Lighting the Mountain

     Flashlights have to be one of the greatest inventions given to the human race.  A compact bundle that shines light; what is there not to adore?  Happily I droll over multitudes of flashlight brands that like proud parents tout their particular offspring's lumens and run time, and durability.  In a sadistic twist to the Gerber baby contest each flashlight snarls to be the ugliest and gruntiest manly light ever seen by human eyes.  Flashlights come as clubs that can flatten and ear and then give you the opportunity to see at night what an apple knocker you are.  Or you can clamber over to the other end and buy a pen that also doubles as a brilliant light!  So the choices again are mind boggling.  Take a breath, step back and think.  What do I need in a light for the specific task of invading the wilderness?
1. The light must work.
2. I should be able to afford it.
3. The light should be bright.


1. The light must work.

    As funny as this may sound many cheap flashlights  do not work for long.  Last year I found a "great" buy.  I bought something like five flashlights for the price of one.  When I tried them out one four led flashlight was already down to a three led light.  Many times cheap hand cranked or so called solar powered flashlights quickly fail.  Online there are hundreds of "tactical flashlights" that are useless.  I bought one flashlight that I had to pound it most every time I used it.  Another flashlight quickly blew out its bright bulb.  Decide early that you want a light that will last beyond a week!  I have found the standard three inch or so nine led flashlights many stores sell that run on AAA batteries to be next to useless.  Buy a light that works! Above I show a the tiny flashlight I bought at the Dollar Tree.  Yes it works now but I want to replace it with a nite ize key chain light that will probably for five dollars last much longer.

2. I should be able to afford it.

   Just because you need a light that works doesn't mean you need to shell out a hundred bucks.  My current favorite light is the angle head streamlight I show featured above.  At twenty five dollars on ebay it was a great bargain!  It runs on CR123 batteries.  It has three modes low, strobe, and high.  It has a handy carabiner on the back and the flashlight is light and only four inches long. Earlier this year with my car wrecked in the ditch I floored it back onto the highway at 6am only to have the headlights fail.  It was by the light of my streamlight I made it down the interstate twenty minutes safely back home.
   Surefire and some of the other high end brands are excellent choices, but remember a light is not the only thing you are budgeting for.  For months I carried a dollar general Dorcy led  flashlight.  It was big, ugly and bulky but it worked.  The longest flashlight is a multiple led three C battery large flashlight I have had for years.  Definitely a Chinese cheap version of the Maglite, for five dollars at an auction this flashlight has served me fairly well. So while cheap flashlights do work overall for durability and value strike a balance between high end and bottom dollar and buy a decent flaslight you can brag about!

3. It should be bright.

   False advertising is rampant when it comes to the claims about cheap led flashlights.  It seems a ghastly folly to see a Surefire light at 100 lumens bringing around a hundred dollars when online you can get a 200 lumen flashlight for almost a tenth of that price. Some years ago my brother found a good deal on a surefire rated around 100 lumens.  I brought my tactical 300 lumen light and to my utter diappointment his light was much better.  Again aim for a middle grade light so you aren't stuck with a deficient dull light that leaves you in the dark when you most need it!

   Obviously you are the master when it comes to the ultimate flashlight choice.  As ruler of your tools I suggest you experiment and begin to carry your lights around with you in real world experiences.  Get to know your kit so when the worst happens you trust yourself and your tools!