Today we are checking out the Simply Brilliant LightCap 300 which is one of the only water bottles I have seen that features a solar powered cap that has a LED light built right into it. This product seems to be the perfect addition to your camping pack; but we are putting it to the test to see if that is true.
The Bottle
The bottle itself has a nice big mouth which makes it easy to both drink from and clean. I don’t know how many times I have gotten frustrated trying to clean a water bottle with a small mouth so this is a great addition. The wide mouth also makes it so you can store a lot of supplies in it during the day to double its function; however, you will need to put them somewhere else at night if you want to be able to use it as a light.
The bottle seems to be of good construction, I haven’t put it through any drops yet but it seems to be built pretty solid. It is around 10 inches and features a lanyard that you can use to connect both the cap and the bottle to each other or to your pack. I also noticed that the light seems to be even brighter when there is water in it (may just be me but it seems like it).
The Light
The reason to buy this bottle is of course the cool added feature of having a solar powered light built right into the cap. In my testing this light seems to really function well. It has a 1 LED red light that is a much less intense, more to be used as a night light or for finding your shoes in the tent without waking up your partner. The white light is a 4 LED light that is actually pretty bright and can be used in place of a flashlight at night.
Another bonus is that the light has a sensor to turn off if it is bright outside. This is a nice addition because if you forget to turn the light off when it gets bright it will do it for you. The light is designed to last for 8 hours on a charge, which is a huge benefit as it can easily be charged every day with the small solar panel.
A con I have found for this light is that it is heavy. At 9.7 oz it is by far not difficult to carry, however you are hiking every oz counts. The added light top is what does it, and while it is not super heavy, it definitely will add to the weight of your pack. That being said I feel like the benefit of having the light outweighs the weight for most trips, but thought it was worth noting.
Video Review
Check out my video review to see the light in action.
Conclusion
In conclusion I would highly recommend this light. It is at a price point that is great for the casual buyer and normally sells for around 30 dollars, which is a good price for a water bottle that includes a solar flashlight. I give this light a 8.5 out of 10 and can’t wait to see where Simply Brilliant takes this idea in the future. You can buy the Simply Brilliant Lightcap 300 here.
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