Before purchasing a solar light, ask yourself exactly what you need so you can find a solar light that best suits your needs. The lights have eight different modes (combination, waves, sequential, slow glow, chasing/flash, slow fade, twinkle, and steady), providing plenty of ambient lighting options to choose from. While we tested the pure white lights, the set is also available in blue, warm white, green, purple, orange, and multicolor. They can stay illuminated for up to 10 hours, and you can set them to turn on and off automatically or use the manual power switch. Just like the rest of our solar-powered lighting solutions, the Mini London have been created to be a reliable source of lighting any time of the year. Despite their small size, these solar post lights can keep your garden or patio lit up for up to 10 hours. And since they do not need to be wired or connected to the mains, you can enjoy fully functional lighting without digging up your garden or laying cables that can cause trips and falls.

Please note that the bright white and bright warm white colours use more power than the standard 8 colours so runtimes in these two colour modes will be reduced. In Outdoor Mode your Shapelight will turn on automatically after dark and turn off 7 hours later which conserves charge for subsequent evenings. Pay attention to how much sunlight your yard gets during the day, and use that to manage your expectations for how bright the lights will be and how long they'll last into the evening.

Solar Garden Lights

Keep in Mind: The glass shattered when testers dropped a golf ball on it from a height of six feet, so you'll want to protect the light if there's a threat of hail.

We also offer a choice of solar ground lights and stakes in both classic and contemporary data-styles, so you’re able to create the perfect outdoor look for you. Why buy your solar garden lights from Lights4fun?The Ring Solar Pathlights provided incredibly bright light, and the system as a whole was quite durable. However, a Ring Bridge and a smartphone app are required to connect it to Alexa. We weren't able to get the app working properly during testing, which is why we didn't include it on our list of the best outdoor solar lights. If you have the time and patience to devote to setup—and you already own other Ring accessories—this could still be a great fit for your home. Its IP65 rating means it is a water resistant solar light option. We observed no damage to either the light or the solar panel when we subjected them to water and golf ball tests. Post-freezer, the lights still worked as well. Ultimately, we found these to be a good deal for their price and practicality. We chose the AloftSun Solar Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights as the overall best outdoor solar lights for their durability, water resistance, and motion-sensing capabilities. If you're looking for a set of string lights, testers loved the Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered Outdoor String Lights, because they held up to water and freezing temperatures. And, while the bulbs are made of plastic, testers said they were clear and didn't look inexpensive. Why You Should Get It: If you'd like a sturdy motion-sensing solar light, our testers found this to be one of the best solar lights in this category. Our team of experts at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa, put 27 outdoor solar lights to the test. We assembled them, sprinkled them with water, dropped a golf ball on them (from 6 feet away on the light and from 4 feet on the solar panel), and even stashed them in the freezer for an hour to see how well they held up to cold temperatures. We also timed how long the lights stayed on from dusk to dawn.

For a simple spotlight, consider this set of two. Its three pieces are easy to assemble and can either be staked into the ground or mounted on a wall with the included screws. Why You Should Get It: These in-ground lights sit flush with your terrain for a minimalist look that is barely noticeable during daytime. Fence lights: Small up or down lights, these sit on fence posts or can be mounted on walls, for lighting all the way along your boundary. The solar string lights are meant to be durable with their shatterproof material and Brightech's WeatherTite technology. While no official waterproof rating is given, this technology is designed to help the lights handle 50 mile-per-hour winds along with rain and snow. They're also resistant to temperatures as hot as 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The bulbs are made of plastic, but one tester said they are "clear, pretty, and don't seem cheap."

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Performance will never be an issue with these solar post lights. The Mini London incorporate advanced lighting technology, including high efficiency solar panels and high brightness SMD light bulbs, which work together to deliver a lighting output that is twice as bright offered by the average solar post light. Shapelights are made from an extremely tough PE plastic and are strong enough to be used as illuminated furniture pieces. The Shapelight Cube and Cylinder can both easily double up as a small table or seat for children or light adults. The best solar lights have special features like on/off switches, timers, or motion sensors. Some solar lights, like the Brightown Outdoor Solar String Lights, even have different light settings like a slow fade or twinkle.

We found the lantern to be top heavy, so it's worth noting that you'll need to properly secure the lantern to a post. It may take a bit more work, but the style, lighting, and functionality will be worth it. This set of two lights comes with an IP67 rating, meaning it's waterproof and will even keep dust particles out. Its 90 degree beam angle creates a more focused spotlight, and the spotlight head rotates 90 degrees vertically and 180 degrees horizontally, giving you more control over what the light shines on.

With batteries that charge via solar panels throughout the day, solar lights can effectively help your household lower its carbon footprint. Installation is easy, because there are no wires to contend with and, because the market for solar lights has boomed as clean energy becomes more popular, there are tons of options, ensuring that you can find the lights that are perfect for your home. Solar lights, compared to low voltage and line voltage outdoor lights, are safer and more DIY-friendly since there's little to no wiring required at all," says Sarah Jameson, marketing director of Green Building Elements. "In most cases, there is no need to bring in an electrician to install it." The 6 Pro Series VI Solar Path Lights offers an elegant look to light your pathway. After the light and water test, the lights still worked. However, because of the price, we didn't feel that the performance or design justified the high price tag. Shapelights have been designed to work year round in the UK using solar power alone, but they can also be fully charged using the supplied USB lead in just a few hours. USB charging is not necessary if variable illumination times in winter are acceptable, but USB charging every couple of weeks will keep your Shapelight working for the full 7 hours every night whatever the weather. Others use solar lighting as a portable lighting option. Jameson says, "A lot of people who enjoy camping outdoors typically opt for solar-powered lanterns and bulbs as they are portable and self-sustaining for their power." Battery