Need a new flashlight but don’t know where to turn for advice?
To assist you in finding the best flashlight for your camping requirements, we have included this guide to the many features and terminology associated with flashlights.
The sheer variety of goods available today may make even the most seasoned shopper feel overwhelmed. When searching for the ideal camping flashlight, keep the following in mind.
Brightness. Doing so is essential. For this purpose, a flashlight with a brightness output of at least 600 would serve you well.
Alternate lighting settings. A low-mode flashlight is useful for exploring a tent when you don’t need the full beam.
Durability. Whatever you choose, be sure it can withstand the rain and wind. Your flashlight should be shockproof since it will undoubtedly take a few drops.
Our List of The Best Camping Flashlights
1. G55 650 Lumen Focusing LED Flashlight
The Coast G55’s two-beam technology is one of its main selling points since it enables you to either illuminate the whole campground with a powerful floodlight or zero in on a specific area without disturbing your neighbors. This function is easily accessible by rotating the flashlight’s head.
While it lacks a rechargeable battery, this Coast flashlight is compact and sturdy, making it competitive with alternatives.
Key Features
- 650 lumens (maximum), 300 lumens (normal), and 95 lumens (low) (low)
- Time to Complete: 2:30 on High, 6:15 on Medium, 17:00 on Low (low)
- This requires 4 AAA batteries.
- Certification for Waterproofness: IPX4
- 180 grams (about 6.4 ounces) in weight
Our Favorites
- Improve upon conventional layouts by thinking outside the box.
- Designed to switch between a narrow beam and a wide one.
- Lightweight.
- You can walk about the campsite without even noticing it’s in your pocket.
What We Don’t Like
- Additional batteries are required since they are not rechargeable.
2. Nite Ize Inova T4R Rechargeable Tactical LED Flashlight
The Nite Ize Inova T4R is a good choice if you care more about reliability than output.
Because of its type III hard-coat anodized finish, the aluminium body can withstand drops while camping or trekking and remain in pristine condition.
The high setting is sufficient for its intended use, lighting an area 840 feet in diameter, however, it doesn’t have a lumen output of above 1,000. Low, or eco-friendly, mode produces 12 lumens, which is bright enough to use for digging about a tent.
The Nite Ize Inova T4R stands out because it can be charged in two different ways: by a standard wall socket and by a USB port.
Key Features
- Maximum 850 lumens illumination, with a minimum 12 lumens also available (low)
- Time of Use: 2:00 (maximum) / 138:00 (minimum) (low)
- Power supply: 2,600 mAH
- Certification for Waterproofness: IPX4
- 12.4 ounces / 635 grams
Our Favorites
- Shockproof.
- This flashlight is built to withstand the toughest environments.
- Power up quickly.
- Crank up the power from zero in around three hours.
What We Don’t Like
- Dim compared to normal conditions.
- Brightness is a major selling point for competitors.
3. Fenix Lumens LED Aluminum Black
There are a variety of illumination settings available on the rechargeable and small Fenix PD36R, making it an excellent camping flashlight. These modes range from a powerful 1,600 lumens on high to a more energy-efficient 30 lumens in eco mode.
The six settings of this LED flashlight are easily accessible through a sliding switch and an on/off button.
Using USB-C, this Fenix flashlight can be charged in only 10 minutes for five hours of operation, making it ideal for frequent campers who want to avoid carrying along a heavy battery pack.
Key Features
- Power output is 1,600 lumens on high, 350 lumens on medium, and 30 lumens on low (low)
- Total Time of Use: 5:49 on High, 8:24 on Medium, and 115:00 on Low (low)
- Power supply: 5,000 mAH
- IP-68 Rating for Waterproofness
- 3.0 ounces / 85 grams
Our Favorites
- Large capacity battery that can power your camping gear for days.
- Eco-mode.
- This is even darker than the lowest setting.
- In the tent, where they won’t bother anybody else.
What We Don’t Like
- Slim concealer.
- Small enough that putting and removing the flashlight won’t be a hassle.
4. Premium LED Light Ledlenser with Rechargeable Batteries
The Ledlenser MT18 is a rechargeable flashlight that is small enough to put in your pocket.
Brightness levels of 3,000 lumens mean you won’t have any trouble seeing your way about the campground. Moreover, you may choose between a high, medium, and low setting so you don’t blind your fellow campers.
The more expensive Ledlenser flashlight has a transport lock that prevents it from accidentally turning on during transit.
Key Features
- Brightness settings include 3,600 lumens on high, 1,500 lumens in the middle, and 30 lumens on low (low)
- Time of Use: 5 hours on high, 9 hours on medium, and 96 hours on low (low)
- 10200 mAh battery capacity
- Having an IPX4 rating means that it is completely waterproof.
- Its 620g (21.8 ounces) weight makes it a manageable option.
Our Favorites
- Long battery life for light to moderate users because to the powerful battery.
- Outstandingly brilliant.
- In terms of brightness, it rivals the brightest spotlight.
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive.
- In comparison to other flashlights of comparable quality, it is rather pricey.
