Lisa J Thompson
“Not only is your camping gear not complete without a flashlight but they are very useful in emergencies. This is why we are here to help you choose the best flashlight for camping before you go on your camping trip.”
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Camping is one of the ways of having fun, especially for outdoor lovers. The fact that you are camped under the stars and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, close to nature gives you a certain thrill and excitement. There is nothing like being too equipped for a camping trip and one of the most important pieces of equipment for a camping trip is a flashlight.
Not only is your camping gear not complete without a flashlight but they are very useful in emergencies. This is why we are here to help you choose the best camping flashlight before you go on your camping trip.
Our top picks of best flashlight for camping
1. Anker Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight
2. Outlite A100 Portable
3. J5 tactical V1-pro
4. Gearlight high powered led flashlight s2000
5. ThruNite TC15
6. Maglite mini pro LED 2-cell
7. Streamlight 88061 pro-tac tactical light.
8. Wsky LED Tactical Flashlight – S1800
9. Ohlight H2R Nova flashlight
Anker Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight
Anker Bolder LC90 is a compact, pocket-sized and rechargeable flashlight. It features a dedicated integrated-circuit and intelligent illumination driver. These two features account for its consistent lighting every time the flashlight is turned on. It has a 900-lumen that sweeps a bright light that can reach up to a thousand ft. and cover the length of two football fields. The lumen has a lifespan of 50,000 hrs. Besides, it is made of extra-hard anodized aluminum. This makes it resistant to shock, scratching and chipping. It also gives it a sleek look.
It has an advanced battery technology. It contains a microchip that protects the battery from heating, overcharging and under-charging. The battery has a capacity of 3350mAH and is capable of lasting up to 6hrs on a medium beam mode. It recharges in 6hrs and also comes with a micro USB cable. This can be very useful especially during camping it offers five different lighting settings: low, medium, high, SOS, and strobe. It comes with a zoom effect. This allows for adjustment of beam width to soothe your purpose.
LC90 has an IPX5 rating. Even if it is raining, you can still use the flashlight without it dying off. It can also work perfectly in a temperature that is as low as 140F or -100C.
What we like
- Small enough to fit into pockets
- The battery can be easily recharged
- Tough and strong due to high-grade materials
What we don’t like
- The grip is not as good as it looks.
Outlite A100
The Outlite A100 is built for easy use and storage. It is small enough to fit into the pocket of your pants. It comes with an upgraded led chip which is indestructible. The Cree XM-L bulb is of high quality with a lifespan of more than 100,000hours. With this lifespan, you can be assured that it will be with you for a while. It also comes with zooming capabilities I.e. you can zoom in or out. Zooming in produces an output of about 500-700 lumen while zooming out generates an output of 700-900 lumen. It has three brightness levels in addition to a strobe and SOS mode. The strobe mode is very useful in dangerous situations.
Outlite A100 can be powered by two different batteries, the 18650 and the triple A’s batteries. The latter does not come with the package. It contains holders for the two batteries. It is made of 6061T aluminum. This makes the flashlight scratch-proof, sturdy and durable. This aluminum alloy has a lightweight, carrying the flashlight around won’t be a problem.
The Outlite has a knurling feature. These features help prevent it from falling off a flat surface. The flashlight is water-resistant so it can be used even in the rain.
What we like
- It can be powered by both rechargeable and disposable batteries
- It is waterproof
- It has quality construction and design
What we don’t like
- Its battery needs to be purchased
- The 18650 battery is susceptible to overcharging.
J5 tactical V1-pro
J5 tactical pro is very light in weight. It weighs about 2.3 oz. alone and 3.3 oz. with battery. Even with this, it is still able to carry-out heavy functions. It is constructed with aircraft-grade aluminum. It has an all-Metal body that enhances grip. Merely looking at this flashlight, you will know that it is compact. This gives a stout and tough feel to it. Also, it comes with a cooling fin around its compact body. Bright flashlight tends to generate heat. The cooling fin is designed to combat this problem.
It is resistant to elements such as dust and water because it is tightly packed together. The flashlight has a light output of 300-lumens. It offers two battery options: a single AA battery and a 14500 battery lithium-ion battery. It comes with three different light settings and can last up to 4-hours on the high mode on a single AA battery. It has a metal belt clip that can be used to attach it to the pocket.
It comes with an adjustable focus that makes it easy to flood an area with light or focus on a particular spot. This is very useful for camping.
What we like
- It is very tough
- It is very small and can be easily carried around
- It runs on two different batteries
- It can is water and dust resistant
What we don’t like
- It heats up
- Can be too small for hand
- Batteries need to be purchased.
