Skil 12V/20V Collapsible Lantern

I tossed this little lantern into my camp bin on a whim, and it’s quietly become the light I reach for first. It’s not the brightest area light I own, and it’s certainly not the biggest—but the balance of size, output, and utility is spot on for how I actually use a lantern.

Design and portability

The Skil collapsible lantern is all about packability. Collapsed, it’s roughly 4.2 x 3.5 x 1.9 inches and weighs only 0.37 lb, so it disappears in a daypack or glove box. Extend the body and you get a 360-degree diffuser that throws an even, soft glow in every direction. The retractable hook tucks away when you don’t need it, and it’s big enough to grab ridgelines, guy lines, or a coat rack without fuss.

Build quality is solid for the weight. The shell doesn’t flex or creak, and the diffuser doesn’t feel brittle. It’s clearly designed for camp and around-the-house use rather than jobsite abuse, but it never felt fragile in my hands. One design note: you don’t get a magnet base or a threaded tripod insert—hanging and tabletop use are the intended mounting options.

Light quality and output

At its highest setting, the lantern tops out at 300 lumens. That’s a sensible number for a compact lantern: enough to comfortably light a picnic table, a 4-person tent, a small patio, or a workbench for light tasks. The diffuser produces a consistent 360-degree halo with minimal hot spots, which keeps the light comfortable for conversation and avoids that “interrogation lamp” glare you can get from beam-style work lights.

There’s also a low setting at 50 lumens. I used this a lot—think late-night camp chores, reading without waking up the whole tent, or as a hallway nightlight during a power outage. The step between high and low is meaningful, and the low mode extends runtime dramatically while still being useful.

Color temperature isn’t listed, but subjectively it leans neutral, not overly cool or warm. Skin tones look fine, maps and paper are easy to read, and the light doesn’t distort colors in a way that makes tasks tricky.

Power, runtime, and battery platform

What sets this lantern apart is its dual-voltage compatibility. It runs on Skil’s 12V or 20V battery platforms, so if you already have either set of packs, you’re in business. That’s rare in compact lighting and genuinely handy if your household (or crew) mixes platforms.

Runtime is excellent for the size. At 300 lumens, I saw numbers in line with the published specs:
- About 5.5 hours on a 12V 2.0Ah pack
- About 9 hours on a 20V 2.0Ah pack

Drop to the 50-lumen low setting and you can stay lit for a couple of evenings on a small pack. The lantern provides an advance warning before a battery dies, which spared me the usual “sudden dark” moment when I was mid-meal. If you like to plan your power usage, this is a small but welcome feature.

Note that batteries are sold separately. If you’re not already in the Skil ecosystem, factor in the cost of a battery and charger. If you are, the lantern is a no-brainer add-on because it leverages packs you already own.

USB-C output: handy power bank

A USB-C port on the base lets the lantern power or charge devices while it’s running. I topped up a phone, a headlamp, and a wireless earbud case without issues. It’s great for emergencies and for keeping small devices alive over a weekend. Skil lists it as an output, so think of it as a battery-powered hub rather than a way to recharge the tool battery itself. I wouldn’t plan to fast-charge a tablet, but for small electronics it’s genuinely useful—and being able to charge and light at the same time is the key advantage.

Controls and usability

Operation is simple: you get high and low output settings and quick transitions between them. There aren’t hidden strobes or complicated ramping modes to memorize. The button has a positive click and sits high enough that it’s easy to find by feel in the dark. Because the body is so light and the diffuser is balanced, you can set it on a table without it wanting to tip over.

The retractable hook makes a big difference in real-world use. Hanging it high pushes the light down and outward, which reduces glare and maximizes coverage. It’s excellent in tents, under pop-up canopies, and above work surfaces. The hook doesn’t rotate, but it’s wide enough to catch a range of anchors without fuss.

Real-world use

• Backyard dinners: On high, it easily lit a 6-foot table for four people without casting harsh shadows. On low, it transitioned into a comfortable ambient light for conversation.
• Camping: Hanging from a tent apex, high mode lit the whole tent evenly; low mode worked as a nightlight for kids. Its weight makes it a non-issue in a backpack.
• Power outages: The hook found ceiling fan brackets and cabinet pulls; the 360-degree glow was better for moving around a dark house than a directional work light.
• Quick tasks: I used it as a fill light under a sink and inside a closet. It won’t replace a jobsite floodlight, but for “find the shutoff valve” tasks, it’s perfect.

What I’d improve

• More output headroom: 300 lumens is the right call for runtime and heat, but an optional “burst” mode (say 500–600 lumens for a few minutes) would make it more versatile for quick tasks.
• Mounting options: A small magnet pad or a 1/4-20 thread would expand placement options dramatically in the shop.
• Weather clarity: I didn’t see an explicit weather or impact rating. While it handled dewy mornings and a bit of mist without complaint, an IP rating would make it easier to recommend for all-weather use.

None of these are dealbreakers. They’re the kinds of “nice to have” tweaks that could push an already-good design into great territory for outdoor and shop users.

Who it’s for

• Campers and overlanders who want lightweight, packable ambient light with long runtimes.
• Homeowners looking for a reliable outage light that can also top up a phone.
• DIYers already on Skil’s 12V or 20V battery platform who want a compact, no-drama area light for small tasks.

If you need to bathe a jobsite in light or you’re expecting ruggedized, weather-sealed construction, this isn’t the tool. For those needs, a larger, brighter area light with a higher output and a rating for rain and impact makes more sense.

Value and platform fit

As a tool-only purchase, this lantern makes the most sense if you already own Skil 12V or 20V packs. The ability to use either platform is the secret sauce—there’s no “wrong battery” in the drawer. If you’re starting from scratch, the total cost climbs with a battery and charger, but you’re also buying into a platform with a lot of other useful compact tools. In that context, the lantern is a smart first or second accessory because it’s genuinely useful year-round.

Recommendation

I recommend the Skil collapsible lantern. It earns its keep with a compact form factor, gentle 360-degree light, practical high/low modes, excellent runtimes on both 12V and 20V packs, and a USB-C output that’s actually useful. It’s not a jobsite floodlight and doesn’t pretend to be; it’s a lightweight, dependable companion for camping, backyard evenings, power outages, and quick around-the-house tasks. If you’re already invested in Skil batteries—or you want a small, capable lantern that doubles as a power bank—this one is easy to keep in the kit.