The Radiant ShineLines are also rechargeable, which makes them even easier to bring along. They have a mini USB port, meaning you can plug them into anything with a USB power source. It takes about an hour and a half for these lights to charge completely, and they run for about 6 hours on a full charge. This short battery life means you’ll have to be prepared to charge them on a longer camping trip. Other lights have blinking and color-changing effects, which keep the mood more energized. The color ENO Twilights have a setting that will gradually rotate through all of the colors. However, a few lights require that you cycle through these different settings to turn the light off, which can definitely be an annoyance around bedtime. No one likes a strobing light right as they’re about to fall asleep. The gradual color shift mode of some string lights certainly livens the mood; (photo/Maddie Downie) Storage However, there are a number of downsides to the use of gas lights. First and foremost, they are unsuitable as tent lighting or for use in enclosed spaces, due to the risk of poisoning from emissions generated in the combustion process. There is also the risk of fire, as gas lights produce a significant amount of heat. Thirdly, the fabric mantles commonly used are fragile and can easily be reduced to a pile of ash after a day’s travel on corrugated roads. It can be very frustrating to find you have to install and burn in a new mantle after a long day in the vehicle. Fluoro Lights The 5m cable gives you plenty of length to run it wherever you want in the tent and it comes with a USB plug.

Whether you want a string of tiny, single lights or an extravagant string of ornate lights, you will certainly be able to find something that matches your style. Lastly, the durability test involved some good old-fashioned muscle power, and saw our testers pulling, stretching, and yanking on these lights to see if they would break under abuse. Though this test might have been more aggressive than what these lights would see in their normal use, it not only determined each light’s general durability, but where a user might see wear and tear over time. Every set of string lights we tested made it through our multi-facet testing regimen, and are built to last; (photo/Maddie Downie) Buyer’s Guide: How to Buy Camping String LightsIn the market for some camp lighting? We’ve put together some tips about the different types of lights available, and how to tell high-quality LED camping lights apart from lesser-quality alternatives. LED Lights vs Fluoro vs Gas: what are the best lights for camping? Powered by the Best: Our camping strip lights feature a rechargeable lithium battery with a capacity of 1500mAh. This means you can enjoy hours of continuous lighting on a single charge, reducing the need for frequent recharges during your outdoor expeditions. Proper lighting in your camp setup can help make you feel like you’re living, not just camping. When it’s time to crawl into your tent for bed, you can turn the lights on like you’re flipping a switch as you walk through the front door. Our experts have been lighting up the scene for a handful of years now, testing just about every camping string light on the market and settling on seven of the best for every occasion. Built to Last: With an IP67 lamp belt protection level, these lights are designed to resist dust, dirt, and water. You can rely on them to maintain their performance, no matter where your adventures take you. When choosing between camping lights, the durability of those lights should be a consideration. As a whole, companies designing outdoor lights have put effort into making them durable, such as concealing the lights and wires themselves in some protective material. The ENO Twilights are almost completely plastic-covered, which keeps dust and water at bay for the most part. However, over time, the plastic seems prone to stretch and tear if these lights are handled roughly.

Once you have chosen your favourite string lights, it’s time to get creative and adorn your camp. While your camp is never going to appear on a TV home decoration show, there is no reason that it can’t have a homely, comforting touch. These lights have two battery charging options. The solar panel on the top of the light means you can leave this light out in the sun and forget about them for a while. It does take 16 hours for this light to fully charge via solar panel, which means you’re not likely to get them to a full charge in one day. However, they also come with a USB charging port that you can use to charge these lights up in 6-8 hours.Adding some string lights to your camp can benefit you in several ways. Not only do they make a nice aesthetic addition but they are also a great way of providing low level light. Outdoor string lights will usually be waterproof which is essential if you are camping in the UK; we all know how unpredictable the weather can be. Bulb Type Fluorescent camping lights became popular in the 1990’s as a more efficient, less dangerous replacement for gas lighting. Unlike gas lights, fluoro camp lights run cool and do not emit poisonous substances when lit, meaning they can safely be used inside as tent lighting. They are efficient users of power (generally 50-70 lumens per watt), and provide a strong, diffused light beam. These lights have a brag-worthy 72-hour battery life for the three AAA batteries they require. At 100% brightness, they remained bright for 3 days, only dimming at the end of the third. Although these lights aren’t rechargeable, they maximize battery life, making them a great choice for multiday camping trips, or for someone who doesn’t want to have to remember to charge their lights every time before hitting the road.

You should also be prepared to choose between colours. Often, string lights are white; this could be a soft white for a calmer glow or a bright white which is better when you need maximum illumination.

The Coxa strip light is perfect for around the edge of a tent or awning to provide light throughout the whole area. This energy efficient LED strip light offers 3m of waterproof lighting, which can be used inside or outside the tent. One of the advantages of LED camp lighting is that it is a very efficient user of power. Each of our 48cm lights will only draw 0.6A per hour at full brightness, so you can power a pretty decent setup overnight without killing your car battery. You might also install them in one of the tent bedrooms which is particularly useful for children who might be afraid of the dark.