The energy-design thinkers at BioLite are aiming in a bright new direction: lighting! The company first crossed our radar with their innovative biofuel stove designed to reduce harmful emissions and produce electricity at the same time. Since then they've continued to refine their multi-purpose products for use indoors and out. The BaseLantern is the newest, launching on Kickstarter yesterday, and it's already fully funded. This slim rechargeable lantern is intended for brightening up camping, festivals, backyard get togethers, or nightlight-like home use, and it does a good bit more.

As we first saw back in February, BioLite is interested in making our lighting options more multi-functional. Now they're kicking the light-plus-power idea into high gear, with a bigger light source, serious battery life, the ability to connect with other lights, and a couple charging ports. But the biggest move forward is its Bluetooth LE connected app that gives options for customized control, remote activation, programed activation, and even different colors to suit the mood or for better night vision.

Enter a caption (optional)

Enter a caption (optional)

The size is much smaller and flatter than traditional lanterns, coming in around the size of a hearty sandwich (sliced bread, not sub). This is much more packable, particularly when you factor the lack of fuel. The small form is the product of using a narrow rechargeable battery sandwiched by refractory molding on the inside of each lens, which amplifies the LEDs used to a solid 500 lm output. This is a lighter duty output than many, but I'd argue that its strength is in ease of use and versatility, not the ability to flood a whole campsite.

Enter a caption (optional)

The snug-fitting aluminum legs fold out as a stable base for ambient lighting, an angled base for reading or focused tasks, or as a hanging point from a branch or tent hook. Used with the neatly nesting SiteLight string lights, the BaseLantern can extend for a cheerful festive atmosphere. And when used with the app, the BaseLight will have adjustable color settings as well. Who hasn't wanted custom mood lighting while tripping balls in the woods? And it's way easier to clean up than a tipped lava lamp.

Enter a caption (optional)

The BaseLantern charges with a micro-USB input, and doles out power via a couple USB outputs, so you can juice more than one device at a time. The standard model has an estimated battery life of 54 hours on low, 5 hours on high, and between 8 and 9 on medium while using the additional lights, and can fit up to 4x iPhone charges, 6 charges of a GoPro Hero, or 200+ charges of a FitBit Flex. The BaseLantern XL model boasts a battery life of 114, 7, and 13.5 hours respectively, over 6 phone charges, 9+ GoPro charges, and over 300 FitBit refuels. That's a pretty great power bank, even without the illumination options.

Enter a caption (optional)

At around 1.3 pounds for the standard size this isn't an ultralight tool, but combined with its extensive battery bank abilities it could make casual camping a lot more comfortable... and, if we're being honest, more genuinely contemporary. Our digital lives rarely stop at the trailhead, and mixed-use power products like this could go far to getting people farther down the trail. 

Enter a caption (optional)

All in all the BaseLantern seems like a cool example of "multi-tool" lighting, nicely in line with BioLite's goal to bring power and light to new places.