Camping and Survival light, headlamp, flashlight, lantern, spotlight, LED lights, emergency lighting systems and lamp reviews.

JANUARY 2008

Camping and Survival Lights, Flashlights and Lanterns

CLICK ANY PIC OR TITLE TO BUY ANY ITEM

Petzl E43P2 Tikka LED Headlamp, Black $16

I bought my Tikka with an REI year-end dividend when they were brand new, still fairly unique and a bit more expensive. Today there are a ton of LED headlamps about, and I have a few others, but the Tikka is still my favorite. 

It's been 100% reliable, it produces tons of light, and it's the lightest of all the LED headlamps I've tried. It's better than a hand-held light for following a trail in the dark, and you can read with it in your tent, too.

DEWALT DC528 Heavy Duty 14.4V / 12 Volt Fluorescent Area Light $39

This fluorescent area light is just the ticket for many situations where light is needed but a flashlight provides too narrow of a beam. The built in hanger is perfect for all sorts of hanging situations, and the battery pack is heavy enough that the light can stand on its own too. I have already used mine to light a room where the power is off to wire some new fixtures, and it provided "room lighting" so I could walk around without running into things, while I used my flashlight to light up the detail area where my hands were working. 

The combination of the two is an excellent cordless one-two punch. Both have their uses though - the area light illuminates a wide area with a lower light level while the 14.4v flashlight directs a super bright beam useful for fine detail work and lighting something more than 10 feet away.

I have been using DeWalt tools for over 10 years and for the most part they are great performers at fair prices.

Highly recommended!

Sylvania Dot-It Self-Adhesive Bright White LED Light, Silver, 6-PACK $29

6-pack Silver Where Do You Need Light? Sylvania DOT-it Bright White LED Light is bright, white and long-lasting. Better than those big dim incandescent tap lights and easier to use than a flashlight. Its convenient: sticks to most anything, including fabric, leather, plastic and glass - without marring the surface. It is self-adhesive. Just push to turn on and off. 

Bright white LED light with self-adhesive back for temporary No Mar stickup anywhere you need illumination. Sticks practically anywhere you have a clean solid surface. Colored housing presents a complementary finish to wherever you choose to mount the lamp. Powered by three AAA batteries that are included. 

Features: - Replace batteries every 100 hours for maximum brightness - Portable - no wires - use it anywhere - A unique 3M adhesive on every DOT It light sticks and re-sticks to practically any surface, without marring. The adhesive can withstand extreme temperatures from zero to 120 degrees and can be used over and over again - Small enough to fit in your pocket and can stick to a variety of surfaces, including fabric, leather, plastic, glass and fiberglass. Use them anywhere you need light: in your car, in your home, where you play, where you work or with your kids.

Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Flashlight with 7 Ultra Bright White LEDs $23

Decent size and not too large. Fits in backpacks, carry-on luggage, laptop bag when traveling. Good to bring along on travel trips as a standby lamp.

Max light output rated for first 6 hours, but then intensity starts going down, until 155 hours later when range is only 1 meter (still good for reading a book).

It's also water proof.

The on/off button at the end (opposite end from LEDs) of the torch allows you to manually flash it continuously. This comes in handy should you require to use the lamp as a warning or signal tool.

Good buy overall for the price and quality/finishing.

Coleman Northstar Dual Fuel Lantern $90

The elements won't keep you from lighting your way when you camp with this Coleman Northstar dual fuel lantern. This advanced design has an electronic ignition, making matches unnecessary. True adventurers will appreciate the Insta-Clip tube mantle, which puts an end to string-tying and lets you maximize your time in the outdoors. 

Constructed with legendary Coleman craftsmanship, the Northstar has a metal guard to protect the globe and gives off a brilliant light. When set on high, the lantern will burn for 7 hours; you'll get 14 hours of illumination when the adjuster is set on low. Powered by 2 pints of Coleman fuel or unleaded gas (not included). Made in USA.

SureFire E2E Executive Elite Xenon Pocket Handheld Flashlight, Satin Grey $79

Slim, unobtrusive, and extremely powerful, the E2E Executive Elite is a favorite of undercover police officers, who appreciate the fact that this penlight-sized flashlight is as bright as a four D-cell flashlight yet small enough to hide in a pocket. 

CNC machined from aerospace-grade aluminum with a choice of super-hard Military Specification Type III hard-anodized or a standard hard-anodized Satin Grey finish, the E2E comes with a tempered Pyrex window, high output lamp assembly, removable steel pocket clip, and two 10-year shelf life lithium batteries. 

The E2E features a new click-on/off tail cap pushbutton switch that gives the user the benefit of momentary activation or the convenience of a constant-on "click" switch in a single switch. A patented lock-out tail cap allows the light to be locked in the off position to eliminate accidental activation when stowed away.

Streamlight Stylus White LED Pen Light $13

This little thing is thin, lightweight, solid construction, and cranks out more lux than I've ever seen from any other pen light. Incredibly handy and not heavy when you find it stuck in your mouth for 20 minutes looking for something that fell into one of those crevices under your car seat that is, for all intents and purposes, a black hole.

