Glamping Lights

What glamping lights are for

Glamping lights are the soft lights that make a tent feel like a room in the evening: a string of bulbs round the roof of a bell tent, fairy lights by the door, a lantern on the table. They are for atmosphere more than for reading a map, though the lantern-and-string lights here do both. LED lights run cool and use little power, and a tent is no place for a candle or any naked flame.

Battery, rechargeable, solar or guy-rope

• Battery string lights hang anywhere with no socket: a 1.5m string of 10 vintage-style bulbs, or 10 colourful star lights for a child's corner of the tent.
• Rechargeable lanterns with string lights charge by USB or Type-C, and one by solar panel as well. The 2 in 1 lantern here runs for 3 to 7.5 hours depending on the mode, and the solar lamp has a 10m reel of string lights.
• Solar fairy lights charge in daylight and switch on at dusk: copper-wire strings from 5m to 30m, ivy-leaf lights, and dandelion lights on a stake.
• Guy-rope lights clip on to guy lines so nobody trips over them in the dark. See guy lines.

Rain ratings and where to put them

The IP rating on a light says how much water it can take, under the international standard IEC 60529. IPX4, on the 2 in 1 lantern here, means it is protected against water splashed from any direction, so rain will not harm it. IP65, on the solar string lights, means dust-tight and protected against jets of water, so they can stay out in the rain, though never under water. A light with no rating belongs inside the tent.

Solar lights need sun. The maker of the solar string lights here says they need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight to charge, for at least 8 hours of light, so put the panel where it gets sun all day, out of the shadow of the tent, and run the string inside or under the awning. Hang lights from the tent's own loops and hooks, and never from a guy line someone might trip on.

Questions people ask about glamping lights

Are solar lights any good in a British winter?

They charge on daylight, so short, dull days mean less light in the evening. For winter trips, a lantern you can also charge by USB is the safer choice.

Which lights are best inside a tent?

Battery or rechargeable lights with a warm white bulb give the cosiest light. Several here come in warm white, and the 2 in 1 lantern's warm setting is 2700K. For brighter light to see by, see tent lights.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Tent lights
• Guy lines
• Glamping bell tents
• Tent rugs and carpets
• Glamping bubble tents
• Festival tents
• Guide: Bell tents and glamping
• Guide: Kids' tents and indoor play tents