I got this palm-size lantern for a go bag and stay box I’m spending way too much time assembling. (Here’s the multitool I finally chose for my emergency kit.) It turns out that I needed this little lamp before a full-on emergency happened. 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. Best of all, Amazon has a single light in either Teal or Charcoal for $30, or 25% off, during its Black Friday week event.
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Why I like the BioLite Alpenglow Mini 150
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. This summer we were having major electrical work done in our house, and the power was out in our bedrooms for most of a week. I pulled this portable light source out of our emergency gear and set it in our bedroom, where it lit up the room each night, set on high. After three nights, I gave it a charge and put it back to work. I also have started using it as a light source in the mornings now, when it’s still dark when I wake up.
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.
Why the BioLight Alpenglow Mini 150 makes a great gift
There are more than a few reasons why someone would want to have some portable, battery-powered lights on hand. And at this price, these would make great stocking stuffers for the preppers in your life.
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