Nebo Edge2K Pocket Light review

Nebo promote this smartly presented and sturdily constructed lightweight flashlight as an elite Everyday Carry tool, but while it will likely be popular with people who are into EDC, I think it has many useful applications on the trails and in the campsite, too.

The Edge 2K is deliberately designed to have a svelte profile in order to slide into the pockets of garments ranging from hiking pants and walking shorts through to fleece jackets and waterproof coats. (Of course it also fits easily into the compartments of a hiking pack or daypack).

Having tested several Nebo products in the past, including head torches such as the impressive Mycro headlamp, I knew the brand was very capable of producing little products that perform big, and I was looking forward to trialing the Edge 2K in the campsite, on the trails and in the street (not least to see what this ‘Defensive Strobe’ setting is all about).

Design and features

Just 1in (2.5cm) thick at its chunkiest point, the Edge 2K’s primary USP is its skinny look, but this torch isn’t just slim, it also has a Tac-Grip texture finish that makes it feel great in the hand. Instead of having an operating button that you have to continually press in order to toggle through the settings, the Edge 2K features an unusual dial on the top of the torch, which you turn to select the best beam option (Low, Medium or High).

To turn the light on, you simply need to make sure the dial isn’t in the locked position, and then press the large button at the bottom of the torch. To unleash the Turbo beam, hold this button in for a couple of seconds. A double press of this button activates the Defensive Strobe setting, which fires a fast pulse of very bright light towards anyone you point it at – the theory being that it will momentarily blind and confuse an assailant, giving you time to escape.

On the rear of the torch is a large clip, which helps keep the Edge 2K secure when it’s being carried in a pocket. Oddly, in my opinion, the clip is positioned so the opening is facing towards the light; had it been reversed, the unit could have been attached to the peak of a hiking hat such as a cap, to enable handsfree operation.

In the field (on the trails and streets)

I’ve been testing the Nebo Edge 2K while walking, hiking, backpacking and car camping over the last few weeks, and overall I’ve been impressed with the performance of this pocket torch. The design is decent too, other than the fact that it can’t be used handsfree, because of the way the clip is orientated. (This really feels like a missed opportunity to make the it more versatile, and resulted in me resorting to me placing the torch in my mouth when I was attempting to do tasks that required both hands…which is not ideal). I also think that, for the price point, Nebo could have thrown in a lanyard, for dangling the torch when you want to use it like a camping lantern.

Nevertheless, this is a proper pocket rocket if all you want is a thin flashlight with a massive throw. If the Edge 2K was a catwalk model it would stir controversy about the promotion of unhealthy body image because it really is extremely skinny (for a double-barreled torch that’s capable of shooting a 2000-lumen beam almost 490ft (150m)).

Living up to its name, it fits in pretty much any pocket or pouch, whether you want to carry it on your person, transport it in a pack or place it in a storage area of a tent.

The Nebo Edge 2K is ridiculously easy to operate. I really like the use of a dial in place of a button to switch between beams (although I will say, as a leftie, that this system has been designed with weirdo right-handed users in mind…like always).

The three main white light options are perfectly sufficient for most scenarios, but I would have liked to have at least one color option, for use when you need to do or find something but don’t want to shatter your night vision, or wake up your tent or dorm buddies.

The Turbo beam truly does cleave the night in two. In my experience, it’s extremely rare that you need a light anywhere near this bright, but it’s nice to know that it’s in the arsenal if required. It’s worth noting that the torch will only remain on this setting for 30 seconds at a time before reverting back to whatever sensible setting you were previously using, and you can only use it once every 3 minutes, to stop the unit overheating.

I was intrigued by the ‘Defensive Strobe’ feature, which I thankfully didn’t need to put to the test in a real-life scenario. I can confirm, though, that friends and family do not like having it blasted in their face one bit, and will swear at you with conviction and feeling if you don’t desist. One thing I found odd about this setting, though, is that you can’t activate it when the lock is on (you’re unlikely to accidently doubleclick the on button in your pocket, but if you actually ever need to employ this defensive feature because of an imminent attack, having to release the lock first would not be ideal.

