In-depth review
Etekcity Camping Lanterns for Power Outages, 4 Pack Review (2027)
The Etekcity 4-pack gives a family four collapsible lanterns with batteries included. Our research-based verdict for family trips and outage kits.
Etekcity Camping Lanterns for Power Outages, 4 Pack
Four collapsible lanterns in one box, with brightness that follows how far you pull each one open.
Our verdict
The Etekcity 4-pack is the family answer to the lantern question: four lanterns, one purchase, batteries included, each dimmed by how far you pull it open, with a storage compartment on top that small hands and kit bags both appreciate. No single unit is bright enough to carry a big canopy alone, and keeping four lanterns running means stocking a dozen AA cells, but that is the nature of a multi-pack, not a flaw in this one. For a family that needs light in two tents and on a table, or a household that wants an outage light in every room, this is the most practical box in the guide.
What we like
- Four lanterns for one purchase light several tents and a table at once
- Brightness follows how far the lantern is pulled open, intuitive even in the dark
- 360-degree illumination from 30 LEDs per lantern
- Storage compartment on top keeps small items from rattling loose in a kit bag
What to watch out for
- Each lantern needs three AA cells, so keeping four running means stocking a dozen batteries
- The collapsible body can collapse on its own if knocked or squeezed in a packed bag
- Light output per lantern is modest, so one unit alone will not carry a big canopy
What owners report: Etekcity Camping Lanterns for Power Outages, 4 Pack
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Four lanterns for one purchase let a family light several tents and a table at once
- Brightness follows how far the lantern is pulled open, which is intuitive even in the dark
- The storage compartment on top keeps small items from rattling loose in a kit bag
Common complaints
- Each lantern needs three AA cells, so keeping four running means stocking a dozen batteries
- The collapsible body can collapse on its own if it is knocked or squeezed in a packed bag
- Light output per lantern is modest, so one unit alone will not carry a big canopy
Who it is for
Families, group campers and households building an emergency kit with a light for every room or tent.
One purchase, four lit spaces
The case for a 4-pack is not brightness but distribution. A family site has at least three spaces that need light after dark: the parents' tent, the children's tent and the table. A single flagship lantern cannot be in all three, while four Etekcity lanterns can, each dimmed to its space by pull height. The same logic applies at home in an outage: a lantern per room beats one bright light carried from room to room. At 154 lumens maximum per lantern, each unit is a personal and small-group light, and the set works because it is used that way.
Pull-to-dim control and the storage compartment
Brightness follows how far the lantern is pulled open, which is intuitive in the dark, including for children and for adults with cold hands: no button sequence to remember, no mode cycle to overshoot. The storage compartment on top is a small, genuinely useful detail, giving keys, batteries or a lighter a place that is not the bottom of a kit bag. The collapsible body can collapse on its own if knocked or squeezed in a packed bag, so the practical advice is to store the lanterns fully shut in a bag rather than loose in a bin.
Battery maths and build
Each lantern takes three AA cells, and twelve are included, so the set works on arrival and the first battery bill is deferred, not avoided. Families running four lanterns for a weekend will work through cells, and rechargeable AA cells change the long-term cost completely. The strengthened ABS body is sturdier than the thinnest budget shells, but this remains a budget-tier set: it will scuff and it will not feel premium, and at this price and quantity that is the right trade. For the record, sources differ slightly on per-lantern weight, with the listing giving 0.67 lb and one comparison page giving 0.57 lb; this guide uses the listing figure.
Key specifications
- Brightness
- 154 lumens maximum (listing)
- LEDs
- 30 LEDs, 360-degree illumination
- Power
- 3 AA batteries per lantern, 12 AA included
- Runtime
- Up to 50 hours (listing)
- Design
- Collapsible, brightness adjusted by lantern height, storage compartment at top
- Weight
- 0.67 lb / 302 g per lantern (listing)
Also consider
Vont 2 Pack LED Camping Lantern
Two collapsible lanterns that pack flat, dim by sliding, and run on ordinary AA batteries.
Why consider it: A smaller, cheaper pair with slide dimming, for households that need two lanterns rather than four
- Brightness: 140 lumens maximum (listing)
- Runtime: Up to 90 hours (listing)
Lepro LED Lanterns Battery Powered, Collapsible, IPX4, 4 Pack
Four pull-up lanterns with a switch you can work in the dark: pull to light, push to dim or switch off.
Why consider it: Another 4-pack with pull-up control, for buyers who prefer its switch style, noting its batteries are not included
- Brightness: 190 lumens (listing)
- Beam: 360-degree illumination
Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
Does the Etekcity 4-pack include batteries?
Yes. Twelve AA batteries are included, three per lantern, so all four lanterns work straight out of the box. After the first set, each lantern needs three AA cells, so keeping four running means stocking a dozen at a time, or switching to rechargeable AA cells for regular use.
How long do the Etekcity lanterns run?
Up to 50 hours per the listing, which describes low output over a long period rather than 154 lumens for 50 hours. In practice, expect a weekend of evening use on moderate brightness from a fresh set of cells, with brighter settings draining them faster. Dimming by pull height lets you trade brightness for runtime directly.
Are four lanterns better than one bright lantern?
For a family site or a household outage, usually yes: one lantern per space works better than one bright lantern carried between spaces. One bright lantern still wins for a single large area, like a group cooking canopy, where distributed small lights leave shadows. Many households end up with both: a 4-pack for distribution and one big lantern for the main area.
Every guide on Camping Lanterns15 pages
- Topic hubCamping Lanterns
- Best ofThe Best Camping Lanterns (2027)
- Rechargeable lanterns split into two families that should not be ranked against each other directly. The first is the big car-camp lantern: a 4,000 to 6,400 mAh battery, 500 to 1,000 lumens, and a phone-charging output, built to anchor a table for an evening. The second is the pocket lantern: a tiny battery, solar or USB charging, and a weight measured in ounces, built to hang in a tent for days on low. This guide ranks both families on the same honest test: how long the light you actually use lasts, and how it gets its charge back.The Best Rechargeable Camping Lanterns (2027)
- A collapsible lantern is judged on two sizes, not one: how big it is when lit, and how small it is when packed. The best designs here shrink to a flat disc, a thin puck or a bulb, then open into a full lantern at camp. That matters most for backpackers, who trade volume as carefully as weight, and for families, who need four lanterns to fit in one bin without a dedicated case. Brightness takes second place in this guide on purpose: a collapsible lantern that stays home because it does not pack is worse than a dimmer one that comes along.The Best Collapsible Camping Lanterns (2027)
- Tent light and table light are different jobs, and a lantern that does one well often does the other badly. A tent wants soft, even, dimmable light with no glare, hung above head height, in a body that cannot be knocked onto bedding. A table wants brighter, wider light that reaches every plate without blinding the person opposite. This guide separates the two jobs, then names the lanterns that genuinely cover both, because most campsites need a tent light and a table light on the same night.The Best Camping Lanterns for Tents and Tables (2027)
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