Best Solar Lights

Updated on November 19th, 2022 at 07:59 pm

Adding light to your outdoor space using solar lights is a very environmental-friendly and cost-effective means of lighting. They are quite affordable, and all you have to do is place the solar panel under the sunlight for recharging. The energy generated from the sun rays is stored into battery cells for later usage. You don’t have to bother about your front yard not being lit when coming in at night.

You can also use the solar lights as a decoration for your garden pathways, backyard bar, or simply your patio. You also don’t have to worry about incurring a huge energy bill at the end of the month, since they have an independent power source. There are different types of outdoor solar lights, and you need to get familiar with each of their features.

Different Types of solar lights

There are many types of solar lights, each of which are designed to function differently. Their appearance is also distinct and somewhat unique from one another, here are some of the types of solar lights you can expect to see in the market.

Path Lights

These are small solar light bulbs on a short pole that can be embedded into the ground to illuminate a pathway at night. You can place as many as possible on the path to your house. They can be easily relocated to new positions around the house. The light produced by the bulbs is directed downwards to brighten the path in the dark.

Wall Lights

This can be fitted all-around your home on the exterior walls where they can soak in the sunlight and recharge for usage at night. They often look like traditional electric wall lights. The only difference is the small solar panel on its body for the absorption of sun rays.

Spot Lights

These produce incredibly bright light and can be used to focus light on a certain part of the house. This kind of light often comes with a separate solar panel that can be mounted elsewhere, they are very durable and can withstand extreme weather conditions without any damage. You can mount them in many different ways around your house.

Decorative Lights

They are not as bright as the path lights, but they can be used in any spot to give a warm ambient glow. You can make use of these as a touch of decoration for small gatherings or events in your yard. They can be hung anywhere as long as the panel can access the rays of the sun.

Top 8 Best Solar Lights Consumer Reports

1. GIGALUMI Solar Lights Outdoor

 

The GIGALUMI lights are path lights which don’t have any wiring requirements since it draws its power from the sun and stores the energy for later use. The lights come on automatically at night due to the timer integrated into the design of each unit. They can light your pathway for about 8 hours as long as they are fully charged.

They have a sturdy and durable construction, made possible by using stainless steel for the body, which makes them waterproof to an extent. These lights come in different colors, meaning you can introduce beautiful patterns onto your yard. There are 12 units in this pack from GIGALUMI. The solar panels are integrated onto the head of each unit.

Pros:

• You don’t have any need for batteries.
• High-quality LED lights
• Color-changing bulbs
• Made using stainless steel
• Weatherproof pack

Cons:

• There have been complaints about its lifetime use.

2. TomCare Solar Lights

 

Enhance the appearance of your surroundings with these high-quality solar lights from TomCare. The LEDs of each unit glow in such a way that simulates flickering flames; the height of each unit in the pack is 43 inches, meaning they are larger than your regular solar lights. They collect solar energy, so you don’t have to worry about power bills at the end of the month.

It should also be noted that these lights are weatherproof and waterproof, allowing you to use them in a wide range of scenarios. They can be easily installed at any point in your yard without any need for professional wiring or anything extra. You simply have to drive them into the ground at your preferred location and watch them function.

Pros:

• Lasts up to 8 hours in the summer and 5 hours in the winter
• They can function under rainfall without any damage to its circuitry.
•  Can be easily installed
• Doesn’t need batteries

Cons:

• Can be quite heavy for some users

3. AMIR Upgraded Solar Powered String Lights

 

There are 100 small LED lights featured on a 33-feet long wire, which can be easily installed at any preferred location simply due to its super-lightweight build. A bobbin winder comes with the copper wire for safe storage and preventing wire tangling. The wire is connected to a solar panel which draws in the energy and stores it for later use.

Certified safe by CE ROHS, you can make use of these lights without any imminent danger to the wellbeing of anyone around the area. The bulbs illuminate the immediate surrounding in a 360- degree angle, which means every direction is lit up by the bulbs.

Pros:

• Flexible copper wiring
• Comes with an automatic sensor that turns the bulbs on at night
• Has an IP65 waterproof rating
• There are 100 LED bulbs on the 33-ft copper wire.

