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Note See below for a comprehensive overview of the Titan V.S. Max.

See the 15 tests

1. In the box
2. Inflation and deflation
3. Lighting modes
4. Lumen outputs
5. Run times
6. Lighting area
7. Light color
8. Battery indicator lights
9. USB input
10. USB output
11. Solar charging
12. Hand strap
13. Waterproofing
14. Drop testing
15. Portability
16. Max vs Titan comparison
17. Pros, cons, recommendations
18. Bonus – MUST read!

In the Box

I picked the PackLite Max 2-in-1 from REI Co-Op up during one of their 20% off sales. Here’s what came in the box:

• The lantern
• Instructions
• Charging cable

Inflation and Deflation

Open the air valve at the bottom and breathe into it — one breath inflates it fully. Then cap the valve and push it back in until it’s flush.

To deflate, squeeze the air out, then twist the lantern 90 degrees to tuck the fabric in.

Lighting Modes

The power button cycles five modes — Turbo, High, Medium, Low, Flashing.

Note If you prefer continuous brightness adjustment over discrete levels, look at lanterns like the Goal Zero Lighthouse Core.

Lumen Outputs

Light mode	Official specs (lumens)	My testing (lumens)
Turbo	150	196
High	75	110
Medium	18	56
Low	15	21
Flashing	15	21

The official specs are quite accurate — you actually get about 30 to 50% more than advertised. I’d have liked the low setting to go dimmer, though.

Run Times

Light mode	Official specs	My testing
Turbo	3-5 hours	4.75 hours
Low	44-50 hours	39 hours

Lighting Area

• Shine radius 6.0 ft
• Lighting area 144 sq. ft.the Coleman WeatherMaster 10 is 143.6 sq. ft.

Very decent — it can light up even a 10-person tent.

Light Color

• Color temperature 5,900 to 6,500Ka cool white
• Red light mode None

I thought the light was a little harsh — a cool white that isn’t my favorite.

Battery Indicator Lights

Press the output button and the green battery lights come on. Here’s what each level meant during my low-brightness run-time test:

• 4 lights 100%
• 3 lights 100%
• 2 lights 49%
• 1 light 27%
• 0 lights 0%

Not the most accurate, and temperamental at times — though not a big deal overall.

USB Input

Inside the port cap are 2 ports — a micro-USB for charging the lantern, and an output for charging your phone. Hence “2-in-1”.

• Full charge via USB 1.5 hrs
• Fast charge 30 mingets you 2/3 of the battery capacity

USB Output

Plug your phone in and press the output button. Here’s what I got with my iPhone 12:

• iPhone 12 charge 20% to 68% (total 48%)
• Time taken 58 minutes
• Leftover light 4 hours on low mode

Not the best phone charger because of the relatively low capacity — it charges a phone only about 0.5 times.

Solar Charging

There’s a solar panel on top as well as the USB input.

• After 1 day of sun 30% charge12 hours, 7AM to 7PM
• Full solar charge 3 average days of sunfaster in direct sunlight, longer if cloudy

Great in a pinch during a power outage, or as a spare light in your car’s glove compartment.

Hand Strap

An adjustable orange hand strap at the top, which takes a carabiner for hanging it in a tent.

Waterproofing

Rated IP67 — submersible to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. I tested it in a pool for 30 minutes; it was so buoyant I couldn’t keep it down, but it still worked great.

I found a single drop of water inside the port cap, and none in the ports themselves. Decently waterproof.

Drop Testing

I’ve dropped mine from hand height dozens of times, down a small slope, and bounced it off a rock — still working perfectly fine.

Portability

• Weight 7.7 oz
• Packed size, deflated 5.9 x 5.9 x 1 in

Max vs Titan Comparison

Why do I rate the Max below the Titan? Simply put, the Titan beats it in almost every test:

Differences	PackLite Titan	PackLite Max
Inflation method	Twist	Breath
Inflation timing	2 seconds	10 seconds
Light modes	10 modes	5 modes
Red light mode?	Yes	No
Battery capacity	4,000 mAh	2,000 mAh
iPhone 12 charge	82%	48%
Max brightness	316 lumens	196 lumens
Tested run-time on dimmest	250 hours	39 hours
Min brightness	1 lumen	21 lumens
Lighting area	211 sq. ft.	144 sq. ft.
Lights up	Small campsite	10-person tent
USB charge time	2 hours	1.5 hours
Solar panel size	4.0 x 4.0 in	3.1 x 3.1 in
Puncture-proof?	Yes	No
Emergency mode	SOS	Flashing
Hand-strap	Velcro	Plastic snap-on
Weight	11.9 oz	7.7 oz

Note The only tests the Max wins are USB charge time (30 minutes faster) and weight (4.2 ounces lighter) — both bolded above.

That’s why the LuminAID PackLite Titan is the solar lantern I’d pick for power outages, an emergency kit, an off-grid trip, or storm season.

Pros, Cons, Recommendations

Now, what are the pros and cons, and would I recommend the LuminAID PackLite Max?

Very compact and lightweight

At 7.7 oz and 1 inch thick deflated, this is one of the most packable lanterns I own.

High quality

It survived submersion, dozens of hand-height drops, a slope and a rock without a problem.

Decent brightness

196 lumens on Turbo is 30% above the marketed figure, and enough for a 10-person tent.

Fast USB charging

A full charge in 1.5 hours, and 30 minutes gets you two-thirds of the battery — faster than the Titan.

Short 1-year warranty

Just 1 year, same as every other solar lantern brand.

No red light mode

There’s no red light for preserving night vision, which the Titan has.

Bonus – MUST Read!

Every figure above is from my own testing — measured by hand, bought with my own money.