Gearlight high powered led flashlight s2000
The s2000 flashlight is powerful and practical. It is produced by Gearlight, a company known for producing high-quality flashlights. It is made from tough high-strength aluminum. This gives it a heavy and solid build. Due to the material used in its construction, it can be able to weather extreme conditions and survive a 10-foot drop without getting damaged. It is designed to be indestructible. It comes with an XM-L2 led bulb and a whopping 1200-lumen. The bulb is 20 times brighter than a normal incandescent bulb. It is compact and heavy, but not too heavy to carry around in your camping kit.
This flashlight can focus on objects that are up to 1000ft and flood a 900c area around them. It comes with 5 different light settings, making it a piece of user equipment in case of an emergency. It is shock and water-resistant and can survive being temporarily submerged in water. It uses 3 standard AA batteries or a 18650 rechargeable battery. The battery life is not bad, it can run for a few hours.
What we like
- The exterior casing is made of tough material
- It has bright beams
- It is easy to switch between modes
- Uses rechargeable batteries
What we don’t like
- It is susceptible to overheating
- Batteries burn out quickly
- It is bulky.
ThruNite TC15
This is a general-purpose rechargeable flashlight designed by ThruNite, it gives a new experience. It easily fits anywhere from your pocket to the camp kit and does not weigh much. It comes with a lanyard, nylon pouch and a pocket clip that secures it to your wrist or bags. The flashlight has an anti-skid design that helps to enhance grip. It has a maximum output of about 2300-lumen and utilizes the newest Cree XHP35 HP. The lumen output is high for a flashlight of its size.
The TC15 is powered by a 18650 rechargeable battery. It can be recharged using a micro-USB cable. The presence of three different indicator lights helps to know the capacity of the battery at any time. It takes 3hrs to get a fully charged battery. The run-time lasts for 90-mins in a high mode and 6.5hrs in a medium mode. TC15 comes with five light modes: turbo, high, medium, low and firefly coupled with a strobe. They all have different functions.
It is made from an anodized aluminum material that is well constructed to give a sleek outlook. The materials used in constructing it is high quality as it can survive a 1.5m fall without shattering. The amazing flashlight is strong and can survive being completely submerged in water.
What we like
- It is light and easy to carry about
- Made of quality material
- Has battery capacity indicators
What we don’t like
- This flashlight is not completely waterproof with the USB cover opened
Maglite mini pro Led 2-cell
This mini flashlight comes with a lot of amazing features. From the appearance, you can tell that it is portable and sleek. It comes with a user interface and delivers fantastic performance for a flashlight of its size. It is made from high-quality anodized aircraft aluminum. This material makes it strong and tough with long-lasting qualities. It has an O-ring seal in all the threaded joints. In addition to all this feature, it is very easy to operate. The head houses a reflector. Because of this reflector, a simple twist action can be used to switch the flashlight on and off. It also helps to focus the beam. The presence of knurling along the body ensures a solid grip
It gives a light output of 272-lumen and comes with a single white Led bulb. Generate a beam range up to 146m. It is powered by two AA batteries with a run-time of 2hrs 30mins. It has an IPX4 water resistance level and can withstand a drop of 1meter. It comes with an open-top holster used to fasten it to the body. It has three-mode operations: on, off and candle.
What we like
- It is easy to operate
- It easily fits into the pocket
- It is highly durable and strong
What we don’t like
- It is not rechargeable
- The battery quickly depletes at full brightness mode
Streamlight 88061 pro-tac tactical light
The Streamlight pro-tac is an ultra-compact and flexible flashlight. It comes in the right size to fit the pocket of your pants. It made our list of top picks because it comes with some extra-ordinary features that make it one of the best for camping. Streamlight pro-tac is made from anodized aluminum, so it is reliable and long-lasting. It does not weigh much even with the battery so it can be easily carried around without being a source of discomfort. Comes with a borofloat glass lens are AR coated. It is designed to be able to absorb shock, impact and resist high temperature.
It produces an output of 350-lumen. It uses a C4 led technology that gives a quality brightness. The bulb is impervious to shock and has a lifespan of 50,000-hrs. It can be powered by three different types of battery: CR123A lithium battery, one AA lithium battery, and one AA alkaline battery. This offers you the option of picking the best available choice for you. The usage time varies with the three batteries. It can run for 1hrs 50mins using the lithium battery while it runs for 1hrs 20mins with the alkaline battery and for 4hrs 25min on using the AA-lithium batteries. It performs all in a high light mode.
It uses three modes of instructions: high, low and strobe. It is IPX7 level waterproof to 1m when immersed for 30mins. One of the reasons why we pick this flashlight is its accessories. It comes with an anti-roll cap and a reversible clip.
What we like
- It is durable
- The package comes with the batteries
What we don’t like
- Has a low run-time
Wsky Led tactical flashlight S-1800
Wsky S1800 provides incredible illumination. This flashlight is not only suitable for camping but can also be used indoors. This flashlight is compact and can be carried around with ease. It gives high-quality brightness and comes with an upgraded XM-L T6 wick. It is easy to operate. It simply requires you to push a single button to change the mode. It comes with five different operation modes. The bulb can sweep a large area and can focus on objects 600m away from it. It is constructed from a military-grade aluminum which is responsible for the solid build and strength.
