The controls to turn the lights on and off and the mode-changing button are located on the back of the solar panel. The lead cable (length between the first LED light and the solar panel) is around 6 feet long, which allows you to keep the solar panel out of the way of your decor. The solar panel itself comes with a ground stake that helps to keep it firmly in place. They can be purchased either as a solid color or a multicolored set of lights. This allows you to wrap it around trees and fences easily. These outdoor string lights come with 200 LED lights on a string line that is 72 feet long. In our tests, we found these lights easy to operate, and they were able to provide ample brightness once charged. The solar panel contains a light sensor, so your lights will automatically turn on once it gets dark. Like our top pick, it has eight different modes to choose from, and you can readily cycle through them with a click of a button on the back of the solar panel. That means even when it rains or snows, these should still work well so long as there is sunlight to charge it - just make sure your solar panels aren't obscured by snow. With a claimed IP65 rating, they should be capable of resisting impact from the elements like dirt and water. According to Brightown, the lights can work up to 10 hours after 4 to 6 hours of charging by sunlight. At a length of 33 feet with 100 bulbs, it's ideal for smaller projects like around doors, as opposed to full fences or lines of landscaping. These Brightown LED string lights can be purchased in solid colors or multicolor, so they are a one-stop shop for your decorating needs. While these lights aced our Lab tests, some customer reviews noted that these lights weren't as bright as they had hoped, so if you're looking for something on the more intense side, opt for our top pick. Our pros like that it has a memory function, so if you have it on a specific mode and turn it off, it will go back to that mode when it turns back on. There are eight different lighting modes that flash in different ways to provide the aesthetic that you want. A light sensor determines when it's dark enough to automatically turn the lights on. Once the solar panel is switched on, the charging begins. Each set of lights comes with a solar panel and a ground stake with controls located on the back of the solar panel. While you can purchase these lights at 72 feet long and with 200 LEDs, you can also opt fot a shorter 100-LED option that's 39 feet long, or you can go all out and purchase the 300-LED option that's 105 feet long. And when the season is over, consult our guide on how to recycle Christmas lights.Īccording to the brand, these Joomer lights take about 6 to 8 hours to fully charge. If you're looking for more ways to up the holiday cheer, check out our roundups of the best Christmas decorations, tree toppers and outdoor Christmas decorations.
Keep reading after our picks to find out more about how we test solar Christmas lights, what you should look for when selecting the perfect lights for your house, and why you should trust Good Housekeeping. We seek out solar-powered lights that hold a charge well, are weatherproof so you don't need to fret over exposure to snow and rain, and create an appealing display. Then we examine the lights under multiple lighting conditions to find the brightest, most appealing ones on the market. To evaluate solar Christmas lights, we look at ease of setup, how intuitive the controls are, and how durable they are. Thanks to a special darkroom in our Lab that allows us to simulate different lighting conditions, from daylight to dusk, total blackout and UV, we've become experts on lighting apparatuses for the holidays, like solar-powered Christmas lights and Christmas light projectors (for those looking for a more fuss-free option than string lights). Our Lab experts look at a wide variety of Christmas-related home products, from traditional outdoor Christmas lights to artificial Christmas trees you can buy from popular retailers like Amazon and Walmart.