LuminAID Solar Inflatable Light

Product Description

The LuminAID PackLite 16 is the new and improved version of the original LuminAID Solar Light! The new PackLite 16 has double the LEDs (2X the wattage), is made out of a thicker, more durable TPU (PVC-free) material, and has an additional flashing setting for emergencies. The PackLite 16 provides up to 16 hours of LED light and can be easily recharged in the sun, ideal for recreational use outdoors or in the home as an extra light source. It has two extra-bright multi-chip LEDs that provide up to 45 lumens of light and a 32+ hour flashing mode. The PackLite 16 folds up into a compact, portable size that is easy to clip to your backpack to charge on-the-go or store in your emergency kit. The durable and weather-resistant TPU material (100% PVC-free) inflates to diffuse the LED light and create a lantern. The PackLite 16 will easily light up a 125 square feet space. Tuck it away in your first-aid kit or hook it on your backpack for your next adventure.

Top Reviews

BEST inflatable solar lantern on the market. Read to learn what you should know about inflatable sol
by Candid Reviewer,Top Contributor: Photography (5 out of 5 stars)
July 18, 2015

The LuminAID PackLite 16 Inflatable Solar Light is the best inflatable solar lantern on the market, period.

There are a few things you need to know about inflatable solar lanterns:
1. Most people haven't seen them before, so when they come across them, they tend to buy into the makers' claims that this is a 'new,' 'innovative' product--usually accompanied by some heartwarming story about how they developed it because they were inspired by some experience with third-world peoples to bring clean, safe, affordable, renewable lighting to the world! Tune it out. In fact, the market is saturated with at least a half dozen companies that make similar claims, and a few of those companies have been churning these out for over a decade. It's hard to sort out who actually should get credit for this 'innovative' idea, but there's a good chance the answer is NONE of the companies that are currently trying to capitalize on that kind of 'feel good' backstory to sell you their product.
2. There is a significant problem with quality control and cheap materials in most of these inflatable solar lanterns. I discovered all this after being disillusioned by the Luci EMRG lantern I bought. At first, I thought it was the best ultralight lantern I had ever found. Except that in all the solar charge cycles I tested it, I never thought to try running it for longer than an hour. For the first hour it gave off great light, and was so lightweight that I was willing to accept the cheap construction. But when I discovered that the battery was poor--never able to last more than 90 minutes, despite the manufacturer's claims, I started researching this issue and found this is a VERY common problem with inflatable solar products from many companies and that most of their marketing stories about innovation are either stale, grossly exaggerated, or flat-out lies. Read my review of the Luci EMRG lantern if you want to know more about that.
3. As solar inflatable lanterns go, this one is MARKEDLY BETTER IN QUALITY--probably because the company's founders appeared on TV's Shark Tank and netted a strong financial backer/partner to assist them with the manufacturing side. In any case, the Packlite 16 actually lives up to the manufacturer's promises. I'll compare it to the Luci EMRG just to illustrate my point. The Luci EMRG lantern is made from a small, cheap solar panel that is framed by a cardboard frame/base, sealed in the same plastic-like clear vinyl that is used to make very cheap pool toys for infants, with a very cheap inflation valve and a poor battery that cannot hold a charge longer than 100 minutes even on its lowest brightness setting. By contrast, the LuminAID Packlite 16 is considerably higher in quality. The LuminAID's inflatable body is made of a much higher quality vinyl which has more of a rubbery feel (less like plastic), very much like high grade medical vinyl. Whereas the Luci EMRG's vinyl is realatively stiff and cheap, crinkly feeling, the LuminAID's vinyl is very pliable and thus, should prove to be exponentially less susceptible to cracking/splitting over the long term. Likewise, the LuminAID uses a single bright LED instead of the Luci EMRG's three smaller LEDs and pairs it with a much better battery. The battery charges faster (7 hours of sunlight vs. the Luci EMRG's 8-9 hours) and lasts MUCH, MUCH LONGER. Whereas the Luci can barely go 50 minutes before it starts to dim noticeably and dies before it reaches the 90 minute mark, the LuminAID can go at least 5 hours and 45 minutes on its brightest setting, which is just as bright as the Luci EMRG. Better yet, it does not dim noticeably at any point in that duration; it remains bright and then, when it has exhausted the charge, shuts off. Lastly, the inflation valve on the Luci EMRG is very cheap. Although it looks the same by eyesight, you can tell by feel that the EMRG's valve is stiffer and smoother than the inflation valve on the LuminAID. As a result, the little valve cap on the Luci EMRG frequently pops out on its own instead of staying in place as it should--a sure sign of cheap plastic., By contrast, the LuminAID's valve seals shut securely and the cap is actually a little stiff to remove, as it should be.
4. The LuminAID Packlite 16 has nice extra touches that suggest a concern for quality/convenience. For example, it has a small snap flap that helps hold the lantern in a small folded package when it is deflated. In that configuration, it is very slim and packable, and it hangs easily on a pack for recharging. The solar panel is not only noticeably larger and better in quality than the Luci EMRG's panel (and the panels on other, similar knock-off products), but it is paired with a very tiny LED that shows when the lantern is charging (red) or charged (green). The charging LEDS are extremely tiny, so I feel confident they're not "wasting" precious energy. Also, attesting to the quality of these components, the red LED has at least two brightness levels: a scant pinprick of red light whenever it detects the slightest hint of a charge from the panel, and a noticeably brighter (but still tiny) glow of red when (presumably) the panel is generating its maximum charge current. Also, the panel is sensitive enough that it does register a charge in partial shade. More surprising still, after completely exhausting the battery, I held a small (but bright) FLASHLIGHT to the panel for about 1 minute. To my surprise, it registered a charging current and I was then able to run the lantern on its lowest brightness for approximately 7 minutes! That tells me this is a very efficient (i.e., good quality) solar panel.

