I don’t go camping very often. I love camping, don’t get me wrong, but where I live in Florida, it’s just not a pleasant experience. The environment is muggy, hot, and there are a lot of creepy crawlies pretty much anywhere you’d go spend time in the wilderness here. I’m not just talking about small insects, either. But I do spend a lot of time outdoors, specifically, on my back patio. So, I like camping, but I don’t do it often despite how much I love being outside. Established, let’s move on. Why does any of this matter? Because I’m reviewing a solar camping lantern — really, it’s just a solar lantern — without the camping aspect thrown in there.

Why would you want a solar camping lantern, or a lantern like this, in your home? Well, that’s precisely what I’m about to share and, also, why I love my new Solight MegaPuff. First, allow me to introduce you to the MegaPuff and what it can do.

What is the Solight MegaPuff solar lantern?

The Solight MegaPuff is — like most of the company’s lights — a small, portable lantern that’s both collapsible and solar powered. It’s ultra-portable and lightweight, and folds up, so you can easily stow it in a day bag, backpack, or camping kit. You can also simply carry it with you, like if you’re headed to the beach, out by the pool, or chilling in your backyard. The solar power is optional, meaning, you can power it via the built-in solar panel, but also you can charge it regularly if you don’t want to leave it outdoors — or when sunlight is limited.

Solight makes several designs. The MegaPuff is square when opened up, or rather, a cube. It’s made of non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials, with no PVC. It’s a recyclable material called PET sailcloth with UV protection, if you must know. And that material feels like a cross between plastic and cloth.

It comes compacted inside the box, essentially flattened. The smart origami-like design means you can pull the handles and twist to expand it, allowing it to expand to its full size in seconds. You can also do the opposite, twist and push from the top and bottom to fold flat for quick storage. It will also keep its shape when punctured. I’m hesitant to puncture mine. I know, I know it’s for posterity. But it’s obvious the material is tough and durable by feel alone.

The MegaPuff delivers up to 300 Lumens of brightness for up to 150 hours of continuous lighting on its lowest setting. It does last that long, too. I left it outside, on continuously, for nearly four days and it still had plenty of power left.

On the inside of the solar lantern, facing up, are individual light diodes that illuminate when you turn them on. It takes about eight to ten hours to charge via sunlight, to full, or you can use the rapid-charge function via USB-C, and it comes with the cables you need. Plus, the entire lantern is IP67 water resistant so you can leave it outdoors, it can get wet, and it can dry out in the sun without damaging the internals.

It even doubles as a power bank or device charger. The 4,000mAh rechargeable battery can be used to power the lights, but also recharge your devices, like your phone. It has enough juice to charge the average phone to 80% within 1.5 hours. That’s a super boon when you need an emergency power boost, especially if it’s to communicate during a hurricane or a storm.

How does the MegaPuff solar lantern work?

There is a single button on the bottom of the lantern, to the side of the solar panel. It acts as both the on/off switch and the mode button. For example, pressing the button once will turn on the lights inside the lantern. Holding that button down will turn off the power at any time. Here’s how the lighting modes work, and it’s all simple and intuitive:

• One button press — Low warm lighting (Warm glow 49 Lumens)
• Two button presses — Low bright lighting (White glow 90 Lumens)
• Three button presses — High warm lighting (Warm glow 160 Lumens)
• Four button presses — High bright lighting (White glow 160 Lumens)
• Five button presses — Warm+bright lighting (White and warm glow 300 Lumens)
• Six button presses — Red high lighting (Red glow 160 Lumens)
• Seven button presses — Red blinking light (Red strobe 160 Lumens)

Keep in mind, you don’t need to press the button seven times in a row to get to the last mode. You can simply press the button and cycle through them slowly.

Also, on the bottom, is a USB-C port that can be used to recharge the battery, or plug in your devices when you need to charge them. The solar panel automatically begins charging the battery when you place it somewhere with sunlight. There are LED indicators on the top, as well, that tell you how much charge is available, and they fill as the battery charges. You can place the lantern in a window to charge, but it works much more slowly than if it’s placed in direct sunlight. I usually leave my lantern outdoors, and even with the patio screen blocking some of the sunlight and UV, it charges as promised.

Why would you want a solar lantern like the Solight MegaPuff?

Source: Briley Kenney / Techigar

It’s easy to imagine why a solar lantern like this would be so useful for camping, outdoor activities, and off-grid lifestyles. It’s long-lasting, with excellent battery life. It charges via solar and regular USB-C, so you have multiple power options there. It can also charge and keep your other small electronics powered. Those uses are pretty blatant. Turn on the solar lantern to get some light in your cabin or van. Use it to search for gear. To light up the immediate area with a soft glow. Or to cook, clean, read, or whatever else you need to do outdoors.

What’s not so obvious is how absolutely critical something like this would be for your average survival scenario. Again, I live in Florida, where there are hurricanes and storms. We lose our power for long periods, often. Sure, I can always use a portable power station to power fans, lights, and other gear, but having a solar lantern like this vastly improves my family’s capabilities. We don’t have to charge or power lights with the station, instead we can use the Solight MegaPuff solar lantern. In a pinch, we could also rely on it to charge our phones, kid’s tablets, and so on.

It floats, too. So, while that’s a cool little gimmick and looks fantastic in the pool, in the face of flooding — or if you’re kayaking down a river — that’s a huge deal. More so when you consider that the red light and blinking red light modes could act as an S.O.S. signal for nearby teams. With its tough and puncture-proof design that makes it super useful during extreme conditions and weather, like, say, a hurricane.

What’s the verdict, and the price?

The Solight MegaPuff, and I suspect its other solar lanterns, offer valuable, accessible lighting for any occasion. Most of all, it’s meant for the outdoors, from backyard to remote campsite. It’s tough, capable, and multi-functional. Best of all, it includes several lighting modes, red strobe light notwithstanding, and the solar panel and related functionality are reliable. It would come in handy in a pinch, but it also comes in handy for everyday use, too.

The MegaPuff is $68. There are some cheaper solar lanterns, and some more expensive. That price might seem high, but due to its versatility and exceptional durability, one lantern will last you quite a while, as long as you treat it well. I would absolutely recommend it. In fact, I’m already ordering some more for our family and friends. I want everyone to have one or two of these, especially down here in Florida.

• Recommended Buy: Yes.
• For Who: Everyone, not just outdoor folk. If you need reliable lighting for everyday use, or emergencies, Solight has an excellent variety of solar lanterns.
• MSRP: From $29