The Finest Tenting String Lights of 2024

Whether or not you’re out on a solo car-camping journey, making hearth meals with pals, or stress-free in your hammock, the most effective tenting string lights make the temper what you need it to be. Our specialists have been testing camp lighting for near a decade, and we’ve strung up nearly each choice available on the market and settled on eight of the most effective for each event.

A easy string of twinkle lights just like the ENO Twilights Camp Lights — our prime decide — can actually brighten the temper wherever you utilize them, and even a budget-friendly choice just like the BioLite SiteLight String can perk up the inside of a tent or automobile tenting state of affairs. Moreso than tenting lanterns or headlamps, string lights are simple to set and overlook and might run lengthy into the night.

For this roundup, we toted these string lights from the frontcountry to the backcountry, stringing them up in nationwide parks and distant outposts alike. We illuminated our rigs whereas overlanding, and forged mild on camp kitchens to whittle down what precisely makes an excellent string mild. We centered on purposeful variations in brightness, battery life, sturdiness, and weight, and every mild handed by the gauntlet of our distinctive testing routine.

Scroll by to see all of our advisable buys, and on the finish of our listing, make sure to take a look at our Purchaser’s Information to be taught extra about easy methods to illuminate your subsequent tenting outing. We’ve additionally assembled a Comparability Chart to stage lights in opposition to each other, and a Value & Worth part to suss out what your cash will get you in the case of these enjoyable camp lights.

Editor’s Word: We up to date our Tenting String Lights information on October 28, 2024, so as to add the Entrance Runner LED Gentle Strip and Brightech Ambiance Professional Photo voltaic String Lights.

The Finest Tenting String Lights of 2024

Tenting String Lights Comparability Chart

How We Examined the Finest Tenting String Lights

Tenting string lights are fairly easy, however that didn’t cease us from diving in and making an attempt to separate the wonderful from the simply alright. Our choice course of begins by phrase of mouth or by deep analysis to key in on a slate of worthy testers. From there, it’s into the hills. 

Our camp testing of those string lights has taken us far and vast, they usually’ve lit the way in which to entrance nation campsites throughout the West — from dim ocean-side camps within the Hoh Rain Forest to alpine lakes within the Colorado excessive nation. Our specialists cowl the unfold from mobile-working van lifers to itinerant dirtbags, and every has strung up a light-weight or three to see what they’ve bought to supply.

Area Testing

The climate isn’t at all times going to cooperate on your weekend shindigs, and our rain take a look at happens throughout actual, day-long Pacific Northwest rain storms. After spending the day within the rain, every mild is turned on and inspected for any harm. The battery take a look at, too, sought to problem these string lights with real-life utilization, and included charging rechargeable lights totally, organising battery-powered lights with model new batteries, and hooking up plug-in lights with transportable batteries, then working every mild till they died.

The “huge campsite” take a look at assessed every mild’s potential to mild up a big campsite by itself. We had been capable of see if a light-weight was vivid or lengthy sufficient to mild up the frequent area the place meals and drinks had been being made. The lights that weren’t suited to complete campsites had been arrange in tents, backs of automobiles, and over hammocks to see in the event that they labored higher for a single camper.

Bench Testing

Our testing didn’t cease once we rolled up the sleeping baggage, both. Over a handful of seasons right here, we’ve pulled collectively a set of bench exams to essentially problem string lights and guarantee they don’t depart you hanging once you want them essentially the most.

The primary challenges string mild’s explicit capability for turning into tangled spaghetti when absent-mindedly packed away, and through our so-called ‘stuff take a look at,’ we packed away every of those lights each loosely and in any included storage bag. This take a look at goals to find out how simple these lights had been to pack and unpack, in addition to how possible they had been to tangle or break inside a pack.

As well as, the sturdiness take a look at concerned some good old style muscle energy, and noticed our testers pulling, stretching, and yanking on these lights to see if they might break beneath abuse. Although this take a look at might need been extra aggressive than what these lights would see of their regular use, it not solely decided every mild’s basic sturdiness, however the place a person may see put on and tear over time.

Why You Ought to Belief Us

Our lead tester Maddie Downie is an skilled camper, hiker, hammocker, and hearth hang-outer primarily based in Washington State. She grew up tenting along with her household within the Colorado backwoods, and now spends virtually each weekend evening out of the summer time sleeping outdoor. 