A few other notes about this particular lantern, the LuminAID Packlite 16:
-- The brightest setting on this lantern is 45 lumens, NOT 65 lumens as it incorrectly states in one of the sections above. At 45 lumens, it is adequate to light up a typical 3- or 4-person tent bright enough to play cards, read, etc. and it lasts at least 5 hours and 45 minutes before exhausting the charge. On the medium and low settings it runs longer. The low setting is very dim, but still adequately bright for one or two people to read by (you would need to position the book/map within 6 - 10 inches of the light to be able to read by it.) The makers claim it can run for up to 16 hours on this low setting, and in my own tests, I confirmed that it definitely runs over 14 hours (I had to leave at that point and couldn't stick around to confirm when exactly it finally died). That means it is an EXCELLENT "nightlight" for children who may be a little intimidated about sleeping in a pitch dark tent. You can let it run all night on low, giving off a reassuring glow in the tent, and then charge it up the next day in the sun--something you could never do with an ultralight non-solar light, since it would mean having to carry a lot of spare batteries.
-- This lantern is waterproof. The solar/battery unit is completely sealed in clear vinyl, and the inflatable light diffuser is also sealed (hence inflatable). As long as the inflation valve is closed securely, no water should get in, even if you submerge it. Also, it will certainly float while inflated. Leaving it outside in the rain should present no problem whatsoever.
-- This light has four modes: high, medium, low, and blinking. All are accessed by pressing the red power button to cycle through them, in that order. Since the power button is sealed under plastic with the solar panel and battery, there is no way to "feel" the button in the dark; thus, I recommend that you place a piece of duct tape or electrician's tape over the button so that you can find it by touch in the dark when needed.
-- This light is brightest through the long side opposite of the side where the power button and solar panel/battery is attached; however, the hang loops are at one end. Thus, if you hang the lantern by those loops, it shines brightest sideways. Ideally, the designers should add a second hang loop right next to the power button, which would enable you to hang it so that the large, brightest side faces down for better tent illumination. As a quick fix, you can just make a small loop using packing tape. If you're smart about how you make the loop to maximize the adhesion, it will hold the light just fine. (Just make sure you don't cover any of the solar panel or you'll block some of its efficiency for recharging!)

The bottom line is that if you're looking for a lightweight, reliable, inflatable solar lantern to use as a camp/tent light, this LuminAID is a great choice. It's quality is the best of all the inflatable solar lanterns I've come across, and thus, it is worth paying about twice as much to get one. At around $24, the price seems reasonable, and "similar" products that sell for $10 - $15 (like the Luci EMRG) are laughably cheap in construction and WILL fail you, so I suggest you don't waste your money on those others like I did.

