Black Diamond Moji Lantern: Definitive Review (2024)
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This is the Ultimate TopNotch Black Diamond Moji Lantern Review 2024…
At TopNotch we focus on providing detailed outdoor gear reviews on our top selected products in each category.
Why?
So that you can make the right choice, always.
Lighting essentials can make or break your outdoor camping experience.
So, we suggest this….
…instead of trying your luck, make an informed choice.
If you’re searching for a good lantern, our TopNotch 10 Best Camping Lanterns: Definitive Review. is the ultimate guide for you.
The Moji Lantern from Black Diamond has achieved a place in our top 10…
To know how this lantern performed in our tests – read this definitive Black Diamond Moji Lantern Review.
In this comprehensive review we’ll cover:
- Is it a good lantern for camping?
- Is it great value for money?
- Durability, features, ease of use
- Lots more…
If you’ve been eyeing the Moji lantern, you’ll love this guide.
Let’s get started.
- Manufacturer: Black Diamond Manufacturers
- Power type: Quad Power
- Weight: 4.3 Ounces
- Lumens: 100 Lumens
- Run time: 13 Hours
Bottom Line : This lantern is simple, elegant and is meant for short camping trips.
Pros
- Even lighting
- Water-resistant
- Simple in design
Cons
- Comes with hook hangers that are difficult to open
- Needs an extra mode between ‘high’ and ‘medium’
Our Verdict: Black Diamond Moji Lantern
Black Diamond Moji is definitely a super-compact lantern with simple but effective features.
We loved it for the look and obviously, its simplicity.
If you need an ultra-light, super-portable lantern that won’t add too much to your luggage and won’t strain your pocket… this is it!
But, if it’s a touch of luxury you’re after… there are better options for you.
Let’s be clear.
This lantern isn’t the best choice if you’re into hardcore backcountry camping or moving around in a group.
But it can work as a handy addition along with other more powerful lanterns like the AGPTEK Solar Lantern.
For nighttime reading or playing games in your tent, this light will serve you fine.
Even though it’s a nice headlamp alternative, it lacks a strobe mode – an essential headlamp feature.
It also failed to impress me in more than one parameter.
Let me tell you why….
This light isn’t a camping-ready lantern. For camping, you need a more robust light like the Apollo from the same brand..
Black Diamond has been making some really good outdoor gear but the Moji isn’t their very best effort.
Why then, is it in our top 10?
Here’s the other side of the coin.
Moji might not be your go-to camping lantern but considering the price, it’s an absolute steal.
The limited features, the durability – are all justified – for the price.
Want to know how this Moji lantern performed in our tests and where it stands in comparison with the top contenders?
Read on for the full results.
Related: 10 Best Camping Lantern
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
Brightness
Let’s get straight down to the brightness – an important factor for every lantern of course.
Unfortunately, this is not a metric where the Moji shines.
We gave it the lowest rank in the brightness metric in the list of Top 10 Camping Lanterns we tested.
Brightness Rating
So, if you want a single light to brighten your camping nights, this is not the one.
Instead, go straight for the TopNotch Editor’s Choice AGPTEK Solar Lantern.
With 1 triple power LED, the Moji gives 100 lumens at maximum brightness.
No wonder it works great just for individual use.
It runs on 3 AAA batteries and doesn’t support USB charging.
For long trips, pack something like AGPTEK Solar Lantern with 5 different charging modes – including hand cranking and solar rechargeable panels.
On the plus side…
The LED of this nifty little lantern comes nestled in a frosted globe which makes the light warm and soft.
The light is glare-free and doesn’t blind you – even in the middle of the night.
It gives out an even light and works well for tabletop illumination.
There’s more…
It remembers your last brightness setting before switching off and returns to it when you switch it back on.
At minimum brightness this light gives more than 60 hours of light.
Not bad, eh?
However, at higher brightness settings, a full battery won’t last more than 3 hours.
Durability
In our experience … it’s more durable than it looks.
It will survive a few knocks and drops on the ground. Carrying it in your backpack won’t damage the light.
