Outdoor and Backyard Lighting We Love – The New York Times

Packable lights

The UST Spright Recharge has lower battery capacity and lower weatherproof and brightness ratings compared with the MPOWERD Luci Base Light3,500 mAh, IPX3, and 100 lumens, respectivelyand just one metal hook versus two straps. Unlike the Luci Base Light, it does not have a solar panel, and it can only be powered by USB. After it is powered off, it still glows in the dark, which could be annoying or obstruct sleep. It has one USB port for input and one for output, which could get confusingplus, at a measly 5 watts, the output port is hardly worth having.

The UST Spright Solar has lower battery capacity and lower weatherproof and brightness ratings than the MPOWERD Luci Base Light860 mAh, IPX4, and 120 lumens, respectively. Plus, its dual fold-up metal handles are less effective at hanging and holding onto compared with the Luci Base Lights straps, and its solar panel is on the bottom so you have to hang it if you want to catch any rays. And, like the Spright Recharge, it glows in the dark even when you might not want it to.

We ruled out several other models in the MPOWERD Luci line (including the Candle, Color, Color Essence, Connect, Core, EMRG, Explore, Lux, Original, Outdoor 2.0, and Pro Series) without testing them since they have lower battery capacity (mAh) and/or brightness ratings (lumens) than the Luci Base Light.

The Coleman 800 Lumens LED Lantern with BatteryGuard offers plenty of light (800 lumens) and power (four D batteries) for the price, and it has a classic look and convenient handle on topmuch like the UST 60-Day Duro and UST 30-Day Duro 700. However, we found that it feels clunky and chintzy compared with the other two, both in terms of materials used and build quality.

The Coleman Rugged Rechargeable 400L LED Lantern is dimmer (rated for 400 lumens) and its battery capacity rating (4,000 mAh) is lower than most rechargeable lanterns we tested. Its not weatherproof, and the materials and build quality seem relatively cheap and flimsy. Weve also noticed some stock issues with this model.

The Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 has an impressive brightness rating (600 lumens) and its built-in battery has a capacity rating (5,200 mAh) as high as any rechargeable lantern we tested. We like that it has a hand-crank recharging option, red flashing lights in case of emergencies, and fold-up legs as well as a handle on top. However, its not weatherproof, and its built-in USB-A cable (a slower charging option than the Torchs USB-C port) is super short.

The Goal Zero Lighthouse Core has fewer lumens (rated for 430) and recharging options (just a short built-in USB-A cable) than the Torch. Its battery capacity rating (4,400 mAh) is also lower, and its not weatherproof.

The TaoTronics TT-DL23 is not weatherproof, and we wouldnt trust it for outdoor useexcept maybe on a covered deck or patiosince the glossy plastic and faux-wood components seem prone to scratches. It also has so-so brightness (450 lumens) and battery capacity (4,400 mAh) ratings. However, we like it for indoor use, such as on a bedside table (for late-night trips to the bathroom) or in a closet.

The UST 30-Day Duro 1000 used to be our top lantern pick, and it offers even more settings (flashing and flickering in addition to high, medium, and low) than our current tabletop picks. But it has a lower brightness rating than the 60-Day Duro (1,000 lumens versus 1,200) and weve noticed some stock issues with it in the past.

The World Market Large Flameless Outdoor LED Pillar Candles fared about as well as the Crate and Barrel versions in our testing, but a representative from the company told us they are seasonal and will be discontinued soon.

The Luminara Outdoor Candle comes in a variety of sizes (9, 7, 5, and 4 inches tall), but its less realistic than others we testedboth in terms of its exterior and flickering lightand much more expensive.

The Brightech Ambience Pro 35 is similar to the Hampton Bay and Newhouse Lighting options, but it only came with one spare bulb, and when we were assembling the bulbs we had to partially unscrew some of them to light up.

The Hampton Bay 48 ft. 24-Socket Incandescent String Light Set is almost identical to the Newhouse Lighting model, but it has more bulb sockets (24) and comes with more spare bulbs (six), all of which come packaged in a convenient cardboard grid. However, it was out of stock when we did our most recent round of testing.

The Restoration Hardware Party Globe Light String is most comparable to the Room Essentials model, but its cord is thinner and flimsier, and at the time of this writing its more than triple the price.

The Energizer Stainless Steel Solar LED Path Stake Light (Stainless Steel, 8 Pack) is the priciest set of lights we tested, and while it offers plenty of lumens, easy setup, and durable construction, we dont think these features outweigh the high cost. Not to mention that each light is a whopping 6 inches in diameter, which we think is a little too obtrusive for the average backyard walkway.

The Lowes Portfolio 4-Pack 8x Brighter (9.6-Lumen) Black Solar Integrated LED Path Light was more difficult to assemble than any other model we tested, and it was on the pricier side. It also has a more noticeable solar panel on top and a dimmer light than on others.

The Room Essentials Outdoor Pathway Light Stainless feels cheap and clumsily constructed compared with the rest. No lumens are listed online, but its light appeared dimmer than most of the others we tested.

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Outdoor and Backyard Lighting We Love - The New York Times