Best weather-proof exterior lights for backyard

[hops]

We'd like to add a light or two to the back of our house. Motion-activated or dusk-to-dawn, either would be fine. Any recommendations?

We use basic $15 motion-sensing flood lights next to the door, where it's fully sheltered from rain and snow. The additional fixture(s) won't have as much protection.

We've looked through Amazon, Lowe's and Home Depot reviews of highly-rated models. The most enthusiastic reviews are often written shortly after installation, which isn't particularly helpful for judging long-term durability.

[Turkey Leg]

This is a good question. I searched and couldn’t find any online reviews/suggestions that are worthwhile.

Sites like The Wirecutter and Consumer Reports (login to CR is provided by my local library) have nothing on outdoor lighting.

You might be stuck using Amazon reviews.

[Rural]

If you feel you need lights, please get switch operated or motion-sensing ones instead of the kind that are on all night. Light pollution is becoming a real problem.


https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton/2017/11/30/increasing-light-pollution-is-having-a-bad-affect-on-our-health-infographic/#479132c81756

[hops]

This is a good question. I searched and couldn’t find any online reviews/suggestions that are worthwhile.

Sites like The Wirecutter and Consumer Reports (login to CR is provided by my local library) have nothing on outdoor lighting.

You might be stuck using Amazon reviews.

Thanks for checking! It's been surprising to me how little there is to go by other than user reviews.

If you feel you need lights, please get switch operated or motion-sensing ones instead of the kind that are on all night. Light pollution is becoming a real problem.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton/2017/11/30/increasing-light-pollution-is-having-a-bad-affect-on-our-health-infographic/#479132c81756

Thanks, Rural. Motion-activated is our preference; switch-operated would also work fine. Our neighborhood is pitch-black at night (no street lights and few neighbors use exterior lights), attracts a lot of wildlife, and we'd like to know what's in our big, very dark backyard before taking the dog out, in addition to having better lighting for security purposes.

[Rural]

This is a good question. I searched and couldn’t find any online reviews/suggestions that are worthwhile.

Sites like The Wirecutter and Consumer Reports (login to CR is provided by my local library) have nothing on outdoor lighting.

You might be stuck using Amazon reviews.

Thanks for checking! It's been surprising to me how little there is to go by other than user reviews.

If you feel you need lights, please get switch operated or motion-sensing ones instead of the kind that are on all night. Light pollution is becoming a real problem.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton/2017/11/30/increasing-light-pollution-is-having-a-bad-affect-on-our-health-infographic/#479132c81756

Thanks, Rural. Motion-activated is our preference; switch-operated would also work fine. Our neighborhood is pitch-black at night (no street lights and few neighbors use exterior lights), attracts a lot of wildlife, and we'd like to know what's in our big, very dark backyard before taking the dog out, in addition to having better lighting for security purposes.

Oh, I understand that, definitely. We have pitch dark to the point we can see the Milky Way on clear nights, and we have bears in the area.


 We put a motion activated light in our courtyard, which is sort of inset into the house, and switch-activated ones on the true exterior. I'm not advocating going out blind. We just bought our lights at Lowes, and I don't know the brand. They aren't expensive (or they don't have to be). The motion-activated one is on a switch so we also have the option to turn it completely off in case of wind-whipped trees or excited dogs causing it to go on and off all night.

[hops]

It came to our attention over the weekend that Mr. Beams battery-powered LED motion-sensing lights can now communicate with each other. We're considering experimenting with those now. If we can find the right location and settings so they aren't constantly set off by wind, they'd all switch on when one is tripped. It would allow us to keep track of the dog without lighting up the neighborhood. They'd be easy to move as our needs change.

[soccerluvof4]

We just recently replaced our front and back door lights I got from HD that are switched and motion activated as I think thats at least for us best way to go. Don't remember brand but think most of the fixtures if they offer what you want as far as look, and motion, switched what have ya will last for long time. Our Back door one sits out in the open and the front door is covered.  The old ones were original to the house so probably 40+ years old and the new ones I can tell were built better.