MPOWERD  Luci Lux Inflatable Solar Lantern

This little thing is one of the handiest items I own and use in many situations. The light comes deflated, but inflates very quickly. You can bit on the valve or just pinch it open and expand with your fingers. The solar panel on the top has a a small red power button that I think would be hard to accidentally turn on if packed away. There are three settings: On, bright, and flashing (guessing for signaling/emergency). There are two plastic loops on the top and bottom, which are great for attaching to your pack with a caribiner when hiking in the daytime to endure a charge. My girlfriend also owns one and we like setting them on the dash during the drive to our destination. There is a "warm" light version (what I'm reviewing here) which is achieved with the frosted plastic. It's good because it's not so in-your-face, but it does not provide as much light as the clearer version that my girlfriend owns. So take that into consideration when deciding which option. I always have a headlamp with me, so I like having the variety with the warmer light. This thing is so light and easy to bring that it works amazingly for a beach bonfire, car-camping trip, backpacking adventure, and can even improvise as a bike light. My most exciting use was while suiting up before a full-moon surf here on the coast of CA. I love this thing! Have fun out there! Scrappy

I agree with all the previous comments. I was hoping for just something that could be hung in a tent to provide a little light, but it can do more than that. Sitting on a table it can provide enough light to eat by and maybe even play cards. It lasts a while (I haven't run it down all the way yet) and charges relatively easily, as you can charge it on the dash of a car. Only 2 suggested improvements: Front/Back loops are functional but not perfect for a hanging light position. And this one may already be a feature that I just haven't found - a low-battery indicator. It would be nice to know when the end of the light is coming.

This nifty, lightweight solar lamp gives off a pleasantly diffused light bright enough for reading. It would be prettier if the "Luci Lux by MPowerd" logo were hidden on the bottom of the device rather than featured so prominently on top.

On one hand I LOVE this concept... lightweight, compact and solar powered. I use mine for backpacking & travel. I have purchased 4 of this model and two other of the larger/colored & frosted ones and have had about at 60% fail rate. With one of them the seam split (and it was not over inflated- but it may be a manufacturers defect) One of them cant keep a charge- even after 8 hours in full sun it only lasts about 20 minutes on the low setting. One of them never worked from the get go. One works brilliantly and I love it (which is why I keep buying them!). The other two models (one wont hold a charge (again) and one works great). With REI's return policy, I do recommend you buy & try since they are pretty awesome in concept.... but test, test, test before trusting it in the field.

I bought this for an upcoming fairly-ultralight trip. Frankly, my expectations were low, largely because no lumens are specified in the product description (Luci & REI, please add these!). I hoped this might put out a useful amount of light, say, on a picnic table/in a central camp location. I didn't really expect it to be more than a cute cocktail party conversation piece, but with REI, I can always take it back if it fails to meet expectations so why not try it? When I got it, I threw it up on my car dashboard for 1-2 hours, still in the packaging. I opened it that night and turned it on. Remarkable! Enough light for general ambient lighting of a small-ish camp spot and enough easily to read by (for me - if you need intense light, this may not be enough). Better yet, when I went to turn it off, I discovered I had only had it on the low setting and that it will put out even more light. My scale says this weights 3 and 5/8 oz. and it makes an almost ultralight camp feel SO much more civilized. Very excited to add this tool to the toolbox!

Love these lights! Better/less glare than the clear-plastic version. Waterproof! The plastic straps seem fragile so we attached a string loop to the charger side in order to hang it. We take these everywhere - nice light exactly where you want it, whether tent/hotel/guest room. Deflate and place on the car dashboard to charge up while driving.

the store I thought it would be a nice gift for my son to add to hisWhen I saw this in scouting gear. The idea is good, but the straps are flimsy and the plug when pushed in after inflation doesn't stay in. I had the added bonus of seeing it for half the price at a local camping store...

Took it out this past weekend on a backpacking trip. Nice having so much light available in camp at night, since we usually pack fairly minimally. No other way to have a diffused light source in such a small package unless you make something DIY. Hoping it stands the test of time.

I use this on a sailboat for light in the cockpit area (back area) It's bright enough for activities and lasts all night, best part is no batteries!!! I bought 3 more.