If the frosted plastic casing gets few dents, it won’t affect the performance of the light.
However, a drop on asphalt or solid flooring from height will most likely damage it.
Durability Rating
Want to know the best part?
The Moji has an IPX4 rating.
So, it will happily resist splashes from all sides.
There are no external ports and the solid screw cap cover fits snuggly on the battery.
Which means, the chance of water seeping in is minimal.
It will survive rain and even a drop in water.
But, that’s it…
It’s not really durable enough to survive multiple camping trips.
For rigorous camping, you can bank on TopNotch Top Pick Goal Zero Crush Light.
We gave this one a solid score of 8 in the durability metric.
Or, if you want to stick with Black Diamond, go for our Best Value Choice Black Diamond Apollo
Features
To start with….
This one is a basic lantern.
It lacks most of the features of the Black Diamond Apollo lantern.
If you’re hunting for a feature rich camping companion check out one of our Top 3 choices.
Features Rating
You can brighten or dim the light by pressing down the single power button at the front.
The reflective logo makes it easier to find the lantern in the dark.
But wait – there’s more…
We used the hooks to hang it using a carabiner.
It worked well for hanging from a tent rope too.
On the negative side – this lantern has no stand.
Placing it on the ground or even on the table made it almost ineffective.
Feature wise – the Moji certainly isn’t a great buy but if you consider the price – then you have a functioning lantern that’ll do a basic job for you.
Final words … If you’re looking for features in your lantern, this shouldn’t be your choice.
But, for buyers looking for a handy, basic lighting solution – this one is a pocket friendly choice.
Ease of Use
For sure, this lantern is super easy to use.
In our review, we gave it the third best score in this section.
Even your 6 year old can use it on their own in the middle of the night if needs be.
The single power button does it all – switching on/off and dimming.
At the highest and the lowest brightness the lantern blinks.
Ease of Use Rating
What does this mean for you?
It means, you’ll know when you’ve reached the brightness extremes.
The plastic screw-top covering the battery is easy to open and fix.
It’s basically as simple as it can get.
There are no stands.
So hanging from a wire or rope are the only options when you’re camping.
To put it simply…
…this is a basic lantern and all operations are pretty straightforward.
But, if you’re looking for a feature rich lighting tool for your camping trip, try out our Best Value Choice AGPTEK Solar Lantern.- it’s light, it’s bright and it’s easy to use.
Weight
This is a lightweight lantern… there’s no doubt about that.
It’s one of the lightest in our list of top 10 lanterns.
Without the batteries, it weighs just 3.2 ounces.
This lantern is particularly suitable for anyone into lightweight kit.
Weight Rating
Hold on… there’s more…
The compact size – 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.2 inches – will take up almost no space in your backpack.
Carry it in a pocket or attached to your backpack straps.
We gave it a 7 for its great packability.
Best of all…
It fits in your palm. Carry it around holding it by the hook.
This is one of the lightest contenders on our list. The top position in this metric is held jointly by three of the most lightweight lanterns -Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern, Biolite Powerlight Mini and this Black Diamond Moji Lantern.
But, if you want a complete package of durability, ease of use and lightweight, go for Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern which is also TopNotch’s Top Pick
Both these lanterns have the same price but in other metrics than weight, the Crush Light outperforms Moji without a doubt.
Our Final Verdict: Black Diamond Moji Lantern
Conclusion: Black Diamond Moji Lantern
Now we’re almost at the end of our review…
Let’s summarise things quickly.
It’s not in our TopNotch Top 3 but it’s a rank holder in our Top 10, which still makes it a very competent product.
From the many camping lanterns we tested, this one grabbed our attention, mainly for the simplicity of its design.
We were impressed by the lightweight and effective waterproofing.
Most importantly – what you get from this lantern – for the price – is a steal.
If you’re looking out for a budget buy or a lantern just for home use, this lantern is always a great choice.
That’s all from us – now it’s over to you to make your choice.
Other Versions: Black Diamond
Moji light is available in 6 interesting colours – Process Blue, Dark Berry, Fern, Graphite, Vibrant Orange and White.
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