https://www.mpowerd.com/
We've used this light for 2 trips now and have yet to run out of light, even after a long winter's evening of use. I hung it in a shelter on the AT and it provided enough light for us and another couple to do chores, cook and socialize. It was very cheery, especially as the other couple showed up after dark and very nervous, having gotten off trail. Our hung light ended up as an unwitting beacon. It lights the tent interior very well, but I prefer the light set behind to read by. I don't read, I don't sleep, just a habit. We also used it for a night hike on a snowy trail with lots of blow downs and they worked well enough to inspire confidence. Ours is clear in the back where the solar batteries are and bleeds light backwards. It's enough where someone can walk behind and see as long as they stay within 4-5 feet. My previous light was a Petzl Tikka which is a good light, but with spare batteries is several ounces heavier than the 4 oz. Luci. First trip was with one headlamp and one Luci. Second trip was 2 Luci lanterns. We agreed the second trip had superior lighting! Great to hang 2 lamps in camp at night. Long nights made a little more cheery. We used them collapsed as flashlights, blown up as lanterns and hung them on our packs to charge on the trail with mini-biners. 12 hrs. of light on an 8 hr. charge. There's 3 settings- mid-bright, bright and flashing/emergency. The 12 hrs. is for the mid-bright- which is what we used almost exclusively. This may have been covered here before, but I though I'd re-visit it for newcomers to the site or backpacking in general. We paid 14.99 apiece for them.

How would you recharge them while backpacking? Generally I only have about an hour of low angle sun in camp before dark. Do the "bleed" charge when not used?

I guess for that price, it is worth a try anyway.

We use one of these too, and love it. If it needs a charge, I just strap it on the outside of my pack--but it charges pretty darn fast in strong sunlight. And a charge lasts about six hours, as I recall--we've never had it go out.

It's a nice little piece of equipment...

I'm intrigued. Anyone use the smaller version?

They charge quite well hanging on your pack as you hike, as they are waterproof, somewhat shock resistant and will charge in cloudy skies, too. They maintain their charge very well. One day in the sun's charge could be divided into (3) 4 hr, evening uses. The mfg.s say that they will only lose 50% of their charge over a year. Partial charging is also a non-issue. I have even more confidence in them, seeing another member here having used and liked them. I haven't seen the smaller one yet, but will purchase one to try out. At the price, really can't lose. Great for emergency use or work for that matter. I may keep one on the back window of my work truck.

I got four of these a year or two ago as a gift and they work pretty darn good. I think I posted about them here. They give off a great smooth and even light.

They were very handy when our power went out during the storms that caused the floods here a few weeks ago. I leave them on a window sill to charge when not in use.

I've used them backpacking a few times and they worked great. I've used them to walk from my house to the barn on dark nights and they give off enough light to hike in a forest. If you strap two of them to your hips you get a ton of light all around you and no glare in your eyes and I've thought of making a way to attach them to my pack to use that way.

Mine are a little different. They have a reflective surface on the opposite side of the solar panel, but I think these are all made under the same license.

http://sunlightlantern.com

Looks like Sunlight ripped them off.

ETA: Or not. If you read down to the bottom of the report, it's not so clear who ripped off who.

I don't think there's a rip-off involved, just a licensing agreement.

As I recall these were first developed by some students or a crowdfunding project as a way to provide light in very poor areas around the globe and for disaster relief, so I'd expect the licensing agreement is used to fund that goal.

You're probably remembering LuminAID. They're still around as well. I had two of the original ones from Kickstarter (I think, might have been one of the other crowdfunding sites). Worked quite well.

You probably right about that. I probably did confuse the two. I looked and two of mine don't have any logo at all on them, just the patent number and instructions in a few different languages. One of them has a "Sunlight" logo on it. They're at http://sunlightlantern.com

I've been messing around with the little solar yard lights from the Dollar store, Wal-Mart, etc. The ones in our yard have lasted more than 2 years and provide way more light than I want in camp. I typically use a coin cell light, both in white and red. I'll sometimes read in my hammock where "less is more" with respect to light.
The little solar yard lights when stripped down, make a little "puck" you can attach to your pack to charge during the day. They last all night.

What does the inflatable plastic part do? Is there a reflector on the top to direct the light radially? Or does it just diffuse the light somewhat?

I think it just diffuses the light.

On mine the bottom panel opposite the LEDs has a mirror finish, and so does the top panel where the LEDS are. I imagine this helps to increase and diffuse the light that's broadcast out the clear side panel, but it does leave a dark spot below the light when it's hanging above you.

I know I harp on this too much, but the reflective surfaces inside my campfire tent create a wonderful even light with just a single inexpensive LED headlamp. I set it on the floor and point it up and away from me and there's no glare inside at all and plenty of light to read. If they incorporated this somehow into commercial backpacking tents it would be a pretty nice feature.

In the thread, testing testing, if you go to the picture link it shows how well the light is dispersed in its diffused, lantern mode. It is somewhat more of a beam when collapsed. Since we've night hiked with it when it was snowing twice now, I know it works pretty well. When it is inflated it is also able to float and is very hard to damage. Not for everyone, by any means, but it works for my wife and I and lots of people off the grid.

The smaller ones were on sale at Big 5 for about $10. I bought one. The problem is that the instructions are minimal. I tried to blow it up but nothing happened. Do you have to poke a hole in the little "straw" with the plug? Sorry if this is obvious and I just do not get it.

The only thing I see that may be a problem with me is that it is pretty bulky. But the light seems bright. I just cannot get it inflated.

https://www.mpowerd.com/sites/all/themes...User_Manual.pdf

WD, I had trouble the first time. I had to pinch the bladder part of the valve hard and pull down on the section that expands a little. Once it did, it became easier, and moreso as I've used them.

Thanks. Your tips worked.