The Coolest Pieces of Gear We Tested This Week

There are a lot of products that seem to be hitting the market right now, touting how important they are in this time of increased outdoor recreation. (Well, we have one here that actually is.) The Alpenglow 500 is a non-traditional lantern that will put a comforting glow over your campsite, boat deck, or beach party, and it’s a particularly useful piece of gear.

This futuristic, but simple, pod of light will illuminate for five hours on its high setting, or an incredible 200 hours on low setting thanks to a 6,400 mAh (Milliamp hour) rechargeable battery. That kind of efficiency makes it ideal for legit performance off the grid.

But it’s also fun. The Standard Modes include Cool White, Warm White, three single color options and a Multicolor… mostly utilitarian. But when you shake the Alpenglow in any of those modes, you get four additional modes—Single Side light, Cycling Color or Multicolor Party for when your family wants to have a little rave on the beach. Another handy function is the USB-out for charging other devices from the light. But perhaps the most thoughtful mode here is the Candle Flicker, which gives a flickering glow especially when so much of the country is under fire bans.—Jon Coen, Men’s Journal contributor

[$79.95; bioliteenergy.com]

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