You'll have a hard time finding AAAA batteries at most stores (not that you'll need them often as it runs A LONG TIME per set), but here's a trick. Peal open a good quality (copper top) 9 volt battery and inside you'll find 6 AAAA batteries that will fit!!!

I will be getting one of these for each car since I've discovered this nifty trick!! For this price at Beardsmen, it's a must have and great gift that anybody is likely to appreciate.

Mag Instrument RX1019 Heavy-Duty Rechargeable Flashlight System $86

As a 10 year aircraft maintainer in the US Air Force, I've used everything from standard Mag-lites, scuba divers' lights, and even penlights in a pinch. I can say this flashlight is brighter than any other I've used. 

It cuts my inspection time in half because I can see things 55 feet off the ground just like it was right in front of me. Don't be fooled to think a rechargeable battery pack isn't as strong as standard alkaline batteries. This isn't the case. I wouldn't trade this flashlight for anything!

GE Steelbeam Fluorescent Lantern $22

Now I live in the wilderness, depend on flashlights and lanterns and this one is simply amazing. It seems to last forever, gives an unbelievable amount of light. It is a great light to read by.
In fact, the only flaw is, I had a hard time getting the bottom open to change the batteries when it ran out. I finally used a piece of wood with two screws in the cover as a fulcrum to open it. Now I grease the threads.

There is now a newer model. This one is less prone to go off if bumped hard and easier to open. Overall a great lantern and well worth the price.

Panasonic EY3795B 15.6 Volt Flashlight $46

Panasonic 15.6V Flashlight EY3795B. This 15.6 volt lantern will work with any Panasonic 15.6 volt battery. It will last 4 hours when used with 3.5Ah Ni-MH batteries and 3.5 hours with 3.0Ah Ni-MH batteries and 2.3 hours with 2.0Ah Ni-Cd batteries. 

The head and handle both tilt and snap into multiple positions to "aim" the light were you need it. An extra bulb is included and stores inside the the head, simply unscrew the lens to change bulbs.

Streamlight 45127 LiteBox Power Failure Emergency lighting System - 120V AC, 12V DC chargers & mounting rack (8WF) - Orange $113

The LiteBox is an Industrial-duty, rechargeable, completely portable lantern.

Coleman Two-Mantle Dual Fuel Powerhouse Lantern $60

* Porcelainized ventilator won't rust * Fully adjustable light output * Quality Coleman mantles provide maximum light output * Operates on Coleman fuel or Unleaded fuel * One tank of fuel will last up to 14 hours * Shipping Dimensions: 15 7/8 x 7 3/4 x 7 (3.81 lbs.)

EXCALIBUR ELECTRONIC Forever Flashlight Dynamo Edition H622 SILVER $19

I've been looking for a battery-less LED flashlight for my emergency kits for a while and the best I found at the time was the Excalibur Forever flashlights, but I didn't like the idea of having to shake it like a cocktail to power it (it hurts my wrist after a while). I was about to break down and buy the standard Forever flashlight when I found out that they put out a Dynamo version.

I've only had this for about a week, but here are my initial impressions.

I was a little iffy at first because A L L of the other dynamo (read: crank) flashlights I've tried put out poor light, uncomfortable to hold, crappy construction and/or put out poor light (either a little light or spotty patterns). The Excalibur on the other hand appears to be reasonably well made and well thought out.

The unit uses three super bright LED's in two modes: 1) low power one LED on and 2) high power all three LED's on.

I have one of the original Photon LED key fobs that came out about 3-5 years ago when the first super bright LED's came out; the Forever Dynamo in low power mode puts out roughly as much light as my Photon with a new battery...you can light up your bedroom at night enough to get around without crashing into anything.

In high power mode, it puts out enough to light up your living room/ garage to get around at night.

The light quality is the same as other LED's, (bluish tint) not white like a light bulb or standard flashlight; it was hard to tell the color difference between the blue car vs. dark gray in my garage.

The construction appears to be of decent quality plastics though I wouldn't try hammering nails with it like I did with my Maglite. Everything fits fairly well, there appears to be a rubber-like grommet sandwiched between the two halves of the outer shell which should provide good water resistance. The grip and switch contains the same rubber-like material which makes for a secure hold.

The crank is forward of the grip and is made of plastic as is the rest of the unit; again, I wouldn't recommend abusing this but it appears rugged enough to withstand several years of cranking duty.

Powering the unit is a piece of cake, just flip out the handle and wind it. The knob you grasp onto uses the same rubber-like material which works well. The dynamo does have some resistance to it but nothing that will make you work up a sweat.

Overall, I would give it 4-4.5 stars, while not bullet-proof, they've put in the time and came out with a well thought out flashlight, decent quality construction, reasonable price and good performance. That's why I clicked the pic above and bought two (thinking about a third).

Now if they could make it out of Titanium for the same price...

Makita ML120 12 Volt Pod Style Flashlight $40

4 position flashlight head Uses 12V batteries 1200, 1201, 1201A, 1220, 1222, 1233 & 1234 Includes 2 flashlight bulbs Battery and charger sold separately Specifications: Continuous use: 145 min. Battery: 12VDC Overall length: 10-11/16" (347 mm) Net weight: 0.77 lbs. (0.25 kg)

Fluorescent Lantern, 18W, 360 light $34

When Michigan joined in on the Great Blackout of 2003 we pulled out our camping equipment. Luckily an earlier version of this lantern was in the gear. It lights up an entire room on only 8 D Batteries. This is an essential emergency item in anyone's household and great for camping or anywhere you'd like light without electricity.

