10 BEST OUTDOOR SOLAR LIGHTS YOU CAN BUY

Introduction

Light has been part of man’s existence from time immemorial even before the invention of the electric bulb by Michael Faraday. But the best available is given by nature – solar!

Inventers, through mechanization, has brilliantly tapped into nature's gift to give humanity outdoor solar lights.

This piece will intimate you on –

· The benefits of the use of outdoor solar lights.
· Provide you with informed choices on the 10 best outdoor solar lights you should check out.
· Why you should replace all your outdoor electronic and non-solar lights.
· Why outdoor solar lights could be a life-saver for you and your family.

Outdoor Solar Lights – Safety, Simplicity, and Splendor

The common feature of all outdoor solar lights is the encompassing of the 3s – safety, simplicity, and splendor! Popular types of these solar lights include led yard lights, solar spotlights, solar garden lights, solar led lights, etc. So let’s take time to review the features of these outdoor solar products.

1. Waterproof Landscape Solar Lights

This product is an outdoor solar spotlight and is suitable for gardens and driveways.

Features:

· It is is a 2-in-1 waterproof solar light.
· Specially designed to light up yard gardens, driveways, patios, etc.
· It comes with a pole that can be stuck into the ground or mounted on a wall.

Pros:

· It is a tool-free installation; comes with included screws if to be mounted on a wall.
· It has an in-built 18650 lithium rechargeable battery (2200mAh) for long working time (8 – 10 hours).
· It takes only about 4 – 5 hours to be fully charged under direct sunlight.
· It is weather-resistant to resist all outdoor conditions such as rain, heat, and snow.
· It has auto two lighting modes for high/low modes and it auto on itself at night.
· It is efficient and durable to use, and it comes with a one year warranty from the manufacturer.

Cons:

· It has no motion sensory detection.

2. Amorphous 80-LED Solar Motion Light

This product is an outdoor LED yard light and is suitable to light up the front and backyards.

Features:

· It comes with a solar panel that has an attached wire measuring 15 feet (4.5 meters).
· Its solar panel is irregular; comes in different shapes owing to its flexibility.
· It comes with hardware that can be used to mount it at desired locations.
Pros:
· This product has a Lumen output of 900 in its High Light Mode which means it shines brighter and better.
· It is made of 80 LEDs, creating more efficient use of energy.
· It is designed with a 3 x AA rechargeable batteries for long-lasting performance.
· It is designed to charge itself without direct sunlight due to its amorphous solar panel.
· Fully perfect for all outdoor conditions.
· It is designed with motion sensors and can detect the distance from 30 feet within a range of 180 degrees.
Cons:
· Even when mounted very high, its illumination will not cover beyond 20 x 20 feet, so it may not be suitable for those who want more area coverage per unit.

3. G40 Dimmable String Lights

This product is electrically powered and suitable for outdoor events like a barbeque party.

Features:

· It is made of glass and copper.
· It is end to end connectable with 25 feet long strings of bright light.
· It glitters the night with incandescent bulbs and has a special ‘dimmable’ feature.

Pros:

· The incandescent bulbs are UL listed and have a candelabra socket base.
· The product comes with 25 clear G40 bulbs.
· The total length is 25 feet and very great for outdoor events at day and night.
· The bulbs are well spaced on the strings.
· It requires no battery. Lower voltage consumption.
· It has a special ‘dimmable' feature to beautify the night.

Cons:

· It uses electricity.
· Not suitable to meet adverse outdoor conditions, especially rain, frost, and snow.
· It can be dangerous where there is a power surge.
· Higher bills due to power consumption.
· No battery reserve in the event of a blackout.
· Not eco-friendly.

4. Hanging Loop Outdoor String Lights

This product is electrically powered and is suitable for outdoor gigs.

Features:

· It is a 48 feet long string light.
· It comes with 15 suspended sockets, about 3 feet incandescent bulbs.
· It has a looping feature as the lights hang at about 7 inches from the wire to the string.

Pros:

· The incandescent bulbs are ETL approved and have standard E26 sockets, thus meeting string lights safety standards.
· The product comes with 18 bulbs with extra changeable incandescent bulbs.
· The total length is 48 feet and very great for outdoor events at day and night.
· Its strings are made from heavy-duty wire.
· Special waterproof sockets to keep water out.
· End to end connection of strings.
· It requires no battery.
· It can give a rhythmic dangling view to add color to an event.

Cons:

· It uses electricity.
· Not suitable to meet adverse outdoor conditions like frost and snow.
· It can be dangerous where there is a power surge.
· Higher bills due to power consumption.
· No battery reserve in the event of a blackout.
· Not eco-friendly.

5. Solar Ground Lights

This product is a solar spotlight and is suitable for walkways and driveways.

Features:

· It is a stainless steel-made wireless device and can be safely walked on.
· It is most suitable for gardens, courtyards, walkways, pathways, yards, patios, lawns, driveways, corridors, and so on.

Pros:

· It is not heavy-weighted at 3 pounds with dimensions of 9.6 x 5 x 5 inches for a ground device.
· It has a light sensor which makes it automatically turn off during the day and turns on at night.
· It can work for 8 – 10 hours after solar charging of an average of 7 hours.
· It comes with an in-built 600 mAh battery.
· Like many other outdoor solar lights, it is waterproof and designed to last many adverse weather conditions.

Cons:

· It needs direct sunlight to charge as it may naturally discharge in a sun-shaded enclosure.
· It cannot withstand beyond the 100kg standing body.

6. Fairy String LED Yard Lights

This product is a LED yard light and is suitable for illuminating yards.

Features:

· This product weighs about 9.5 oz with package dimensions of 4.7 x 3.4 x 2.6 inches.
· It is a plug-in adapter with the input of 100 – 240V and output of 12V.
· The LED color emits warm white.

Pros:

· The adapter, along with string lights, is fully waterproof.
· Creates that warming ambiance. Power-saving lighting wire.
· Its' copper wires are fully insulated and safe for the household when in use; safe to touch after many hours of usage.
· The insulated copper wires do not overheat.
· UL certified adapter.
· Composed of micro LEDs and therefore eco-friendly with a long life span.
· Very nice for outdoor parties and night scenes.
· It can be molded into any shape of your choosing as the product come with 99 feet of strip lights

Cons:

· It is not recommended for much exposure to rain as it may reduce its lifespan.

7. 2-in1 Waterproof Outdoor Lighting Spotlight

This product an outdoor solar spotlight and is suitable for yards and gardens.

Features:

· It is a waterproof class IP65 solar panel of 5.5V with sharper brightness and switch controls.
· It uses Lithium-ion batteries and can last about 12 hours on Low Light Mode.

Pros:

· It comes with a flux of 200 lumens (50 each) which enhances brightness.
· It is a 2-in-1 free installation.
· The pole is lengthened, with the product dimension at 7.1 x 7 x 9 inches, thus making it possible to insert it deeper into the ground.
· It has 2 level brightness modes: Low Light Mode and High Light Mode (which can last about 6 hours).
· There is no protective film needed for the solar panels.
· Automatic on at night and switches off at sunrise.
· Adjustable solar panels for optimum exposure to sunlight. Made to resist adverse weather conditions.

Cons:

· It has no motion sensory detection.

8. Starry String Solar Lights

This product is a solar led light and is suitable to light up trees.

Features:

· It is a white-colored solar-powered light with 33 feet of 100 LED bulbs.
· It is low on voltage as no transformer is required.
· It also has no plug-in.

Pros:

· Very brilliant lighting consisting of 100 beautiful bright LED bulbs.
· The bulbs are hinged on a 33 feet high-quality copper wire.
· The copper wire is flexible and is made tiny.
· When wrapped around trees, it can become invisible and one only gets to see the illuminating brightness of the lights.
· It has automatic modes to switch on at night and switch off by the day.
· It is water-resistant; it can be made use of while raining.
· Quite easy to handle and store; ready to be used next time.
· Very high energy conservative.
· Very eco-friendly.
· Very durable and safe to use.

Cons:

· Non-replaceable battery.
· No motion detection sensor.

9. Awesome Solar Garden Lights

This product is a solar garden light and is most suitable to light up gardens.

Features:

· It weighs 2.44 pounds with dimensions of 9.2 x 7 x 5.8 inches.
· It is a stainless-steel amazing work of beauty when illuminated at night.
· Best suited for gardens and porches and yards.

Pros:

· It is solar-powered and does not need electric power.
· Its wireless nature makes it handy and practically decent to use.
· Automatic conservation of energy during daytime and switches on in the dark.
· It can illuminate for an average of 8 hours when fully charged.
· It has a built-in AAA battery.
· It doesn’t need direct exposure to the sun to charge.
· Very easy to install; assemble the components and pin to ground.
· It projects a color-changing landscape on lawns, gardens, yards, etc.
· It is designed to resist adverse outdoor weather conditions.
· It has 6 different colors in a pack of 12. Cons:

Cons:

· Non-replaceable battery.
· No motion detection sensor.

10. 100 LED Waterproof String Lights

This product is an electrically powered LED yard light. It is suitable to light up trees and yards.

Features:

· This 33 feet string light has a color temperature of 2700 – 2900K.
· The string comes with a 5 feet adapter cord.
· Each unit weighs 0.3lbs.
· The power input for AC is 120V and the output is DC 4.5V.

Pros:

· It is energy efficient; it does not overheat.
· It comes with a UL certificate.
· It is designed to be resistant to water and the copper wire plus power adapter is also waterproof.
· It shines brightly with its 2700 – 2900K warm white-yellow tiny LED lights.
· The copper wire is thin and can become invisible under usage.
· Easy to store and ready for the next use.
· The lights can be shaped and easily molded to suit desired styles.

Cons:

· It uses electricity.
· Light strings cannot be cut to fit specific use.
· It can be dangerous where there is a power surge.
· No battery reserve in the event of a blackout.

11. Street Solar Lampshade Lights

This product is a solar spotlight and is ideally suitable for pathways and driveways.

Features:

· It has its charm and very ideal for pathway lighting.
· It has a coated material and comes with a solar panel of 2V.
· Comes with 1.2V 800mAh NI-MH AA battery.

Pros:

· The product has a coated material to keep it rust-free.
· Works on automatic mode; recharges in the day under sunlight and switches on in the night to illuminate the surroundings, and automatically turns off at dawn.
· Easy to install; just poke it in the ground.
· Its large window lampshade sheds glamour on this product.
· Very cool to light driveways, streets, walkways, pathways, etc.
· It captures the surrounding with a decorative glow.
· Designed to cope with adverse weather conditions.

Cons:

· It is not a motion-sensitive device.
· To turn it on, one has to unscrew the bottom part of the lamp which can be unnecessarily inconvenient.

12. Smart 3-Head Motion Sensor Lights

This trinity-head product is an outdoor solar light and suitable for intense illumination of surroundings.

Features:

· It is solar-powered and also battery powered.
· Its shade material is made of plastic and has an adjustable light direction.
· It has 3 numbers of lights with a luminous flux of 1500lm.

Pros:

· This product comes with 2 Lithium-ion batteries.
· Its luminous flux and color temperature of 5500 – 6000K (white light) make it brighter than many other outdoor solar lights.
· It can move upwards, downwards and horizontally to illuminate large areas.
· Its permanent ON mode (which can also be put OFF) ensures automatic adjustment to day and night periods.
· With its built-in PIR motion sensor, it can be set for a pre-determined time to switch on to detect movements within a long-range distance.
· It is perfectly designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
· It can be placed anywhere of your choosing thanks to its 15-foot cord.

Cons:

· It can work better with an in-built mini camera and alarm system.

13. Shatterproof Outdoor LED String Lights

This product is a LED yard light and is suitable for outdoor gigs.

Features:

· It is a 48 feet wire length outdoor string light with 3.2 feet bulb spacing.
· It comes with 16 warm white bulbs and connectable to up to 40 strands.

Pros:

· The 48 feet strand is made of flexible rubber.
· The bulbs are made of plastic and are LED shatterproof and waterproof.
· The plastic material is good for safety reasons as dropped bulbs may not easily be broken.
· Its brightness is magnificent as it comes with a 2200K color temperature.
· Unlike many others in its category, it comes with LED filament bulbs that have a service lifespan of up to 25,000 hours.
· It consumes less power and is energy conservative.
· Each of these lights is connectable and the string comes with hanging sockets of 15 units.

Cons:

· It makes use of electrical power.

14. Super Bright Wireless Solar Lights

This product is an outdoor solar light and suitable for intense illumination of surroundings.

Features:

· It is a solar-powered plastic material LED bulb.
· It has a wattage consumption of 0.49 and is powered by 4 Lithium-ion batteries.
· It weighs 1.4 pounds and it is heatproof certified.

Pros:

· It comes with a night sensor to automatically identify daylight from the night time.
· It is installed with a motion sensor of a 120-degree detection range and about a 3-meter distance.
· It has a 5-year lifespan solar panel and an LED lifespan of up to 50000 hours.
· This product is designed to be super bright and long-lasting.
· It is weather-resistant and uncommon for many other outdoor lights, it is IP64 heatproof certified.
· Great security light for the surroundings of a building.

Cons:

· It takes long hours and sometimes up to 2 to 3 sunny days to be fully charged.
· It needs to have direct exposure to the sun for the charging to be effective.

15. Mace-shaped Pathway Solar Lights

This product is a solar garden light and is suitable for gardens and pathways.

Features:

· This easy-to-install plastic outdoor solar light is a money saver.
· It is wireless and will add décor to bring out the beauty of your surroundings.
· It is good for gardens, pathways, driveways.

Pros:

· It is solar-powered; it saves you money.
· Easy installation; no technicalities involved.
· Special double rings of the lamp can form a delectable pattern on your garden to bring out such a lovely glow.
· It saves your electricity bill.
· It is eco-friendly. It can last up to 8 hours.
· Automatic light sensor to differentiate between day and night. It is tough to resist weather conditions like rain, frost, and snow.
· Also good for use on walkways, pathways, patios, flower beds, and so on.

Cons:

· It does not come with a motion detector.
· It usually needs direct exposure to the sun to have efficient charging.

16. Hanging Vintage Outdoor String Lights

This product is electrically powered and is suitable to brighten a big outdoor event.

Features:

· It is a 48 feet wire length Bistro light to give ambiance for outside space.
· It weighs 7.7 pounds with dimensions of 576 x 3 x 7.2 inches.

Pros:

· It gives a canopy-like décor for events with 15 hanging 11 watts incandescent bulbs.
· The total length is 48 feet and very great for outdoor events at day and night.
· The bulbs are well spaced on the strings.
· It requires no battery. It has a special ‘dimmable' feature to beautify the night.
· It is weather-proof to resist rain and high wind torrent.

Cons:

· It uses electricity.
· High voltage consumption.
· The bulbs are glass-made and can easily break.
· Not suitable to meet adverse outdoor conditions, especially rain, frost, and snow.
· It can be dangerous where there is a power surge.
· Higher bills due to high power consumption.
· No battery reserve in the event of a blackout.
· Not eco-friendly.

17. Fashionable Hub Lighting and Lamps

This product is a LED yard light and is suitable for illuminating yards.

Features:

· This fashionable hub lamp is made based on low voltage.
· It is made from aluminum and makes use of an LED bulb.
· Its luminous flux is 640lm and it is quite easy to carry around.

Pros:

· Has voice activation available to pair with it (works with Alexa for voice control).
· It requires no battery to function.
· Brighten up the surroundings well.
· Works on low voltage.
· It appears in shades of white but with different colors available.
· Easy to install; no technicalities involved.
· It is a weather-proof material and can withstand adverse weather conditions.
· It has a lifespan of up 25,0000 hours.

Cons:

· It requires a hub to function.
· It doesn't come with paired devices to make it work; to be purchased separately.
· It must be located within 30 feet to 60 feet from the hub's location to work.

18. 200 Degree-Range Outdoor Solar Lights

This product is an outdoor solar light and suitable for intense illumination of surroundings.

Features:

· It comes with a 270-degree lighting special feature.
· Designed with high-strength ABS, it is controlled by a slide switch and works with a Lithium-ion battery cell.

Pros:

· Durable to withstand all adverse weather conditions.
· Highly illuminating; capable of covering a measurable distance of 200 square feet.
· It uses sunlight to charge during the daytime and conserves it for useable energy at night.
· Its components are designed to protect the circuit and battery.
· It has motion sensors to detect at night and during the daytime.
· It can stay 20 seconds at night when motion is detected and can even stay longer if the motion detected is still within its range.

Cons:

· It doesn’t have an automatic light sensor to switch on at night and go off by day; it has to be manually operated.

19. Fairy LED Solar String Light

This product is solar LED light and suitable for lighting up trees.

Features:

· This is a 72.18 feet long solar-powered string with super bright 200 LED lights.
· It has a mode switch that can change the lights to waves, combinations, flash, sequential, slow fades, and so on.

Pros:

· Super brightness when lit up at night when fully charged.
· Easy to install, energy-saving and eco-friendly.
· The cable is very thin and can be unnoticeable at night, leaving full concentration on the lights.
· It is IP44 waterproof certified, so it can withstand a torrent of rain.
· It has an automatic light sensor to switch on at night and go off by the day or when it comes in contact with direct light.

Cons:

· It has no motion sensor.
· For a string light like this, taking 8 hours to charge under full exposure to sunlight is relatively too long.

20. Solar String Lights

This product is a solar garden light and is suitable for gardens and lighting up trees.

Features:

· This is a warm color string light.
· It has lamp beads of 200 in quantity with a length of 22 meters. Aside from solar charging, it can be powered by USB charging too.

Pros:

· It comes with an extra enlarged solar panel.
· You don’t need an extra wire or outlet to make use of it.
· It comes with a dual powered battery.
· It has a USB port to charge it other than solar power.
· Charging with the USB for 8 hours will produce a 20-hour duration-use.
· It has a 6-hour timing option to switch it on and off.

Cons:

· No automatic light sensor to switch on when it is night and switch off when it is daytime.

BUYERS GUIDE:

In shopping for good outdoor solar lights, you must consider the following:

· Safety comes first. Go for outdoor solar lights without reservation. Modern technology has made it possible for solar lights to shine brightly as with incandescent bulbs and fluorescents. Again, wouldn’t it be nice to keep the world eco-friendly?

· Compare costs and specifications. Make sure you know the features and specifications of what you want and let that inform your choice and your pocket. As we have seen, some solar lights are way better and function well than others but note that this may not translate to higher costs.

· Buy known brands. In looking for that outdoor solar lights, buy that brand that has a commendable track history of customer satisfaction.

· Look for what complements your needs. If you plan to be security conscious of your environment, you won't be going for solar string lights at the expense of something like a 200 degree-range solar light.

FAQs

Q – Do outdoor solar lights need direct sunlight?

A – Not necessarily. Some solar lights can charge during the daytime without necessarily being exposed directly to the sun and some can conserve energy in cloudy weather. However, to get optimal lasting duration on performance, direct exposure to sunlight is highly recommended.

Q – How to buy outdoor solar lights?

A – First, keep a tab on safety requirements. Although outdoor solar lights are generally safe, one can't be too careful especially if you have young kids running around. Second, compare costs and specifications. You can easily do this via Google on the Internet. Third, make sure you go for known brands with a commendable track history of customer satisfaction. Lastly, only get what complements your needs. For example, the aesthetic need is miles apart from security needs.

Q – Do outdoor solar lights work?

A – Yes! They work and some of them even come with warranties.

BOTTOM LINE

Having examined different types of outdoor solar lights, some of which are led yard lights, solar spotlights, solar garden lights, solar led lights, etc., it is best to conclude on why they stand preferable to electrical bulbs and fluorescents.

Outdoor solar lights are waterproof, detachable, handy, no electrical recharging, good for security, stylish; beautiful illumination, motion detectors, stable under adverse weather conditions, rust-free, cost-friendly and eco-friendly.