Guy Gear
Headlamp and flashlight buying guide
You’re in a cave, 300 feet below ground, when — suddenly — your flashlight burns out! It’s pitch black.
If you’re prepared, you have a backup light.
“Lighting is the most critical piece of equipment for caving,” says Kass Kastning, 29, an Eagle Scout and expert caver. “Always have at least three light sources with you.”
Reliable lighting is just as important for hiking and backpacking, too. So we asked Kastning to shed some light (sorry, we couldn’t resist) on what you need to consider before buying a new flashlight or headlamp.
THE LOWDOWN
Lights come in many shapes and sizes. Handheld flashlights are the most common. They are versatile because you can easily direct the light and focus it closer to the ground when hiking.
“I like smaller flashlights when I’m outdoors,” Kastning says. “They are lightweight, and you can throw them in your daypack in case you need light.”
Headlamps are like flashlights you wear on your head. Headlamps are the standard for cavers — and any other outdoorsman who need to have their hands free for climbing and handling gear. Battery-powered lanterns are used to light up larger areas for cooking and hanging around camp. Finally, signal lights are flashlights that come with several different colored lights and special blinking options that can help you call for help when necessary.
PRICE
“You can buy a cheap flashlight at a discount store, but that might not be such a good choice,” Kastning says.
You get what you pay for. Cheap lights usually are not durable and won’t last long. Expect to spend at least $10 to $15 to get a quality flashlight. Headlamps are more expensive — you can get an entry-level headlamp for about $20 to $25.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
“Big flashlights usually shine brighter, but they also weigh more,” warns Kastning.
If you mainly keep the light in your pack for emergencies or for getting around camp at night, get a smaller light. Some of the newer, more expensive small lights can pack as much power as the older big ones.
BATTERIES
Bigger flashlights require bigger, heavier batteries — and that spells more weight you’ll have to carry on the trail. That’s why Kastning likes smaller flashlights with AA batteries. In general, big batteries hold more power and last longer.
Most flashlights use alkaline batteries, but if you can afford lithium batteries, they last up to 10 years. Rechargeable batteries are another choice to consider since they are better for the environment, but they don’t hold their charge as long as other types.
BRIGHTNESS
Think about what you’ll be using your light for. If you just want a light to read by in camp, consider a small flashlight or tiny lantern with LED lights. If you need it for hiking or mountain biking, a bright headlamp with a halogen or Xenon bulb might be a better choice.
DURABILITY
“Consider getting a light that can withstand being dropped on rocks or in a stream,” Kastning says. “Ask yourself: Over a few camping trips will it be able to hold up to wear and tear?”
If the light is made of aircraft-grade aluminum or super-strong plastic, the answer is yes.
It’s also best to pick a model with a push-button switch because lights with sliding buttons can accidentally be turned on in your pack, killing the batteries or bulb — and leaving you with no light.
Apr. 30, 2008 at 2:49 pm
mag-lights work very well, have a life time warenty, and they have a extra light bulb
in the bottom! I have one and it lastid for 5 years!
Apr. 30, 2008 at 4:11 pm
boring lol
Apr. 30, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Why have I not heard about this before?
Apr. 30, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Awesome!!!
May. 4, 2008 at 12:00 am
Walmart sells a single AA cell LED flashlight that is light and small and will last all night for about $5. I keep one in my search and rescue packas a spare.
May. 4, 2008 at 10:16 am
i agree love guns, i have a mag lite too and its great!
May. 9, 2008 at 2:05 pm
mAG LIGHTES ARE OK AND ARE CHEAP BUT YOU CAN GET MUCH BETTER ONES
May. 10, 2008 at 12:45 pm
i would suggest getting one of those flashlights that all u have to do is charge it up using a little crank on the side. it not brightest but will keep you out of dark
May. 11, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I have a wind up flashlight and it is great for reading in the Tent!!!!(for all you readers out there) It’s great but it runs out of juice really fast.
May. 19, 2008 at 9:56 pm
thanks, Jesus follower!
May. 29, 2008 at 3:59 pm
GREAT ADVISE
FOR SCOUT CAMP THE LED LIGHTS WORK BEST
GET EM FROM ACADEMY CAUSE WALMARTS WELL THEIR NOT DEPENDABLE
Jun. 20, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I have a nice crankable flashlight that is slightly dimmer than some others, but it’s good for outdoor camping. I’m not sure about caving, however. And bobscout 45, was caps lock on and you were looking at the keyboard, or were you using caps lock on purpose? I want to know, because all caps is bad internet etiquiite.