Also Consider

Comparison Table

Want to illuminate your camping trips this spring? Check out these solar-powered backcountry lights from BioLite and snag 40% off in time for the camping season.

The Luci Mpowerd Solar String Lights, which are now available for just $32.93, harness the power of the sun to provide up to 20 hours of illumination with just one charge.

These portable lights feature a front solar panel to absorb the sun's rays, and if it's cloudy out, you can charge them with a standard USB-A or USB-C cable.

Once charged, 10 energy-efficient, shatterproof LED bulbs can be hung around the camp from their nylon-braided cord and emit 100 lumens of warm light. You can choose from blue, violet, turquoise, green, pink, or cool white color modes, or opt for the color cycle and turn your tent into a disco.

The Luci Mpowerd Solar String Lights also boast an IPX4 water-resistant rating, so you can keep your camp illuminated when the weather worsens.

Don't worry if you're not in the US, just look below for today's best BioLite camping lights deals where you are.

• The best camping flashlights: the best and brightest options
• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double-burner stoves

If you're looking for Christmas camping gift under $20, you can pick up the highly-rated Black Diamond Zip Lantern for just $18.72 at REI. That's a generous saving 46% off the list price for this nifty camping lantern, which also doubles as a flashlight.

This compact camping gadget boasts 5 LEDs with 150 lumens to cast ambient light in lantern mode when you want to light up the table for mealtimes and playing cards. When it's time to go to bed, 1 LED with 90 lumens provides a bright, precise beam in flashlight mode so you can find your tent.

The whole package weighs just 3.5 ounces so it's great for both car camping and backpacking, and it's all operated by a single switch for ease of use. This deal applies to both the Powell Blue and Octane colorways.

Not in the US? Scroll down to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on some of our favorite camping lanterns near you.

Not in the US? Here are today's best deals on some of our favorite camping lanterns where you are.

• The best camping lanterns 2024: light up your outdoor adventures

Meet the reviewer

AceBeam H15 2.0: first impressions

The AceBeam H15 2.0 is part of a family of multifunctional, periscope-style torches from specialist Chinese lighting brand AceBeam, which can be worn, positioned or held in several ways, including on the forehead, in the hand, clipped to a pocket (or tent hoop) or magnetically attached to a metal object. These impressive products all come with a head harness, which begs the question: are they primarily headlamps or flashlights? 

Several months ago I tested and reviewed the AceBeam H16 and decided that, while it has flashlight features and functions, it should/could be considered a head torch first and foremost, and so it appears in our best headlamps buying guide. I made this call mainly because of the H16’s diminutive size, which I felt made it better suited to being worn on the head rather than being used as a hand-held torch – it’s so small without the harness that I feared misplacing it, and sadly that’s exactly what has happened since… (I’m sure it’s somewhere in my kit cupboard).

When the AceBeam H15 2.0 arrived, it felt and looked just like a supersized version of the H16. There’s actually more to it than that, which I’ll get to later, but the basic design is the same, on a much larger scale. After trying it on my noggin, I quickly came to the conclusion that it was a bit too heavy and cumbersome to be comfortably worn on the forehead for any real length of time. So using the same logic for consistency, I’m classing this one as a handheld torch with headlamp applications. And on that basis I ’ve been testing it out on trail and in camp to see how it performs next to the best camping flashlights on the market.

AceBeam H15 2.0: materials & construction

However you choose to use and wear it or hold it, the AceBeam H15 2.0 is a very tough torch. The all-metal body is made with A6061-T6 high-quality aluminum alloy that has survived all sorts of deliberate mishandling and drop-testing, and it has an impressive waterproof/dust ingress rating of IP68, which means it can be fully submerged at a depth of 2m (6ft+) for at least half an hour. You would really have to try hard to break this beamer.

