Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Review

The rechargeable lithium battery on the lantern can be charged in a traditional outlet, but it doesn't require it, as it can also be charged by turning the hand crank. This versatility, paired with its bright 600 lumens, makes it an excellent option for outdoor gatherings and lighting the way in a power outage.

Performance Comparison

Brightness

The Lighthouse 600 lives up to its name as an exceptionally bright light. We found that its 600 lumens are more than enough for a group at a picnic table at night. Indoors, when placed in the center of the room, it provides enough light to illuminate a 20'x20' space without having to worry about tripping over unlit obstacles in a power outage.

In many instances, such as camping, 600 lumens can be way too much. The dimmer knob is convenient for reducing the juice if you are in a smaller space like a tent or if you're outside and your eyes have adjusted to the stars.

Battery Life

For this metric, we timed each lantern's total runtime on its highest setting. The reason that we chose to test them on their maximum brightness is that we've often found that sometimes the lowest setting for certain models isn't bright enough to be useful.

Battery life is not the strongest suit for the Lighthouse 600 when compared to the longest-lasting models. On its highest setting, it dies right around three hours and 15 minutes. If you choose to use just one side of the lantern and dim the light down, this runtime increases significantly. We also measured the charge time – this model was fully juiced up after charging for six hours via a USB cable plugged into a standard wall outlet.

Ease of Use

The basic functions of this lantern are straightforward. The legs pull down and click into place. The protruding dial in front turns counterclockwise for 180 degrees of light or clockwise for 360 degrees. Having said that, you do have to work for it if you want to charge the light using the hand crank. However, this feature is one of the huge benefits of this light.

Other lights have no option to recharge other than via a power bank, outlet, or another device that supplies power, which isn't always an option in the outdoors. We think this added feature on the Lighthouse 600 really makes this model stand out from the crowd of lanterns.

Features

This lantern offers an array of features. You have the option to illuminate the night with both 180 and 360 degrees of light. It also comes equipped with easy-to-read battery indicator lights that let you know approximately how much juice is left in the rechargeable battery.

We love that the included USB charging cable wraps nicely around the body of the lantern. This keeps the cord out of the way while the lantern is in use, but it's always there when you need it. The charging port comes in handy when your small electronics need a bit of a boost. One of the primary benefits of this model is the integrated hand crank. So in emergency situations when your house or vehicle are devoid of power, you can still charge this lantern.

The Lighthouse 600 also features an emergency red light, though we don't think it would be especially helpful in a true emergency given how weak it is. The space between the wire handle and the lantern body is a little tight to hold comfortably, but it is serviceable and does allow this lantern to hang overhead on a tree branch or carabiner.

Weight

At just under 20 ounces, this lantern is by no means the lightest in the bunch. However, the weight really isn't a primary consideration given what it is best suited for. If you need to go for a walk in the darkness, the handle at least makes it easier to carry.

It is also a compact package for a lantern this powerful. The legs are collapsible, which means it is easy to store away and would easily fit on a small shelf in a utility closet.

Should You Buy the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600?

The Lighthouse 600 is versatile. It has a large handful of useful features, and best of all, it is bright enough for a large tent or small group outside. This lantern comes at somewhat of a premium, but we think that it is worth it. This rechargeable light eliminates the need for any additional investment to replace batteries, increasing its long-term value. The ability to charge without electricity from an outlet also makes it highly versatile in the short term.

What Other Lanterns Should You Consider?

If you are looking for a powerful, multi-purpose light for both your upcoming trip and for the distant future, the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 has great promise. But if you're looking for a slightly smaller, slightly more durable model for backpacking trips, the Black Diamond Apollo is a fan-favorite among our testers. For true minimalists, the Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Charge is an even more ultralight model that still doubles as a charging port for your electronics.