THE Hottest New Outdoors Gear: Luci Inflatable Solar Lanterns

Brace yourself for the coolest thing EVER: the MPOWERED Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern.

What makes Luci amazing?

For one, it's solar powered. For two, it's completely collapsable. And it's super light. Meaning it's the perfect little lantern for backpacking: small, light, and rechargeable. You could hike for days, weeks or months without ever running out of battery.

Luci's also pretty cheap, at only $9-12 per lantern. So it's easy to stock up:

Luci is also waterproof. Meaning I've used mine as a boat light and pool toy. Most recently, I took a couple out night kayaking in Moss Landing, CA. What started as bioluminescence viewing turning into a cool photography project!

Since they're super bright, you can even use them to illuminate people (and animals) you want to photograph:

I also keep a Luci by my bed, so I don't step on any land mines while walking from my door, where the light switch is, to my bed. It's rechargeable and green and stuff, so why not?

​We also use them for backyard BBQs -- did I mention they come in pretty colors?

The Luci Lantern is easily my favorite purchase of the summer/fall. Except possibly for my copy of The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor, which was super educational and enlightening, and my Jase Board, which I'm still loving.

Seriously, if you don't have a Luci, you don't know what you're missing. I was perfectly happy without mine... But now that I've got one (or four), it's hard to imagine going back. :P