Cons:

• Some units have been reported to have defective batteries.

4. Ambaret Solar Lights Outdoor

 

The Ambaret solar lights are path lights that imitate the appearance of flickering flames on its body. These are much safer than making use of real fires. The lights can be used to set a romantic environment for you and your spouse; you can drive them into the ground using the sharp ends.

You can light up your surroundings for up to 12 hours with a full charge, and they don’t need to have any wiring connections before they can work. There’s a solar panel on the head of a path light that converts sun rays into energy used to power itself. You don’t have to worry about them coming into contact with water because they are waterproof and can be used under any kind of weather.

Pros:

• High enough to cover enough ground
• Can be easily installed
• Waterproof build
• 12-month refund policy

Cons:

• Relatively more expensive

5. Itscool Solar Spotlights Outdoor Colored Landscape Lights

 

This product package contains two units of colored spotlights; the lights on both units can be changed between nine colors or set to auto-change. You can access these settings and more using the infrared remote control. With a full charge, you can use them on full brightness for about 16 hours; they attain a full charge when placed under direct sunlight for 7 hours.

The spotlights come on automatically at night and off in the morning, you can make use of the lights in your backyard or porch. You have a year of warranty on the product, but you will certainly be using these spotlights for years to come.

Pros:

• Very bright and colored lighting
• Each unit comes with its own remote
• You can make use of each unit for 16 hours when fully charged.
• Waterproof construction

Cons:

• Only lights up to 180 degrees F

6. Nekteck 4-Pack Solar Light Outdoor

 

The Nekteck solar lights can be used to illuminate your driveway, yard, backyard relaxation spots, and the pathway to your house. These can also be placed on the walls inside your house, but the solar panels would need to be outside for recharging. This package contains four light stands, and each piece is fitted with four LED bulbs that can function in both low and high power modes.

These lights can last between 6-10 hours, depending on how charged the batteries are, you can place the panels under direct sunlight for a long period to charge up. These units are approved by multiple product safety commissions, and you have a 90-day money-back guarantee on the pack. You also have up to 2 years of limited warranty as well as lifetime support from Nekteck.

Pros:

• Very sturdy build
• Makes use of advanced LED light bulbs
• Weatherproof
• Can be easily installed

Cons:

• Customers have complained of short lifetime use.

7. InnoGear 3rd Version 6 LED Solar Lights Outdoor

 

This package includes spotlights that make use of high lumen-output bulbs, 600 lumens from 6 LED bulbs on each solar light stand. You can activate two brightness modes on each spotlight, the low-light mode lasts for up to 12 hours, and the high-light mode lasts up to 12 hours. The installation process is very fast and tool-free without any need for extra wiring connections. The stands are built using high-impact ABS plastic, which allows it to withstand unfavorable weather conditions.

Pros:

• Tool-free installation process
• There are six LED bulbs on each light stand.
• You can make use of the stands in two brightness modes.
• Weatherproof build

Cons:

• Some customers have complained about defects in some spotlights.

8. GardenBliss Best Solar Lights For Outdoor Pathway

 

Are you looking for a bright solar light? Then this is the best product for you. It comes with 10 different path lights included in this package. Each of the lights features LED lights that can last over 30,000 hours of use. They have solar panels embedded into their top of the heads to process and store energy from sun rays.

You don’t have to switch them on manually; this light comes on in the evening automatically. They are entirely waterproof and can be used under severe weather conditions.

Pros:

• The lights are waterproof.
• Comes with a 100% money-back guarantee
• Can be used under any weather
• Long-lasting

Cons:

• The plastic construction isn’t a very good attribute.

Conclusion

These outdoor solar lights can be used for a wide range of reasons, but the best is the improved look they add to your home. There are even some security solar lights which make use of a sensor to detect any movement in your yard at night.

Any sudden movement is picked up, and the lights come on, this allows you to be more aware of your environment. You can easily install these lights at any location in your house, and they are much more cost-effective than wiring up new lights onto your compound.