Streamlight 88103 TL-3 3-Cell Lithium Tactical Flashlight $57

I've looked at a lot of "tactical" flashlights and this is the best one I've seen anywhere near this price. If you're looking for this type of light (takes 3 CR123s), don't ignore this one.

Pros:
- Relatively small and light weight.
- Very bright...seems brighter than comparable surefire (9P with P91 lamp...~200 lumens). Surefire 9P with comparable lamp costs twice as much or more.
- Large bezel (much larger than 9P surefire) which is probably why it seems brighter.
- Beam can be FOCUSED. Surefire and most other lights like this cannot be focused. If you are using this light for "tactical" purposes, this is very important. All the light in the world doesn't do you any good if the light isn't focused where you want it.
- Seems to be good quality. MUCH better than some of the tactical lights I've seen. Made in the USA.

Cons:
- Body of flashlight is too small for standard one inch weaver rings. If you are mounting this light on a rail, you'll need rings that are smaller. Or, simply wrap some tape or something around the light and use standard rings. I did the latter and it works great.
- Doesn't look as "cool" as some other lights.
- Couldn't find a cable switch to replace the tailcap switch that comes with the light. Someone told me that Streamlight is coming out with a cable switch for this light. There may be an aftermarket cable switch that will work.

I bought this light to mount on an airsoft rifle. It is just what I was looking for. I also like Wolf-Eyes flashlights but, like most others, the beams don't focus. 

Rayovac Trilogy Area 4AA Lantern (Pack of 2) $20

I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE LIGHT OUTPUT. I PURCHASED THEM TO LIGHT THE INSIDE OF MY CHILDS PLAYHOUSE. THEY REALLY ILLUMINATE THE INSIDE AS BRIGHT AS A STANDARD LIGHT BULB. I CLICKED THE PIC ABOVE AND PURCHASED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AN EARLIER TYPE LANTERN BY RAYOVAC AND WAS REALLY PLEASED WITH IT ALSO.

Inova X1 LED Light, Titanium Color, White Light $26

Before going into my review of this flashlight, you first need to ask yourself what do you need this flashlight for. Do you just need a simple and reliable flashlight, doesn't matter what kind of technology it uses? Or you need a super bright flashlight? Or do you want a flashlight that can reach very far?

You will have to ask these questions because LED flashlights is different from conventional flashlights. If you want a flashlight that can reach very far, stop reading this review and go get yourself a Mag-Lite with the Xenon bulb. Cause LED flashlight doesn't reach as far as a good conventional bulb flashlight. However, within the designated working distance (a.k.a focal point) of the LED flashlight, the brightness of a conventional flashlight is usually no match to the LED flashlight.

Now we have gotten this issue out of the way, lets get on with my review of this product.
The X1 is the best compact size LED flashlight that uses conventional type of battery, one AA battery in this case. It's also the brightest in its class. The X1 only uses one LED bulb. You won't need to worry about how much light only one LED can make cause the special LED being used in this flashlight is bright enough to blind anybody if you point to their eyes directly. On top of the LED bulb, there is a clever designed convex lens that focus the light to a circular beam. 

Many other LED flashlights suffer from inefficiency cause their light beam aren't focused as this one therefore you only have a very bright bulb in your hands but it's not lighting up the object or area bright enough for you to see clearly. The use of the lens made this flashlight very power efficient. With the clever designed lens, one LED is enough for this flashlight while many other flashlights have to use 3 to 5 LED bulbs, which consumes battery faster.

This flashlight only uses one AA battery and the LED bulb doesn't consume a lot of power. One alkaline battery can last for months of inconsistent use. I use this flashlight a lot everyday, and the Duracell Ultra AA battery that come with the package lasted for 6 months. I recommend using Duracell Ultra, Energizer e2 Lithium, Energizer e2 Titanium, or Energizer Ultimate battery so you don't have to replace the battery very soon.

The body of the flashlight is very strong and very well built. It is shock-proof and water resistant. I dropped it to concrete floor a few times and there isn't one scratch on the surface nor does the lens or the bulb break. The furnishing is excellent. The texture of the shell is smooth enough for the touch and for sliding it in and out of the holster but have enough friction to stop it from slipping away from your hand. I stepped on it accidentally once and everything was still intact and fine. I am not sure if it is as strong as my 3D-cell size Mag-lite or not cause I haven't run over it with my car yet but I don't think it's necessary to test it this way.

Another special feature of the X1 is its dual switch. You can light up the flashlight fast by pressing your thumb and holding down on the speed button at the end of the it. Let it go and it turns off. You can also twist the end cap and turn it on permanently so that you don't need to hold it. Turn the cap to the opposite direction to turn it off. By twisting the end cap, you can also adjust the sensitive of the speed button.

