Goal Zero Lighthouse Core Lantern Review (Bought & Tested!)

Hours Updated

This is my Goal Zero Lighthouse Core review. I put it through many different tests, all of which you’ll find below in this post.

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Quick Summary

The Goal Zero Lighthouse Core is a simple and perfectly functional lantern, but it certainly didn’t perform up to my expectations, and it’s one of the weaker camping lanterns I have. Its battery life and durability are not as impressive as other Goal Zero models.

The author holding the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern.
Me holding my Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern.

Goal Zero Lighthouse V.S. Rechargeable Lanterns
7.3
Brightness
7
Run-Time
4
Features
7
Usage
5.7
Durability
7
Portability
Overall Score 6.2 / 10

RELATED: Best Rechargeable LED Lanterns

Pros: Functional and simple, adjustable brightness, accurate lumen output, warm color
Cons: Not many light modes, doesn’t throw light well, glaring up close, overstated capacity/run times, no water resistance

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Check out the Lighthouse Core:

Check price on Amazon
Check price on REI Co-Op

Table Of Contents
  1. Quick Summary
  2. 1. In the Box
  3. 2. Handle
  4. 3. Brightness Dial
  5. 4. Lumen Output
  6. 5. Shine Radius
  7. 6. Color Temperature
  8. 7. Run Times
  9. 8. Battery Indicator Lights
  10. 9. Charge Time
  11. 10. Mobile Charging
  12. 11. Magnetic Base
  13. 12. Portability
  14. 13. Waterproofing
  15. 14. Drop Testing
  16. 15. Warranty
  17. 16. Pros, Cons, Recommendation
  18. Bonus: MUST Read!

1. In the Box

Here’s everything you get in the box – a user guide, and the lantern itself.

The author unboxing the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern
I’m holding the lantern, and you can see the user guide to the right.

The lantern comes in demo mode, and to take it out of demo mode, just plug it into a powered USB port.

2. Handle

The Goal Zero Lighthouse Core comes with a nicely sized handle at the top, which fits my hands perfectly.

It’s also completely detachable, though it’s a bit stiff when doing so.

The removable handle of the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern
The handle removed from the lantern.

3. Brightness Dial

The light dial at the top of the lantern can be turned to left, which would light up half the lantern. You can also turn the dial to the right instead, and that will light up the full lantern.

The author adjusting the light of the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern.
The brightness adjustment instructions on the lantern.

If you need to turn the lantern off, bring the light dial back to the middle.

4. Lumen Output

Goal Zero says that this Lighthouse Core has a maximum lumen output of about 430 lumens with adjustable brightness settings. However, my tested results using a lux meter was a little lower.

  • Maximum lumen output: 382 lumens

  • Minimum lumen output: 0 lumens

5. Shine Radius

Using the same lux meter, the shine radius of this Lighthouse Core came in at 6.5ft./1.97m.

The Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern in the author's yard.
The Core on max brightness in my yard.

6. Color Temperature

The color temperature of the Core is 3,500 Kelvin. (I didn’t measure this myself, it’s just what Goal Zero says it is.)

7. Run Times

Here are my tested run times with the Lighthouse Core, considering its battery capacity:

  • Run time on brightest mode (full lantern): 3.5 hours

  • Run time on dimmest mode (half lantern): 259 hours

8. Battery Indicator Lights

The Lighthouse Core also has battery indicator lights, which look like this:

The battery indicator lights of the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern
The indicator lights of the Core. Notice there’s only 3 of 4 lighted up.

I thought these weren’t the most accurate when I was running my different tests. When the battery lights go down to just 1, that usually means critically low battery.

9. Charge Time

Goal Zero says that the Core is supposed to take 5 hours to charge, but mine took only 3 hours and 45 minutes.

The author charging the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern.
Me charging the Core.

10. Mobile Charging

I also tested the USB charge-out function of the Lighthouse Core power bank, and here are the results:

  • iPhone 12 charge: 18% to 94% (total of 76%)

  • Duration: 1 hour 37 minutes

  • Leftover lighting: 40 hours, dimmest mode, 2 sides lit

The USB output has a 1a 5w max output, so it’s only suitable for charging your mobile phones or smaller devices.

11. Magnetic Base

At the bottom of the base, you’ll find four small magnets. They aren’t very big, not the strongest, but they do okay.

I found I could stick the Core anywhere, like on a metal railing or on the side of a car.

The Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern hanging from a magnetic railing.
The Core hanging upside down, because the railing’s magnetic.

12. Portability

This lantern has a packed size of about 4.3 by 4.3 by 4.8 inches, which is about 11 by 11 by 12.2 centimeters.

The author measuring the packed size of the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern
Measuring the packed length of the Core.

And it weighs about 12.7 ounces, which is 359 grams.

13. Waterproofing

This Lighthouse Core lantern does not have an IPX rating, because there are multiple ways that water can get in and ruin the waterproof lantern:

  • The USB cable’s pre-attached and completely exposed.

  • The USB port is also completely exposed.

After I put it through some heavy rain, I found water had leaked into the lantern itself. Not a good sign, for sure.

Water inside the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core lantern
Notice water inside the lantern?

14. Drop Testing

I also dropped my shockproof Lighthouse Core from hand height multiple times, and it’s held up fine every time.

15. Warranty

Goal Zero gives a 2-year warranty on this Lighthouse Core.

16. Pros, Cons, Recommendation

Here are all my pros on the Lighthouse Core:

  1. Simple, functional lantern

  2. Completely adjustable brightness

  3. Accurate lumen output

  4. Warm light color

  5. Lightweight

  6. Compact design

And here are all my cons:

  1. Not a lot of light modes

  2. Doesn’t throw light very well

  3. Kind of glaring close-up

  4. Less than expected charging

  5. Overstated run times

  6. Battery indicator lights are whack

  7. No water resistance

  8. Not well rated

Overall, I think you can tell that there are quite a few more cons than pros to this lantern, so I guess I don’t really recommend it. I have all of Goal Zero’s lanterns (including the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 and the Lighthouse Mini) and this Lighthouse Core is probably one of the worse ones I’ve come across so far.

Bonus: MUST Read!

To check out these other Goal Zero lanterns, do check out this blog post here where I bought and tested 12 best rechargeable camping lights.

Or, check out the Lighthouse Core:

Check price on Amazon
Check price on REI Co-Op

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