Maddie understands the distinction between organising a camp for an early begin the following day and placing collectively a campsite for pals to assemble for drinks, and examined every mild with this context in thoughts, creating a couple of particular exams to place these lights by: a stuff take a look at, rain take a look at, battery take a look at, “huge campsite” take a look at, and sturdiness take a look at.

One among our different fundamental testers, Karuna Eberl has spent a long time backpacking, tent tenting, and van-life-ing across the West and Baja, all the way down to the Florida Keys, and round Europe. She additionally has a background in filmmaking, which provides to her persnicketiness about utilizing lighting to create a feel-good temper.

Purchaser’s Information: Purchase Tenting String Lights

We got down to discover the most effective tenting string lights available on the market to provide the greatest suggestions on your adventures. It’s necessary to notice, additionally, that string lights oftentimes shall be equipment to different camp lighting options, comparable to Tenting Lanterns or an excellent Headlamp.

Think about all of those to kind a system that covers your campsite with mild: headlamps for element work like chopping veggies or zipping up a tent, lanterns for gathering round and telling tales, and string lights to information your means across the celebration. Right here’s what we’ve discovered to be crucial issues when buying tenting string lights:

Energy Supply

Earlier than you possibly can have mild, you want energy. String lights have a couple of completely different technique of energy, and what is going to work greatest for you will depend on how you propose to make use of your lights.

Constructed-in Battery

For optimum portability, having a set of string lights with a built-in battery will let you deliver mild wherever with out additional issues. These lights take pleasure in not needing the rest to work, however meaning they’re one other factor you’ll have to recollect to cost earlier than heading out for the weekend. 

You probably have the area, you possibly can pack a conveyable battery as nicely. Whereas these lights are simple to deliver alongside, they usually don’t have lengthy battery life, lasting for a median of lower than 10 hours. As an illustration, the Nite Ize Radiant ShineLines take about an hour and a half to cost utterly for a 6-hour battery life.

Replaceable Battery

Battery-powered lights are additionally transportable, however remember the fact that these batteries can crush your pack. It additionally means it’s a must to keep in mind to place in contemporary ones earlier than heading out or working the chance of working out of energy. Having rechargeable batteries for these lights will prevent cash! 

These lights will typically last more than the built-in battery lights, wherever from three days to a couple weeks, relying on how a lot you’re utilizing them. It’s more than likely a string mild with a replaceable battery will take AA or AAA batteries, such because the ENO Twilights that take three AAA batteries.

Plug-In

Lights that require a plug-in to work could also be higher suited to automobile tenting, boondocking, or lighting up an outside area at your own home. Plug-in lights can are available a wide range of varieties, comparable to USB or outlet plug-ins. 

Understand that not all USB cords are the identical; lights could are available USB-C, USB-A, or Micro-USB. USB plug-ins are essentially the most transportable so long as you don’t thoughts packing a battery financial institution. And a few USB plug-in lights are suitable with lanterns, such because the BioLite SiteLights that may be plugged into the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern.

Nevertheless, lights that require being plugged right into a wall outlet are higher suited to RV tenting or lighting up your again porch. These lights are an ideal selection for automobile tenting in automobiles which have USB or house-plug converters, or once you’re bringing alongside a transportable energy station. Plug-in lights additionally imply you possibly can run these lights longer. Home plug-in lights final so long as you need and USBs final so long as your battery financial institution can.

String Gentle Dimension

Some string lights are for small areas, just like the again of a pickup truck, whereas others will mild up your complete campsite. String lights that emphasize portability are typically higher for smaller campsites as they’re dimmer and smaller. These lights vary wherever from one foot to 10 ft in size. Shorter ones are higher for lighting up the within of your automobile or tent, or illuminating your hammock. The BioLite SiteLights, at 10 ft lengthy with solely 4 lights, are higher at lighting up a hammock than a complete campsite.

Lights that require being plugged in are higher suited to massive areas as they’re typically bigger and brighter. These lights can vary from a couple of ft to a number of yards, and might keep brighter for longer. However we didn’t embrace any on this information, since there are additionally lights suited to bigger areas that don’t require an outlet, just like the Brightech Atmosphere Photo voltaic String Lights, that are 27 ft lengthy with 12 LED bulbs. We use these with our van tenting setup, plus have put in them over our again deck, though there are retailers accessible.

