d.light S3 Portable Solar Lantern for Camping

UPDATED REVIEW: It's been over THREE YEARS since I bought this solar light and I still use it all the time. One of the BEST investments I've ever made. I no longer live on the sailboat, but have used it for all kinds of lighting. Read the rest of my review for more info.Although it's small in size, this little solar light puts off a very bright light, and charges very easily. I can run mine all night, then put it in the window to charge during the day. I live on a sailboat and use mostly solar (which I bought from Amazon), and the d.light S2 LED Task Light is one of the best solar powered items I've purchased.It looks just like the photo, with the solar sensor on one side and the light on the other. You can either use the stand to sit it somewhere or to hang it (I do both, moving the stand back and forth until it's just where I want it), or you can even carry it like a flashlight. I use mine nightly, and it's now second nature to grab up the solar lights in the morning and hang them in the window or put them outside.Some solar powered items won't charge from inside (or not very well) or have to have a very sunny day to fully charge. This light will charge (at least in my case) even in the worst of weather.I am truly amazed with the product. All of the d.light products I've bought have been above and beyond expectations. They have all already paid for themselves many times over. I only have one complaint about one of them (it's supposed to be able to charge items from the light, but it hasn't worked on mine, but that light is almost like a spotlight, so it's a minor complaint...And remember that that is another product, not this one.)If the company changed anything about the d.light S2 LED Task Light, I would like it to be to make the ON/OFF button be positioned in an easier to reach location. It's sometimes quite difficult to turn the light on or off because of where the button is. Especially for females with longer fingernails, the button is in an awkward spot. This still was not enough of an issue to cause me to drop it to four stars, so that should say something about how much I love this product.This would be good for anyone, but especially a great idea for those who want to save energy, money, or the earth. They are inexpensive enough to buy several to keep on hand for emergencies, too. Keep one in the rear window of your car and it's always ready to go. Keep one in your trunk for when you're on trips and will be gone a few days. Keep one in your boat, RV, with your camping equipment, in the attic (where the sun shines in), on a couple of window sills in your house, give as gifts, etc... Just remember that if you store the light without some way to obtain sunlight, you're going to have to charge it before use. It may be able to hold a charge for awhile, but I would keep in mind that it needs charging. It's just great to have in emergencies, and CAN be charged IF you already have it.

Have several of these hanging in a vaca place off the grid for about 12+ yrs. They are in windows so when I arrive at night, I have light. They have gone through hurricanes, been run over by rats and have been knocked about by tropical storm winds yet still beam on. Seem to last indefinitely. Buying a cpl more now for homeless ppl. Fantastic product!

Pros:- Practical design, much more useful than a flashlight- Efficient solar pannel- Small and lightweightCons:- Proprietary USB charging plugI use this light approximately twice a week in my home. While I believe this would be invaluable in an emergency situation, I've managed to find many practical uses for this light beyond camping and power-loss. I was able to find so much utility with this light mainly due to its design. Having legs that can stand tabletop and also server as a hook to hang the light allows me to work with both of my hands. I've been using this light in the evenings a lot when walking through my shed to get to the workbench. When entertaining guests, I keep this light next to the BBQ to check on the grill. I transfer this light over and hang it on the outdoor patio umbrella once I'm done with cooking so my guests can see what they're eating too. I then, bring the light with me to take all the empty bottles over to the recycling bin. When entertaining for outdoor dinner and a movie (I keep a projector outdoor), the light will see a good 5 hours of usage. This light is bright enough so you can see where you're walking, what you're eating, or to find your keys, but not so bright that it would be intrusive when watching a movie or if someone is falling asleep next to you.Many of my friends have been intrigued with the functionality of this light without even considering its practicality during an emergency. I always highly recommend it to others.

I wanted a solar light for hurricane season and other power failures and I sure got it. I had bought a different one before this one and returned it because the solar panel was separate and the instruction poor. I like the one-piece design with the solar panel on the back. The light is supposed to work for 4 hours, but I have not tested that. I thought that 4 hours would be enough, in an emergency. It is only about 8 inches tall, which is a good height, I think. The light does not come off the wire stand easily, but can come off if you want it to. I have it sitting in a window all the time, ready to use. I gave it 4 stars because the light is extremely bright, so bright that it is painful. The light does not spread evenly throughout the lens. It comes out from a tiny bulb in the center and spreads out in a straight line across the lens. I cut out a circle from a white shipping label and stuck it on the lens to soften the light. It is still bright, but no longer painful.

I have used this for over five years, and it is still going great. You can easily remove the stand and tie it to the outside of your backpack so it's getting charged while you hike in the daytime, and you can use it at night for up to 8 hours.