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UCO Pika 3-in-1 Rechargeable Lantern

rated 5.0 of 5 stars
photo: UCO Pika 3-in-1 Rechargeable Lantern battery-powered lantern

I love my Pika lantern, which I use in both flashlight and lantern mode. It is a small, lightweight, and dependable light for use in camping, or as an emergency light. It is easily re-charged, and also can be used to charge other devices.

I have used this reliable light for two years on frequent canoe camping and winter cabin camping trips, and would definitely recommend it to others.

Pros

  • Three functions
  • Variable beam
  • Bright LED
  • Durable
  • Water resistant
  • Reasonable price

Cons

  • The little caps on USB ports can be tricky to put in place

While on a recent solo canoe camping trip, I had to pack up my gear in the pre-dawn hours, while a steady rain was beginning to fall. I needed illumination that I could carry around with me, yet which provided bright lighting, and was resistant to the falling waters from above. Well, the maneuver was successful, as my trusty UCO Pika 3 in 1 LED lantern provided just what I required. 

I have used this lantern on every camping trip for the past two seasons, and have come to depend on it both for its use as a tent lantern, a hand-held flashlight, and as a short term charging device for my cell phone and other LED lights.


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              Yes, I still use a flip phone...as long as I can charge it, that's all I need!

The Pika is a small, lightweight combination lantern, flashlight and charger. It weighs 4.0 oz, and with a simple push along the barrel, morphs from a lantern to a flashlight. In lantern mode, the light is 4.5 inches tall, and 2.0 inches at the widest part of the lamp portion. When extended out as a flashlight, it is 6.3 inches long.


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UCO describes the lantern as water resistant, and gives it a IPX5 rating…okay, so what does that mean? Well, I found a site that describes those mysterious waterproof rating numbers (http://justelation.com/ipx-ratings-described/) and learned that this lantern is reportedly protected from a  “ 6.3mm spray of water (12.5 liters per minute) in any direction for at least 3 minutes” .

Basically, that is gibberish to me, but I know that I have used this lantern in the rain and snow and have dropped it on wet and muddy ground, packed it in a wet canoe, and dropped it in snow, and it has continued to perform without issue. The housing is tough, made of ABS/TPE, and the design is easy to grasp. There is a D-ring for to use the lantern in a hanging orientation.

The LED is bright. It is described as 150 lumens; there is the capacity to adjust the brightness by holding the “on” button, dimming it, and continuing to hold to a flashing mode. The projection distance is more than adequate to safely walk during darkness; UCO advises the distance is 164 feet.

The advertised burn time is up to 80 hours; I have used the lantern in temperatures from -10f. to 90 degrees, and have found it rarely needs re-charging, even with frequent use. I recharge it periodically, on general principles, so that it will be ready for use. It uses a 3.7v Li-ion rechargeable battery, comes with a USB cable, and I find it re-charges off a USB external source.

UCO’s descriptions also indicate it can be charged from a standard electrical outlet; I have used a USB to AC adapter, and verified it can be charged that way. Exact re-charging time is not known, since it has only completely discharged once, but it certainly anecdotally appears to charge up in a reasonable time (less than an hour).  There is a flashing green light indicator to tell you when it is charging, and when charge is full. This green button is glow-in-the dark, so if you turn the light off, and then realize that you still need the light, it is easy to find the on button.


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There are two small USB ports on the side of the lantern base, one for charging the lantern itself, and the other as a means to use the lantern to charge other devices. There are covers for each port, which can be a bit tricky to get back in place snugly.


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I have used this option to give my cell phone a quick emergency charge, and within 30 minutes, it went from one bar to all three bars full, even while the lantern was in use.  I have also given re-charges to other LED lanterns, using the Pika.

Admittedly, this is not an option I use a lot, since I want to maintain the charge on the Pika itself, and we have started carrying other portable power devices. I also assume that the time necessary to charge an external device has many variables, and I would not depend on the Pika as my main powering source.


uco-1.jpg           I guess if I ever get a smart phone, I will use my Pika to charge that, too!


On any camping trip, I always carry multiple lighting sources, and extra batteries for those devices that use them. However, the Pika has become my first-choice light to use, and I certainly feel comfortable recommending it to others. It has proven to be durable, reliable, and provides excellent illumination.


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         One of the last items to go in the canoe, on this rainy dawn...my Pika LED lantern!

Source: received it as a sample, freebie, or prize (UCO Trash Project Contest)

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Price Current Retail: $23.99
Historic Range: $14.99-$29.99
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