The X1 also comes with a nylon holster which I think is another great features that make it stand out from other brands. The holster and the flashlight fits like a condom :> You can put the X1 in its holster on your belt. The light weight of the X1 make it unnoticeable no matter how long you carry it. I practically carry it along whenever I am out of my house ever since I clicked the pic above and bought it. It is so handy when I need it. Taking it out and putting it back into the holster is extremely easy. The holster is tight enough to hold the X1 in place and won't fall out.

The bottom end of the X1 is built with a hole at the tip for you to hold it on a key-chain or a strap. However it doesn't come with a strap. This is the only minor draw back of the X1. I bought a tiny nylon cell-phone strap that you can find in those cell-phone accessories stores and strapped it to the hole which makes it easier to take it out of the holster fast and also further more prevent it dropping from my hand.

I think a lot of you who consider buying this flashlight might also be thinking if you should get the X5 from the same company instead. I know it's hard to choose from these 2 great flashlights. Then you will need to ask yourself again how are you going to use the flashlight. If you want a compact flashlight that you can carry with you all the time on your belt or in your purse to be ready whenever you need it, then X1 is a sure bet. It's light weight, it's brightest in its class, and it uses a battery type that you can almost find in any store or gas station.

The X5 is much brighter than the X1 and have a focus area much larger and further than the X1, but it also consumes more power. Also, the X5 uses special CR type batteries that are also used in many cameras, which may not be available everywhere (but most stores and gas stations in US these days carry these CR type batteries.)

While it also comes with a nylon holster, the X5 is still bigger than the X1 and may not be an ideal flashlight for you to carry it around like you can with the X1. If you want to put a flashlight in your car, then I would suggest you to get a X5 or a 3D-cell size Mag-lite. If you want to have a flashlight with you anywhere you go like your cell phone, then click the pic above and get the X1.

Hope this review helps your buying decision. Thanks for reading (if you made it this far!)

Streamlight Ultra Stinger Rechargeable 75,000 Candlepower Flashlight $105

Some of the nice features of this light: It's very lightweight, very bright (75,000 candlepower), run time is very good for this much light output. Well made, quality construction.

Some of the cons about this light: Plastic lens (seems only SureFire will give you a genuine Pyrex, glass lens these days) and the spot/flood range isn't really that much of a difference (Mag's spot/flood produces a SPOT or a FLOOD). The Streamlight has a very coarse adjustment range, really being all the same style output, with very LITTLE difference in the SPOT / FLOOD. This isn't as bad as it sounds as the light produced is a very good, pure white light, I'd just like to see more variation in the range, but I'm being picky here.

One thing's for certain; this light is much better than Mag's rechargeable and a lesser light than SureFire's 8 or 9N rechargeable. But, it's also half the price of the SureFire and 80% less than SureFire's 10-X. So, I've got to give it 5 stars for being a great value, occupying a market not really served by either Mag or SureFire.

If you're a contractor or home inspector, this light is THE value on the market in a bright, quality constructed rechargeable.

Coleman Northstar Battery Lantern $25

It turns out that the Coleman battery lantern is the best lantern I've ever used. Most importantly, it throws a ton of bright white light - this is "hang the lantern on a tree branch and have enough light to pitch the tent, build the fire, cook dinner, etc" kind of light. 

In addition, the Coleman battery lantern lasts a lot longer than I expected on a set of batteries, turns right on, is easy to find in the dark (when you leave the night light feature on), is easy to carry... I could go on and on.

Sure, 8 D cell batteries are expensive, but that's the only down side I can see. The benefits mentioned above, plus the huge benefit of safety around the kids, more than makes up for the additional expense, at least in my book.

Streamlight Scorpion 6,500 Candlepower Flashlight $49

Powered by 2, 3-volt lithium batteries this flashlight is pretty small (both in diameter and length). You'll be amazed how such a small flashlight can light up a room or an object at night.

The pushbutton switch is on the bottom of the light, so that might take getting used to. It's a three function switch (on/off/momentary on). The body of the flashlight is coated with rubber, so it's easy to grip if your hands are wet. However, this makes it difficult to bring out if you keep it in your pants pocket or a holster.

The beam quality is nice: no "holes" or "rings" in the spotlight.

Pluses: small size, bright light, manufacturer with good reputation for quality, lithium batteries have 10 year shelf life.

Minuses: Takes 3-Volt lithium batteries (can be expensive), flashlight is fairly expensive.

This is a good light to keep in the car glove compartment for emergencies because it's small and the lithium batteries will keep for a long time.

Would I buy this again? Yes, but because of the cost I would make sure that I don't lose it.

Coleman Northstar Instastart Tube-Mantle Propane Lantern with Hard Case $45

This Coleman InstaStart lantern lights electronically without matches and has a control knob that works like a dimmer switch to let you adjust the brightness and burn time. The porcelain ventilators will prevent rusting, and the hard case conveniently opens into three sections for easy loading.

The Coleman Northstar operates on a 16.4-ounce cylinder of Coleman propane (not included), and will burn for up to 5.5 hours on high or 11 hours on low. With a metal guard to protect the globe and a unique, stable base with foldable feet, it just doesn't get much more convenient and reliable than this.

Streamlight Stinger Compact Rechargeable 15,000 Candlepower Flashlight $86

The Stinger comes with two charging cradles and an AC cord and DC cord so you can have one in your car and one at home. Therefore you can always have your Stinger charging to be used whenever you need it. The extra bulb in the tail cap is also nice.