5. SureFire E2D Defender Ultra Dual-Output LED
The Surefire e2T is perfect for campers who want to travel light. It’s a fantastic alternative for lighting up your campsite, weighing in at just 3.5 ounces and producing 800 lumens of light.
This flashlight has some really cutting-edge design and tech behind it. Simply tighten the front bezel to increase the output, and relax it by a quarter turn to decrease it.
This Surefire torch is worth the additional cost if you often use a flashlight while camping.
Key Features
- 800 lumens (high) and 5 lumens (low) of illumination (low)
- Time of Use: 1:30 (high) / 95:00 (low) (low)
- A pair of 123A batteries.
- IPX68 Rating for Waterproofness
- Expressed in terms of ounces or grams, the weight is: 3.5oz / 99g
Our Favorites
- Compact.
- This is the lightest and smallest flashlight we have.
- Lighting obscurity function.
- The 5-lumen setting on this powerful flashlight is ideal for sifting through a bag.
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive.
- The price of compact power is high.
Buying Advice for Outdoor Lights
When looking for a flashlight for use in the great outdoors, there are a few key characteristics to look for.
Make use of this manual to make a well-informed purchase.
Illumination and Lumens
Lumens are the standard measurement for illuminance in electronic devices and can help you comprehend how bright a flashlight really is.
A camping flashlight’s brightness may be broken down into the following categories, and the following statistics are something to keep an eye out for:
High: The Pelican 7100 has a brightness output of 6000, making it one of the brightest camping lights available.
Medium: When you need to brighten a smaller space, such a dining table, a light with 200-500 lumens is ideal. Example: the Goal Zero Torch 250.
Low: A light with 30-100 lumens is suitable for searching a tent without disturbing its occupants. The Maglite ML50L has an eco setting that reduces the brightness to 20 lumens.
The Ledlenser MT18 is one such flashlight that has an extremely powerful setting, with a maximum output of 3,000 lumens. Three tents would be adequately illuminated with that amount of light!
The best choice would be a flashlight with many brightness settings that can be cycled through.
Also, keep in mind that the price of a flashlight tends to increase in proportion to its brightness.
The Relationship Between Beam Angle and Distance
If you plan on doing any kind of off-the-grid camping, you should bring along a flashlight with a wide beam.
Say you’re on your way back to camp and you hear what may be a bear in the woods up ahead. A powerful flashlight that can illuminate a large area would be really useful right now.
And thus, how do we define beam angle?
The beam angle is defined as the angular distance from the light’s center at which its intensity is reduced by half.
It’s the distance in front of you that can be illuminated by your flashlight.
For instance, the Nitecore P30 has a reflector and 1,000 lumens that allow it to shine over 674 yards distant. While it would be overkill for a camping trip, you never know when extra space could be a need.
Light intensity levels
Brightness levels are the primary focus of a decent camping flashlight’s several settings. However, there are several supplemental modes that prove useful in dire circumstances.
High: The highest intensity setting of a flashlight.
Medium: To illuminate a campground but not blind people, a medium level of brightness is ideal.
Low: The light from this is just enough to see by while you rummage in a tent or a backpack. The ability to save battery life is another plus.
Strobe: This emergency mode is included on several flashlights. A strobe light flashing would let folks know you’re in trouble and need help.
The Nitecore TM9K, for example, has a Turbo Mode that can increase the maximum output to 9,500 lumens, making it one of the brightest flashlights available.
You should get a flashlight with high, medium, and low settings, but consider whether or not the additional settings are worth the additional cost.
Comparison of sizes and masses
One rule of thumb for camping is to bring as little gear as possible, and that includes your flashlight.
Camping newbies should carry a flashlight in their pack, but seasoned campers know better and keep one in their pocket at all times. Though there may be compromises in terms of size and brightness, there are advantages to both.
The demand for a more powerful battery in a brighter flashlight usually results in a bulkier design.
In reality, however, that’s not always the case. For instance, the Surefire e2T has 800 lumens of brightness while weighing just 3.5 ounces. However, a smaller battery was required to achieve that size by the manufacturer.
Buy two flashlights and don’t worry about it.
There should be two different flashlights: one larger and more powerful for use around the campground, and another smaller and more portable one to keep in your pocket in case you get lost.
To prevent water seepage and dust accumulation
The Ingress Protection (IP) Code is used to determine the degree to which a flashlight is resistant to dust and water.
Here are some of the most typical star ratings you could encounter:
IP68: The number 6 denotes that it is completely sealed and protected from dust. The rating of 8 also implies that it may be safely submerged in water at depths more than 1 meter.
IP63: It can withstand some rain, but it is not watertight and is merely dustproof.
IP69K: This is less common but prevents the flashlight from being damaged by a stream-jet cleaner.
You may run upon flashlights with an IPX68 rating; this is equivalent to IP68.
Certain waterproof torches, such as the Pelican 7100, include an aluminum anodized coating that makes them very durable.
Even if a flashlight claims to be waterproof, you shouldn’t take it swimming with you just in case.
Flashlights that are waterproof may be used in the rain or if they are dropped in water without damage.
