I tried these solar flame torchlights in my backyard and they're great for entertaining

These flickering lights are easy on the eyes but could be easier to install

Solar Flame Torch Light in garden border
(Image: © Tom's Guide)

Tom's Guide Verdict

These Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights have a flickering effect and make an attractive display in your backyard if you are entertaining in the evening. However, the stand on one snapped when I was placing it into hard ground.

Pros

  • +

    Attractive appearance

  • +

    Easy to assembly

  • +

    Great for entertaining

Cons

  • -

    Lightweight

  • -

    Difficult to place spike in hard ground

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Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights

Color: Black
Lights included: 6
Rated brightness: 96 PCS
Estimated solar battery life:
12 hours
Luminous flux:
35 lumens
Size:
4.9 (D) x 4.9 (W) x 45.3 (H) inches
Waterproof: IP 65

These solar lights are fairly fancy as solar lights go. I don't mean on the smart front, as they don't boast any smart lighting features, but their design is more decorative than most of the best solar lights on the market.

They can light up a pathway to guide you through the darkness or add ambient lighting when hosting and cooking something special on your outdoor grill.

However, although the flickering effect of the lights makes it an attractive feature, when viewed from a distance, it can be disconcerting, as it gives the effect of real flames.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Price and availability

Solar Flame Torch Lights

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

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

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Design

Solar Flame Torch Lights

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

These Odair Solar Flame Torch Lights will stand proudly in your yard. They are certainly not subtle. They measure just over 43 inches tall and give off a flickering light. So, although they can be used to guide you along a pathway, you may prefer not to use them in your front yard as your neighbors may find the flickering light a little alarming.

Each lantern is designed in two pattern ways — adding to the flame-type nature they create. While one is curvaceous, the other is angular.

The main lantern section is housed within an ABS casing, a durable and lightweight thermoplastic resistant to heat. However, although you won’t have to worry about the solar light being susceptible to rust, their lightweight nature makes them less sturdy than other solar lights when inserted into the ground.

In fact, I broke one of the spikes when I was installing it into hard ground. For this reason, I would suggest softening the ground beforehand, using a tool such as Flora Guard’s Hori Hori Knife, which is $12 at Amazon.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Set up

Solar Flame Torch Lights

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I probably shouldn’t admit to this, but I put these lights together without looking at the instructions. Despite my impatience getting the better of me, I was able to fit them together without making any mistakes. It was fairly simple to see which part went where.

These solar lights have a simple on/off switch, which you push down, directly below the torchlight section. Initially, if you set the lights up in daylight, it’s difficult to know whether they are turned on or off, as they will only work in the dark. However, you can tell if the lights are switched on if you place the palm of your hand over the solar sensor on the top of the unit, as they will instantly light up.

Once you’ve worked this out, you can attach the ground stakes. You can create two lengths, joining both with a connector section, or leave it to one. They looked slightly odd with just one section, but this will depend on how far you want them to extend out of the ground. Then, once you’ve connected the ground stakes, you can attach the final ground spike.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Performance

Despite damaging one of the ground spikes when I placed it into the soil in my yard, all the parts in the box came complete and were undamaged. I also found that the lights didn’t take long to charge before working.

Although it may sound common sense, it’s worth knowing the best place to position your lights for optimal use. The solar sensor needs to be fully exposed, so beware of shady trees, leaves, and parasols that can disrupt the sun’s rays from reaching the sensor. It’s also worth checking on the lights to make sure the sensor is free from fallen leaves, bird droppings, and other garden debris.

Each light gives off a powerful yellowish glow, with the flickering effect giving a variance in the color. It’s similar to a real flame but without the safety hazard.

Once fully charged they can last up to 10 hours.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Durability

Solar Flame Torch Lights

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

As long as you carefully place the spikes into the ground, there’s no reason why these solar lights aren’t robust enough to withstand what your yard and the season have to throw at them.

The first point is to place them into soft ground, away from stony or compacted areas. Once in place, I found the solar lights withstood even strong winds without wavering about and becoming unstable.

Otdair Solar Flame Torch Lights: Verdict

These solar lights are on the wacky side and, true to their name, give off a flame effect. But while they create quite an authentic flame without the danger, I felt they were more appropriate to use when entertaining rather than for lights that you have switched on permanently to illuminate spots in your backyard. They are also on the pricey side, but it’s worth paying the extra for a flickering, bright flame that will create a talking point.

Camilla Sharman
Staff Writer, Homes

Camilla Sharman has worked in publishing and marketing for over 30 years and has covered a wide range of sectors within the business and consumer industries both as a feature, content, and freelance writer.  

As a business journalist, Camilla has researched articles for many different sectors from the jewellery industry to finance and tech, charities, and the arts. Whatever she’s covered, she enjoys delving deep and learning the ins and out of different topics, then conveying her research within engaging content that informs the reader. In her spare time, when she’s not in her kitchen experimenting with a new recipe, you’ll find her keeping fit at the gym. In the pool, stretching at a yoga class, or on a spin bike, exercise is her escape time. She also loves the great outdoors and if she’s not pottering about in her garden, she’ll be jumping on her bike for a gentle cycle ride.