Brightness

The brightness of a light-weight can be depending on its energy supply, in addition to the kind of mild. LEDs are the commonest as a result of they work rather well and are energy environment friendly. LED lights that run off a chargeable or battery-powered supply (together with photo voltaic) are sometimes not as massive or vivid as plug-in lights. This makes them higher suited to lighting up small areas comparable to a automobile or tent. Some, just like the ENO Twilights Camp Lights, are significantly suited to backpacking, being very light-weight and compact. Nevertheless, some of these lights may dim because the battery dies.

Plug-in lights are brighter from 100 lumens (lms) to 1,000 lms. The Entrance Runner LED Gentle Strip is available in at 1,600 lms! Plug-in lights additionally keep brighter for longer and are much less prone to dim as you utilize them.

Some tenting lights use various mild sources, such because the fiber optic lights within the Nite Ize Radiant ShineLines. These lights are typically not as constantly vivid as LED lights, and provide extra of a glow than a shine. The fiber optic design signifies that the sunshine isn’t constantly vivid by the twine, however is brighter the extra it’s bent.

Gentle Spectrum and Coloration

Some lights give off a heat glow, like a campfire, whereas others are starkly white and even borderline bluish, just like the moon. That is referred to as coloration temperature, and it’s measured in levels of Kelvin. Tenting and family lights generally vary from 2,000 to six,000 levels. The decrease the quantity, the hotter the tone. 

Selecting a coloration temperature is a matter of non-public desire. Typically talking, hotter tones create happier, extra welcoming vibes, whereas cooler temperatures are likely to really feel utilitarian, even irritating. Cooler tones journey farther, so that they’re higher for flashlights. In any other case, hotter tones are nonetheless able to illuminating a cooking space, plus permit your eyes to extra shortly readjust to the darkness past and are much less obnoxious for the entire wild creatures you’re sharing area with (similar thought as utilizing a pink studying lamp vs. a white one). 

In case you’re not used to coloration temperature, you won’t even discover it. Many individuals don’t till it’s delivered to their consideration. For me, it’s crucial issue when shopping for a light-weight. There’s a purpose films use lighting to control the temper. It’s the distinction in scene between a rom-com, with a comfy cuddle on a seaside, and a horror flick, with a lurker creeping up on the camp.

Gentle Adjustment

Many tenting string lights include mild adjustment choices which might be useful in setting a desired temper. Many include a easy excessive brightness and low brightness, such because the GoalZero Gentle-A-Life lights which have a 110-lumen excessive setting and 30-lumen low setting. This setting is nice for transitioning right into a sleepier temper. 

Different lights have blinking and color-changing results, which preserve the temper extra energized. The colour ENO Twilights have a setting that will regularly rotate by the entire colours. Nevertheless, a couple of lights require that you just cycle by these completely different settings to show the sunshine off, which might undoubtedly be an annoyance round bedtime. Nobody likes a strobing mild proper as they’re about to go to sleep.

Storage

There are a couple of elements to contemplate when fascinated with storage of your tenting string lights, which might be depending on the kind of tenting you wish to do. For backpacking or tenting the place a conveyable mild is critical, having a particular storage container is good. 

A number of battery-powered or rechargeable lights, such because the ENO Twilights, include a tender storage bag that matches properly inside a pack. Some lights, such because the Nite Ize Radiant ShineLines include gear ties that make it simple to loop these lights up and tie all ends collectively. Lights and not using a particular storage technique require slightly creativity to retailer and run the chance of getting tangled or broken.

Even when a light-weight comes with a particular storage container, the convenience of setting them up and placing them away is a consideration. Smooth storage baggage are typically simple to stuff lights into, and ties take a bit longer to place away. The BioLite SiteLights could win the award for best to retailer because the lights stack on prime of each other.

Regardless of how simple every mild is to retailer, there’s at all times the chance of lights getting tangled in storage. We discovered that string lights that may be saved in a tender bag are simple to get tangled, which provides extra time to organising your campsite. Lights which can be saved with ties are much less prone to get tangled. Spending the time to fold or wrap your lights fastidiously will stop tangling and make your future self a happier camper.

Correct storage may also stop put on and tear. Lights with rubber or plastic wire coverings have a better likelihood of tearing, stretching, or breaking, so it’s particularly necessary to retailer these lights with care. We discovered that lights which can be shoved into baggage or which can be simply tossed loosely into packs usually tend to expertise this type of put on. Even when a light-weight doesn’t include a particular storage container, creating one out of a plastic bag or with wire ties might prevent from having to switch them straight away.

