Best lantern
Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub
600 lm lantern with USB out and a hand crank for long outages
Lanterns and power banks
Rechargeable lanterns and power banks keep the lights on and phones charged through an outage, without the fire risk of candles.
Used for: Emergency kit
Our picks
Compare side by side
| Specification | Best lantern Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub | Best high-capacity power bank Anker Power Bank | Best fast-charging power bank Anker Prime Power Bank | Best outage nightlight Eton American Red Cross Blackout Buddy Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | Our score: 7.6/10 out of 10 | Our score: 7.7/10 out of 10 | Our score: 7.8/10 out of 10(best in this row) | Our score: 7.2/10 out of 10 |
| Brightness | 600 lm(best in this row) | not listed | not listed | 50 lm |
| Runtime (maker's claim) | 320 h(best in this row) | not listed | not listed | 4 h |
| Battery capacity | 18.98 Wh | 90 Wh(best in this row) | 72.36 Wh | not listed |
| USB-C output (one port) | 0 W | 100 W | 140 W(best in this row) | not listed |
| Lights up in a power cut | not listed | not listed | not listed | Yes |
| Hand crank | Yes | not listed | not listed | not listed |
| Recharging (max) | not listed | 100 W | 100 W | not listed |
| Total output | 7.5 W | 165 W | 220 W(best in this row) | not listed |
| Where to buy |
US retailers |
Before you buy
- Compare watt-hours Watt-hours tell you the stored energy; mAh figures use different voltages and can mislead.
- Use lanterns, not candles The Government of Canada says flashlights lower the fire risk compared with candles.
- Charge before the storm Top everything up when a warning goes out, and recharge every few months in storage.
Guides
Comparison
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Light and power bank questions
Why not candles in an outage?
Because of the fire risk. The Government of Canada says to use flashlights instead of candles, and the US CPSC gives the same advice for winter storms. Keep a lantern in each room you’ll use and a flashlight by the bed.
How big a power bank do I need?
Enough for your phones for the outage you plan for. The Government of Canada suggests a battery pack that can charge critical devices several times. For longer outages, a power station charges phones, lights and a CPAP for days.
Are cheap chargers safe?
Look for a certification mark. The Government of Canada advises that third-party charging adapters carry a mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL. Charge power banks on a hard surface, not under pillows.