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I got this palm-size lantern for a go bag and stay box I'm spending way too much time assembling. (Here's the multitool I finally chose for my emergency kit.) It turns out that I needed this little lamp before a full-on emergency happened. I'll explain.
When looking for a portable light source, I didn't want to spend too much money. Sometimes these cool small things come with big price tags. Someone gave me advice that helped: Packing a go bag isn't that much different than packing for a camping trip.
Both include items you'll need to survive away from your home for some time. With that in mind, I started looking for items that could do double duty, and the BioLite Alpenglow Mini 150 Lumen Rechargeable Lantern ticks both boxes. Best of all, Amazon has a single light in either Teal or Charcoal for $30, or 25% off. The lantern is rarely on sale, so it's impressive to see that it's maintained it's discount even after Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
If you need more deals, check out all of the deals you can still grab after Cyber Monday.
Why I like the BioLite Alpenglow Mini 150
This palm-size light source is smaller than a can of tuna and half its weight, and I don't notice its weight or size when stowed in my backpack. Charged via USB-C cable, which cuts down all the chargers I need to keep track of, the lamp casts enough light for 40 hours set on low and 5 hours on high before it needs to recharge.
I can vouch for that battery life. This summer we were having major electrical work done in our house, and the power was out in our bedrooms for most of a week. I pulled this portable light source out of our emergency gear and set it in our bedroom, where it lit up the room each night, set on high. After three nights, I gave it a charge and put it back to work. I also have started using it as a light source in the mornings now, when it's still dark when I wake up.
By default, I can set the pint-size lantern to white, or adjust the brightness and pick different colors, including a multilight cycle by pressing the top. ("A party light!" declared former CNET colleague Mary-Elisabeth Combs when I gave her a quick demo.)
The BioLite Alpenglow Mini 150 comes with a clever bungee cord attached to the bottom that lets me hang the lantern from a tree branch or tent pole. It also has a battery meter so I can keep an eye on the charge. Now I just need to pair it with a portable solar panel and I'm set.
Why the BioLight Alpenglow Mini 150 makes a great gift
There are more than a few reasons why someone would want to have some portable, battery-powered lights on hand. And at this price, these would make great stocking stuffers for the preppers in your life.
Need more deals? Don't miss all of the Amazon deals still live that you can grab after Cyber Monday.