*This product was provided to us for review at no cost by BioLite. Our opinions are our own and BioLite did not get to preview or approve this review before publishing. WFO is an affiliate partner of BioLite
The BioLite AlpenGlow 250 is a portable, USB rechargable light that offers a variety of features in a small package. It boasts a maximum brightness of 250 lumens, making it perfect for a wide range of activities, from reading to cooking and everything else around camp.
The light also offers a range of color options, including cool white, warm white, single color and multicolor, which makes it perfect for different settings and moods. The red light option is great for nighttime use as it preserves night vision.
The AlpenGlow 250 has multiple lighting modes, including dimming and the ability to change between warm and bright light. Additionally, shaking the light from primary mode allows access to secondary modes such as single side light (dimmable), warm candle flicker (dimmable), white strobe, 1-color cycling, and multicolor party. These various modes make it a versatile light that can be used in many different ways.
The candle flicker mode is one of our favorite features, adding ambiance and creating a relaxing and warm atmosphere around camp.
The small size of the AlpenGlow 250 makes it easy to pack and take on the go, with dimensions of 3.7 x 3.0 inches (95 x 75mm) diameter and a weight of 7.4 oz (210 g). It is also designed with an integrated hanger, allowing you to easily hang the light wherever you need it.
The AlpenGlow 250 is powered by a 3,200 mAh (11.8 Wh) Li-ion battery, which provides up to 5 hours of use on high and up to 200 hours on low. It also has a 1 hour reserve power, ensuring you have light when you need it the most. It can be charged via Micro USB input with a USB A output of 5V / 2.4A and can be fully charged in 2.5 hours via 5V/2A micro USB. It also has a lock mode function, preventing accidental turning on or off.
The AlpenGlow 250 has IPX4 water resistance, making it suitable for use in various outdoor conditions. It also has ChromaReal broad spectrum LED (CRI 90) for color rendering, which provides a high-quality light.
Potential Negatives
During our testing, we had left the lights hanging on our vehicle awning overnight while camping. During the night, it ended up raining pretty hard. One of the units appeared to have some water intrusion and wasn't functioning properly the next day. The AlpenGlow 250 does advertise a IPX4 rating that can withstand rain and splashing, however it may be advisable to not leave them out in a heavy downpour.
Overall Recommendation
This one's a BUY for us. We've been using the heck out of these lights and have found them to be super convenient. They now live in our overlanding rig and/or the camping box so that we always have them available when we're out camping.