Questions tagged [flashlights]

Questions about flashlights (torches) in context of outdoor use. A flashlight is a portable hand-held device which has a small incandescent light bulb or a set of LEDs as a light source.

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36 votes
5 answers
74k views

My head torch/lamp has a red mode, why?

My new head torch has a mode that produces a red light. I've seen this several times and I have no idea when our why you would use it?
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19 votes
4 answers
1k views

What makes a good head lamp?

I'm looking for a decent head lamp, with a bright light and good battery life. Most on the market these days seem to be LED based, but aside from those three (perhaps obvious) considerations are there ...
berry120's user avatar
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17 votes
6 answers
2k views

How bright a flashlight would I realistically need for searching through terrain?

Modern flashlights have brightness up to several thousand lumens which is great. However it's not clear how bright a flashlight I might realistically need. Suppose I want to go on a search party such ...
sharptooth's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is there a standard set of light signals for mountaineers?

On a recent winter backpacking trip there was some confusion and danger of separation of the group. The group had not walked together before. Some members were not very experienced, while others were ...
Vorac's user avatar
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14 votes
6 answers
4k views

What characteristics should I look for in a good torch/flashlight?

I'm looking to buy a flashlight/torch (or build my own even if that works out cheaper), and am looking to take the following into consideration: Good battery life (LEDs would probably suit best in ...
berry120's user avatar
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13 votes
11 answers
6k views

Flashlight or headlamp for night hiking?

Which is better to use during a night trek - a flashlight or a headlamp? Which do you prefer? Would be great if recommend the one you use and tell me what made you buy it.
user2810's user avatar
  • 131
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Headlamp with open flame

I just saw a documentary where they investigated lakes inside of glaciers. They rapelled in big crevasses and even dived in those sometimes huge water reservoirs. The scientist had a regular looking ...
Wills's user avatar
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11 votes
3 answers
3k views

What does lumen and lux for flashlights/torches actually mean?

Most torches have their brightness specified in lumen, sometimes one also sees a lux number, at times both. While the technical meaning of these units are clear (lumen is luminous intensity per ...
imsodin's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
2k views

SERE Surival Kit includes velcro finger lights, but why?

I have seen a survival kit that has been spoken well of by many reviewers: the SERE Air Force Survival Kit. SERE stands for: survival, evasion, resistance, escape. It is a rather small kit fitting in ...
Arash Howaida's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
6k views

How many lumens for a diving torch?

Title says it all really. I am looking to buy a diving torch as I am taking up diving next year. What am I looking for? They seem to range from 100lm to 2500lm. Realistically how many lumens are ...
Dynadin's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
5k views

How to touch up scratches on a black anodized aluminum flashlight?

One of my flashlights that has a black anodized aluminum housing has a couple of scratches on it, all of the way through the anodized coating. How can I cover up the scratches so that its completely ...
Charlie Brumbaugh's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

What kind of portable light is going to be effective at illuminating my path? [duplicate]

Currently I own what I would call the most basic flashlight. It's a small cylinder with a single bulb within a reflective cone. It seems to do a very poor job at helping me follow the dirt path from ...
Itai's user avatar
  • 221
7 votes
4 answers
5k views

Do flashlights (torches) with multi-color capabilities have any applications for usage in the great outdoors at night?

Do flashlights (torches) with multi-color capabilities (white, red, blue and green) have any outdoor applications for usage in the forest or while hiking at night? I have several flashlight that have ...
Ken Graham's user avatar
  • 9,609
6 votes
1 answer
460 views

Flashlight for night open water swimming

My swimming season ended for me when it's dark before I manage to get out of work, eat something and get to the beach. I'd like to continue swimming, but I want to see where I swim and be seen. What ...
Danubian Sailor's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
574 views

Waterproof safety kit for aluminum boat

What kind of safety kit should I have for my 12-ft aluminum boat -- for solo day trips on lakes in Eastern Ontario? I'm especially interested in having a waterproof kit with a waterproof flashlight. ...
User1974's user avatar
  • 1,263
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is it worth to use LEP flashlights as a tactical or EDC?

LEP (laser excited phosphor) is the new technology of flashlights to use, with extra brightness. I get some cons to use LEP, like its effect on eyes if the light beam is applied directly to them. I ...
Retus's user avatar
  • 58
3 votes
2 answers
187 views

Low settings on flashlights

I have a flashlight, it has a very high lumen output. When it is on high it does not last long. It does have a "dim" setting. This setting just strobes the led, enough where it does cause ...
paulj's user avatar
  • 149
2 votes
1 answer
845 views

Reliable supplier of Ultrafire batteries

I would love to buy one of those great Ultrafire torches and some spare batteries. However I have heard a lot of people online talking about the huge number of counterfeits that sell on eBay, etc. ...
Rocketmagnet's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
41 views

What should I look for in a head torch? [duplicate]

After my first wild camping experience, I found that my hand torch was really inefficient in the evening compared to other people's head torches - what are the features that make a good head torch?
Chris J's user avatar
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1 vote
8 answers
3k views

How can I improvise a camping lantern from my flashlight?

It's a waste of money to buy a camping lantern, especially in COVID19 when I have to save money, if I improvise my flashlight as a camping lantern. My flashlight comes with a shoulder strap. I booked ...
user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
191 views

Why would one see light from the innermost part of an underwater cave?

During the Cova dels Arquets diving disaster, Ricard and Denisio went into the innermost part of the cave because they saw light coming from there. Why would there have been light coming from there? ...
Fiksdal's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
1 answer
74 views

How can I determine which flashlights have the maximum regulated output for the longest duration? [closed]

Googling brightest flashlight 2019 doesn't help, as third-party websites and manufacturers' websites don't exhibit the maximum regulated output for the longest duration. This website does for some ...
user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
181 views

What kinds of stores sell multi-mode (adjustable-brightness) flashlights? [closed]

Which types of vendors sell multi-mode (adjustable-brightness) flashlights? Both online and offline vendors. Both sellers of new flashlights and used ones. I know that outdoors stores sell them, but ...
unforgettableidSupportsMonica's user avatar