How long does it take to charge using sunlight?

Charge time depends on sunlight intensity. Direct sun will recharge the battery faster than overcast conditions or indirect light. Placing the lantern in full sun during the day provides the most reliable charge for evening use.

Can I use this indoors or only for camping?

You can use it anywhere. It works indoors as mood lighting or a backup during power outages, though you'll need to place it near a window or take it outside to recharge the solar panel.

Is the light bright enough to read by?

The lantern is designed for ambient and area lighting rather than focused tasks. It works well to light a tent or small space, but a headlamp or dedicated reading light will be more effective for close work.

How do I inflate and deflate it?

Inflate the lantern by blowing into the valve until it forms a stable cylinder. To deflate, open the valve and press the air out, then fold or roll it flat for storage.

Will it survive being packed with other gear?

The construction is built to handle being compressed and jostled in a pack. The waterproof shell protects the electronics, and there are no fragile glass components to worry about.

Luci Original Color

b corp
carbon neutral

The 3-second version

Solar panel recharges the internal battery using daylight
Ten RGB LEDs offer nine fixed colors plus a cycling mode
Collapses to one inch thick when deflated
Needs direct sun to recharge
Light output suited to ambiance, not task work

Why it's on GiftsFeed

Inflatable solar lantern that cycles through nine colors

Most portable lanterns force a choice: pack size or runtime, and both usually depend on batteries you have to remember to bring. This one charges itself whenever the sun is out and flattens to almost nothing when you're done. The color options matter less for navigation and more for setting a vibe at camp or marking your tent in a crowded field—tasks where a white headlamp feels clinical and a candle is a liability. If you already carry solar gear or spend enough time outside that dead batteries become a nuisance, a lantern that refills itself and disappears into a pocket solves both problems at once.

Good gift when

Campers who want ambient light without tracking fuel or batteries
Festival-goers looking for packable mood lighting
Anyone who needs backup light that recharges itself outdoors

Skip it if Relies entirely on solar charging, so extended cloudy stretches leave it dim or dead

Specs

Light source: 10 RGB LEDs
Color modes: 9 fixed colors plus color-cycle mode
Power: Solar-rechargeable internal battery
Collapsed thickness: 1 inch
Waterproof: Yes

What's included

Luci Original Color inflatable solar lantern

If you're giving it

No sizing to guess

Compact and self-explanatory, works well as a surprise or stocking stuffer.

The details

This inflatable lantern runs on sunlight and packs flat enough to slip into a side pocket. Ten RGB LEDs inside a translucent shell deliver light in nine fixed colors or a mode that cycles smoothly from one shade to the next. Press the button to switch between hues—red, blue, green, and six others—or let the lantern transition on its own.

The solar panel built into the top recharges the internal battery during the day. Leave it on a dashboard, strap it to a pack, or set it on a picnic table while you eat, and it gathers energy without a cable. A full charge powers the lantern through evening use, and partial sun still adds runtime.

When deflated, the housing compresses to roughly the thickness of a deck of cards. Inflate it by blowing into the valve, and the lantern expands into a stable cylinder that sits on flat surfaces or hangs from a loop. The shell is waterproof, so rain and splashes won't end the evening.

Weight stays low enough that you won't feel it in a bag. The construction handles being stuffed into a pack alongside hard-edged gear, and the valve keeps air sealed until you're ready to collapse it again. No bulbs to break, no fuel to carry, and no disposable batteries to track.

BioLite

Luci Original Color

Flattens to one inch and charges from daylight

$29.95at bioliteenergy.com

Quantity

Buy from BioLite

Ships and sold by BioLite. About this merchant

The 3-second version

Solar panel recharges the internal battery using daylight
Ten RGB LEDs offer nine fixed colors plus a cycling mode
Collapses to one inch thick when deflated
Needs direct sun to recharge
Light output suited to ambiance, not task work

Questions

How long does it take to charge using sunlight?: Charge time depends on sunlight intensity. Direct sun will recharge the battery faster than overcast conditions or indirect light. Placing the lantern in full sun during the day provides the most reliable charge for evening use.
Can I use this indoors or only for camping?: You can use it anywhere. It works indoors as mood lighting or a backup during power outages, though you'll need to place it near a window or take it outside to recharge the solar panel.
Is the light bright enough to read by?: The lantern is designed for ambient and area lighting rather than focused tasks. It works well to light a tent or small space, but a headlamp or dedicated reading light will be more effective for close work.
How do I inflate and deflate it?: Inflate the lantern by blowing into the valve until it forms a stable cylinder. To deflate, open the valve and press the air out, then fold or roll it flat for storage.
Will it survive being packed with other gear?: The construction is built to handle being compressed and jostled in a pack. The waterproof shell protects the electronics, and there are no fragile glass components to worry about.