Fatboy Bolleke Hanging Lamp in Anthracite
In my experience, enjoying the outdoors after dark is all about lighting. You not only need outdoor lighting for functional purposes like grilling and lighting pathways, but if done right, it creates an ambiance that feels inviting and cozy and keeps you outdoors long after sunset.
While there are plenty of classic options to choose from when it comes to portable outdoor lights — think camping lanterns and mosquito repelling devices — I’ve been eyeing the Fatboy Bolleke Hanging Lamp because of its fun, mid-century modern round shape and because it includes a rubber loop to tie it like a pendant light over your dining table or lounge area. It stands out among other decorative outdoor lighting because it’s entirely cordless, has three brightness settings, and claims to hold enough battery for 24 hours of light.
But is the Fatboy Bolleke Hanging Lamp worth its high price tag? And is it convenient enough for everyday use outdoors? I’ve spent the last several weeks testing it to find out.
It’s incredibly simple to setup and use
Like anyone with a list of home improvement projects longer than this review, I’m used to unboxing lighting fixtures with complicated installations and barely legible instructions. My first impression of the Bolleke light was its no-fuss setup and minimalist packaging. It’s packaged more like a trendy tech product than an outdoor light. The single page included instructions outlining the setup, which are as simple as charging the light for 8 hours before first use and have some basic information about maintenance, cleaning, and troubleshooting. Easy enough.
When first handling the light out of the box, I noted that it felt lightweight yet sturdy and seemed well-constructed with premium materials. The silicone strap is thicker than I thought it would be (in a good way) and I think it will grip and hold its shape nicely.
Once the lamp is charged with the USB C-cable you’re ready to hang it up and hang out underneath the warm light. Of course, you’ll want to make sure the USB port is covered completely before using the light outdoors. To turn it on, press the on/off button which is located on the silicone top part of the pendant in the same area as the charging port. In terms of feedback, the button is easy to push and you get a nice ‘click’ as you toggle through the 3 brightness levels, then off. To hang the light, you create a knot by threading the light through the hanging rubber loop. It can tie around almost anything!
The materials are durable and it has a long battery life
Crafted from weather-resistant materials, the Fatboy Bolleke Hanging Lamp can withstand the elements, rain, and splashes. It is not waterproof so we did move it inside when heavy rain was expected. It can also be used indoors. According to Fatboy’s website, they purposefully choose strong, durable materials with a low environmental impact so their products, like this light, can last a long time. Although I’ve only been using this lamp for a few weeks, it’s been tied up in a few different spots and roughly transported in bags and still looks as good as new.
Testing the battery life on the Bolleke light, we found it lasted about 7-9 hours on full power, and much longer (up to 24 hours) if you use only the lower brightness levels. Charging is easy with the included USB port and takes about 3 hours. There is no indication to signal when the light is fully charged, so I would usually leave it in the charger for longer than needed just to be sure.
The light is warm and bright
The Bolleke lamp is definitely designed for ambient lighting. It has 3 brightness levels, but each is soft and warm. It’s not the light I would choose for reading or cooking outdoors but I like it because it creates a cozy atmosphere, like candlelight for your garden, patio, or outdoor dining area. I used the brightest setting most often, but if I added additional lights to my setup that might not be necessary.
The contemporary design elevates any space
There’s no getting around it; this light looks great when hung above a space and really elevates the style of the room. It’s the perfect light for relaxing, conversing, and hanging out and is both modern and fun in style. I like that it doesn’t look precious and has a soft and tactile surface with a colorful rubber string. The high-quality materials give it a premium feel and you can’t help but appreciate the craftsmanship that has gone into creating this piece. Whether your space is contemporary, minimalist, or somewhere in between, the Bolleke lamp adds that touch of modern elegance that sets it apart.
The hanging loop can’t be removed and won’t stretch around large posts
I love the robust silicone handle on this lamp because it provides a secure grip wherever you choose to hang it. It doesn’t get bent out of shape or sway in the wind too easily. The rubber loop is also great to carry it from room to room. A couple of caveats I found were that when placing the light on a surface, the loop gets in the way of balancing the light properly and the loop cannot be removed. Also, I was not able to wrap the light around the beams on the roof of my gazebo. The hanging loop is 19 in length but due to the size of the sphere, there isn’t much room to wrap the light around larger posts.
There’s no Bluetooth control or syncing
Although manual control makes sense if you’re using the handle to carry the light, or if it is placed on a table, when the light is hung up it’s slightly annoying to have to switch the brightness levels with the on/off button. Reaching up on top of the pendant to press the light is simple enough to do, but harder to do if you hang it up high or have multiple lights. A Bluetooth connection would help with this issue. Similarly, if I were to add multiple lights to my setup I’d love to be able to turn them on and off all at once or set up a timer via an app.
The Bolleke Hanging Lamp: The Verdict
After a few weeks of testing this hanging light in different areas of my yard and home, I use it mostly on the outdoor coffee table or under the patio umbrella (I attach it directly to the skeleton of the umbrella). I would love to create a more permanent setup for these lights in the gazebo, but I’d need to add 2 or more lights to complete the look. I also took this lamp camping and it provided the perfect light for over the dining table in the evenings. Overall the light is easily chargeable, portable, and fun. I wish the hanging loop was a little longer and that it had remote or Bluetooth control but I’d recommend this light to anyone looking to upgrade their space with a modern aesthetic. The atmosphere it creates makes any outdoor space more inviting and it’s a great statement light without the hassle of a wired installation.