Review Of Solar Flame Torchlight | Tom's Guide

Otdair solar flame torch lights

Color: Black
Lights included: 6
Nominal brightness: 96 PIECES
Estimated Solar Battery Life: 12 hours
Luminous flux: 35 lumens
Size: 4.9 (D) x 4.9 (W) x 45.3 (H) inches
Waterproof: IP65

These solar lights are pretty nifty when it comes to solar lights. I don't mean the smart aspect as they don't have any smart lighting features, but their design is more decorative than most of the best solar lights on the market.

They can light a path that leads you through the darkness or provide atmospheric lighting as you prepare and cook something special on your outdoor grill.

Although the flickering effect of the lights makes it attractive, when viewed from a distance it can appear unsettling as it gives the effect of real flames.

Otdair solar flame torches: price and availability

Solar flame torch lights

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I tested a set of 6 Otdair Flame Torch Lights with 96 LEDs available on Amazon for $74. However, you can buy a 4-pack on Amazon for $54. Your choice depends on how many you need.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Design

Solar flame torch lights

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These Odair solar flame torches will stand proudly in your garden. They're certainly not subtle. They are just over 43 inches tall and emit a flickering light. Although they can be used to guide a path, you may want to avoid using them in your front yard as your neighbors may find the flickering light a bit unsettling.

Each lantern is designed in two patterns – further enhancing the flame-like character they create. While one is curvy, the other is angular.

The main body of the lantern is housed in an ABS housing, a durable and lightweight heat-resistant thermoplastic. Although you don't have to worry about the solar lights being prone to rust, their light weight makes them less stable than other solar lights when inserted into the ground.

I actually broke one of the spikes while installing it into hard ground. For this reason, I would suggest softening the soil beforehand using a tool like Flora Guard's Hori Hori knife. That's $12 on Amazon.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: How to Set Up

Solar flame torch lights

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I probably shouldn't admit this, but I assembled these lights without even looking at the instructions. Although my impatience got the better of me, I was able to put them together without any errors. It was pretty easy to tell which part went where.

These solar lights feature an easy on/off switch that you press down just below the flashlight area. If you place the lights in daylight, it will be difficult to know at first whether they are on or off because they only work in the dark. However, you can tell if the lighting is on if you place your palm over the solar sensor at the top of the device as it will light up immediately.

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Once you have this sorted, you can attach the ground stakes. You can create two lengths by connecting them both with a connector section, or leave it at one length. They looked a little strange with only one section, but that depends on how far you want them to stick out of the ground. Once you have connected the ground spikes, you can attach the final ground spike.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Performance

Although one of the stakes was damaged when I put it into the ground in my garden, all of the pieces in the box were complete and undamaged. I also found that the lights didn't take long to charge before they started working.

While it may sound like common sense, it's worth knowing where to best position your lights to get the most out of them. The sun sensor must be completely exposed. Be careful of shade trees, leaves and parasols that can block the sun's rays from reaching the sensor. It's also worth checking the lighting to ensure the sensor is free of fallen leaves, bird droppings and other garden debris.

Each light emits a strong yellowish glow, with the flickering effect providing color variation. It is similar to a real flame but has no safety risk.

Once fully charged, they can last up to 10 hours.

Otdair Solar Flame Torches: Durability

Solar flame torch lights

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As long as you carefully insert the stakes into the ground, there is no reason why these solar lights aren't sturdy enough to withstand the rigors your garden and the season face.

The first point is to place them in soft soil, away from rocky or compacted areas. Once in place, I found that the solar lights could withstand even strong winds without swaying and becoming unstable.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Verdict

These solar lights are a bit crazy and, as the name suggests, create a flame effect. But while they produce a fairly authentic flame without any danger, I think they are better suited for entertaining than lights that are left on constantly to illuminate specific areas of the garden. They're also a bit pricey, but it's worth paying the extra for a flickering, bright flame that's a conversation starter.

Review of Solar Flame Torchlight | Tom's guide

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