Barebones Lanterns

Let there be light. The month of May means that summer is right around the corner and Memorial Day means camping and cabin trips in my neck of the woods. Be prepared this time with indoor and outdoor illumination from Barebones.

The Canyon Lantern ($40) is a vintage lantern design with a modern touch. It features a rechargeable lithium ion battery capable of up to 4 hours of light on its brightest setting and 80 hours on its lower setting. It has a retractable lens that changes the light from a focused beam to ambient lighting. Great for camping or power outages at home, it has a 200 Lumen output.

The battery takes about 4-6 hours to recharge. I like that the power adapter uses USB, which means that you can charge the lantern via your computer or even charge your smartphone via the lantern. They recommend charging the lantern’s battery once every 3-4 months to help maintain the longevity of the battery.

Naturally, if you charge your phone from the lantern you will drain some of the power from the lantern. But it could be a last ditch effort if you’re in a pinch and need to communicate to survive or to order pizza. Which is practically the same thing.

The vintage styling is what caught my eye. Available in antique bronze and satin nickel, each one has a red metal placard on the front with the company name, serial number, and wattage specs reminiscent of old lanterns and cameras.

If you’re not into the Canyon Lantern check out their Forest Lantern ($50) for similar specs and capabilities with a more traditional look and 360 degrees of light. It puts out 325 Lumens and will never be hot to the touch, which is nice. This one is available in antique bronze, satin nickel, and red. It includes the USB charging port as well.

While you’re at it, grab their Trailblazer Flashlight ($100) if for no other reason than it looks like a lightsaber. The Trailblazer puts out a 4000k focus beam and 500 Lumens. It has the USB port capable of charging other devices and a swivel head to adjust beam angle. Now if it would only make that cool lightsaber sound when I turn it on. Brighten up your summer with Barebones.