Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma Review

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.