Ultimate Survival Technologies 30-Day Duro Review
Cons: Glow-in-the-dark doesn't work very well, hook on the bottom is not very sturdy, hard to reattach bottom after replacing batteries
Manufacturer: Ultimate Survival Technologies
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Ultimate Survival Technologies 30-Day Duro | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $60 List $39.35 at Amazon | $69.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $60 List $59.95 at Amazon | $20.00 List $19.95 at Amazon | $29.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Very long battery life, tough and durable, provides a nice soft diffused light | Bright, USB charge port, no disposable batteries | Lightweight, small, gives off heat, same canisters as other backpacking accessories | Affordable, several light tone settings, 360-degree kickstand, clever sundial | Compact and lightweight, charges other devices, versatile for individual use |
| Cons | Glow-in-the-dark doesn't work very well, hook on the bottom is not very sturdy, hard to reattach bottom after replacing batteries | Durability concerns, hard to look at | Fuel required, cannot use in the rain, expensive | Not submersible, no USB output | Difficult to hang, need outlet or battery pack to charge |
| Bottom Line | A durable lantern with exceptional battery life for extended use that you can rely on when the lights go out | This powerful lantern with a rechargeable battery (via electricity or a hand crank) is our top choice for camping trips and power outages | For those in the market for a highly transportable fuel canister model, this is the one | A lightweight, compact, and versatile lantern that is not rough on your bank account | This pocket-sized dual-use flashlight/lantern is a great option for personal use while car camping |
| Rating Categories | Ultimate Survival T... | Goal Zero Lighthous... | Primus Micron | BioLite SunLight | Goal Zero Lighthous... |
| Brightness (45%) | |||||
| Durability (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Ultimate Survival T... | Goal Zero Lighthous... | Primus Micron | BioLite SunLight | Goal Zero Lighthous... |
| Weight (with batteries) | 29.28 oz | 19.79 oz | 4 oz | 3.4 oz | 3.10 oz |
| Rechargeable? | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Manufacturer run time (hours) | Low: 30 days High: 12 hrs |
Low, one side: 320 hrs Low, both sides: 180 hrs High, one side: 5 hrs High, both sides: 2.5 hrs |
12-24 hrs | Low: 50 hrs High: 3 hrs + 4 hrs reserve mode |
Low: 170 hrs High: 7 hrs |
| Lumens | 1000 | 600 | 235 | 100 | Lantern: 150 Flashlight: 120 |
| Size (inches) | 7.2 x 3.75 | 4.5 x 5 x 6.5in | 2.4 x 2.6 x 4.2 | 3.35 x 3.39 x .91 | 4 x 1.75 x 1.2 |
| Number of batteries | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Battery type | D | Rechargable | None | Rechargable Li-Ion | Rechargeable |
| Waterproof rating | IPX4 | Not specified | Not specified | IPX4 | IPX6 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The UST Duro Glow puts out 30 lumens on the lowest setting for 24 hours a day and just keeps going and going and going. It lasted for 33 days in our testing, using a set of generic batteries on its lowest setting. It glows in the dark, has four settings, and a sturdy, rubberized, impact-resistant base. This light scores well for its brightness and durability. It has some minor annoyances, but even so, with no glaring weaknesses, it's still towards the front of the pack.
Performance Comparison
Brightness
This light puts out a blasting 1000 lumens on high. The frosted dome makes the light softer than it otherwise would be without it. The medium setting puts out 400 lumens and the low and SOS modes both glow at 30 lumens. You have the option of taking the dome light cover off and hanging it upside down by its plastic hook in order to illuminate a larger area with slightly more light.
It doesn't have the same dimmability as many of the other models in this review. It just goes from 1000 to 400 to 30 lumens. However, its longevity makes it well worth keeping around.
Durability
The 30 Day Duro Glow has a rubberized housing which makes it a very durable product. UST claims an IPX4 waterproofing, and we did submerge it in a river during testing and it came out totally fine.
It didn't fail during testing, but we think that the hanging hook could be a potential weak point. The lantern is relatively heavy, especially considering its three D batteries, and the hook is just not very sturdy plastic.
Ease of Use
This model is fairly easy to use. Press the power button successive times to cycle through each of the light settings. The light cover detaches and attaches easily. However, we found that the battery compartment lid/bottom isn't as simple — it's just tricky to line up the two pieces to screw them together smoothly.
There are no feet at the base. However, between its weight and the gripping rubber base, we felt good about setting it down on relatively flat surfaces and confident that we weren't going to knock it over.
Features
The 30-Day Duro Glow has a bunch of subtle but useful features. This light has four modes; high, medium, low, and SOS strobe.
Its handle also makes it easy to carry around if you need to walk away from your campsite for a while. It glows in the dark — not as well as we would like, but just enough that you can see it a few feet away at night, say, in a tent. If you charge it up next to a very bright light source, it glows in the dark a little bit better. You can also unscrew the dome lid and hang it upside down by its plastic hook to increase the illumination area. The plastic hook is not super sturdy and bends when taking it out of its snapped-closed position. The base is hefty. Because of the grippy rubber material and the lantern's overall weight, it certainly won't slide off of a table or get knocked over easily. However, when you unscrew the bottom to replace the batteries, it is kind of difficult to put it back on.
Weight
The 30-Day Duro Glow weighs a little under two pounds with three D batteries installed. It measures 7.2" tall and has a diameter of 3.75". It is not nearly as light and compact as any of the Black Diamond models we tested. This light probably isn't going to accompany you in the backcountry, but it is really trying to replace the role of a traditional propane lantern without any of the hassle, mess, or safety concerns.
Should You Buy the UST 30-Day Duro?
The number one reason to purchase the 30-Day Duro is for the battery life. The ideal use for this model is to store in a basement or closet for an emergency power outage. While it most certainly meets the requisite brightness and durability for camping, in the day & age of lithium-ion battery-powered USB rechargeable devices, we have a hard time justifying the use of expensive disposable D batteries for a weekend in the mountains.
What Other Lanterns Should You Consider?
Because the 30-Day Duro is best for a relatively specific purpose, we have several alternate recommendations in case this is not the the right lantern for you. If you're looking for a lantern to take backpacking, check out the solar and battery-powered BioLite SunLight or the Primus Micron, which uses the same fuel canisters as backpacking stoves. For a bright, rechargeable, portable lantern that doubles as a power bank for charging USB devices, check out the Black Diamond Apollo.
— Ben Applebaum-Bauch
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