

Someone gave me advice that helped: Packing a go bag isn't that much different than packing for a camping trip. Both include items you'll need to survive away from your home for some time. With that in mind, I started looking for items that could do double duty, and the BioLite Alpenglow Mini 150 Lumen Rechargeable Lantern ticks both boxes.

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This palm-size light source is smaller than a can of tuna and half its weight, and I don't notice its weight or size when stowed in my backpack. Charged via USB-C cable, which cuts down all the chargers I need to keep track of, the lamp casts enough light for 40 hours set on low and 5 hours on high before it needs to recharge. 

I can vouch for that battery life. We are having major electrical work done in our house, and the power has been out in our bedrooms for most of the week. I pulled this portable light source out of our camping gear and set it in our bedroom, where it's lighting up the room each night, set on high. After three nights, I gave it a charge and put it back to work.

By default, I can set the pint-size lantern to white, or adjust the brightness and pick different colors, including a multilight cycle by pressing the top. ("A party light!" declared former CNET colleague Mary-Elisabeth Combs when I gave her a quick demo.)

The BioLite Alpenglow Mini 150 comes with a clever bungee cord attached to the bottom that lets me hang the lantern from a tree branch or tent pole. It also has a battery meter so I can keep an eye on the charge. Now I just need to pair it with a portable solar panel, and I'm set.

For more of our favorites and deals, don't miss the Govee floor lamp that's still 40% off as is this portable car jump starter battery pack.