The Best Lights of 2016

Brighten up your night.

Goal Zero Lighthouse Mini Lantern 

Toss this eight-ounce, 210-lumen unit in your pack for the next time you get caught out in the dark. Don’t let the diminutive size fool you: the Lighthouse has some nice features, including a miniature hook, a built-in magnet, and a dimmer. 

Price $60

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Black Diamond Cosmo 

The three LEDs on this compact three-ounce headlamp combine into a single 160-lumen beam that can light up the trail for more than 50 yards. Even on full blast, it gets 200 hours of run time. But the best part? The price—it’s the lowest on this page. 

Price $30

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LED Lenser Seo 7R 

This is the light you want on big backpacking trips. The Seo 7R weighs less than 3.5 ounces and boasts a 220-lumen beam. Intensity is easy to adjust, thanks to a twisting ring on he front. Cool: a sensor automatically adjusts brightness when you glance from trail to map. 

Price $90

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Pelican 9000 Light Case 

The burly waterproof and shock-resistant 9000 Light Case shields your smartphone and wallet from the elements while pumping out up to 200 lumens, with four settings—high, medium, low, and flashing. Stash it in your boat for a night on the river.

Price $62  

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Brunton Lightwave Amp 

It looks like a simple lantern but does triple duty as a sound system and charging station. Two USB ports juice electronics, the Bluetooth speaker bumps, and the bulb -radiates 700 lumens. Control it via smartphone, of course.   

Price $200

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BioLite PowerLight Mini 

This versatile tool eschews the elastic strap of a headband for a metal clip that attaches to just about anything. Wear it on a shirt, secure it to a tent, prop it on a table, or even stick it to the seat tube of your bike. At 135 lumens, it’s not blinding, but it’ll get you home. 

Price $45

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