It's small, bright, fits easy in your hands, adjustable beam, 1 hour run time, you can charge the battery without taking it out of the flashlight, charging cradles allow you to place the flashlight from the top or "snapped" in from the front.

It's long charge time unless you buy the "fast" charger.

If you need to constantly use a flashlight that is small but powerful (security guard, handyman, plumber), the Stinger will not disappoint you. The rechargeable battery will save you money in the long run.

Although expensive, it is good quality and I would click the pic above and buy this flashlight again. For a brighter light, check out the Stinger HP which is rated almost 3 times as bright.

Inova X5 Floodlight (color: Spotlight White) $42

Look no further. My wife clicked the pic above and bought me this for fathers day, she gave it to me the night before so I could play with it in the dark right away instead of having to wait for a half of a day. She got me the green LED model with black case. Works great, I took it outside and used it and without even letting my eyes adjust to the dark could see things 60 ft away. 

Fit and finish is great on the product, in addition to quality of construction. From the feel and apparent quality of this, I'll own it for quite some time to come. You just can't complain about a flashlight this bright (at least twice as bright as a minimag) and one with 20 hours of runtime on one set of batteries, and that's waterproof, and just has cool gadget written all over it.

Mag Instrument M2A01H Black Holster AA Combo Pack Flashlight $10

What sets the mini mag off from the other mag lites is its size (easy to hold with teeth while working under car, sink, etc) and one little known feature - "candle" mode. You adjust the beam focus by rotating the mini mag's head, but if you continue turning the head pops off; you are left with the handle and the exposed bulb, which is now throwing light in all directions - it is a "candle". Flip the head over, place it on the ground/table - it is now a "candle holder". Stick the candle into the candle holder. Instant candle for camping. (These directions are actually on the mini mag's packaging, but it wasn't until I had bought my third mini mag (one for car, kitchen, daypack) that I noticed. This is actually a great trick to show other mini mag owners... they also threw their packaging away without looking it. The larger mag lights don't have this feature.)

Two mini mags in the candle mode do a good job on a picnic table at night... so click the pic above and get two of them... they're cheap.

Lightwave 4000 LED Flashlight $43

Have had a number of expensive flashlights over the years, including numerous maglites.

All in all, for durability, ease of holding (with rubberized body), cost, and length of burn time this is the one. Mine doesn't get abused, but over the years they just keep going and going. Dropped, kicked, stepped on, etc. is no problem. maglites aren't even that durable and cost about the same.

Have put one in each of the cars and one on each level of the house. I know where a workable flashlight is at all times. Overkill, yes. but it was one of my aggravations that i decided to get rid of.

They came in very handy during the power failure here in Detroit area. plenty of light and very easy on the batteries.

No hesitation on recommending them to you!

Viatek Tri-LED Dynamo Crank Emergency Flashlight w/ Cell Phone Charging Dock $20

This light solidly outperforms the cheap, poorly designed shakelights by many manufacturers. Instead of a miniscule capacitor to hold the charge generated, this device actually has a battery that does not leak the charge over time as quickly. As well, the battery has more capacity, (35 mAh at 3.6 V for the people who want to do calculations) which translates to longer life of 2 hours. All shakelights I have used only have usable light for about 30 minutes.

When cranking, the light charges at 1 W per minute. Also, cranking a magnet that generates a centripetal force and no start/stops is way more comfortable than the vigorous shaking required to move the magnet in shakelights. In shaking, every cycle involves two stops: at the top and at the bottom, while in cranking there are no stops. This is the same concept as the rotary vs. conventional engine. Comfortable charging!

The only negative is the LED's are a bluish white. The color does not come close to approaching the WHITE LED's from Luxeon. This would be the only necessary improvement would be a more WHITE LED.

Coleman Rechargeable Twin Tube Lantern $30

This lantern is great for camping and power outages because you don't have to mess around with propane, especially important with small children around. I noticed that this one offers a 110 recharge, ours doesn't. Only 12V. 

It would be even better with the 110 option. One downfall - I have had a difficult time finding replacement bulbs. I recently found some to get it ready for this summer and the price of the two bulbs was almost as much as buying a new lantern.

I didn't want to use a propane or other fuel lantern, they seem so dangerous and they are so noisy. I was also tired of buying D sized batteries. When we found this lantern, we were thrilled and it was great when we were camping. We used it every night for at least 3 hours a night and it hasn't needed recharging yet. We plan on clicking the pic above and buying at least one more for our next trip.

Coast LED Key Chain Write Light Pen Flashlight - LL7580 - 4x AG5 Watch Battery $25

Retractable ball point pen & LED flashlight in one. Accessory key-fob caps allow separate usage of pen & light. Individual key-fob caps screw onto open ends. White or Blue super bright LED. Reflector tube system Diode charged LED light chip. 3 way flash (slow, fast & constant on). 

Gold plated contacts, Aircraft quality aluminum. Includes tie clip & gift box Lasts 110 hours on 4x AG5 batteries (Included) Length 125 mm, 9.5 mm wide Weight 32 grams Water resistant.