I highly recommend this lantern for anyone wanting to cut the weight and bulk of hardshell lanterns (and spare batteries) from their pack weight!
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Very Compact, Very Nice Light Output, Very Impressed
by Blaine DeLancey (5 out of 5 stars)
November 6, 2016

Excellent product! I like the way it folds down into such a compact pouch. My daughter had a camping-themed birthday party and we used that as a test of the item - it was a big hit with the kids, providing plenty of illumination inside the tent they were hanging out in, and we left it lit all night long without a problem. It was so lightweight, I was able to tie it to the top loop inside the tent with a string of paper confetti. Despite the lightness, I think the plastic is thick enough to take a beating and not deflate, and even deflated, it still should work pretty well. The balloon-like bag seems to soften the output like a diffuser, which is nice. This will definitely be going with us on our next camping trip.
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I love this light
by lin0303 (5 out of 5 stars)
September 2, 2015

I love this light! In fact I have purchased two of them. Knowing that at some point the grid will go down and having lived through 3 days without power, I know the need for light after the sun goes down. It is a long, boring night when one has only an oil lamp, candle or flashlight for illumination purposes. I decided to practice with this light for several nights to make sure I was satisfied with it as I don't want to be without a light source that is very versatile and will meet my needs.

I turn off the lights at night and just use the Luminade for the things I need and want to do. The air in the pillow allows the light to be diffused into all corners of the room. No, I can't read a newspaper across the room with that kind of light, but I can see into every corner and avoid tripping on anything or could see into a dresser drawer. In the bathroom I was able to do the usual things one does in the bathroom, including flossing my teeth, looking into the mirror and being able to see what needed to be seen close up. At night when I need to decompress in order to shut down and be relaxed enough to get to sleep, I often work on a difficult crossword puzzle for about 10 minutes so that I stop thinking about "to do" lists and can relax. I place the pillow on my chest while propped up in bed and am able to easily read the newspaper without having to concern myself with positioning and repositioning the light. The light is bright enough to illuminate the area for most tasks, and there is enough diffused light to be able to work without difficulty in any room. When the battery needs recharging, I place the pillow on my sunny window sill between the closed blinds and the window. It stays there throughout the day, and is good to go again that night. The folks who designed this product placed a piece of plastic just above the on/off button so that by feeling for this plastic piece, one can locate the on/off button in the dark with little effort.

I will use the second one I purchased as I back-up light, but also discovered that if I leave the light in its original folded up position of a small rectangle and don't inflate the pillow that I can use it as a lamp on my belt. My plan is to fashion some sort of holder for this rectangle that I can slide onto my belt and use as a method of shining a light ahead of me. I am not a fan of headlamps as I have to constantly tilt my head down to illuminate the terrain before me, and that becomes uncomfortable after while. The LED lights on the second generation product are strong and shine quite a distance from my body making it easy to see where I am going. I love this light and am glad the owners decided to put 2 LED lights in the next generation of lights they produced as one light would not provide enough light. All in all I am very pleased with this light and am recommending it based on a month's worth of use. The only downside to this product is that if the pillow gets punctured, and the pillow can no longer hold air, then the ability to use this product would be greatly diminished.
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Must need equatorial sun, can't get fully charged here
by Quickbeam (3 out of 5 stars)
January 31, 2016

I've had this for 3 weeks. It is winter in WI but we have had at least 10 full sun days. We've had this in the full sun at least 60 hours and cannot get it to fully charged. To me that means I either need to wait until summer or it is defective.

The valve was very difficult for me to use to blow up; my hands were not strong enough to get the position correct fir air entry. Even my husband struggled with it. Once filled, the air has not leaked at all. The light is a nice quality when on, providing a warm light at the corner of our porch where our motion lights miss.

