I always find it useful to take 2/3 types of lighting with me on trips depending on where I am going. This will mean that you are prepared for more or less any eventuality and it will make your trip run smoothly and more brightly!
What are the Best Camping Lights?
Among the best lights for camping one can find are handheld torches, lanterns and headlamps. All have their pros and cons, and are powered by different kinds of fuels, so it is best to choose the right one for the given camping circumstances and camper needs.
Types of Portable Camping Light
Handheld Torch
It is useful, I find, to carry a small handheld torch within close reach, at all times, as you never know when you may need it. This can then be used for tasks such as picking your way between tents and trying to see the lock of your car at night.
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- Battery: The amount of time this lasts for will depend on type of bulb and the size/strength of the battery.
- Wind up: When fully wound they will last for about 30 minutes.
- Shake: Will only last for about two minutes when fully wound. I find that these are a bit of a gimic and aren’t really practical.
Advantages
- The light can be aimed
- These torches can be very cheap
- Lightweight and compact
Disadvantages
- Small torches will not really be able to take the place of lanterns due to the amont of light they emit. Larger versions that do emit enough light are normally too large to fit into small pocket for emergencies.
- Torch light is generally directed into when area and it can be hard to fix a torch in place if you are trying to light an area. My advice, take a lantern as well.
Lanterns
Designed to illuminate large area, the lantern is a useful addition to any campsite.
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- Candle: An option that will certainly be cheap and atmospheric. The candle is ideal for when you wish to conserve batteries. Take care with candles, especially around children.
- Liquid fuel: Generally paraffin, lamp oil or kerosene are used to power this type of lantern and they work in a similar way to a candle with a wick.
- Gas: These can either be disposable or refillable.
- Wind up: When fully wound they will last for about 30 minutes.
Advantages
- Ideal for luminating large spaces, which can be especially useful when in a group.
- Will have a flat bottom so that they can bee placed on the floor without falling over.
Disadvantages
- Usually far to large to carry with you at all times
- Far heavier than torches
- Generally will not have a spot light funtion.
Headlamps
This torch is attached around the head using a strap and will allow you to illuminate whatever is in front of you whilst keeping your hands free. Originally invented for mining, headlamps now generally use LEDs.
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- Battery: The amount of time this lasts for will depend on type of bulb and the size/strength of the battery.
Advantages
- Let you undertake tasks with both hands whilst shining the light at a particular area.
- Very lightweight
- The light can be adjusted to point in the direction you wish.
Disadvantages
- The light goes wherever you look, so if someone else is relying your headlamp to, lets say, read by and you are looking all over the place, you aren’t going to be that popular.
- Headlamps will not really be able to take the place of lanterns due to the amount of light they emit.
- Headlamp light is generally directed into when area and it can be hard to fix a lamp in place if you are trying to light an area. My advice, take a lantern as well.