Serious question, are those cheap solar lanterns from the big box store actually worth it?

I grabbed a two pack of those generic solar lanterns for $35 at a store in Boise before a trip last month. They looked fine in the box, but one barely held a charge for an hour after a full day in the sun, and the other just stopped working completely on night two. My buddy says all budget solar gear is junk and you need to spend at least $80 on a known brand. I think maybe I just got a bad batch and some cheaper options are fine if you get lucky. Has anyone found a reliable budget solar light, or is this just a case of you get what you pay for?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim.stella3mo agoMost Upvoted

Actually had good luck with a cheap one from a hardware store. Lasted two seasons so far.

mia7273mo ago

Yeah, the hardware store ones can be solid... I grabbed a basic model on a whim and it's still going after three winters. Sometimes you just get lucky with the simple stuff.

leelewis1mo ago

My buddy Dan bought one of those cheap ones from a local hardware store like four years ago. He's the kind of guy who forgets to drain the gas over winter and just lets it sit in the rain half the time. Thing still fires up on the first pull every single time, even with the paint all faded and chipped. He's beat the hell out of it, ran over the extension cord once on accident too. Meanwhile my fancy name brand one at home was in the shop twice before I'd even owned it a year. Sometimes you just get dumb luck with the cheap ones I guess.