A Bright and portable lighting system that illuminates your campsite
Goal Zero SkyLIGHT
The sunset has got nothing on you when you’ve got Goal Zero’s Skylight overhead. It can beam out an impressive 6,000 lumens, yet the soft white glow isn’t harsh or blinding as it fills your surroundings with light.
At the time of this writing, I own six or seven battery-powered lanterns, at least nine headlamps (I have lost count), and more flashlights than I am even aware of. I could scarcely justify the count of lighting hardware I possessed a month ago, and now I can do so even less, because with a Goal Zero Skylight having joined the illumination arsenal, most of those other devices are destined to collect dust while I’m out camping in the woods.
This brilliantly bright, elegantly simple, and utterly towering lighting system can fill a campsite with enough light that not a headlamp, flashlight, lantern, or flickering torch is needed for reading, cooking, gear maintenance, or simply warding off the dark as you and your camping crew while the evening hours. It sets up in about 30 seconds — I can vouch for this wholeheartedly, as the first time I used my Skylight I unboxed and set it up in all of one minute, and most of that time was spent cutting packing tape and pulling staples — and, with a portable power station connected, it will shine for hours at its brightest setting and for days at lower output.
Did someone say bright idea? Yes? Well, they were right.
In short: This is the camp lighting system you have been waiting for. Suitable for use for everything from a casual car campsite to use in the field by a research or rescue team, it provides bright, steady light, and when paired with a battery power station, it can run for hours or even days on end.
Specs:
Weight: 14.1 pounds (17.9 pounds with case)
Dimensions: 12’ high, 5.5’ wide (extended); 3.8’ long, 5.8” wide collapsed
Lumen Output: 400 (low), 1,350 (medium), 3,500 (high), 6,000 (boost)
Pros:
· Bright, even light fills large spaces
· Internal battery and easy power station compatibility
· Easy to deploy and break down
Cons
· Too bulky/heavy for use without vehicle or pack animal
· Expensive at $300
When fully erected and set to its brightest 6,000 lumen output, the Goal Zero Skylight’s six individual lighting panels beam enough light out in all directions to illuminate a swath easily 30 feet across. I know that because I paced it out in my own backyard. And I don’t mean it illuminates that space as in it shines some light down; I mean it fills that much area with enough light to read by, to work by, to cook by, and so forth — in fact, the Skylight created as much if not more light than all of the permanent outdoor lights affixed to the rear of the house; we switched those and it on and off several times as a basis for comparison.
This is a large system. At full height, it stands 12 feet tall and its tripod legs spread out to a span five-and-a-half feet across. The Skylight weighs more than 14 pounds on its own and 17 with its case, and it requires the use of a portable power station (or a vehicle’s DC output port) to run for all that long, its internal battery being rather small. So, you’re not taking this light on a climb or a thru-hike. But for car camping — or for a legit wilderness outpost — it’s a great piece of hardware to have on hand.
You’ll also welcome the Skylight at your own home. Whereas before a power outage meant candles and lanterns and semi-darkness pretty much no matter how you cut it, this light will fill a room so brightly you’ll forget there was even a blackout. It’s also a great lighting solution for worksites where the job continues after dark, and it would serve quite well in an emergency triage situation as well.
Primarily, though, we’re considering the Skylight in the context of the campsite. And for that, I’m as pleased that the lowest light output is mild and dim as I am that the brightest is quite, well, bright. At 400 lumens, when the light panels (Goal Zero calls them “petals,” and indeed the Skylight does rather resemble a glowing flower when it’s in use) are low to the ground, the system can illuminate the ground — making movement safer — and provide a bit of soft light that’s pleasant without ruining night vision or the wilderness ambiance. Just because the Skylight can create amazing brightness doesn’t mean it has to, see?
And when the campout is over, packing the system down into its protective plastic carrying tube takes about a minute, with the hardest part of all being screwing the oversized cap back onto the case.
The Cons We Gotta Cover
As noted, the sheer size of the Skylight limits its use cases. It’s not like 14.1 pounds is heavy, but the light is just so physically large that it would be crazy to carry it any more than a few hundred yards to a campsite, beach spot, or what have you. (Granted, that size is also what lets the light tower 12 feet in the air and bathe you in light.)
There is also the notable limitation of the Skylight’s modest internal battery. It can only last for one hour at its high setting and for eight at its low setting without an additional power source, so you’ll need a battery bank, a generator, or a vehicle to enjoy any appreciable light, and that means even more weight and logistical consideration.
And at $300, this system isn’t what most people would call cheap. But it certainly works better than buying a dozen lanterns and hanging them from every tree in the woods.
Conclusion
Tall, bright, and perfectly effective in its intended roll, the Skylight from Goal Zero is a complete lighting solution. With one in place and powered up, you will need no additional lighting at your campsite, in your yard, at a job site, or in a room during a power outage.
It might not be suitable for use in various wilderness scenarios, but when it makes sense to bring this light along, you’ll be glad you did each and every time. And in the meantime, keep it at the ready in case the power ever does go out, because the lights no longer have to.