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Curry and SonsTrading Company · Est. 1995
BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern

A rechargeable 500-lumen camp lantern with warm and cool white light, color modes, and a USB port that can charge a phone. Families like it for lighting a tent or picnic table without harsh glare.

Specs

  • Output: 500 lumens high, 5 lumens low (maker)
  • Battery: 6,400 mAh (23.6 Wh) lithium-ion
  • Runtime: 5 hours high, up to 200 hours low, plus 1 hour reserve
  • Weight: 13.4 oz (380 g)
  • Size: 5.4 x 3.8 in
  • Charging: micro-USB in (about 3 hours on a 5V/2A charger); USB-A out, 5V/2.4A
  • Water resistance: IPX4
  • Modes: cool white, warm white, single color, multicolor, candle flicker, and more
  • Price: $79.95 at the maker

What reviewers say

Reviewers like the light quality, the fun color and candle modes, and the long low-mode runtime. Several mention its use as a power bank. Brightness opinions vary: some call it very bright, others say it is ideal for a tent but not a whole campsite. The common complaint is the micro-USB charging port instead of USB-C, and GearJunkie found the shake-to-change-mode feature didn't always register.

Good

  • Pleasant, glare-free light
  • Long runtime on low
  • Doubles as a phone charger

Not so good

  • Micro-USB, not USB-C
  • Shake controls can be finicky
  • Heavier than small backpacking lanterns

Who it's for

Car campers and families who want one lantern for the tent, table and power outages. Backpackers should pick a smaller lantern or headlamp.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-19. Specs from the maker; review notes summarized in our own words.