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Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma Review

This fun-size lantern has a go-anywhere design, but really shines when it comes to brightening up backcountry campsites
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Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma Review
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Price:  $25 List
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Manufacturer:   Goal Zero
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 21, 2023
60
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#15 of 24
  • Brightness - 45% 3.5
  • Battery Life - 20% 8.5
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0
  • Features - 10% 6.0
  • Weight - 10% 9.3

Our Verdict

The Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma is a small, collapsible, rechargeable lantern that is super lightweight, easy to use, and solar, making it a great option for any adventure, and a great choice for backpacking. It doesn't boast a ton of power, but its 60 lumens output is maximized by an effective housing that both amplifies and diffuses the light. It does a good job at lighting up a tent for a nighttime read, and it's bright enough to provide ambient light around camp when campfires are not allowed. The best thing about the Chroma is its incredible battery life — a nice reliable feature during an extensive backpacking trip.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Compact
Inexpensive
Impressive burn time
Charges quickly
Durable
Water-resistant
Fun
REASONS TO AVOID
Lower on lumens
Small
Limited features
Editor's Note: We ordered and tested the Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma to see how it differed from the standard Goal Zero Crush Light.

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Star Rating
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Bottom Line What it lacks in shining power, it makes up for with an extremely lightweight design and phenomenal battery life, making it a great choice for any backpacking adventureA great option if you're looking to keep a lantern stored in the closet for emergency outagesA tiny, lightweight flashlight and lantern with USB charge in and outA compact lantern-flashlight combo that is convenient as an emergency optionA durable lantern that is affordable enough for the average weekend camper
Rating Categories Goal Zero Crush Lig... Lighting Ever Camping Goal Zero Lighthous... UCO Leschi Goal Zero Crush Light
Brightness (45%)
3.5
7.0
5.0
5.0
3.0
Battery Life (20%)
8.5
9.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
8.0
Features (10%)
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
Weight (10%)
9.3
7.4
9.3
9.4
9.2
Specs Goal Zero Crush Lig... Lighting Ever Camping Goal Zero Lighthous... UCO Leschi Goal Zero Crush Light
Weight (with Batteries) 3.2 oz 14.0 oz 3.1 oz 2.5 oz 3.7 oz
Measured Runtime (Highest Setting) 7 hrs 6 min 10.5 hrs 3.75 Not tested 3.5 hrs
Lumens 60 1000 Lantern: 150
Flashlight: 120
110 60
Rechargeable Yes No Yes No Yes
Manufacturer Listed Runtimes Low: 35 hrs
High: 3 hrs
Candle light: 3.5 hours
12 hrs Low: 170 hrs
High: 7 hrs
Low: 4 hrs
High: 2.5 hrs
Low: 3.5 hrs
Size (inches) 4.5 x 4.5 x 3.6 (expanded) 3.7 x 3.5 x 7.2 4 x 1.75 x 1.2 5.2 x 1.3 x 1.3 in 4.95 x 4.95 x 4
Number of Batteries 1 3 1 1 1
Battery Type Rechargeable D Rechargeable AA Rechargeable
Waterproof Rating IPX4 IPX4 IPX6 IPX5 IPX4

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Chroma's size, packability, and super-long burn time are its standout features. This 4.5-inch tall solar lamp also has a colorful side, and it can be charged by the sun or UBC cable.

Performance Comparison


goal zero crush light chroma - catching some rays. despite a partly cloudy day, we were still able...
Catching some rays. Despite a partly cloudy day, we were still able to get a reasonable charge from our lantern's small solar panel after several hours of hiking.
Credit: Jason Wanlass


Brightness


On their brightest setting, five tightly configured LED light bulbs allow the Chroma to produce about 60 lumens of light. In short, its test scores for this metric were nothing to write home about, but at the same time, it isn't as bad as it sounds.


We fired up our Chroma nightly during a 70-mile backpacking trip through the Swiss Alps, and honestly, for a lightweight pack lantern, it offered plenty of ambient light for hanging out at camp or chilling in mountain huts. For comparison, this lantern shines about 10 lumens brighter than a standard cellphone flashlight. And that was usually plenty of light for reading or playing cards.

goal zero crush light chroma - chillin' on the balcony of a swiss alpine hut after a long day on...
Chillin' on the balcony of a Swiss alpine hut after a long day on the trail. We plopped our Chroma on top of a water bottle to form a makeshift table lamp.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

The key to the Chroma's meager yet powerful enough output is its expanding cone-shaped housing or “lens,” which amplifies light and uniformly projects it outward. An added benefit to this process is the Chroma's light is also diffused, making it soft and easy on the eyes.

