Outdoor Adventure USA

Working on a preview for tomorrow nights net....

Camp lighting and flashlights.

Bring your questions and comments and input. Everyone's opinions and experiences count!

Personal preference...what to avoid:
1. Non-LED lights.
2. AAA battery packs.
3. Rechargeable batteries that cannot be easily replaced or made to work with common batteries.

Nice to have features:
1. Headlamps are now my go to light. Nothing like hands free operation. No need to get frustrated with your flashlight holder assistant. In fact, I have a hard time warranting a flashlight assistant; it just doesn't make sense.
2. With the invent of high lumen AA flashlights, I am a fan of the 1x AA lights. Can't beat more voltage but carrying an efficient common battery light is simple and easy to keep fed. Best of all, if you have a light failure and you have to switch the battery, it either works or it doesn't. Real quick to troubleshoot.
3. I have found that the 3x D-cell LED Maglite is still an awesome light and proper means of "breaking contact."

Hey... have you been reading my net notes for tonight???

One of my favorite topics! I have a flashlight fetish. My Wife keeps asking me "how many flashlights do you need?" Looking forward to the net tonight.

Dub

Dub wrote:One of my favorite topics! I have a flashlight fetish. My Wife keeps asking me "how many flashlights do you need?" Looking forward to the net tonight.

Dub

Awesome!!! I look forward to your input!!

I recently went camping with family (group camping affords a gearhead the opportunity to see all the variations of gear) and noticed a lot of LED lanterns. I am a big fan of the Coleman Dual Fuel double mantle lights but the LED lanterns were nice, bright and a lot safer for the little ones to carry around. Now that said, do I believe those "light duty" lanterns will withstand the youngster stress test over time...absolutely not! I don't do that kind of camping often so I don't need to look towards a lantern like this but they did seem handy and wanted to get others' insight into this improving source of flood lighting. The big multi LED and smaller backpack LED lanterns. I have a Luci light and have been impressed with the concept but have not used it much yet (I pack it but forget I have it).

I do pack a 12v marine battery and solar charger when we do go for an extended family trip. This time I wired up some inexpensive LED car lights along with rocker switch from the installation kit and hung them in the tent to provide light on demand and power for our laptop movie of the evening. I think LED car lights have the potential for a wider application in campsite lighting considerations by simply wiring in a male 12v cigarette lighter plug. There are some inexpensive models out there and for minimal investment and time there is potential for lighting large group sites with minimal battery power/cost.

Stop reading my net notes!!!

LED door light.... LED work light... LED holiday lights



LED door light

Some items we talked about on the net that I thought I would add.