Let There Be Light On a Budget: The Unsung Heroes of the Campsite
Out here, the moon doesn’t always cut it. In our latest guide, we break down two budget minded essential lighting tools every overlander needs: a 4-pack of compact LED lanterns to light up your whole camp, and a budget-friendly headlamp that’s basically your third eye after dark. Whether you’re cooking dinner or fixing a flat at midnight, this is the gear that keeps the adventure going long after sunset.
GEAR
The Nomad
5/30/20252 min read
When you're miles from the nearest streetlight, where the only ambient glow is courtesy of the moon (and only if it's showing off that night), you quickly realize something: darkness is a different beast out here. In the overlanding world, light isn’t just about convenience—it’s about safety, sanity, and setting up your tent without zip-tying your fingers together.
Lanterns Worth Their Lumens: LETMY 4-Pack LED Camping Lanterns
Let’s start with these beauties: the LETMY Rechargeable Camping Lanterns—a four-pack of glorious, portable light sources that should honestly come standard in any overlander’s kit. Four lanterns. Not one. Not two. Four.
That’s enough to:
Light up your cooking area
Illuminate your tent
Stash one near the vehicle (because stumbling around your tires at night is a rite of passage nobody asked for)
And keep a spare for whatever else the night throws at you—maybe even a bathroom run that’s suddenly more eventful than expected.
They’re collapsible, rechargeable, and super packable. Translation: you can stuff them anywhere. And the value? Unbeatable. For less than the cost of a tank of gas, you’re buying light security in every corner of your camp.
The MVP of Darkness: LHKNL Rechargeable Headlamp (2-Pack)
Now let’s talk about the real workhorse: the headlamp. Not just any headlamp—the LHKNL Rechargeable Headlamp.
This thing is the second most important piece of gear you’ll own (right behind food and water). I’m not exaggerating. Want to see where you’re walking while carrying gear? Fix something on the rig at night? Dig through your bag without waking the entire camp with a spotlight? You need a headlamp. Specifically, this headlamp.
What makes it exceptional?
USB rechargeable—no more hunting for batteries at 11 PM
Multiple lighting modes including red (because you’re not trying to blind your trail mates)
Lightweight and comfortable enough to wear longer than your last Zoom meeting
And since it comes in a 2-pack, you’ve got a backup. Or better yet, a partner-in-crime (read: your buddy who forgot his… again).
Why These Belong in Your Overland Kit
Both of these products check all the boxes:
Affordable (we’re building rigs, not emptying 401(k)s)
Compact and easy to store
Durable enough to survive your typical rough-and-tumble trail life
Overlanding is all about self-reliance and resourcefulness. Light is one of those things you don’t think about until you don’t have it. But trust me—when the sun dips and you’re in the middle of nowhere, these lights become worth their weight in gold.
So if you’re putting together your gear list, start here. Buy once, light many. Your nocturnal self will thank you.