In-depth review
Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash Review (2027)
The Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash is a 2.4 oz lantern and flashlight with USB and solar charging. Our research-based verdict for ultralight trips.
Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash
A 2.4 oz lantern and flashlight in one, with USB and solar charging for trips far from an outlet.
Our verdict
The Micro Flash is the lantern for people who argue about grams. At 2.4 oz it adds a lantern and a flashlight to a pack for less weight than a spare battery, charges by USB in about 3.5 hours or from a compatible solar panel, and carries an IPX6 rating that beats most full-size lanterns. Its output is personal: up to 150 lumens of lantern light and 120 lumens of flashlight beam, enough for a tent and a trail to the latrine, not for a group table. Within that honest scope it is close to perfect, and it is the first light this guide would clip to a backpack.
What we like
- Lantern plus flashlight in a single keychain-sized unit with a hanging loop
- Lantern up to 150 lumens on a full battery, flashlight up to 120 lumens
- Charges by USB in about 3.5 hours, or from a compatible solar panel
- IPX6 weather rating, stronger water protection than most lanterns here
What to watch out for
- Small body is easy to misplace in a packed bag or a dark tent
- Output is modest, so it works as a personal light rather than a group lantern
- The hanging loop and compact switch take getting used to with cold or gloved hands
What owners report: Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- Keychain size with a hanging loop means it clips to a pack or tent line and is always within reach
- The lantern-plus-flashlight combination covers both area light and a directed beam from one tiny unit
- USB and solar charging options suit trips where wall power is days away
Common complaints
- The small body is easy to misplace in a packed bag or a dark tent
- Output is modest, so it works as a personal light rather than a group lantern
- The hanging loop and compact switch take some getting used to with cold or gloved hands
Who it is for
Backpackers, ultralight campers and thru-hikers who need a personal lantern and flashlight at minimum weight, far from outlets.
Two lights in a keychain body
The Micro Flash's trick is that it refuses to be only one thing. One side lit gives up to 170 hours on low, both sides lit gives wider tent light at shorter runtime, and the flashlight end gives a directed beam for walking. That combination means one tiny unit replaces a tent light and a pocket torch, which is how it justifies its place on a list where every item is weighed. The hanging loop is part of the design, not an accessory: clipped to a pack strap or a tent line, it is always within reach.
Charging far from an outlet
USB charging in about 3.5 hours covers town stops and power banks, while compatible solar charging covers multi-day stretches without either. Neither method is fast, and solar in particular depends on panel size and weather, but the lantern's low power draw means a little charge goes a long way: on low modes it sips power for days. The honest limitation is capacity, not charging method: a small battery cannot hold a big reserve, so this is a light for low and mid modes, not for high output all night.
Small size, small trade-offs
A 2.4 oz lantern can be misplaced, and owners say so plainly: in a packed bag or a dark tent it disappears. The hanging loop and a consistent home, clipped to the pack or the tent line, solve most of that. The compact switch takes practice with cold or gloved hands, and the output will not satisfy anyone lighting a group. None of that is a flaw in context: this lantern was built to be personal, light and always present, and on those terms it delivers.
Key specifications
- Weight
- 2.4 oz
- Weather rating
- IPX6
- Lantern brightness
- 135 lumens average, 150 lumens full battery (maker rating)
- Flashlight brightness
- 115 lumens average, 120 lumens full battery (maker rating)
- Runtime
- One side lit 170 hours low / 15 hours high; both sides 80 hours low / 7 hours high
- Charging
- USB, about 3.5 hours, or compatible solar panel
Also consider
A solar-charging lantern that crushes to half an inch thick, with color modes and candle flicker for camp evenings.
Why consider it: Another tiny Goal Zero lantern, with solar charging and color modes, for campers who want ambience over a flashlight beam
- Weather rating: IPX4
- Weight: About 3.2 oz / 90.7 g
Black Diamond Black Diamond Moji Lantern, Graphite
A 3.2 oz frosted-globe tent light with dual-fuel power: rechargeable cell or AAA batteries.
Why consider it: A slightly larger tent light with a frosted globe and dual-fuel power, for campers who want softer light and AAA backup
- Weather rating: IPX4
- Weight: 3.2 oz / 91 g
Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
How long does the Micro Flash run on a charge?
On the lantern side, one side lit runs up to 170 hours on low and 15 hours on high; both sides lit run up to 80 hours on low and 7 hours on high. The flashlight runs up to 100 hours on low and 8.5 hours on high. Those figures describe the full battery, and the lantern is brightest at full charge, at 150 lumens, settling to a 135 lumen average as the battery drains.
Can the Micro Flash charge from a solar panel?
Yes, from a compatible Goal Zero solar panel, as well as by USB in about 3.5 hours. Solar charging is a slow top-up method suited to multi-day trips, not a quick refill: it keeps a small lantern alive across days in the sun rather than restoring a flat battery in an afternoon.
Is the Micro Flash waterproof?
It is rated IPX6, which covers powerful water jets, the strongest water rating in this guide. That covers heavy rain and splashing at camp comfortably. It does not mean the lantern is designed for submersion, so keep it out of streams and standing water like any other lantern.
Every guide on Camping Lanterns15 pages
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