It’s a rechargeable torch, which comes with a single 18650 battery and a USB-C charging cable. 

AceBeam H15 2.0: settings, range and lifespan

There are multiple light settings on the AceBeam H15 2.0, with the white light options ranging from Moonlight (one lumen of gentle illumination, which lasts for 30 days on a single charge), through Low (70 lumens, 38m range, 24 hours), Mid1 (200 lumens, 60m, nine hours), Mid2 (500 lumens, 85m, 3.5 hours), High (1200 lumens, 125m, 10 minutes) to Turbo (2800 lumens, 220m, 40 seconds). 

On each of these settings (above Moonlight), the light intensity automatically switches down a level after each of these maximum times expires, to give you additional light – so, for example, if you’re using the High setting, the beam will independently toggle down to Mid2 after 10 minutes, to give you another 80 minutes on that setting, before it drops to Mid1, for another 30 minutes of light, and then finally switching to Low for another 30 minutes of illumination. 

In addition, there’s a strobe setting (2800 lumens for five minutes, with a range of 220m, before dropping to 2000 lumens for one hour) and Red Light setting that lasts for five days on constant, or 10 days on flash.

AceBeam H15 2.0: design & applications

As mentioned, the AceBeam H15 2.0 is shaped like a periscope, so if you stand it up – or use the magnetic base to attach it to a metal surface, such as the body of a vehicle – the light beam comes out at right angles to the body. This is fixed – you can’t maneuver the head of the torch or the angle of the beam.

The kit comes complete with a head harness, with decent, breathable, elasticized and adjustable straps that go around and over the top of the head. The torch unit slides (with quite a bit of effort) into two rubber loops on the front of this strap, so you can use it as a headlamp. There is also a removable clip that allows you wear the torch on a shirt pocket, or position it on a fence, or hoop/loop in the interior of a tent (be careful if you go with the latter option – on high beam this unit can get pretty hot).

AceBeam H15 2.0: in the field

I’ve been using the AceBeam H15 2.0 over the last six months or so, during a wide range of escapades and scenarios, ranging from camping and hiking, through to everyday situations such as walking the dog and doing tasks in the garden after dark. 

It’s a very versatile light, and I love the variety of ways it can be worn and positioned, so you can perform tasks using both hands. However, although I’ve included it in the flashlight guide, I have rarely actually used this torch in the handheld position, because it feels a bit odd holding it in an upright fist. It works fine, I’m just used to holding a flashlight length ways. 

That said, as I mentioned earlier, it is also a tad heavy to wear for any prolonged length of time on your head – it’s fine for half an hour or so while doing stuff in the campsite or garden, but I wouldn’t choose to wear this model as a headlamp during a night hike, and it’s certainly not one for wearing while fastpacking or running (there are many alternative great lightweight head torches out there, designed specifically for running). Also, it’s fiddly to get in and out of the rubber hoops to attach or remove it from the head harness (you obviously need to remove the clip, but I also had to unscrew the bottom section of the torch, and then reattach it – which is fine if you’re going to keep using it as a head torch, but not if you want to swap modes regularly).

My preferred way to use this torch is as a standing light, either positioned on a flat surface or magnetically attached to something (an excellent feature, especially if you enjoy tinkering with vehicles), or worn on the chest, clipped to the pocket of a hiking shirt. It’s also excellent as a tent or campsite light, because you can easily attach it to all sorts of hoops and loops on the interior of a family tent or a two-person shelter, or even a fence or tree, and use it to illuminate the whole area – like a camping lantern. If you have young children, the Moonlight setting is an excellent nightlight, and the charge lasts literally for weeks on this setting.

I found the range of white-light settings to be brilliant (in every sense of the word) and very useful. The Turbo and High beams throw light a very long way, but even on the more sensible Mid settings the range is impressive and highly practical. The feature that sees the settings automatically toggle down to give you extra light for longer, instead of burning right through the battery life and leaving you in the dark, is very clever.