Mag Instrument Black Heavy Duty 4 D-Cell Flashlight $20

The primary job of a flashlight is, not surprisingly, to create light. Mag gets more light out of their flashlights than anybody. Maybe it's the bulb, or the reflector. But NO flashlight will come close to putting out as much light as a Mag.

Another quality we hope to find in any product is functionality -- does it work every time, or mainly when you don't need it? I can't recall more than a time or two that a Mag failed to come on. I've dropped them from heights that would have destroyed anything less and they still worked.

I have an old black AA-size Mini-Mag here that spent about a decade in the cockpits of airplanes -- the poorest lighted places this side of the Black Forest -- so it got a world of use. The place on the end cap for attaching a lanyard or hanging ring is worn completely through. But the little guy still works like a charm.

The switch on this D-cell model is under live rubber; it has a solid click on and off. The beam is adjustable to a sharp spot. You'll probably want to set it there and leave it alone.

I am certain that batteries last longer in a Mag-lite. The only explanation for this would seem to be that a tiny bit of battery drain occurs on some others. Before I became 100% converted to Mags I would too often pick up a flashlight that was full of dead batteries. I can go for years without changing the batteries in a Mag-lite.

All Mags are rugged. The barrels are sturdy aluminum extrusions -- not plastic or stamped metal. Both end caps have O rings to keep the case waterproof. And who else would be so thoughtful as to put an extra bulb in the bottom endcap?

Some people have a legitimate gripe about tubular things not staying put on anything but a level surface. Of course, that has been a complaint for years about pens and all kinds of tubular devices. This can be cured for the Mag-Lite with a very small bungee cord. Tie several knots in it until it is shortened enough to fit tight around the barrel. The knots will keep the light from rolling around.

I like the new hot red Mag-Lites. Anybody with any sense at all would know a pretty red flashlight would throw more light than a black one. It just stands to reason.

TerraLUX DA-5W Maglite 2D or 6D cell, 5 Watt Luxeon LED Bulb $75

Coleman Full-Sized Rugged Rechargeable Battery Lantern $30

Durable HPS Housing / Adjustable Light Output for extended run time / No tools required for bulb replacement / Recharge cords included and store in base.

Vector 3-Million Candlepower Mega Sport Rechargeable Spot $42

I prefer this one, first, because it IS waterproof. A big plus for me. I worried about the other one accidentally getting wet when set down on the ground. This one was accidentally bumped into and it fell into about 18 inches of water after falling about 2 feet and making quite a splash! Unfazed and still shining bright, you could see what was under the water, it was that durable.

Secondly, it lasts very long on its charge. It takes a long time to charge, more than 12 hours, but I do not mind this one since it can last so long on each charge. If I am caving the next day I just put it on the charge next to the door and when I leave in the morning I just grab it and go.

If I have a complaint, it would be how heavy this spotlight is compared to others I have had. 9 pounds really weighs down the backpack. But this is due to the type of battery, same battery that holds the long charge. So I guess the offset is not so bad.

The price on this is not so bad for what you get. Durability, long battery life and waterproof housing.

Mag Instrument S6D016 Black 6D Cell MagLite Flashlight $22

My flashlight has suffered a great deal more then most flashlights can handle. It's been dropped, run over, used as a hammer, used to pound in tent stakes, constantly taken on road trips, I can't even remember all of the things I've done to it. All I can tell you is it still works.

To keep it working well you should occasionally apply a small amount of Vaseline to the threads to keep the threads and O-rings lubricated. If you do this it should last you a long time.

Coleman Northstar Battery Family Size Lantern $25

It turns out that the Coleman battery lantern is the best lantern I've ever used. Most importantly, it throws a ton of bright white light - this is "hang the lantern on a tree branch and have enough light to pitch the tent, build the fire, cook dinner, etc" kind of light. 

In addition, the Coleman battery lantern lasts a lot longer than I expected on a set of batteries, turns right on, is easy to find in the dark (when you leave the night light feature on), is easy to carry... I could go on and on.

Sure, 8 D cell batteries are expensive, but that's the only down side I can see. The benefits mentioned above, plus the huge benefit of safety around the kids, more than makes up for the additional expense, at least in my book.

Mag Instrument Black Heavy-Duty 3 C-Cell Flashlight $17

Mag lite flashlights to me are the best that are on the market today for the money. This 3 "C" cell flashlight is alot more lightweight than its heavier counterparts and is very bright, don't let its size fool you this is a very powerful flashlight and it is also constructed from high quality aircraft aluminum and is waterproof. I give it my full endorsement to anyone who is interested.

I keep one of these flashlights in both of my vehicles. They provide a lot of light from a fairly small package. Buying the "C" battery version allows you all of the benefits of a MagLite - brightness, durability, etc. but its light weight makes it less cumbersome to carry. You won't find a better flashlight that this.

Diamond Luxeon 3 Watt LED Replacement Bulb for Maglite 3x C/ D Cell Flashlights $30

I bought this bulb in hopes of putting new life into my 18 year old three D-cell Streamlight. (Looks like a Maglite.) However, the black sheath on this bulb is threaded to replace the capstan on your Maglite. Mine has a different capstan (bulb holder) with lower threads. Check your Maglite first, if the threads are exactly below the bulb lip, this will work. Also great if you lost your capstan!

