They’re dirt cheap and have cool and warm lighting (no high CRI though, but I’m somewhat of a CRI snob, but I can’t complain). They aren’t waterproof though, but work a solid 10 hours on a 2400 mAh 18650.
I use a couple of these usb chainable lights for ouside tent lighting.
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/cphfuEGY
Replaced leds with 2700K optisolis. Basically just switch, resistor and parallel leds in series. Probably can connect a driver somewhere.
Actually as long as setup is quick (and it is in this case) I don’t need waterproofing. So this is good, thank you for sharing your recommendation. 
Cool.
Good to know this option, it would be cool to upgrade to Optisolis one day.
Nice idea though not for me.
Magnets would reduce setup / teardown costs but these would nevertheless be high. Since most of my stays are just 1-night long, this is a big deal.
Now I’m used to hanging a light off a loop and it’s OK.
Permanently mounted string lights promise to cut this down further so for now I’m going to try that. If the lights don’t survive - I don’t care much as they are very cheap, I paid $1.60 for a 10m string. I see that the seller claims it’s IP65 and I actually believe that’s correct (except for the plug) as the whole thing is enameled.
The side LEDs on the new Nitecore LR50 might do the trick if you have a mech pocket in the ceiling?
I tried my cheap light string.
It worked very well, way better than I’d expect from $1.6 light, especially as lightweight as this.
Considering the lack of regulation, the 10m string was just right. Bright enough to see, not enough to read, not too bright in any case. Note that my tent is big and has black interior so it’s pretty much the worst case; I would recommend shorter strings for other tents.
Note that 10m was likely too much for my powerbank to handle (I use Folomov EDC C4), there’s a good chance that the strip was not running at full power. I see a similar strip consuming 8W over 10m which would amount to 1.6A. I don’t know what can C4 support at the max but it’s likely 1A.
It weights very little, mere 20g (without powerbank). The heaviest part is the USB plug and short thicker wire near it. I feel tempted to cut it shorter, should be easy 3g saving. May do it one day.
I didn’t measure runtime yet. And I don’t know if it will survive folding. I folded it with the tent and I’ll see if it comes out alive. This time and quite a few times in the future.
What are the options to get regulated output? Here I see a 20m string with remote control for $6. I’m not fully convinced to remote so I did a quick search and I see there are 5V inline dimmers as well.
Dreaming about the future:
Remote would be nice if I could wire 2 strings to a single powerbank, one for the sleeping are and the other for the vestibule and control them with a single remote. Would be nice with smartphone control as well, except that my phone battery runs out too fast when using BT…
Another good example for a tent light: https://www.amazon.com/Coghlans-0842-Micro-LED-Lantern/dp/B001AZHFGQ
@ Agro, thanks for the detail on your usage.
Some more experience with the light string.
2 more trips, it survives folding so far.
I love how cosy it is with the light on, I’m way more satisfied than I thought I would be.
I so wish that the powerbank and the string used Type C connector.
Now I have a power bank - Micro USB - converter - Type A - string. And having to orient both MicroUSB and Type A correctly is annoying.
I may switch to another converter, one that makes it impossible to plug wrong. It will make things slightly easier.
Got one issue though, I got a single dark night where the string wouldn’t turn on.
I was too tired to troubleshoot and the next day it was OK.
Some connectivity issus (I tried reconnecting several times)?
Some weird quirk of my Folomov flashlight-powerbank?
I don’t know, I need to troubleshoot it the next time it happens.
Go to Customer Reviews. The 2nd one is from a fellow in Russia who was unsatisfied and soldered in his own LED’s. Red is kind of useless for a light such as this, as it’s not all that useful as an emergency beacon. So he swapped in warm white LED’s. Looks really nice now. Wish he had a better write-up on it!
Interesting. It’s not hard to get some high CRI, warm 5730. But I still stand by the starry light of the string.
I’m surprised no one has recommended the Nitecore LR10 https://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/lr10.
This is a great little lantern if you are packing lite.
I have a couple of the Soshine CB2 versions of that light you pictured, (I also have a couple of that same AAA-powered version) its a rechargeable 1800mAh Lithium Ion powered version. (built in USB micro charging, warm-white LED tint, AliExpress seems to be the only place i seen them. They work ok, small compact, lightweight, couple hours run time on high, around 200 lumens, down shining & ideal for hanging in a tent. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32814866531.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.188b4c4dKyUW3K
Two Fenix CL25R’s, one inside the tent, and the other in red mode. Zanflare T1 on low. I leave the red on all night outside. Works as a night light and doesn’t attract bugs.
No kidding? Dang. I’ve had one of these and got rid of it because step-thru UI was tiresome and basically forced you to use the light since it just blinded you. Had red though.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/3720601
Also had ordered this one, great battery life, USB recharge, no PWM, tiny, but does have the step-thru UI so cover it up for the first 3 clicks. Kept it because of size and battery life.
https://www.fasttech.com/p/3720501 D’oh!
I guess the mosquitoes will find me even in the dark but if red will keep away the dorks of the bug world, the Junebug, then I’m all in.
You won’t have moths and all the other flying insects buzzing around that are normally attracted to white light.
Both those links are for the same light.
Was thinking the same…
Cant seem to find a working link for the Zanflare!
Fixed. Sorry. The one in the fixed link has magnetic back also.
It’s a first-world-problem but a bad UI just kills a light for me. I’d pay 50% more for any light or lantern with a UI that doesn’t ruin the experience. Long press for low, no forced blinkies, no more than one click for off. I don’t think they use their lights. None of this will matter soon when the LT1 ships (woo!) but perhaps a small BLF micro-lantern would fill a niche?
Have you given the Fenix CL09 a play??
Actually a VERY good little lantern… I use mine for Camping, Caving, Warning light at night walking alone a road, General reading light and so much more…
Lights up a room Very well indeed, same goes for a 10 man tent! Great in medium sized carverns when caving and fantstic in small ones…. Just a nive EXTREMELY pocketable lantern….
Yeah, looks nice, thank you for the suggestion.
But as of now I’m looking to get another 10m string, for the vestibule. Though I could really use something with regulated brightness there…
Look into the Luci light by MPOWERED. I have had a couple of them for a number of years.
Solar Rechargeable only real downside the switch can be hard to find in the dark. Charge does
last for over 8-10 hours when I fell asleep and have left them on. They do have a blueish tint on
the larger one an a more neutral white color on the smaller one Price $15-25 US Just went to
web site and they do have warm tints now. Been a while since I have checked up on them.