Is the Macpac Mini Lantern the next travel accessory you need? I vote yes.
As a minimalist, I’m not a big fan of carrying small accessories that don’t find regular use.
I would have thought the mini lantern would be one of these, but I was so wrong. After getting a Macpac Mini Lantern for a friend, I was convinced they’re great and they make for a fun gift for hikers.
WHAT MAKES THE MACPAC MINI LANTERN SO GREAT?
IT’S LIGHTWEIGHT
When I think of lanterns, I think of old-school lanterns made of glass with candles and wise men carrying them through tunnels. They look heavy!
Fortunately, the Macpac lantern weighs 97 grams. That’s brilliant and is worth the sacrifice.
NO BATTERIES REQUIRED
I’m a shocker when it comes to batteries. I never separate them between used and new, and then end up being clueless as to whether I’ve purchased enough batteries for my devices. Thankfully many devices and accessories are now USB rechargeable.
The lantern is charged with a micro USB, and it doesn’t take long to recharge.
THE BATTERY LIFE IS GREAT
If you’re using a head torch (I use this Knog Bilby), you’ll be well aware of how finicky the battery life can be. Particularly if you’re using the torch on the most powerful setting.
That’s not a major issue with the mini lantern, the battery lasts a decent time (though I have no exact stats on this).
But if you’re planning a multiday hike you should be able to use the lantern without needing to recharge it. Though if you’re carrying a power bank anyway this is no major.
There are four indicators that let you know what the battery level is:
- Blue- battery at its highest
- Orange- battery high
- Green- Moderate
- Red- Low
THE BRIGHTEST SETTING WILL COVER ALL YOUR NEEDS
There are three settings to toggle between depending on the situation. The 3-watt LED bulb means the brightest setting will be in the 240 – 320 lumens range.
If you’re planning to read, you can use the lowest setting easily.
There’s also a flashing, SOS option.
IT’S INCREDIBILY VERSATILE
This is what drew me to the mini lantern from Macpac, to begin with.
Too often when you’re staying in huts I’ve found myself in two situations:
- 1. I’m wearing my headtorch in the hut but get annoyed as every movement I make changes the lighting position which is annoying when you’re focusing on tasks while maintaining headtorch etiquette.
- I’ve delicately placed the headtorch on the ground or hanging up somewhere. Yet the light is skewed making things awkward. I then inevitably knock the torch and get irritated.
The Macpac Mini Lantern is so versatile due to its magnetic attachment and hook. Between these two features, you can use the mini lantern in all sorts of scenarios.
In addition to being used in huts, it makes for a great light to use while travelling in a campervan, a tent, during a power cut, or even in your bedroom.
SO WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES?
I feel like I’m way too one-sided here so I’ve tried to think of the downsides. Honestly, I’m struggling. The price seemed high to me to start with, but knowing how good it is, it’s worth it.
The regular price is NZ$59.99 but if you join the Macpac Club (free to join) you’ll get a good discount. Or you might get lucky and find it on sale.
I’ll update this post if I do find some downsides about the Macpac Mini Lantern. So far it has held up well, but the durability might be an issue? If it is, I’ll update this post.
If you’ve got any questions or thoughts about the Macpac Mini Lantern, comment below or email jub@churnewzealand.com .
You can see (and buy) the lantern on the Macpac website here.
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Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.