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BILTRTE sent me this inflatable solar lantern to try, and I was halfway through unboxing it when a bad storm knocked our power out. Hilarious timing.
So the first test was a real one, and it passed. It’s my go-to now when the house goes dark.
Quick Verdict
- Buy it if: you want one lantern that can live in an emergency kit, a tent bag or the trunk
- Skip it if: you’d rather have a lantern that’s ready as-is, with nothing to inflate or snap together
- My favorite feature: how fast it goes from a flat pouch to fully puffed up
- Would I buy again? Yes. I’d like a couple more for travel.
A lantern that squishes flat between storms
It came out of the box folded flat, and it squishes right back down the same way, so it hardly takes up any room. There’s a bag to keep it in, too.
When you need it, a little hand pump fills the 24-inch tube. I loved that they included the pump, and once I got it in place, it was super fast.
BILTRTE 24 Inch Inflatable Solar Lantern
An inflatable LED tube that runs on solar or USB-C and folds down into a small pouch when you put it away.
BILTRTE lantern specs
- Length inflated: 24 inches
- Battery: 4000mAh, up to 12 hours of light
- Brightness: up to 245 lumens
- Charging: built-in solar panel or USB-C
- Modes: 100%, 60%, 30% and SOS
- Water rating: IP66
- Material: TPU
- Weight: 281 g
- In the box: lantern, hand pump, USB-C cable, reverse charging cable, manual
Who needs an inflatable solar lantern?
Anyone building an emergency kit. It goes right alongside the Pronly 3 band radio I keep for bad weather and the Rush Charge Universe three-plug charger. I also pictured it in the bathroom on a pitch-black night.
It’s a camping light, too, and I’d keep one in the car. If something ever happened on the road, that blinking red could get someone’s attention. It would sit nicely next to the BLINGSTING car emergency kit.
The night our power went out
It came straight from the box, never plugged in, and still lit up bright.
It was still daytime when I set it up, so the real test came after dark. Still no power, and it brightened the bedroom enough that I could actually function and get things done.
We’ve lost power again since then, and it came right back out.
Hang it, stand it, switch the light
- Hang it: there’s a loop at the top for hanging it from a hook.
- Stand it: the base clips together, and the lantern slides in with a slot for the port and buttons. Getting the base to snap took me a minute. You have to squeeze and push.
- Three looks: bright white, a warmer setting and a blinking red.
What else I liked
- A built-in solar panel, so a sunny afternoon outside can top it back up
- The glow spreads all the way around instead of beaming one way
Before the next storm
- Charge it ahead of time. Mine worked straight from the box, but I wouldn’t bet on that with a storm on the way.
- Write your power company’s outage number somewhere besides your phone. I made a free printable who to call sheet for that over on Admin Arcade.
BILTRTE lantern questions
Can the BILTRTE lantern charge a phone?
Yes. It comes with a reverse charging cable, and the 4000mAh battery can give a dead phone a boost in an emergency.
Does the BILTRTE lantern hold up in freezing weather?
It’s made of TPU, which stays bendy in the cold instead of getting brittle and cracking the way PVC can.
Can I stick the BILTRTE lantern to my car?
Yes. Built-in magnets grab onto metal, like a hood or an RV frame, so both of your hands stay free.
How long does the BILTRTE lantern stay lit on a charge?
BILTRTE lists up to 12 hours of light on the 4000mAh battery. I haven’t timed a full run myself yet.
Is the BILTRTE lantern waterproof?
It’s rated IP66, which covers dust and strong sprays of water, so a downpour is fine. It isn’t rated for going underwater.
Other lanterns to compare
- LuminAID Max 2-in-1 Solar Lantern: a 6-inch inflatable cube with up to 200 lumens, an IP67 rating and a phone charging port, if a compact cube appeals more than a long tube.
- Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma: a collapsible solar lantern at 60 lumens with six colors to pick from, more campsite mood light than blackout light.
Should the BILTRTE lantern go in your kit?
For one lantern that covers blackouts, camping trips and road trips, I’d get it.
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