I can't speak for how long this lasts, or how long the batteries last, because I haven't used it that much.
However, I am really impressed by how easy it is to use (just put the two wire handles together and give a straight pull upwards to get the light turned on. Reverse this to close it down.) And I am doubly impressed by how bright it is
It takes 3 AA batteries, which are easy to come by. And the bottom easily screws off to fix the batteries in place. It's extremely well-designed. (It might have helped if instructions had been included, as it's not immediately obvious how to turn the lantern on. But it didn't take too long to figure it out.)
After tinkering around with other products, this is the one I would recommend.