The concentrated LED light beams out and bounces off the rings of...
The concentrated LED light beams out and bounces off the rings of the lantern's housing.
The end product is warm, soft light that doesn't hurt the eyes.
The end product is warm, soft light that doesn't hurt the eyes.
Only 60 lumens is still plenty of light to clearly read trail signs.
Only 60 lumens is still plenty of light to clearly read trail signs.
Five small LED lights are magnified by the lantern's housing, maximizing output. And, although it results in soft light, it still offers enough power to find your way in the dead of night.


Battery Life


Remember the Energizer Bunny? That's exactly what we started imagining after hours into our battery life tests. This pint-sized glow cone just kept going and going and going.


We were so shocked by our results that we recharged the Chroma and tested it again the next day, seeing the same results. Beaming at full force on its highest setting, this little lantern glowed steadily for just over seven straight hours. This is among the longest burn times of our entire lineup and was a major influencing factor in our decision to make the Chroma one of our award winners.

Headin' back to camp after a trip into the woods to talk to a man about a horse.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Ease of Use


A single button controls the Chroma's every setting. There's a slight learning curve (especially if you don't read the instructions), but once mastered, this lantern becomes very simple to use.


Charging the Chroma is simple. The hardest part is picking the rubber cover away from the USB charging port. The cover sits very tightly in place, which provides excellent protection from rain or moisture, but it also is a bit stubborn. However, once removed, the charging cables easily connect. During our tests, our empty Chroma was fully charged in 1 hour and 57 minutes.

Not a bad location to plug in our Chroma for a quick charge.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

While on the trail, or when electricity is scarce, the Chroma's mini solar panel will charge the internal battery fully in about 20 hours. This isn't the best charging time, but it's surprising how many opportunities we had to throw our Chroma under the sun and grab an hour or two of charge time.

Whether strapped to our packs or perched on a rock during a lunch break, we were surprised at how often our Chroma was catching some rays.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Features


This tiny lantern scored decent scores for its features. It doesn't have a ton of extras, but it does have the ability to liven up camp with its better-than-average light displays.


After powering up the Chroma, if you hold down the on/off button for a few seconds, the lantern goes into candlelight mode, offering continuous gentle flickers. If you quickly click the power button twice, the Chroma begins its light show, where it slowly fades between six different colors. Likewise, these colors can be individually locked in as well. Mood lighting might sound a little unnecessary, but it actually lifted the spirits at camp and, at times, was rather soothing, especially as wilderness campfires are becoming increasingly banned.

Our lighting crew. Each of this lantern's colors can be individually set, or can be enjoyed in the multi-color fading mode.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

In addition to being collapsible, the Chroma's other feature is a built-in hanging loop that allows it to be suspended from tree limbs, tent hooks, and more. Our one disappointment is that, despite all of its lighting capabilities, the Chroma lacks an SOS feature that can flash a Morse code distress signal. It does offer a red setting, but we feel it would be more effective if it flashed.

goal zero crush light chroma - just hanging around. it's so lightweight that it can be hung by its...
Just hanging around. It's so lightweight that it can be hung by its handle nearly anywhere.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Weight


What the Chroma lacks in power and features, it certainly makes up for in weight and size. It's one of the smaller options among our massive list of lanterns, making it a breeze to move from point A to point B.


In boxing terms, the Chroma falls in the straw weight division. Tipping the scales at just 3.2 ounces, it's one of the lightest lanterns on our list. And, when you combine this with its seven-hour run time, collapsible housing, sturdy build, and disco lights, it's no wonder it's one of our favorites to take into the backcountry.

So compact it can easily fit in your pocket.
So compact it can easily fit in your pocket.
Extra side loops allow it to be strapped to the outside of a pack or...
Extra side loops allow it to be strapped to the outside of a pack or connected to just about anything else.
Lightweight, compact, and extremely portable.

Should You Buy the Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma?


Campers or backpackers who need a simple, portable, and affordable lantern for their adventures cannot go wrong with the Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma, especially when you consider its battery life. Its highest power is bright enough for most people to read by, and it is bright enough to adequately light up a camper, picnic area, or tent. However, if you want your lantern to literally turn night into day, this little guy will be a big disappointment.

Grabbing a charge while we hit the trail.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

What Other Lanterns Should You Consider?


If you're seeking a traditional-looking lantern that is very bright and rechargeable, we recommend researching our favorite, the Goal Zero Lighthouse 600. If you like the old-school lanterns that run on fuel, the Primus Micron. It's super lightweight and burns well. Lastly, if you're looking for a lantern to use in emergencies or during power outages, we suggest the Ultimate Survival Technologies 30-Day Duro.

goal zero crush light chroma - same shape. same purpose: showing the way.
Same shape. Same purpose: showing the way.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Jason Wanlass