Getting a gift for the outdoorsy folks on your list should be easy, right? You should be able to grab something from any aisle at REI. But not so fast. One quirk about the outdoorsy set: We care about our gear. Maybe a little too much. Gear is such a personal choice, and the best stuff becomes part of the experience, like a trusted friend.
That can make it hard to get anyone on your list a gear gift they’ll really love. And why it’s so satisfying to find a surefire hit. Doesn’t matter who you’re shopping for—dirtbag friend to glamping-only sibling, or anyone in between—the Haven 10000 solar lantern is a guaranteed hit. Why?
First, everyone should have a lightweight, portable solar lantern. They’re great for illuminating everything from camp kitchens to backyard parties, capable of charging phones and other devices, and invaluable during power outages. Their cozy light and functionality makes them both joyful and practical, a rare combination.
Why this one? Among the many solar lanterns we’ve used and tested, the Haven 10000 stands out for its combination of brightness, durability, and portability. With 50 LEDs and up to 1,200 lumens, it’s the stagelight of camp lanterns, and can serve as a lantern or flashlight, or both simultaneously. On a moonless night in Colorado, it easily cast a bright glow over a 200-square-foot area. Its high efficiency solar panel and powerful lithium-ion battery make it highly reliable in off-grid conditions, with light that lasts up to 120 hours on low (seven hours on high).
We also like the Haven’s silicone material and collapsible design. It’s compact for easy packing—about the size of a small cantaloupe when collapsed—and built to handle the wear and tear of camp and travel. We haven’t done any long-term durability testing yet, but compared to the inflatable-style lanterns we’ve used, the Haven is clearly more robust (though it’s also heavier, weighing one pound five ounces).
All of these technical advances make the Haven 10000 a luxe, long-lasting gift—but they also make the solar lantern a critical item in times of disaster, something Haven recognizes and leans into with its humanitarian efforts. If you strive to give gifts that have a mission-driven purpose behind them, you’ll be happy to know that Haven’s retail sales help subsidize lights for humanitarian aid, which is baked into the company’s business model. In fact, Haven was sending lights to places like Mongolia and Jamaica, through partner NGOs, even before launching the lights for consumers.
All of this makes it clear that you don’t need to ask who would like a Haven 10000 lantern. The real question is, who wouldn’t?
The post This Under-$100 Solar Lantern Is Our Go-To Holiday Gift This Year appeared first on Outside Online.