I like this product and the concept a lot. I am planning on using it for RVing. I am disappointed that I can't seem to get it to charge fully. My gut tells me this product was based on warmer/ more intense sun climates. Perhaps that should be indicated by the manufacturer.
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Pretty impressive
by bryce (5 out of 5 stars)
April 17, 2016

We ordered one of these solar lanterns for a hiking trip last year. Unfortunately our trip got canceled and we put it away between two cooking pots and it was in the dark for over a year. We planed another hiking trip this year and were really bummed out when we couldn't find our little solar inflatable lantern. Well when we were going through everything just days before our hike we opened up the cooking pot and found this lantern. To our surprise after a year of being in the dark for a year it's too turned on and gave us plenty of light. We thought we lost this one so we bought a replacement but now we're very happy that we have two solar inflatable lanterns to light our nights on our hike. Very impressed and looking forward to many bright nights on the trail.
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Love it.
by RGMods,Top Contributor: Camping (5 out of 5 stars)
November 10, 2016

I love it. It works as advertised. I use mine mainly for backpacking trips where weight is a concern and while I do not have to have an area light, it is nice to carry along for only 3.8oz in my scale. Folds up small and has a nice loop for attaching it to my backpack.

Nov 2016 Update: At the lowest setting I let it run all night in a Hiking shelter as a soft area light to navigate by overnight, but still soft enough to sleep by. Temps got down in the mid-30's and it ran all night. It recharged easily the next day. I absolutely loved it
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Awesome compact light for any dark occasion.
by Makadamia (5 out of 5 stars)
April 14, 2015

Though I have to admit the LuminAID lights are not as bright as I'd like them to be, these are excellent lights! They are pocket sized, can be clipped on your belt loops, backpack, pretty much anything. The blow up/deflate part is not some cheesy part like on a beach ball so it can take a little effort to work. This is one product I believe in enough that I've bought more and given them as gifts. I know I'll buy more in the future. I'd love to see them come in even a brighter model, but even if they don't, I still love the product and will continue to buy them.
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This is a neat concept and cool little gadget
by Mike (3 out of 5 stars)
February 14, 2016

4 stars for being a neat idea but 3 stars for performance and 2 stars for having little scratch marks in the plastic due to folding.... This is a neat concept and cool little gadget. But, honestly, the light while deflated is brighter than when the light is actually inflated. Tried and tested in a pitch black bathroom. On the other hand, while inflated the light might spread slightly more, but it isn't as bright; so it kind of debunks the ingenuity of the concept....I saw a keychain open bulb at REI for 7 bucks that looked cool...anyway...

Overall, the concept still trumps my negative opinion. Pros, it is solar powered, ultra light, and will be a practical tent light.
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Pretty good, just know what you're getting.
by Sylvania (4 out of 5 stars)
August 26, 2015

This is a great idea that gets a lot of positive comments when people see it. And within the limits of its design, it works pretty well. I would say, though, that it's not quite as bright as I was expecting (given that this version is suppose to be significantly brighter than its predecessor). Also, when inflated, the bag is completely curved. This presents a bit of an issue since the main unit contains both a battery and solar panel, each of which are rigid. There is a bit of flexing between the solar panel and the rigid section below (the white part w/ the power button), but I'm not really sure how durable this part is or if it's even really designed to flex. One can only hope that given it's intended use the designers took this into consideration. Lastly, it's impossible to really fold flat when deflated since the inflation nozzle always sticks out, making it a little messy when compact and folded. Minor quibbles, though on this generally terrific product.
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Great conversation piece AND lantern
by Mmm (5 out of 5 stars)
April 5, 2016

I love this little lantern. Packs up super compact, and it requires very little light to charge. I clipped this around my ridgeline on my hammock so you don't get blasted with intense light if you need something in the middle of the night. Easy to hang on your pack to pick up a charge so it's ready to go the following night. Diffuse light through trees provide enough light to charge. Battery seems to last a really long time on the low setting, I've never run it all the way down. You can't beat the weight, just a battery for most lanterns will weigh what this entire does.
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My guess is this product has damage but it is now useless to me and I overpaid in the first place
by Elaine Budlong (1 out of 5 stars)
February 3, 2018

The lantern only worked once. Now the red charging light doesn't even appear. My guess is this product has damage but it is now useless to me and I overpaid in the first place. I ended up just buying some from the LuminAid company directly and regret wasting my money purchasing this one. I contacted the manufacturer and they said they aren't manufacturing these anymore due to issues. Save yourself some money and just purchase from LuminAid directly.

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