Lighting is an important part of any emergency kit. The top recommended options focus on battery powered or even crank-powered lighting. But another compact option is solar-powered lights. Not only are there plenty of options on the market, but they are now cost-effective and compact in size. First, let’s highlight a few of the advantages solar emergency lights for you go bag and then let’s consider options that are available today.
Please note that this page contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission.
Why Go Solar?
Solar lighting has several advantages over other options. The benefits include:
- Require less maintenance. Due to fewer parts and no need to change batteries, solar emergency lights do require less maintenance than other options.
- Environmentally friendly. For those who are environmentally conscious, solar panel lighting is a much cleaner option.
- Cost effective over the life of the light. No need to worry about batteries.
- Unlimited resource. With the powering source being the sun, there is no limit to the power the unit can receive
Many sites point to solar lighting as a preferred option for emergency kits. This comes with a few caveats:
- Must have power to be useful in the event of an emergency
- Will run out with continuous running.
- Needs time to recharge.
What are Some Available Options?
Here are two options that are available that we recommend based on the price, compact size, and overall functionality.
KIZEN Solar Lantern
What we liked:
- Compact size and collapses to hockey puck size
- Phone charger
- LED
- 3 light modes
- Solar or USB powered
- 10 hours of lighting
LuminAID Solar Inflatable Lanterns & Phone Charger
What we liked:
- Compact size
- Phone charger
- LED
- 5 light modes
- Solar or USB powered
- Waterproof and shatterproof
Should You Buy Solar Emergency Lights?
In our go bags, we initially opted to go for battery-powered flashlights, glowsticks, and the light that is on our crank radio. However, we have begun to explore solar emergency lights. We recommend that each person take time to consider what options work best for them.
