Good basic camping flashlight

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
My son is in boy scouts now, and (hopefully) has a lot of camping in his future. I'd like to get him a halfway decent flashlight.
Don't need something ridiculously bright. Just small and convenient, inexpensive b/c it will probably get lost, and decent battery life.
It seems all the cheap ones I've bought recently don't have the battery life you'd hope for for relying on it w/o having to carry batteries around. Or, they just die randomly.

I do kinda like the idea of the strobe or dimming functions etc but that's icing on the cake IMO.
I guess a side clip to attach it to a hat bill would be cool if possible, although personally I find it super annoying when kids do that, and then it's shining in your face when they look at you.
 
RatLabGuy said:
My son is in boy scouts now, and (hopefully) has a lot of camping in his future. I'd like to get him a halfway decent flashlight.
Don't need something ridiculously bright. Just small and convenient, inexpensive b/c it will probably get lost, and decent battery life.
It seems all the cheap ones I've bought recently don't have the battery life you'd hope for for relying on it w/o having to carry batteries around. Or, they just die randomly.

I do kinda like the idea of the strobe or dimming functions etc but that's icing on the cake IMO.
I guess a side clip to attach it to a hat bill would be cool if possible, although personally I find it super annoying when kids do that, and then it's shining in your face when they look at you.
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Best bet would be a head light. The type that wraps around their head or over a hat. This leaves hands free for activities. They use head lights much more than a hand held. Try the stream light, takes 3 AA batteries
 
I'm a fan of streamlights. Here are a few links..


http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-8...461651316&sr=8-3&keywords=streamlight+polytac

Streamlight 88031 ProTac Tactical Flashlight 2L with White LED Includes 2 CR123A Lithium Batteries and Nylon Holster, Black - Basic Handheld Flashlights - Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-8..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0DVC06BJ3KFXQS0298PP

All 3 are lights I would walk into the woods in the dark with and not worry.

I'd steer clear from the gander mountain specials, I got one that came with batteries in it, apparently the batteries leaked and it worked for about a half a kayaking trip..
 
Coast is pretty good.
Advance/o really's sells energizer lights. I've got three, one single AA, one double AA, and a flood that takes 4 AA. Single AA is my favorite. None focus but are bright, nice switches, and water proof and shock proof pretty much. All under $30. 4-6 hour run time on all of them.
 
Wes said:
Petzl makes a good head lamp also.
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What he said. Get an LED one for long life that also has red lights so no blinding people.
REI has the Petzl Storm on sale for $35. Mine has been great.


Edit, I'm a moron, mines a Black Diamond (but Petzl is still a good brand).
 
Thanks
a_kelley said:
4-6 hour run time on all of them.
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Am I crazy, or is this not really that long?
I'd think that over a long weekend of camping you would easily go through 4 hours of run time. And all it would take is forgetting to turn it off and it'd never make it through a night.

Also, I'm dubious of sending him off with something that requires using the lithium or CR123A batteries. Yes they are better batteries, but you can easily get AAAs anywhere and there's always a good chance another scout has extras.
 
I've got an older version of the Black Diamond ReVolt and absolutely love it.

It's got both a spot setting (with three different brightness levels) and a 'flood' type setting which I use A LOT. I've taken it everywhere with me, from camping to late night wrenching sessions.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/black-diamond-revolt-headlamp

Between that and my 12 year old Maglite that I converted to LED I've never needed another flashlight..
 
RatLabGuy said:
Thanks

Am I crazy, or is this not really that long?
I'd think that over a long weekend of camping you would easily go through 4 hours of run time. And all it would take is forgetting to turn it off and it'd never make it through a night.
Click to expand...

Yes it's not that long. But the single AA cell light is like 90 lumens, it will last 8 hours but it's not as bright after 4-6. But then again it's only one cell.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Thanks

Am I crazy, or is this not really that long?
I'd think that over a long weekend of camping you would easily go through 4 hours of run time. And all it would take is forgetting to turn it off and it'd never make it through a night.

Also, I'm dubious of sending him off with something that requires using the lithium or CR123A batteries. Yes they are better batteries, but you can easily get AAAs anywhere and there's always a good chance another scout has extras.
Click to expand...

Petzl Tikka. 3xAAA and runtime of ~100hrs.

Not the brightest, not the sturdiest, not the best, but stupid simple and will work indefinitely. I have two, both are broken, both still work. You can run Li batteries in them, but it will get hot and heat up your forehead.
 
Head lamp. A cheap Energizer from Lowe's works great and is plenty. I use the everliving crap out of mine at work and weekend excursions.
 
shawn said:
Petzl Tikka. 3xAAA and runtime of ~100hrs.

Not the brightest, not the sturdiest, not the best, but stupid simple and will work indefinitely. I have two, both are broken, both still work. You can run Li batteries in them, but it will get hot and heat up your forehead.
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this guy?
Amazon.com: Petzl - TIKKA 80 Lumens, Fuchsia: Sports & Outdoors

I like the idea of SIMPLE.
Now teh question is, should I get the pink-ish one just so he'll get picked on, and have learn to toughen up?
 
I'm simple ... a mini-maglite ( the one that uses 2 AA batteries) is what I carry around in my pocket at work ...... mine is actually an old led conversion.
The batteries last stupid long and plenty of light .... not to mention maglites legendary toughness.


Matt
 
Hard to beat a led mini mag

My old petzel head lamp is almost 20 years old or so. I think I'm on the second bulb. Been through miles of caves, trails and fixed many a broken rig on the trail.
 
RatLabGuy said:
this guy?
Amazon.com: Petzl - TIKKA 80 Lumens, Fuchsia: Sports & Outdoors

I like the idea of SIMPLE.
Now teh question is, should I get the pink-ish one just so he'll get picked on, and have learn to toughen up?
Click to expand...

Yes. This one appears to be a newer model, but basically the same thing:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UAJ2B8A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1461714467

If you think he'll lose it, Cyd bought a pile of Lightning McQueen headlamps from home depot for $4/ea. They use watch batteries, and they aren't as nice, but for the price....?

The Tikka+ is more money, but adds some features.
 
Petzl head lamp for the win
 
Check out www.goinggear.com
I got a Spark headlamp from them a couple years ago and have been very impressed. Also, I carry a Streamlight Microstream all the time and there is not a handier flashlight out there.
 
I have a black diamond headlamp that runs on 3 aaa. Always works. I also have a Fenix handheld that's awesome, runs on cr123a and 3 three brightness modes. It's more light than you need for camping but puts a maglite to shame.
 
I bought a Maglite for a high school backpacking trip, I still use/have it 12 years later.
 
frankenyoter said:
Hard to beat a led mini mag

My old petzel head lamp is almost 20 years old or so. I think I'm on the second bulb. Been through miles of caves, trails and fixed many a broken rig on the trail.
Click to expand...

I bought an LED AA mini-mag as a backup vehicle flashlight, and to be honest, the built-in modes are annoying. Far too easy to get it into strobe mode, when all you want to do is adjust the beam.
 
Being how you already noted, it will probably get lost. I would, and do, use the cheapo LED I pick up for a buck a piece. Put one in several pockets of his pack, and coat if it's cold weather camping. I wish these were around when I was a scout!
I also use the cheap batteries from Dollar tree, they stay in the RV and one of them I know has lasted a couple years, with little use. I read this and went out, and yes, it still works.
When he demonstrates he can keep up with the cheap ones, buy him one of the better ones. Just my $.02
 
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