I did test it on my friend's 6 year old three D-cell Maglite and it was great! A regular 3 cell Maglite is about 24 lumens of yellowish light. This is an amazing 75-80 lumens of white light. It will outshine even your 6 cell units!

Can't knock it for being virtually indestructible, as it can be hot when dropped and not break or go out. Up to 20 hours of usable light on fresh D-cells is nothing to sneeze at.

While it did not work for me, someone bought it from me, and I'm upgrading to a Xenon bulb instead to keep my "old friend". Lot cheaper than buying a new LED flashlight. Definitely click the pic above and buy one.

Coleman Retro Rechargeable Battery Powered Lantern (Family Size) $42

We've used this several times since clicking the pic above and buying a couple of years ago. The amount of light it gives off is incredible, and it lasts pretty much as long as they say it will. It's not light though - the battery is fairly sizable and I think it may be lead-acid - not sure.

The lantern is very bright and the charge holds for a long time. I would highly recommend this item and I may buy another lantern in the future.

Streamlight TT-2L 2-Cell Lithium Twin-Task Flashlight $30

I can't say enough about the products from Streamlight. I clicked the pic above and purchased this light about 3 months ago & couldn't be happier. The light features both LEDx3 and Xenon bulbs. 

The LEDs work great for some basic flood lighting when you are trying to find something in the dark. The Xenon comes in handy when you are doing something specific and need to see every detail. Like I said, I have had it 3 months and haven't replaced the batteries yet with moderate use.

Everything is manufactured to the utmost extreme. The case is very durable aluminum with titanium or black coating. The lens is hard to break, I have dropped mine once or twice without even a scratch. The button is also very simple and ergonomic, much like a MAG.

For someone looking to buy this flashlight, I would also recommend the 2D model. It is 2.5 inches larger, but has 10 LED's and lasts 3 times longer.

Coleman Rechargeable Table Lamp $28

THIS LAMP IS REALLY USEFUL. COULD BE USED IN ANY PLACE. KIDS COULD USE. EASY TO TURN ON. DOES NOT REFLECT HEAT.

Optronics Submersible Fish-N-Lite / Green Fluorescent Light Plus Halogen Spot Beam $29

Combines two most popular submersible lights into one terrific fish magnet. Green fluorescent bulb attracts bait and game fish. Halogen light shines deep into water for a new level of fish attraction. 20-foot safety cord tethers light to boat. Safety snap for weight to submerse light at desired level. 20-foot power cord with battery clips for use with any 12-volt battery. For underwater use only.

Inova X5MT-WB X5 LED Floodlight- White LED Black Finish $37

Last year, with a couple of tie wraps, I pressed one of these into service as a bike headlight, a task it fulfilled very well. Then I accidentally left it out in the elements, for 10 months of sun and rain. Despite the abuse, its finish still looks great, and it functions flawlessly (even without changing batteries, which speaks well for choosing a lithium-powered flashlight for emergency use).

The X5 is very solid, and has a nice feel in the hand; the tailcap switch makes it very handy to use, without fumbling for a side button. While I used to be seduced by the long "throw" of tightly focused flashlights, I've come to prefer the smooth, broad flood-like beam of LED flashlights like this one, since nearly everything I do with a flashlight is within 20 feet.

Streamlight LiteBox Rechargeable 50,000 Candlepower Lantern $107

I would consider the Litebox as a "lantern" and not a flashlight. My definition of a lantern is that they are usually larger and can't fit into your pocket.

Although it's fairly large and heavy (due to the battery), you can't go wrong with this bad boy! Supposedly used by many fire departments, I can see why they use them: Heavy duty plastic casing, comfort handle, thin penetrating beam (although you can buy different lamp modules so you can have a broader beam), long run time. The head can also swivel up and down, so it can be a good work light.

Would I buy it again? Possibly. The limiting factor is the price. But this is from a quality manufacturer and is a quality product.

Lazer Stik $13

Turns on and off with a twist of the cap and produces a brilliant glow that's highly visible in the dark. Includes long-life, replaceable batteries for years of service, Lazer Stik will prove invaluable for any night-time outdoor activity and provide peace of mind in time of emergency. Uses "state-of-the-art" LED technology.

Coleman Tent Light $10

This Coleman® tent light utilizes a magnet to secure to a tent without harming the fabric. It offers a powerful Xenon bulb. Requires 4 AA Batteries.

Streamlight 61050 Trident Yellow Super-Bright LED/Incandescent Combo Headlight $24

3 in. yellow polymer body & scratch resistant lens. 3-way headlamp with rubber and elastic straps. Combines a bright Xenon bulb with 3 white LEDs for high power & longevity, LEDs running over 100,000 hours. Takes 3-AAA batteries, included, for more than 150 hours. Weighs 5 ounces.

Combining super-bright white Xenon bulb with 3 LEDs, the Trident offers a variety of lighting options.

