The UST 30-Day Duro Glow is a tough battery-powered glow-in-the-dark lantern that lasts for 30+ days on its lowest setting. That's 30 days straight, day and night, for 24 hours a day. We tested and verified this claim. It is bulkier than many of its competitors, so it's not going to be a backpacker's dream by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a quality light for anything front country, including power outages (as long as you have the batteries on hand). This light is for the homebody who may rev up the RV and go camping on a summer holiday weekend.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 29, 2021 with info on the updated Duro Glow lantern.Ultimate Survival Technologies 30-Day Duro Glow Review
A durable lantern with exceptional battery life for extended use that you can rely on when the lights go out
Photo: UST
Price: $58 List | $45.48 at Amazon
Pros: Very long battery life, tough and durable, provides a nice soft diffused light
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
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
By Ben Applebaum-Bauch ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Dec 29, 2021
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Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Ultimate Survival Technologies 30-Day Duro Glow | |||||
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| Awards |  | |  | |  |
| Price | $58 List $45.48 at Amazon | $64.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $35 List $27.50 at Amazon | $30 List | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Very long battery life, tough and durable, provides a nice soft diffused light | Rubber-tipped legs, dimming feature, dual metal hooks for hanging, durable | Durable, packed with features, water resistant, floats | Compact and lightweight, charges other devices, versatile for individual use | Lightweight, solar-powered, durable, inexpensive, packs flat |
| 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 | Could be brighter for large groups, replaceable batteries run out quickly | Can't fully adjust the amount of light output, limited to four settings, small | Difficult to hang, need outlet or battery pack to charge | Low lumen output, can't fit in pocket |
| Bottom Line | A durable lantern with exceptional battery life for extended use that you can rely on when the lights go out | The best all-around model for portable lighting needs, this rechargeable model is convenient, bright enough, and even doubles as a power bank for small devices | This little lantern is tough and versatile, and its waterproofing makes it a good option for lighting needs on a boat or kayak | This pocket-sized dual use flashlight/lantern is a great option for personal use while car camping | A fun, durable, and affordable lantern that's great for a weekend out in a tent |
| Rating Categories | Ultimate Survival T... | Black Diamond Apollo | Streamlight The Siege | Goal Zero Lighthous... | Goal Zero Crush Light |
| Brightness (40%) | |||||
| Durability (20%) | |||||
| Features (20%) | |||||
| Ease Of Use (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Ultimate Survival T... | Black Diamond Apollo | Streamlight The Siege | Goal Zero Lighthous... | Goal Zero Crush Light |
| Weight (with batteries) | 29.28 oz | 10.19 oz | 9.14 oz | 3.10 oz | 3.67 oz |
| Rechargeable? | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Manufacturer run time (hours) | Low: 30 days High: 12 hrs |
24 hrs | Low: 37 hrs High: 7 hrs |
Low: 170 hrs High: 7 hrs |
Low: 3.5 hrs |
| Lumens | 1000 | 250 | 200 | Lantern: 150 Flashlight: 120 |
60 |
| Size (inches) | 7.2 x 3.75 | 9.5 x 3.3 x 5.3 | 2.4 x 2.4 x 5.4 | 4 x 1.75 x 1.2 | 4.95 x 4.95 x 4 |
| Number of batteries | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Battery type | D | AA | AA | Rechargeable | Rechargeable |
| Waterproof rating | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX7 | IPX6 | IPX4 |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Product Update Note — December 2021
Medium — 400 lumens — 30 hour runtime
Ultimate Survival Technologies updated the 30-Day Duro Glow lantern since our test period. The latest incarnation of this lantern is orange and features several updates, from IPX4 waterproofing to an increase in lumens (1000 vs the previous model's 700). According to the manufacturer, the updated Duro-Glow has the following modes:
High — 1000 lumens — 12 hour runtimeMedium — 400 lumens — 30 hour runtime
Low - 30 lumens — 30 day runtime
There is also an SOS flashing mode. We updated our spec charts, but note that the review text still references the specs of the original lantern we tested. Compare the versions below; the old version (left) vs. the updated model (right).
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
This mid-size lantern offers solid utility, especially when getting the most out of your batteries is a top priority.
Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Brightness
This light puts out a blasting 700 lumens on high and can do so for just over 22 hours. The frosted dome makes the light softer than it otherwise would be without it. The medium setting puts out 140 lumens (for up to 106 hours) 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 700 to 140 to 30 lumens. However, its longevity makes it well worth keeping around.
The 30-Day Duro Glow has three settings; high, medium and low.
Photo: Valentine Cullen
Durability
The 30 Day Duro Glow has a rubberized housing which makes it a very durable product. UST claims that it is water-resistant, not waterproof, but we did submerge it in a river during testing and it came out totally fine.
We just don't quite trust the hook on the Duro Glo (right) the same way we do with the carabiner on the Streamlight The Siege (left).
Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
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 3 D batteries, and the hook is just not very sturdy plastic.
Testing lanterns' claims of waterproofness. Both of these models passed with flying colors.
Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
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.
The SOS strobe setting is not just synonymous with flashing. It actually pulses light in Morse code, spelling out S-O-S.
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.
It's not a UFO, this light glows in the dark so you can find it...before you knock it onto the floor in the dark.
Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
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.
This light stays put, even on loose and soft surfaces.
Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Weight
The 30-Day Duro Glow weighs a little under 2 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.
We easily recommend this model for home use and power outages due to its reliable battery life.
Photo: Valentine Cullen
Value
The 30 Day Duro Glow comes with a limited lifetime warranty. If you need something with a rockstar run time, this is your product. If its applications are right for you, then this lantern is well worth the investment.
Four top contenders for your next camping adventure.
Photo: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Conclusion
We love that this light has the capability of running on low, 24 hours a day for over 30 days. On high mode, it puts out a bright 700 lumens. This lantern is sturdy and durable and would make a good addition to any car camping box, RV outdoor lighting option, or emergency kit. It earns our top award for use during power outages because of its awesome runtime.
— Ben Applebaum-Bauch
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