Top 6 best solar path lights

If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your yard, and are considering adding a couple of lights to make it come alive. Then you will find it is tough to choose the best solar path lights for your outdoor garden, since with so many eco options flooding the market. Meanwhile, installing a set of lights in your backyard can be both time-consuming and expensive, except you’re willing to go the solar way: install the best solar path lights instead of the traditional lights.

Solar lights, in general, are a great option for homeowners and business owners alike. They are very simple, Cost-efficient, and easy to install. In addition, they’re also easy to maintain since they utilize solar energy rather than electricity. If you have a dimly lit pathway, driveway, garden perimeter or any other area that could potentially be hazardous, it’s a good idea to invest in a quality solar path light. These nifty inventions collect the sun lighting during the day, convert it into electricity and store it in the rechargeable batteries. They illuminate the darkest of areas at night with the integrated LED bulbs.

Ranking	Photo	Category	Description	Lumens	Run Hours	Size	Review	Price
#1		Plastic Promotion	12pk solar pathway lights outdoor	1.2	8-10 hours	2.5x13.5 inch	Read Review	See Price on Amazon
#2		Metal+Glass Construction	10pk Solar LED Landscape Path Light	10	8-10 hours	4.92x17.16 inch	Read Review	See Price on HD.com
#3		Metal Construction ORB Finish	6pk solar LED Landscape Path Light	4	8-10 hours	4.5x16 inch	Read Review	See Price on Amazon
#4		solar lantern	2pk solar retro lantern	4	8-10 hours	6x6x6.7 inch	Read Review	See Price on Amazon
#5		Solar Spot Light	portfolio 40-Lumen Solar Spot Light	40	8-10 hours	6.77x3.74x11.3 inch	Read Review	See price on Lowes.com
#6		Solar Bollard	2pk Solar Bollard Light	15	8-10 Hours	6.9x6.9.27.5 inch	Read Review	See Price on Amazon

Finding the Right Solar-Powered Light for Your Outdoor Path

Before investing in solar-powered lighting for an area, it’s important to first establish what your specific needs are. Obviously, a homeowner looking for a decorative spotlight to highlight foliage along their pathways will have a different set of criteria than someone looking for motion-activated security lights to keep the kids from slipping at night.

Some solar lamps are better suited for different climates, areas, positioning, and aesthetics than others. By asking yourself some simple questions, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices to the top contenders.

How sunny is your area?

It’s important to consider the amount of sunlight you receive on a daily basis. Solar lights are of course powered by the sun, so the more charging time they have available during the day, the longer they’ll last at night.

While the output does fluctuate with the seasons (low in the winter, high in the summer), it’s still best to find a model that can manage to brighten up your space with little charging time if you’re located in a cloudy area. Most solar lights take an average of 8 hours to fully charge, so you may not be able to use your lights for a few days if you’re going through a period of dark days and gloomy weather.

What kind of weather will your lamps be exposed to?

Each lamp has a certain level of water resistance since they’re made for the outdoors, but not all can withstand extreme weather patterns or temperatures.

Keep in mind:

• Heavy rain and/or flooding
• Frost and/or snow
• Heat above 100 degrees (F)
• Heavy winds

 

For those living in tropical areas, it’s important to find a model that can handle large amounts of rain. If you’re shopping for low-to-the-ground models, consider if the area of the yard you’re placing them in will ever be submerged in water for extended periods of time. It may be better to find a model with a tall post, covered head and certification of water resistance.

The same goes for areas with frequent bouts of frost or snow. Lamps made of weak materials, like plastic, are most susceptible to battery damage, which will quickly ruin them. Ice can sometimes crack casings, causing headaches for homeowners who’ve placed twenty or more lights along their path.

Some solar panels are also smaller than others, which will affect battery charging rates in low-light areas.

How much light do you need?

Each solar lamp emits a certain amount of light, which is usually listed in lumens (lm). For those who are more familiar with watts (W), 600 lm is equivalent to a 10W LED light. Obviously, the more lumens your solar light has, the brighter it will be.

The size of the solar panel will also help to determine how bright your lights will be. Here’s the basic rule of thumb: the bigger the solar panel, the more light produced.

Some decorative lamps have incredibly small built-in panels that are only able to dimly illuminate a space. This may be fine way to add some beauty to the yard but won’t be a practical way to dissuade intruders or keep you from falling over a stick in the road.

And if you’re looking to brighten up a large space, then you’ll need to buy lamps with a large light radius and high lumen rating. Since you’ll be going for more, it’s a good idea to buy solar lamp sets that contain 6 or more in a pack in order to cut costs.

Are you using it for decorative or safety purposes?

There are two main purposes for installing solar-powered path lighting: decoration and safety.

Decorative solar lamps come in a variety of designs, like quirky mushroom shapes, string lights, or elegant box designs. These are generally less powerful and may take a longer time to charge.

They are also less sturdy in their construction, which may lead to a mishap down the line if you experience an extreme storm or you accidentally run into it with a lawnmower. When looking for decorative lights, keep in mind the placement, as some of them can be quite large and may look out of place on a tiny path.

For security lighting, there are several different style options. It’s important to remember that you don’t always have to sacrifice beauty for practicality. In fact, there are several bright, powerful lamps that are well-designed and look attractive enough to be featured prominently in your front yard.

However, most of these options are black or silver in color, and function as a sort of spotlight with non-discreet external solar panels.