LuminAID Max 2-in-1 Solar Lantern and Phone Charger

Packed, the LuminAID Max is about an inch thick. Twist it open and it inflates into a 6-inch glowing cube with up to 200 lumens, plus a USB port that can put a 75 to 100 percent charge back into most phones.

The top is a solar panel. Leave it out on the picnic table and it fully recharges in 16 to 20 hours of direct sun, which LuminAID says works out to two or three days depending on where you are and the time of year. A USB cable is included and refills it in one or two hours before a trip. There are several brightness settings plus a Turbo mode, it weighs under 10 ounces, and the rugged TPU body is IP67 waterproof and dustproof. It even floats when inflated.

It suits the tent camper who is tired of hunting for a flashlight in the dark, and it earns a spot in the kitchen drawer for power outages between trips. Because it packs flat, it also fits in a glovebox or the side pocket of a backpack.

The catch: solar recharging takes days rather than hours, so it works best charged by USB at home, with the sun keeping it topped up at camp.