Sunnest Solar Lights review

Are Sunnest Solar Lights worth buying? 

Making the most of your yard is tough without the right lighting. While you can buy all kinds of outdoor lighting, from patio lights and wall lights to post lights and string lights, solar lights are easy since there's no need for hardwiring or an outlet. Sunnest Solar Lights come on stakes, making them great for illuminating pathways or the boundaries of patios. 

Sunnest claims its lights are powered by nothing by solar energy and work automatically. It also touts its lights as waterproof and boasts of their easy installation. The BestReviews Testing Lab tested out these claims to discover whether Sunnest Solar Lights are worth buying. 

Testing Sunnest Solar Lights

The BestReviews Testing Lab strives to check all manufacturers' claims about their products. It does so by testing out items over long periods in real-world conditions to see how they truly perform.

For this article, the testing lab used the lights to illuminate a path that goes from the main part of a yard to a fire pit area at the other end. It considered factors such as brightness, ease of installation and durability. 

What are Sunnest Solar Lights?

Sunnest Solar Lights are outdoor lights on stakes, sometimes also known as path lights or landscape lights. They're designed to be staked into the ground, so you can use them to illuminate a path or flowerbed or light up the perimeter of a deck or patio. They come in packs of 12 lights. They're fully solar-powered, so the sun's energy recharges the battery — you don't need an outdoor outlet and there's no need to have them hardwired. 

See how they compare to other products in their space — check out our reviews for the best outdoor solar lights.

Sunnest Solar Lights price and where to buy

They cost roughly $20 to $24 for a pack of 12 from Amazon, with some colors cheaper than others.

How to use Sunnest Solar Lights

They arrive in a few parts, so you need to assemble these lights before you get started. While this takes a few minutes, it's a straightforward process. Just remember to remove the isolator tab from the underside of each light cap and switch the on/off switch to the "on" position. Then, simply stake them into the ground and they take care of the rest. Although they don't need direct sunlight to recharge, they'll recharge more fully and last longer if they get a decent amount of light throughout the day. 

Sunnest Solar Lights benefits

Automatic switch-on

Assuming you've set the on/off switch to "on," these lights come on and switch off automatically. They detect light, so they'll switch themselves on when the light levels dip low enough. During daylight hours, the lights switch off and they get recharged by the sunlight. They do this reliably, so you won't have to mess around switching them on and off when you need them. Many similar solar lights do the same thing, so it isn't an unusual feature, but it's still a nice feature to have. 

Choice of colors

You can choose between cool white, warm white and multicolored options, so there's something to suit most preferences. The cool white is on the bluer end of the white light spectrum, with a crisp, clean look, while the warm white has a classic and comforting glow that's on the orange end of the spectrum. Many other solar lights only come in a single hue, so it's rare to have the option. 

Straightforward installation

Although there's a small amount of assembly required, it's extremely easy to install these lights. They come on a stake that you just have to press into the ground. If the ground is fairly soft, you can just push them in with your hand. However, you should make sure you do this straight, as it's quite obvious if you accidentally put them in at an angle. Most solar lights are this easy to assemble, but you can find other outdoor lights that need to be plugged into an outlet or hardwired, which is much trickier. 

Long-lasting battery

Sunnest claims its lights last 8 to 10 hours, which seems to be accurate when they get enough sun to charge fully. In some cases, they last from when they switch on in the evening to 6 or 7 a.m., which is more than long enough to keep your yard illuminated through the evening. 

Sunnest Solar Lights drawbacks

Could be brighter

The amount of light they throw out is somewhat disappointing, depending on your expectations. If you're expecting lights that will illuminate your space enough for an alfresco dinner or late-night drinks, think again. They illuminate paths enough for you to see where you're walking, but they shouldn't be your only source of light in your yard after dark. This is about what you can expect from similar solar lights. 

Not especially durable

The lights and their stakes are fairly flimsy. They aren't strong enough to stake into hard ground without breaking the stakes, so you'll need to dig holes for them if your ground is tightly packed. You can find more durable lights, but you'll need to pay more for them. 

Unsuitable for heavy rain

While the IP44 waterproof rating makes them suitable for outdoor use, they'll only stand up to low-velocity sprays of water. So, if you live in an area that regularly experiences heavy rain, the waterproofing is insufficient. 

Need plenty of light

While these lights last all night when they get enough sunlight to recharge them, they can struggle in the winter when days are shorter and more overcast. On a short, cloudy day, they may only recharge enough to light up for three or four hours at night.

Should you get Sunnest Solar Lights?

If you're looking for affordable outdoor solar lights, Sunnest Solar Lights are worth considering. They're not the most durable and won't stand up to heavy rain, but they're reasonably priced and easy to install. As Sunnest claims, they're fully solar-powered and work automatically. You can find brighter and more rugged solar lights, but these certainly aren't bad for the price.