Jun. 25, 2008 at 10:44 am
I bought an energizer headlamp that works great…it has four settings and the power lasts long….good
Jun. 27, 2008 at 8:44 am
i have a light weight aluminum one that is great for backpacking, then i have an l.e.d lamp for summer camp, and a larger flashlight for camping trips.
Jun. 27, 2008 at 1:49 pm
i’ve found out that when you are sleeping on a campout it is easier to put your flashlight in a boot or shoe than on the ground next to you becouse if nature calls and you cant find your flashlight than your in trouble.
Aug. 1, 2008 at 1:29 pm
i got one from walmart it is not durable
Aug. 20, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I used one of the Energizer LED head lamps from Wal Mart for 6 months while through hiking the Appalachian Trail. Used it every night and only changed the batteries 3 times! Great head lamp.
Oct. 8, 2008 at 9:54 am
why dont you got pictures
Nov. 10, 2008 at 8:29 pm
i have an energizer one that i bought from wal-mart and it works fine for me.
Feb. 10, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Princeton Tec is a great flashlight and headlamp brand.(Their flash lights are so small, I fit it in my survival kit.The lights have a low, med,high, and flash modes.)
Mar. 6, 2009 at 8:04 pm
It’s better if you actually get a crankable light , since you never have to change the batteries or light bulbs. Plus its useful for emergencies.
Mar. 12, 2009 at 10:14 pm
petzls are good $20-40 but well worth prise black diamond also good headlamps
maglite aa’s model are also one of my favorites
maglite sells converter kits for their flashlight like led and bottom push button
maglites can also be used like a candle or lantern if you take off cap and put it on bootom
Mar. 24, 2009 at 8:38 pm
MAG LITES ALL THE WAY! NO WAY I WOULD USE ANY OTHER FLASH LIGHT.:)
Mar. 30, 2009 at 5:27 pm
princeton tec lights may be a little on the pricey side. but I found one called aurora thats somewhere between 20-45$ [can't remember had it for so long (still works)]. it’s one of the brightest in my troop and i’ve yet to break it. p.s. MAG lights are great around home and camp but dont recomend for backpacking due to metal frame.
Mar. 30, 2009 at 5:29 pm
oh, and crank lights can break so be careful. :]
Apr. 4, 2009 at 3:11 pm
this is another one of those things where there’s so much to choose from. i reccomend that you buy a wide beam flash light. it works great for any occassion wheather your hiking in the mountains or going from your tent to a tree for a restroom break. it lights up the night and dosen’t eat up battries quick.
by:troop637scout
also, if you have any questions for me, just type them here in the blog but put question for troop637scout. thanks.
Apr. 4, 2009 at 3:13 pm
hey king tut and papa smurf, you can get a lithium version of that for 8 bucks more. it has twice the battery life.
by:troop637scout
Apr. 5, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I bought one of those weird national zoo crank lights where you squeeze it and it charges. I wouldn’t recommend getting one of those. I dropped mine onto its side and the gears dislocated. Now the charging setting doesn’t work. Don’t trust National Zoo gift shops!!!
Apr. 9, 2009 at 8:44 am
Wallmart may be CHEAP but they do NOT have quality flashlights!! I bought one the night before my first camping trip and it did not even work!!! BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!
Apr. 9, 2009 at 8:48 am
For christmas i got two 9 LED flashlights. Both metal. Both from HUSKY. I also got a awesome 1-3 LED streamlight headlamp. ( It has different settings, 1. one LED 2. 3 LED 3.Xenon bulb.) They are all very reliable.
Jun. 11, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I have a surfire e1e it only ways two ounces and it works great
Jun. 11, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Are “Shake Lite Flashlights” good as usuable flashlights. They don’t require any flashlight batteries and produce energy for a flashlight by having a magnet slide inside a metal coil “slinky” type coil within the flashlight. Crank flashlights require someone to wind a crank for up to 90 seconds to produce enough energy to light a flashlight lightbulb. For flashlights which use batteries, it is easy to find replacement batteries for a flashlight–however, where can someone find replacement lightbulbs for flashlights which contain removable lightbulbs?
Jun. 18, 2009 at 7:48 pm
go with a mag lite. but a leatherman light is still good.
Jul. 6, 2009 at 7:48 am
mag-lites all the way! the one i have adjusts for a wider area of coverage.
Jul. 11, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Where can replacement lightbulbs for mag-lites be purchased to replace a no longer working mag-lite lightbulb? Mag-lite flashlights are not disposable flashlights like Energizer flashlights or Everready Flashlights where the lightbulb is sealed intact and a new Energizer flashlight costs less than $20.00 for the entire flashlight at a camping store or Walgreens or Rite-Aid.