I also very much like the fact that you can easily toggle through all of these settings and options with an easy-to-locate, simple single-click button (there’s nothing worse than scrambling around in the dark trying to activate an overly complicated torch – and there are no such dramas with the H15). There are also shortcuts – for firing up the Turbo setting, for example – and the torch remembers what setting you had it on when you turned it off.

One of the things I complained about when reviewing the H16 was the lack of a color option, and I’m very pleased to report that the H15 2.0 has a red bulb, which is perfect for reading a map or finding something without completely shattering your natural night vision – ideal for use when star gazing. It also allows you to exit a shared tent for a midnight call of nature without waking your buddies, and it doesn’t attract as many insects. The strobe settings (white and red) can be good during emergencies, but there is no pre-set SOS mode.

One word of caution – on the high and Turbo settings, the head of the torch gets pretty hot – be careful around children and fabrics.

• How Advnture tests products

In this day and age, lightweight camping lanterns have their work cut out to make their case for inclusion in a wild camper’s backpack. Many may consider them as something of a luxury compared to the on the trail functionality of a headlamp. This is especially so when tent manufactures are including features like the illuminating lightbar seen in Sea to Summit’s Alto TR2, which is designed specifically with turning a hiker’s headlamp into a camping lantern.

Enter the gloriously compact and lightweight Pegasus Solar Lantern from Outwell, a Scandi camping equipment brand with a focus on helping families enjoy unforgettable moments. The Pegasus admittedly isn’t the most powerful beacon of brightness we’ve ever seen, though it does cram in quite a few innovative features to make it a really versatile little tool for both car camping trips and backpacking adventures.

I was delighted to test the Pegasus this season and it was provided by the experts at Outdoor World Direct, where it is available to buy now.

Meet the reviewer

First impressions

In its compact form, the Pegasus looks a cross between R2-D2 and a hockey puck. It’s an impressively small unit that immediately suggests its potential as a friend on future wild camping expeditions. A little swivel and the two halves of the puck separate and the concertina design reveals itself with a pull. This is its full camping lantern mode and there’s a fold-out handle to hang it by or it can also be a freestanding light.

It's obvious straight away that the Pegasus is in no way blindingly bright, even when I closed the concertina up and used it in its compact flashlight form, focussing the light into a concentrated beam. So, if you're after a light by which to navigate at night, this isn't the one for you. If you're looking for something light and compact for casual camping, it seemed a good value option.

Features

A great feature of the Pegasus is its versatility. In its compact form, it functions as a torch, with all the light given off by its bulb focussed straight ahead. However, opening up the translucent silicone concertina diffuses this light in all directions, turning a flashlight into a camping lantern.

Its maximum setting provides 65 lumens, which admittedly means this isn’t the brightest camping lantern. It’s better suited to illuminating the interior of a two-person tent than it is as something you’d hang above your outdoor cooking area at night. On this maximum setting, you get 5 hours of juice, enough for reading a couple of chapters but not enough to rely on it right through the evening and into the night.

The lowest light setting is a relatively dim 3.9 lumens, which the Pegasus can maintain for 45 hours from fully charged. Holding down the power button steadily increased the lumens until the maximum is reached, before it fades back down to the minimum. When you hit your desired compromise between brightness and burn time, simply let go. It's also solar rechargeable and boasts a solar panel on its underside.

As well as transforming between flashlight and lantern, the Pegasus can also be used to charge anything that takes a USB. This is another feature that makes it an attractive choice for backpacking trips, where you may be off-grid and in need of as many power options as you can get for your various gadgets. However, I soon discovered that this feature was perhaps not as useful as you'd think...

