Product Review: Sarah Peyton Outdoor Solar Flameless Candle Lantern

If you love the relaxing and decorative ambiance candles provide, but can't bother with the hassle of lighting them up and blowing them out, nor the expense of constantly buying new ones, the Sarah Peyton Solar Flameless Candle Lantern may be perfectly suited for you. It's beautiful, ruggedly constructed, easily portable, and most of all it's wonderfully affordable.

We've become used to the green scene of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Years ago, about the only thing solar powered were hand held calculators or watches. Tech improves and now we're surrounded by gadgets like solar notebook PC chargers, and outdoor lighting fixtures like floodlight lamps for our homes. Simply install them outside, let them soak up the solar energy during the day, and presto! Come evening, you light your backyard or front porch courtesy of captured sun's rays. Now comes Sarah Peyton's solar powered flameless candle lantern. It's certainly not big, nor bright enough to properly light a large area, but it's a nifty little lamp nonetheless.

Unit Look & Feel

Sarah Peyton has crafted a fine looking flameless candle lantern. Standing about a foot high, and about three inches wide, the lantern is large enough to be clearly seen, yet small enough to place just about anywhere. Our family uses it as an indoor dressing, yet Sarah Peyton assures the unit is fully weather resistant for outdoor use. The candle lantern boasts a convincing faux granite finish, and has a nice heft and feel to it. Ours sits in a window which gets plenty of daily sun, and no matter how windy it's been, the unit has never blown over or even moved. We purchased this unit at a local Rite Aid Pharmacy store. It retails for $9.99, but was on sale for $7.99. Upon seeing it, friends have commented that it looks to have cost at least double.

Features & Performance

Features listed on box:

Realistic candle effect simulates conventional candle without dripping wax or fire danger.

Faux granite finish compliments any decor.

Photo sensor powers light on/off automatically.

Built in solar powered battery.

Cordless operation for a variety of display options.

We've used the unit for a few weeks, and it's performed fairly well. The biggest drawback is how long it stays lit. Since it's only powered by a solar charge, if the day is overcast or gloomy, it only stays lit for well under an hour - perhaps 25 minutes. The most it's remained lit is slightly over two hours, which while disappointing, isn't surprising because of the solar powered set-up. You could argue that trading in the expense, mess, and fire risk real candles bring for this tech replica, excuses the short time the candle lantern lights up. However, no where on the box or in the instructions is a lighting timeframe duration given. Even a rough approximation would have been nice, since a two hour candle lighting duration may not be satisfying for many.

Summary

The Sarah Peyton Outdoor Solar Flameless Candle Lantern impresses all who see it as a nicely constructed, expensive looking, safe solar powered LED lighting fixture. It's beautiful, affordable and certainly does simulate the pleasing glow of a real candle. The actual lit candle duration isn't long at all, but for some may be acceptable, given the tradeoff between real candle maintenance expense, and the no mess, no fuss near perfect candle replication this attractive unit provides.