It can be your ideal flashlight for extreme weather and temperatures. It can be a reliable source of light in temperature as low as 100C. The body is designed to prevent it from rolling off when placed on a surface. It requires three AAA batteries to operate but can also be powered by a 18650 battery.
What we like
- It is waterproof
- It is easy to use the zoom feature
What we don’t like
- It does not come with batteries
Ohlight H2R Nova flashlight.
Ohlight H2R is a versatile hands-free flashlight. It can successfully function as both headlamp and a hand-held flashlight. It has a 2-in-1 package of being light and bright altogether. Only a few flashlights can achieve this. It has an anti-scratch Aluminum body with an anodized finish. It has a maximum brightness of 2300-lumen. Another important feature is the magnetized base which helps to hold the flashlight in place during charging.
This comes with different accessories like the head strap, clip, and a magnetic cable. Attached to the head strap, the H2R can function as a headlamp. This head strap contains a magnetic base and a rubber latch that help secures it in place even when moving.
It utilizes the 18650 battery as a source of power. It is waterproof and can survive being fully immersed in water at a depth of 2m.
What we like
- Can function as both a handheld flashlight and headlamp
- Presence of magnetic ends that holds it in place.
What we don’t like
- Generates heat.
Choosing the Best Flashlight for Camping
Selecting the best flashlight for camping can be easy or difficult depending on your approach. It is not always the best option to just pick something off the rack without carefully examining its features. Some flashlights might have a catchy appearance but may not be the best for you in the long-run. This is why this review was carried out in the first place; to ensure that you make the best possible choice when selecting a flashlight for camping. But before you make that decision, we have compiled a few things to consider before getting one. Without further ado, let’s Dive In!
Lumen
This is the first and most important factor. Nevertheless, this also depends on your choice. Lumen refers to the brightness of the flashlight. Don’t forget, the aim of getting a flashlight in the first place is to be able to see clearly in the dark. This defines the purpose of your flashlight when it is not bright enough. Always go for a flashlight with a high lumen. The higher the lumen, the better the brightness.
Beam distance
This refers to the distance that can be effectively covered by your flashlight. This is crucial if you are combining hiking with camping. Having a flashlight with short beam distance limits how far you can see into your surroundings. So it is best if you go for a flashlight with a long beam distance.
Beam type
This also depends on what you want. There are two major types of beam: flood and spot beam. A flashlight with a flood beam covers a wide area. This comes in handy when lighting your tent or camp kitchen, but can see far into the surrounding. While a flashlight with a spot beam will be able to focus and allow you to see far into the distance. This is useful when walking at night. However, some flashlights that come with an adjustable beam. You can switch from spot to flood depending on the purpose. This will make you better equipped for a camping trip.
Run-time
This matters a lot. You don’t want to get something that constantly needs its battery replaced or recharged. The opportunity to recharge might not be readily available. To ensure a smooth camping trip, it is important to get a flashlight with a long run-time.
Size, shape, and weight
A big and heavy flashlight is not easily carried about. Sometimes, you just need a flashlight that can easily fit into your pocket or strapped to your belt. You may also want a flashlight that is compact with enough grip space. The cylindrical shape is the most common for flashlight however they can easily roll around when placed on a surface. Some are flat in shape but may easily slip and falls. With a good grip space, this can be avoided. It would be wise to consider this before making a selection.
Durability
Is the flashlight durable? Will it break when it falls? These are the questions that should be on your mind when choosing a flashlight. The material used in the construction of your flashlight will determine whether it is going to be long-lasting or not. It also determines whether the flashlight will be resistant to corrosion, abrasion, and shock. A durable camping flashlight should be able to handle stress.
When selecting a camping flashlight, one of the best options is an aluminum-cased flashlight as it is resistant to shock.
Water-resistant
This factor should be considered especially if you anticipate rain or you are likely to use it around a body of water. Flashlight with water resistance also varies. Some are splash resistant while some can be fully submerged in water up to 4-hours. Be sure to select a camping flashlight that is suitable for your needs.
Lightening mode
This can be very useful in various situations. Some flashlight comes in different modes such as high, medium and low. It allows you to adjust the brightness to fit your purpose. This can also help conserve your battery.
TOP RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
Now, choosing a flashlight won’t be such a headache anymore. The essence of this review is to direct you on making the best decision. It is not advisable to just pick something without examining its features and determine whether it suits your purpose or not. Our top pick is the Anker bolder LC90 flashlight (check price). We have shown you how to pick the best out of the best, now the ball is in your court.
Source: Safetyhub
