Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern Review

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Whether you’re enjoying a good book or a game of cards in your tent or hanging out with friends around the campsite, it’s nice to have a good light.  For camping, there are different lights for different uses. There are headlamps that work nicely on your forehead when you want direct light on an object or area.  For lighting larger areas with less direct light, lanterns are very useful.

I’ve been testing out the Hozuki Lantern by Snow Peak on the past few camping trips and absolutely loved it.  When I first saw the light, I thought it was a good idea, but I thought the price tag was way off.  $89 for a light is pretty spendy, especially when you can get a headlamp or lantern for $30-$50.  And while the Hozuki Lantern is much more expensive, don’t let that completely deter you.

With old school lanterns, you typically need some sort of fuel source where you have to light a match and hope that it connects with the fuel in the lanterns lamp.  These lanterns are a little dated, but there are many still in use today and definitely still have their place.  The Hozuki Lantern is a battery powered lantern with the option to plug it in with a USB cord if you run out of batteries or don’t want to use batteries.  The USB is a nice touch as more and more products are starting to use USB cords, so as odd as it seems, I have a feeling USB cords and their power sources will become more popular as the years go on. And while the USB is a nice touch, it’s not what sets this light apart.

The Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern has a silicone shell that is similar to that of a Chinese paper lantern.  The light emitted is not a piercing light, but more of a soothing light.  This does not mean that it doesn’t produce a good amount of light, because with the Hozuki pumping out 100 lumens you get plenty of light. What I liked best about this light is the dimmer switch.  While many electric lanterns have 2-3 different light options, the Hozuki light has a dimmer switch that allows the lantern to provide the specific amount of lighting you want.  Around the campsite this isn’t as much as an issue, but in the tent when you typically want a little less light, you can adjust as needed.  Another feature that sets the Hozuki Lantern apart from others is its candle mode.  All you need to do is push the on button twice and it starts to flicker just like candle does.  For me, I thought it was really cool, but I personally prefer a steady stream of light versus flickering.

When I first saw this light online, I thought that it would be perfect for backpacking.  I first picked up the light and I was a little disappointed as it is somewhat heavy for a light its size.  If you like to keep your pack light, it might be better to stick with a headlamp.  If weight isn’t a big issue while backpacking, I think it would be worth throwing in your pack.  All in all, I really enjoyed the Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern, but I would like to see the price go down about $20.  For more information on the Hozuki Lantern and other Snow Peak products, please visit www.snowpeak.com.