Solight Solar Powered Collapsible Lanterns review

Travis GneitingReviews, Uncategorized

  • solight-review-all
  • solight-review-merlin-solarpuff
  • solight-review-solar-helix
  • solight-review-solar-puff

Our Score: 6/10

Pro

  • Compact & Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Humanitarian contribution with purchase
  • Many options for color and size

Con

  • Lacks features of other solar lights
  • Takes a long time to charge
  • Combersome to fold and unfold

Solight inflatable solar powered light offer a small convenient way to add ambient bright white, soft white, or colored light to a campsite, patio, or in case of an emergency. They can be charged on the go and collapse by just stepping on it, or twisting and collapsing the box. They also do it with a purpose, providing light to those who need it most in the world. 10% of Solight online sales go to providing lights to the world via NGO Partners. You can also purchase Solights and have them sent directly to those in need.

The Solight may look very similar to the LuminAID inflatable lanterns. They both provide aid to needy individuals. The selling point to the Solight is that they inflate without having to blow on a valve. This had been a concern with the spread of disease with LuminAID and has been eliminated with the Solight.

Solight are made of 4 different pieces. The solar panel to charge the light, a rechargeable lithium ion battery to store the power, LED bulbs on the underside of the solar panel, and a PET material the opens up into a cube shape. The material on the SolarPuff looks similar to windsurf sail and feels very strong and durable. While the material on the Helix looks and feels a bit cheaper and is harder to open and close, and is similar to a flimsy plastic.

There are many lights and buying options from Solight below is a list and description of all the lights that Solight offers:

Merlin™ Solar Puff™

  • 8 Hour full sun to charge
  • 8 to 12 hours of light
  • Pull to open
  • Nylon handle on bottom
  • 1 button press = Red, 2 button press = White, 3 button press = Pink (ours displayed green?), 4 x Green (ours displayed blue), 5 x Blue (our light displayed a different green color), and cycle
  • You can stop on any color when the light is cycling through the colors
  • Charging varies drastically depending on sun
  • No gauge to know how charged light is
  • 10 LEDs
  • Packaging states Low (60 Lumen) and High (90 Lumen) but there is not low or high setting with the single button
  • Not waterproof
  • One year warranty for light function only

Merlin™ Solar Helix™

  • 8 Hour full sun to charge
  • 8 to 12 hours of light
  • Twist and lift to open
  • Plastic handle on top
  • 1 button press = Red, 2 button press = White, 3 button press = Pink (ours displayed green?), 4 x Green
  • (ours displayed blue), 5 x Blue (our light displayed a different green color), and cycle
  • You can stop on any color when the light is cycling through the colors
  • Charging varies drastically depending on sun
  • No gauge to know how charged light is
  • 10 LEDs
  • Packaging states Low (60 Lumen) and High (90 Lumen) but there is not low or high setting with the single button
  • Not waterproof
  • One year warranty for light function only

SolarPuff™ (Bright White)

  • 8 Hour full sun to charge
  • 8 to 12 hours of light
  • Pull to open
  • Plastic handle on top, nylon handle on bottom
  • 1 button press = low setting, 2 button press = high setting, 3 button press = blinking, 4 button press  off
  • Bright white color
  • Charging varies drastically depending on sun
  • No gauge to know how charged light is
  • 10 LEDs
  • Packaging states Low (60 Lumen) and High (90 Lumen)
  • Not waterproof
  • One year warranty for light function only

SolarPuff™ (Warm White)

  • 8 Hour full sun to charge
  • 8 to 12 hours of light
  • Pull to open
  • Plastic handle on top, nylon handle on bottom
  • 1 button press = low setting, 2 button press = high setting, 3 button press = blinking, 4 button press  off
  • Warm white color
  • Charging varies drastically depending on sun
  • No gauge to know how charged light is
  • 10 LEDs
  • Packaging states Low (60 Lumen) and High (90 Lumen)
  • Not waterproof
  • One year warranty for light function only

SolarHelix™

  • 8 Hour full sun to charge
  • 8 to 12 hours of light
  • Twist and lift to open
  • Cheap plastic handle on top
  • 1 button press = low setting, 2 button press = high setting, 3 button press = blinking, 4 button press = off
  • A little tricky to close
  • Charging varies drastically depending on sun
  • No gauge to know how charged light is
  • 10 LEDs
  • Packaging states Low (60 Lumen) and High (90 Lumen) but there is not low or high setting with the single button
  • Not waterproof
  • One year warranty for light function only

Twilight

  • Smaller than SolarHelix™ and SolarPuff™
  • White and red light color
  • 8 Hours full sun to charge
  • 4 Hours high white light run time
  • 6 Hours low white light run time
  • 7 Hours red light run time
  • 1 button press = red light, 2 button press = red light flash, 3 button press = white light low, 4 button press = white light high, 5 button press = off
  • 6 LEDs
  • Not waterproof
  • One year warranty for light function only

Verdict

The lights work great, they charge and offer great working lights for tents, around the house, and a portion of the cost goes to a great cause. The SoLight also wins on looks, the Merlin SolorPuff looks really cool with the color shining through the crosshatch pattern. However, for the price you get more with the LuminAid lights, with the battery charge status, and option to buy charge via USB.