Petzl Tactikka Camo - 3AAA $35

Alternates easily between white and red light simply by moving the pivoting filter over the reflector. Long battery life up to 110 hours. Lightweight and comfortable to wear: ergonomically designed elastic headband. Water-resistant for all-weather use. Technical specifications: Operates with three AAA-LR03 batteries (supplied). 70 g including batteries. Light duration: 110 h Distance: t0=15 m; t30 min=12 m; t10h=8m Test 20° C - alkaline batteries

Streamlight PolyStinger Rechargeable 15,000 Candlepower Flashlight $84

Powerful, compact, rechargeable flashlight is constructed of super tough, non conductive polymer with rubber non-slip grip and push button switch. Xenon bi-pin bulb produces up to 15,000 candlepower for up to one continuous hour of use and offers spot to flood beam. 120V AC charge cord, 12V DC charge cord, two charger holders, and spare bulb in tail cap included. 7-3/8 inches long, 8.7 ounces. Yellow.

Coleman Rechargeable Battery Powered Table Lamp (Full Size) $28

The Coleman uses a nine-watt fluorescent U-tube that provides brighter and whiter light. Fully charged, this lantern will operate for up to nine hours on high and up to six hours on low. The light tubes utilize a system that makes replacing them easy.

This Coleman rechargeable lamp can be used while in its recharging base, or can be used as a cordless lamp when removed from its base. No more worries about the smells or dangers of fuel, nor missing batteries--with this rechargeable lantern you are ready to go in any situation.

Petzl Myo 3 Headlamp (Black) $50

Reflector assembly engineered to cast an even, focusable beam without shadows or hot spots. On/off and zoom operated with the same movement. Rotating bezel switch is easy to operate with a gloved hand. Bezel is lockable to avoid accidentally turning it on.

Inova T3 - Tactical Police 3.2 Watt LED Flashlight - Black $63

The INOVA T3 has amazing military-quality, aircraft-grade aluminum flashlight is the first flashlight to collect, concentrate and deliver over 90% of the light generated by its LED lamp. Utilizing breakthrough TIROS optics technology developed in partnership with the team that crafted the Hubble Telescope's lenses, the 3-watt Luxeon's focused, far-reaching white LED beam cuts through the darkness like no other projecting a precise beam of ultra-bright LED light up to 250 feet away!

Dynamo LED Flashlight with Wall Mount $20

Enhance your outdoor adventure with this innovative Dynamo LED flashlight. In addition to providing super bright spot or flash light, it also features a mosquito repeller that replicates the wing-beat frequency of dragonflies (mosquitoes' biggest predator). 

On a full charge (which takes about 5 hours with the adapter), it offers up to 3-1/2 hours of flashlight use and up to 48 hours of use as a mosquito repeller. The hand-crank offers emergency use; only 90 seconds of cranking offers up to 15 minutes of flashlight usage. 

Other features include waterproof design, hand string and wall mounting bracket. The torch cap also rotates for use a desktop light. Perfect for hiking, fishing, camping or hunting. Imported. 6Hx1-3/4" dia.

SureFire G2 Nitrolon Xenon Tactical Flashlight 65 Lumens, Black Body $33

The SureFire G2 flashlight is powered by two lithium batteries (10-year shelf life) and made of Nitrolon, a proprietary polymer compound that is lightweight, corrosion-proof and non-conductive. A molded-in gridlock pattern allows for a sure grip in any weather, and although three to four times brighter than a typical 2-D cell flashlight this lightweight powerhouse is less than five inches long; making it ideal when space is at a premium and weight is an issue. 

The G2 features unique switching originally developed for law enforcement - twist for constant on, or depress the tailcap button for momentary illumination or emergency signaling. The G2 can also be converted to a rechargeable flashlight using our special KR1 conversion kit.

Mag Instrument S6D036 Red 6D Cell MagLite Flashlight $21

Don't look for any fancy camping and hiking features here. This is Maglite - the most robust, simply designed, durable flashlight ever. All except the tiniest maglites share a number of common features: super-bright bulbs, waterproof seals, a twistable head which adjusts the spread of the beam from spot to flood, and a spare bulb in a padded compartment in the base. 

This is the big daddy of the bunch, taking a full 6 D-cells, and satisfying long and heavy. You'll feel like a night watchman! Also available in 4D and 5D sizes for those with smaller biceps.

Coleman Rugged Remote Control Battery Powered Lantern (Personal Size) $25

This lantern was used to replace my old pump-up liquid fuel Coleman lantern that used the cloth mantels. While not as bright, it stays cool which allowed us to use it inside the tent as well as out side. It also worked very well during a recent night time power failure at home. 

The metal ring on the handle is a nice touch and allows the remote to be clipped to the lantern, so you don't lose it when stored. When needed quickly, as in the case of the power failure, the controller is right there. 

There is an override "On" position which is nice in case the remote isn't handy. There are two down sides; first the 4 "D" cells make it a bit heavy to hang inside the tent. Secondly, the florescent "U tube" has a special base which will limit availability to Coleman parts. I don't view these as problems, just inconveniences. Over all I'm very pleased with the lantern and the ease of use.

Coleman NorthStar Battery Powered Lantern with Night Light (Full Size) $33

Clicked the pic above and bought this lamp about a year ago, when we lost power the neighbors saw the light on in the window and wondered how come we had power. We didn't, this light was so bright that they thought we had power.

Camping and Survival light, headlamp, flashlight, lantern, spotlight, LED lights, emergency lighting systems and lamp reviews.

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