Inflatable/collapsible solar carged light

You might be thinking of Luminaid

http://www.luminaid.com/shop/?gclid=CLSa45a0xsACFSgV7AodOBIAxQ

Luminaid is the one – thanks! Anyone had any experience with these lights? I'm thinking one might be nice for in the tent or around camp.

I used a very similar light called a Luci

You blow it up. There's a solar panel and battery. The intended use is more for Third World countries.

For backpacking, I prefer a headlamp. You can point the light where you want to. The inflatable stuff just gets in the way. Leaving it in the sun during the day might be awkward if you're backpacking. I hung mine from the top of my pack.

If you didn't have electricity and wanted to read your schoolbook at night, the inflatable light works pretty good. Leave it out in the sun during the day and you have light at night.

i liked the product so much i bought two. fantastic light that really lights up a tent and recharges in about 5-6 hours in sunlight. not a spot light by any means, but this thing throws nice ambient light and can easily light up an entire room in your house in case of emergency. llbean had them on sale for 19.99 free shipping.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/81489?feat=sr&term=luminade

I have the Luci also.

https://www.mpowerd.com/products?gclid=CKTEzp3K0MACFWho7AodjFMAOQ

Love it. Cheap $15, small, bright.

I bought one of the Luci lanterns for a friend, and we used it on a backpacking trip. It worked so good that I went back and bought another one for myself.

–B.G.–

It's not solar, but I was intrigued by a Montbell lantern shade that John Abela was settling a while back. I looked at the manufacturer's description and decided I could make something similar from some small samples of cuben fabrics. I ended up making one not only for my headlamp but a couple of smaller ones that work on a photon type light.

Sorry for the crappy cell phone picture, but maybe you can get an idea of what the brightness is like, at least.

Nice, d k.

BTW, the Luci lanterns are now available at Big 5, if anyone wants one. I got one just to see what they are like. :^)

One thing a Luci (or similar) is good for is set it where the solar panel gets light, even room light, if the power goes out you've got light.

note to self: get one for backpacking with 7-year-old next summer.

seems like they'd be great to have for trips w/kids!

I was surprise how much light they put out on high. I'm quite happy with it.

I cut the plastic reflector off to save a little weight. Also, it didn't really add any functionality that was useful to me.

I left on the plastic that made it waterproof.

I recently went on a long Bald River wilderness backpacking trip and my buddy Will brought in one of these. See—

Another shot—

I used one of these this weekend. Instead of a heavy metal carabiner, I put a thin glow-in-the-dark cord on mine. That makes it easier for hanging from a tree branch in camp.

–B.G.–

I bought these for my girls to use at summer camp (old school wall tents). The worked great for that, and I packed it along for a recent weekend trip. More than enough light for the camp kitchen area, etc. Pretty cool item. Have not tried the other one.