Have you ever arrived late at a campsite? You thought you understood the directions MapQuest gave you, only to turn right when you should have turned left. The end result – you get to your designated campground at night, and have to set up camp under cover of darkness.
So what do you do? First you look for your lantern or one of the three camping flashlights you thought you packed. After all, Man/Women can claim fire, but not night vision. That’s left to some of our four legged camping companions.
But what if your flashlight mimics some our public servants – it’s just not bright enough to do the job (please note…that was a non-partisan dig). Then you’re stuck with moonlight. And, to be honest, moonlight is best left as the province of the romantic…and werewolves (I really hope there are no werewolf public servants out there…if so, I apologize for any perceived offense).
In order to save you from fumbling in the dark, this post is dedicated to helping you choose the right camping flashlight.
Bright Ideas
When I choose a flashlight, I like to find one that’s waterproof. You pay a little more for that, but there are few things as demoralizing as finding your wet flashlight no longer works when you are deep on the trail.
In addition, I look for a flashlight that’s scratch resistant. Honestly, I’m somewhat accident prone. The scratches on the left side of my car clearly testify to that. So I really want to find a light that can stand up to my clumsiness.
It’s also great if your light can mimic a lantern and stand on its own. That way, you can rest it in a fixed position while you use both free hands to lay down your tarp or start your campfire.
Neiko 2-in-1 Flashlight and Lantern Nichia LED Flashlight with Hanging Carabiner Clip
In addition, consider an adjustable beam. Sometimes if you need to find something deep within the resources of your bag late at night, a light with a low setting is less apt to disturb your camping friends.
Finally, I like a light that’s easy to carry. I want to feel free to enjoy my surroundings and not have to focus on lugging around heavy or awkward gear.
I particularly like the Neiko 2-in-1 Flashlight and Lantern. While it doesn’t meet all my criteria, it’s easy to carry and can serve as both a flashlight and lantern. You check it out on Amazon at
Neiko 2-in-1 Flashlight and Lantern Nichia LED Flashlight with Hanging Carabiner Clip, 1xAA, Cool Blue
So what are your thoughts? How do you choose your camping flashlight?
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