Goal Zero has sold three small lanterns under the Lighthouse Micro name, and they are not the same light. One has a flashlight, one can charge a phone, one does neither. The differences matter twice: when you buy the light, and when you buy a cover or shade for it, because a cover is machined for one body length only. This page gives the numbers, the three-second way to tell them apart, and which SAKAKI Gear cover fits which light.
The three lights side by side
| Lighthouse Micro | Lighthouse Micro Flash | Lighthouse Micro Charge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flashlight in the cap | No | Yes, 115 lm high, 15 lm low | Yes, about 120 lm |
| Charges your phone | No | No | Yes, USB out 5V up to 1A |
| Lantern output | Lantern only | 150 lm high, 10 lm low | 135 lm high, 7 lm low |
| Runtime, both sides lit | — | 7 h high, 80 h low | 7 h high, 80 h low |
| Runtime, one side lit | — | — | 15 h high, 170 h low |
| Battery | — | 9.62 Wh, 3.7 V 2600 mAh | 9.62 Wh, 3.7 V 2600 mAh |
| Charge time | — | 3.5 h over USB | 3.5 h over USB |
| Size | — | 3.66 x 1.5 in | 4.4 x 1.5 in, 112 x 37.75 mm |
| Weight | — | 2.4 oz | 3.07 oz, 87 g |
| Status | Discontinued, still in many kits | Current | Current |
| SAKAKI Gear covers that fit | Hatenaki, Hajimari Set | All of them | None |
Numbers are from Goal Zero’s own product pages, checked on 30 September 2026. The original Lighthouse Micro no longer has a page there, so we do not restate figures for it. What we can state is the fit, because we machine the covers ourselves.
Three seconds to tell them apart
- Look at the top cap. A small round lens means a flashlight, so it is a Micro Flash or a Micro Charge.
- Look for a second port. Two ports, one in and one out, mean it is the Micro Charge. The Charge is also visibly longer.
- Neither? A plain lantern with one charging port is the original Lighthouse Micro.
Why a cover fits one and not the other
A machined cover is a metal sleeve cut to the light’s body. The Micro Flash body is 3.66 inches long. The Micro Charge is 4.4 inches, about 19 mm longer, at the same 1.5 inch diameter. That extra length is where the second port and the larger housing sit, and it is why the Charge does not seat in any cover we make. There is no adapter for it. If you already own a Charge and want a brass lantern, the Hajimari Set comes with its own light, so the Charge can stay in the bag as a power bank.
Between the original Micro and the Micro Flash the difference is at the top, not the length, which is why Hatenaki and the Hajimari Set take both, while Akatsuki and Mikasa are cut around the Micro Flash cap.
Which one should you buy?
- You want the brass lantern look. Buy the Micro Flash. Every SAKAKI Gear cover fits it, and the flashlight still works with the cover on.
- You want one device that also charges a phone. Buy the Charge, and accept that no cover fits it. It gives you about 15 hours on one side at full brightness, which the Flash does not offer.
- You already own the original Micro. Keep it. Hatenaki or the Hajimari Set will fit, and the light is the same 9.62 Wh class of lantern.
- You own nothing yet and want the finished object. The Hajimari Set arrives with the light installed, so there is no model to match.
What changes when you put a cover on
- Colour. The orange inner tube turns the cool white LED into a warm, flame-coloured light. This is the reason most people buy one.
- Glare. The LED is hidden, so nobody across the table is looking into it.
- Brightness. A warm diffuser costs you some of the rated lumens. On a dinner table you will not notice. In a tent, run one step higher than you normally would.
- Runtime. Unchanged. The cover is passive metal and draws nothing.
- Weight. A brass Akatsuki adds about 450 g to a 68 g light, which is the point for a table lantern and the reason to choose an aluminium finish if it rides in a pack.
- Buttons and charging. The switch stays reachable, so you can dim the light with the cover on. To charge, the bottom ring comes off in about ten seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Will any lantern shade fit the Lighthouse Micro Charge?
Not from us. The Charge body is about 19 mm longer than the Micro Flash, and our covers are machined to the shorter body. If you want a brass lantern and own a Charge, choose the Hajimari Set, which includes its own light.
Does the flashlight still work with a cover on?
Yes on the Micro Flash. The cap stays clear, and the switch is reachable, so the lantern, the dimming steps and the flashlight all work as normal.
Is the Lighthouse Micro Flash brighter than the Charge?
Slightly, on paper. Goal Zero rates the Flash at 150 lumens on high against 135 for the Charge. The Charge lasts longer on one side lit, at about 15 hours on high against 7 hours with both sides lit.
Where do I buy the light itself?
From goalzero.com or a US retailer such as REI or Amazon. We machine covers, not lights, so the product page will say which light you need. The one exception is the Hajimari Set, which ships with the light installed.
Is a cover the same thing as a lantern shade?
People search for both words. A shade usually means a thin sleeve that colours the light. Our covers are cut from solid brass or aluminium billet, so they also change the weight, the silhouette and how the lantern sits on a table.
Next
For the full fit table with sizes and weights of every cover, read the Lighthouse Micro cover compatibility guide. To pick a model and a finish, use how to choose a Goal Zero lantern cover. For the rest of the camp table, see the best Lighthouse Micro accessories.