Hanging Performance

The sorts of hanging options on a string mild can decide how simple they’re to arrange at a campsite. Many string lights include hooks that can be utilized to clip the lights to tent poles, hammocks, or the within of your automobile. The BioLite SiteLights include small hooks on both finish that make it simple to connect these lights to completely different components of a campsite.

The Nite Ize ShineLines may take the cake for hanging options. Not solely are these lights simple to wrap round objects, however they arrive with 4 rubber-covered hanging wires that can be utilized to connect these lights to virtually something. The attachments are tremendous malleable and might be moved wherever on the sunshine the place they’re greatest match. In addition they make it simple to retailer these lights as you possibly can tie off the lights when they’re bundled.

Sturdiness and Water Resistance

When selecting between tenting lights, the sturdiness of these lights must be a consideration. As a complete, corporations designing out of doors lights have put effort into making them sturdy, comparable to concealing the lights and wires themselves in some protecting materials. The ENO Twilights are virtually utterly plastic-covered, which retains mud and water at bay for essentially the most half. Nevertheless, over time, the plastic appears susceptible to stretch and tear if these lights are dealt with roughly. 

Plug-in lights that include uncovered elements must be dealt with and saved with further care. As an illustration, the BioLite SiteLights include a USB dongle that might be broken if left within the grime and rain. The Nite Ize ShineLines have a plastic cowl that must be used to maintain grime out of the charging port on the tip of the sunshine. 

Many of those out of doors string lights are water resistant and IP-rated. The IP scale refers to how water resistant one thing is, and the definitions of every score are simple to lookup on-line. Usually, most string lights appear to be proof against splashes, however aren’t prone to make it if dunked in water. The Entrance Runner LED Gentle Strip is IP65 rated, that means it’s resistant in opposition to “jets” of water. Nonetheless, it’s greatest to imagine that no string mild is waterproof and attempt to preserve your lights out of the rain as a lot as attainable.

Value & Worth

Tenting string lights aren’t usually the priciest factor you’ll splurge on on your tenting package, however as shopper electronics, there’s a fairly vast unfold by way of value and in flip high quality. Low cost string lights are likely to burn out prematurely, so it’s good to put money into one thing that’s going to final, and supply the ambiance you’re going for.

Finances

Even price range string lights might be glorious (or prime decide, the ENO Twilights Camp Lights is barely $25), however there are some things you’ll possible depart on the desk for spending backside greenback. For one, price range choices are typically powered by conventional AA or AAA cells. This isn’t a tough and quick rule, however you’ll be hard-pressed to seek out built-in batteries in a less expensive set. General brightness may additionally be rather less, and make these lights higher suited to use within tents in comparison with throughout total campsites.

The $20 BioLite SiteLight String is a superb instance, and when you solely get 4 lights throughout the 10-foot string, the unit is USB-powered, that means you possibly can run these lights so long as you’ve bought juice. The Nite Ize Radiant ShineLine ($30) is barely $10 extra however not fairly as versatile because it’s extra of a lit twine that’s splendid for wrapping round tent poles.

Mid-Tier

Spending $40-60 for a set of string lights means they’ll virtually at all times be brighter, longer, and probably adjustable. This will come within the type of dimmability or the addition of various mild modes, comparable to a twinkle or pulse impact. Elevated sturdiness may even include the rise in value, with higher water-resistant scores, in addition to extra protected cords that is likely to be coated in rubber or textile sleeves.

The Brightech Ambiance Professional Photo voltaic String Lights ($45) get you numerous for the cash, and whereas they’re higher suited to RV boondockers, you do get a built-in photo voltaic panel to energy the lights, that means you’ve bought true off-grid potential. The Entrance Runner LED Gentle Strip ($60) is equally suited to vanlifers however is a little more functionally wealthy with a dimmable swap in addition to a sturdy sleeve for the LED strip and a number of mounting choices.

Premium

Premium string lights are going to supply up much more versaility, and the MPOWERD Luci Photo voltaic String Lights + Energy Hub ($70) integrates a built-in photo voltaic panel, in addition to an on-board battery financial institution that may even cost your telephone. The prolonged size can be typical of the value vary, and a full 44 ft can illuminate even the largest campsites.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions