Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors
  3. News

Pocket-sized Helio is the lightest and brightest camping lantern ever made

By

helio pocket lantern heliomain
FlexTail
Traditional camping lanterns are bulky, heavy to carry, and limited in application — but the Helio shatters all expectations with its pocket-sized shape and 45-gram weight.

Flextail Gear is a team of outdoor enthusiasts based out of Changzhou City, China, that strives to develop the lightest-weight outdoor equipment. The Helio serves as the first of an entirely new generation of camping lanterns — one that can be plugged into a power bank.

Recommended Videos

Utilizing high-quality LED technology, the Helio is capable of producing 220 lumens of light, greatly exceeding the brightness of other camping lanterns currently on the market. Not only is the light extremely bright but it can travel a distance of 20 meters, providing for a large enough lit up area for an entire group to set up a campsite while eliminating the need for headlamps.

The product is one-fifth the size of traditional lanterns and boasts a key ring attachment feature in addition to a magnetized back that allows it to affix to any steel or iron surface. You can attach it to the hood of your car in an emergency, stick it to your bicycle for a late night ride, hang it from your tent on an expedition, or clip it to your clothes during an evening run. The product’s innovative adaptability features make for endless lighting opportunities.

1 of 5
helio pocket lantern heliogal5
FlexTail
helio pocket lantern heliogal4
FlexTail
helio pocket lantern heliogal3
FlexTail
helio pocket lantern heliogal2
FlexTail
helio pocket lantern heliogal1
FlexTail

The Helio can be connected to any USB port and charged by a power bank, portable charger, or laptop. It takes 20 minutes to fully charge the product which can then be used continuously for six hours without diminishing in brightness.

When utilizing a 10,000mAh power bank, the lantern boasts over 400 hours of uninterrupted light and is 30 percent more efficient than traditional camping lanterns. The Helio is rated 4/5 on the IPX waterproofing scale, meaning it can withstand a moderate amount of exposure to rain or water, making for ideal use in unpredictable weather conditions.

The company will be offering Helio accessories, including a lampshade, bicycle attachment device, and multifunction extender.

The world’s smallest camping lantern can easily be shoved into a jean pocket, nook of a backpack, or kept in the glovebox of your car. Its fast charging feature and adaptability make for one of the best all-around lanterns ever engineered for the outdoors. A pledge of $29 on Kickstarter guarantees you one Helio lantern as soon as they go into production.

Topics
Amanda Ellis
Amanda Ellis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Amanda is an outdoor junkie and digital nomad with an insatiable hunger for gear. Based out of Raleigh, NC she travels to…
Best pressure washer deals: Up to $110 off Greenworks and Kärcher
The Greenworks GPW3001 Pro electric pressure washer, placed outside.

If you've been on the internet and seen a bunch of pressure washer clips and are now considering grabbing one yourself, you'll be happy to know that there is a huge range of them to pick from. That includes some great budget-oriented versions to dip your toe in and are still good for cleaning stains and cleaning up stuff. That's why we've gone out and collected some of our favorite washer deals for you below, including some of the best pressure washers for cars, which you do have to be a bit careful with not to strip the paint or clearcoat.
Greenworks Pressure Washer Combo Kit -- $110 $220 50% off

While this Greenworks power washer doesn't have as high a PSI, around 1,900 PSI, it is a lot more portable and a great option if you want something that's smaller and easier to take around with you. It comes with a 35-foot power chord and a 20-foot hose, so you get quite a bit of distance. If you are somewhere rural and need to clean stuff that doesn't have a power cable nearby, this is perfect. Besides that, we also appreciate that this comes with an 11-inch surface cleaner, which isn't something common with a lot of other power washers, even more expensive ones. Just be aware that you do need a My Best Buy subscription to be able to get the discount.

Read more
Juiced Bikes sold at auction for $1.2 million, report says
The Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 adds more power, upgraded tires, and an improved battery to the popular moped style e-bike.

Juiced Bikes, the San Diego-based maker of e-bikes, has been sold on an auction website for $1,225,000, according to a report from Electrek.Digital Trends recently reported how the company was showing signs of being on the brink of bankruptcy. The company and its executives had remained silent, while customer inquiries went unanswered and its website showed all products were out of stock. In addition, there were numerous reports of layoffs at the company.Yet, the most convincing sign was that the company’s assets appeared as listed for sale on an auction website used by companies that go out of business.Now, it appears that Juiced Bikes’ assets, including a dozen patents, multiple URLs, and the company’s inventory in both the U.S. and China, have been sold at auction, according to the report. It is likely that the buyer, who remains unknown, can capitalize on the brand and the overall value of the 15-year old company. Founded in 2009 by Tora Harris, a U.S. high-jump Olympian, Juiced Bikes was one of the early pioneers of the direct-to-consumer e-bike brands in the U.S. market.
The company had quickly built a reputation for the versatility of its e-bikes and the durability of their batteries. Over the years, the popularity of models such as the CrossCurrent, HyperScrambler, and RipCurrent only bolstered the brand’s status.Last year, Digital Trends named the Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 as the best moped-style e-bike for 2023, citing its versatility, rich feature set, and performance.Juiced Bikes’ getting sold quickly might be a sign of what consulting firm Houlihan Lokey says is a recovery in the North American e-bike market.
The industry has had a roller-coaster ride during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A huge spike in demand for e-bikes had combined with disrupted supply chains to create a supply/demand mismatch of “historic proportions," Houlihan Lokey said.

Read more
Adventure time: SUPCASE has the ultimate gear for outdoor enthusiasts
A variety of outdoor gear options for the ultimate wilderness enthusiast.
Scenic view from inside a tent while camping.

You might know SUPCASE for its excellent collection of durable and rugged phone cases. But as it's in the industry of making tough gear for the adventurous sorts, it should come as no surprise that the brand also has a valuable collection of outdoor gear. Just to provide some examples, a multi-functional pocket tool, a rugged and water-resistant equipment case, a durable yet spacious backpack, or even a sleek yet reliable bottle opener.

In fact, there are quite a few options, so many that it could be tough to nail down just one tool or outdoor item you'd need. Naturally, we put together this guide to explore some of the ultimate gear, but you can always peep at them yourself, as well.

Read more