Five SAKAKI Gear covers fit a Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro, and they are not five versions of the same thing. One comes with the light already installed, two fit only the Micro Flash, one is the widest and lightest, and one burns oil. This page walks you through the four decisions in order, so you end with one product and no second-guessing.
Decision 1: which Goal Zero light do you have?
This decides more than anything else, so do it first.
- Lighthouse Micro Flash (flashlight in the top cap): every SAKAKI Gear cover fits. Keep reading.
- Lighthouse Micro (original, no flashlight): Hatenaki or the Hajimari Set. Akatsuki and Mikasa will not seat on it.
- Lighthouse Micro Charge (USB power out, longer body): no cover fits. If you want a SAKAKI Gear lantern, the Hajimari Set brings its own light.
- No Goal Zero light yet: skip to decision 2.
Not sure which one you own? The compatibility guide shows how to tell them apart in a few seconds.
Decision 2: cover only, or a set with the light installed?
Four of the five products are covers: you supply the Goal Zero light and fit the cover over it. One, the Hajimari Set, arrives with a Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro already installed inside a brass body, ready to switch on.
- You already own a Micro Flash: buy a cover. Akatsuki is the usual first choice.
- You own nothing yet, or you are buying a gift: the Hajimari Set. One box, one decision, and the recipient does not need to know what a Micro Flash is.
- You want a specific cover but no light: buy the cover, then a Lighthouse Micro Flash from goalzero.com, REI, or Amazon. Make sure the listing says Flash.
Decision 3: which shape and size?
All dimensions are assembled with the light inside, and approximate.
| Cover | Fits | Size | Weight | Character | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hajimari Set | Micro / Micro Flash, light installed | 50 x 100 mm | approx. 300 g | Compact, complete, the simplest start | $195 |
| Akatsuki | Micro Flash only | 50 x 120 mm | approx. 450 g brass; aluminum lighter | The classic hurricane-lantern silhouette the series is known for; the only one with a choice of metal | $279 |
| Hatenaki | Micro / Micro Flash | 75 x 105 mm | approx. 250 g | Widest and lightest; a soft, spreading glow that lights a whole table | $329 |
| Mikasa | Micro Flash only | 60 x 120 mm | approx. 500 g | Taller, more architectural; the collector’s piece | $389 |
| Mahoroba | Micro Flash (LED) or oil flame | see product page | approx. 500 g | Two lanterns in one: LED on a weeknight, real flame when you want it | $374 |
If you only want one, and you own a Micro Flash
Akatsuki. It is the piece SAKAKI Gear was built on, 1,100 backers funded it before it was a product, and it is the one people mean when they say “the brass Goal Zero cover”. Hatenaki is the answer if your table is bigger than two people and you want the light to spread rather than glow; Mikasa is the answer if the lantern is going to be photographed more than it is going to be used.
Decision 4: which finish?
Only Akatsuki offers a choice. Everything else is solid brass.
- Brass: heavy, warm, darkens with use into a patina you can polish back. Right with wood, leather, canvas.
- Gunmetal (aluminum): dark, light in weight, does not tarnish. Right with black tables and modern kits. The first finish sold in the US store.
- Silver (aluminum): cleanest in daylight photos, light in weight.
- Wisteria (aluminum): a purple-blue that nobody else at the campground has.
The light color is the same for all four; the orange inner tube, not the metal, makes the glow warm. Brass vs aluminum lantern covers has the full comparison of weight, aging, and scratches.
Three quick answers
- Cheapest way in: Hajimari Set, $195, light included.
- The one to give as a gift: Hajimari Set if they have no Goal Zero light; brass Akatsuki if they own a Micro Flash. The gift guide has more.
- The one that will still surprise you in five years: Mahoroba, because it is the only one that can burn a real flame.
Four mistakes we see, and how to avoid them
- Ordering Akatsuki for an original Lighthouse Micro. The two Goal Zero bodies look alike, and Akatsuki only seats on the Micro Flash. Check the top cap for the flashlight before you order, or pick Hatenaki, which fits both.
- Expecting the cover to include the light. Only the Hajimari Set does. If the product page does not say a Goal Zero unit is included, plan to supply your own.
- Choosing brass for a backpacking kit. A brass Akatsuki weighs about as much as a full 500 ml bottle. If the lantern rides in a pack, choose one of the aluminum finishes; if it rides in a car, brass is the better object.
- Waiting for a sale. These are machined in small batches between industrial jobs, and a finish can be out of stock for weeks. If the finish you want is in stock, that is the moment.
What the first night looks like
The cover arrives in its case, ships by EMS from Kasugai, and the first US order took eight days door to door. Unscrew the bottom ring, seat your Micro Flash, thread the ring back on hand-tight, and press the Goal Zero button through the opening. The light comes up orange instead of white, the LED is hidden, and the lantern sits on the table with the weight of a real object. Most owners run it on the lowest setting for dinner and one step higher for cooking, and never take the cover off again except to charge.
Before you check out
- Every price includes standard US shipping from Japan, and US import duties are prepaid before shipping; customs and duties explains how.
- Checkout accepts US shipping addresses. Outside the US, email us for a quote.
- Delivery is by EMS; the first US order went from Kasugai to the customer’s door in eight days. See shipping.
- Every piece is cut from a solid billet and checked before it ships. Craft & Safety shows how.
Still undecided? Send us a photo of your light and your table and we will tell you which one, in English, usually within a day.