The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, and the flowers are blooming – after a year of spending time inside, it’s unsurprising that many people are ready to hit the trails or pack up the car for a camping weekend. If you’re a veteran camper, you know that the list of items and tools you’ll need, even for a couple days, is quite lengthy. From sleeping bags to trekking poles, the possibilities for what you’ll need, depending on the activity, are endless!
One extremely useful tool many people tend to oversee are: flashlights. Having a quality flashlight, or multiple, on-hand is an extremely underrated, yet absolutely necessary, tool to have while you’re out on your next adventure. With questions, like: do I need the brightest flashlight? Do I want a rechargeable flashlight? What’s a headlamp?
Read on to learn more about 5 types of flashlights you need for your next camping trip.
1. Everyday Carry Flashlight (or, an EDC Flashlight)
What’s an EDC flashlight? And, how is it different from a normal flashlight? Many times, people forego flashlights in their toolkit because they believe they’re too bulky or too heavy to carry along. Enter: The Everyday Carry Flashlight.
EDCs are small, bright flashlights that you can typically fit in your pocket, on your keychain, or in a small area of your backpack. You can find great, quality EDC flashlights that are as small as 2″ long and weigh less than 2 lbs. Having a small flashlight, such as these, can help you in case of an emergency when you need to quickly grab a light that also doesn’t take a lot of space or weighs too much.
2. Lantern
What’s better than sitting at your campsite telling scary stories and roasting s’mores? Having a light to shine while you’re making memories. Lanterns are a great source of light when you’re lounging around the campsite. You don’t have to hold them like a flashlight, or wear them like a headlamp. Rather, you can sit them on a table or hang them above your tent while you’re enjoying the great outdoors.
3. High Lumen Flashlights
While having an EDC flashlight and lantern are both necessary while camping, keeping an additional high lumen flashlight close-by is also recommended in case of an emergency. For example, having a flashlight tucked in your vehicle or left at a campsite can help serve as a locator beacon, in case someone happens to lose their trail or needs help finding their way back to the campsite. With lights that have higher lumen capabilities, you’ll want to make sure it’s from a quality company you can trust, so it won’t burn out or die when you need it. Try to find a rechargeable flashlight with 12,000+ lumens that’s easy to store and manage while you’re in the great outdoors!
4. Headlamp
If you’re a hiker, outdoor runner, or caver, owning a headlamp is a must! Hands-free lighting can come in handy in a great many ways. It’s important to consider the type of headlamp you need with questions, such as: will I be wearing this headlamp directly on my head or on a hat? How many lumens will I need or want for my activity? How does the band feel around my head when I move? Once you find the right fit for you, you’ll quickly find out how convenient it can be to illuminate your line of sight and surroundings without having to forfeit a readily available hand.
Getting Ready for the Outdoors
While getting ready for your outdoor adventure can be overwhelming, rest-easy knowing you have your lighting situation covered, for recreational and emergency purposes. Knowing you’ve invested in quality flashlights can mean the difference between being stranded without the proper tools you need.Once you’ve acquired the necessary tools you can trust for your next outdoor experience, you’re ready to get out there and make more memories!
* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!
I never thought bout how many different flashlights one would need for a camping trip. I found this article very interesting to read for all that information.
Good lights are essential for camping. I’m not planning any more camping trips, but I have plenty of flashlights.
This was super informative to read thank you for posting it. I know it sounds strange but I love flashlights and like to have them all over the house and in the car. We live in a rural area and our power is always going off all during the year so good flashlights and lanterns are essential.