Black Diamond Zip Review

It took us a little while to get used to a lantern that is this small. However, we quickly learned that it is a mistake to underestimate its performance based on its size. We took it out on the trail to test it in our tents and tucked it in our pockets for some rustic, early fall cabin camping.

Performance Comparison

Don't let the Zip's size fool you -- this lantern shines. It lights up the corners of a tent enough for it to be a single, centralized light source in that kind of space.

Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Brightness

The Black Diamond Zip will easily illuminate a tent. Its lantern function shines at 150 lumens, which is bright for its size. It comes with an opaque light cover over the 5 LEDs to soften the light a bit. It has a nice uniform light quality as well, unlike some of the other lanterns in this review. We also used it indoors in a couple of different common living spaces and found that it was adequate (not great) for a room as large as 8'x12'. We also took it out during a mock nighttime roadside repair and found that it did an excellent job of lighting up under the hood.

The flashlight offers a 100-lumen beam from a single, highly focused LED. We found that its shine radius wasn't quite as wide as a standard headlamp, but we still like that we have the choice to toggle between the two light modes. It's better for work up close rather than trying to spot any monsters in the distant forest.

It illuminates everything under the hood in case your car breaks down on the road at night.

Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

On the downside, our testing showed that this light chews through batteries, especially on lantern mode. At 15 hours on low, we got modestly more burn time from the lantern than the advertised 12, but even so, considering the number of batteries it requires, and lack of alternative charging options, it isn't the most sustainable option of the lights we tested.

Durability

It's ok if you try to ding up this lantern. It has an IPX4 (Ingress Protection) rating, which means that it can be splashed by water from any direction. Not technically waterproof, but in practice, we never had an issue with water damage, even after leaving it out in the rain for a few hours. It is worth noting, however, that the battery compartment door does not seal as tightly as other models, so we wouldn't go so far as to completely submerge it in a pool of water as we did to test the claims of some other lanterns.

It can withstand head high drops onto soft surfaces, like dirt or sand. If the light cover took a direct hit from a rock though, it might crack.

Features

This lantern doesn't come with a ton of features, but there is elegance in its simplicity. The ones that it does include are thoughtful and well-executed. We love the dual lantern/flashlight capability. It also comes with a hook for hanging in a tent or on a clothesline when you need overhead lighting.

Its biggest drawback is that it lacks feet and has a very narrow base. It does come with very, very discrete bumps, which it rests on when placed upright on a picnic table. However, if you need to be able to set down your light on anything but the flattest surfaces, the Zip is not going to be for you.

This lantern comes with a retractable hook to suspend it from a clothesline.

Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

One other small but potentially helpful feature is that the Black Diamond logo on the front of the lantern is a reflective sticker that makes it easier to spot in the dark (assuming you have another light to shine in its direction). The Zip also comes in three colors: Powell (blue), octane (red), and graphite (grey).

The three "feet" on the bottom of this lantern don't actually add a whole lot to its functionality. We much prefer to hang it from above.

Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Ease of Use

This light comes with just a single button, making it easy to operate. Press once to turn it on and twice in quick succession to switch between lantern and flashlight modes. Either light source can also be dimmed or brightened by holding down the button. We like that the button is textured as well, which makes it easy to locate if you have to pick up and turn on the light in the middle of the night.

The Zip runs on four AAA batteries which are easy to install and replace by flicking out the lever of the battery compartment on the flashlight end of the light.

The lantern with its battery compartment unlatched. It is very easy to replace the batteries.

Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Because this light spends more time as a handheld than a lot of other models we tested, we also enjoy the rubber casing and the textured sides, both of which make it easier to grip, even in the rain.

Weight

The size and weight of this light are probably its most significant assets. It's a sprightly 3.6 ounces and measures 2 1/8" x 3 1/4" x 1", about the size and shape of an old school beeper. The Zip is a great handheld light, and is a good option for children who may want their own light for camping. It's lightweight enough that we wouldn't hesitate to bring it into the backcountry. If overhead or centralized lighting is more important than mobile handsfree operation, its compact size makes it a viable replacement for a headlamp.

Smaller than a standard deck of cards, it's super compact for a lantern as bright as it is.

Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Value

We paid a bit more for the Zip than we would have expected. The price tag didn't stop us from wanting it, and now that we have it, we don't have any regrets. It falls about in the middle in terms of personal, handheld lanterns, and though it is not a total bargain, we still think you get a little bit more for your money.

We loved having it in the glove compartment for easy access in an emergency.

Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Conclusion