Flashlight
From Trail-Finder -- Dedicated to getting you outside
Contents |
Overview
There are a lot of different types of flashlights available. Not all are useful for outdoor activities. Ideally, any flashlight for backcountry use is:
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Waterproof
- Long battery life
Standard Flashlights
Traditionally, some of the best backcountry lights to throw into the bottom of your pack were the mini-mag type. They are waterproof and nearly indestructible. The most common mini-mag flashlights use two AA batteries, which may allow the batteries to be interchanged with your GPS in an emergency.
For longer battery life, you can swap the standard bulb for an LED kit such as this
If you're buying a new mini-mag, you can also buy it with LEDs
Headlamps
Caving:Cavers have long used headlamps for their superior lighting and hands-free operation. Originally, this meant carbide lights, which aren't practical for most non-cavers. Recently, however, a number of companies have produced headlights suitable for most outdoor activities.
Keyring lights
Tiny keyring LED lights are now easy to find. You won't want to try to navigate by these unless it's an emergency, but they're cheap and small and light, and the batteries last a long time, so it might be worth throwing one into your emergency kit. Find one with not only a squeeze-type switch, but also a standard switch.