In the field

I used the Pegasus during backpacking trips to North Wales' Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and in the family tent too. I got on well with its versatility, though it's hardly the most powerful. Its maximum of 65 lumens was easily trumped by my even more compact and lighter Black Diamond Storm 500R headlamp. I've also got a tent with light dispersing bar, so when it came to wanting a diffuse light, I was able to pop the headlamp in it.

However, I'm aware not all tents have this kind of innovation and, besides, for a gentle, diffuse light for reading, the Pegasus was fine. Plus, for illuminating medium-sized spaces in a family tent, it's better suited than a head torch.

Another thing that would set it apart from many of its competitors is the ability to use it as a power bank. Unfortunately, I didn't have a good experience with this. I attempted to charge my phone overnight a few times with the lantern and the same thing happened every time: the phone's charge only increased by a little bit and the lantern's battery ended up dead.

A second downside is that there’s no visual indication of the level of battery life left in the tank, other than a green light when it’s full. So, if you were wanting to give your phone a tiny little charge boost but still have enough juice for a bit of evening reading, it’s impossible to know how much power you’ve got left.

I always used to joke that a solar-powered torch was as useful as a chocolate teapot. Of course, the idea of charging up during the daylight hours is a fairly common one these days, with solar chargers a much sought-after item among campers. The UK isn't always the best place to test solar equipment and measuring exactly how much juice my lantern was gaining during the day was tricky considering there's no battery charge indicator. I'd say that given the small size of the solar panel, the quickest and most reliable way to recharge the Pegasus in the backcountry would be with a power bank.

All in all, this is a handy little gadget that represents good value for both car campers and backpackers. Sure, there are more impressive lanterns out there and its capabilities as a power bank aren't great, but for the price and the lack of weight in your pack, it's a good option.

Meet the reviewer

AceBeam E75: first impressions

The excellent build quality of the E75 quad-core high-performance flashlight is immediately obvious as soon as you release this beast from its box. Although it’s only five inches long and weighs less than eight ounces (making it easy to carry in the pocket of a hiking backpack, daypack or jacket), this nifty torch from Chinese brand AceBeam feels really solid in your hand. 

Even at these fairly diminutive dimensions, I personally think it’s a little too chunky to be considered a natural everyday carry item (the excellent little Acebeam H16, which can be used as a headlamp or a mini flashlight, is better suited for such use) but as a handheld torch to take camping or keep in the car or your backpack, the E75 feels like one of the best flashlights on the market. 

And that’s before you even turn it on, because once it’s fired up, the E75 has a Raging Bull-esque ability to punch above its weight and completely KO the darkness. 

The AceBeam E75 flashlight is available in two very slightly different iterations; I’ve been testing the CR190 version, which is fronted by four 5000K LED bulbs that can cast a beam way beyond 200m on the Turbo setting. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with this version of the E75 (which supplies everything I’m every going to need from a torch in terms of power), but the other model is even stronger, with four 6500k cool-white bulbs offering a maximum range of 260m.

AceBeam E75: design and specifications

The AceBeam E75 has six white-light settings, starting with the very subtle one-lumen glow that AceBeam has rather poetically named Moonlight. You can keep the flashlight on this setting for 26 days before the battery gives up the ghost.

The more useful settings are Low (50 lumens, small range for 2.5 days), Medium 1 (150 lumens, 58m range for 16 hours), Medium 2 (450 lumens, 58m range for 4 hours 40 minutes) and High (1,000 lumens, 128m range for 1 hour 50 minutes). There is also a 3,000-lumen Turbo mode that throws light 210m for short bursts of time, and a strobe setting. 

The battery is charged (and subsequently recharged) via an included USB–C cable.

This tough little flashlight can survive almost anything you (or the elements) might thro at it. Fully dust-, shock- and waterproof, it has a lab-tested ingress protection rating of IP68 and can be fully submerged to a depth of 2m. 

AceBeam E75: on the trails and in camp

I’ve been using the AceBeam E75 flashlight during night hiking and overnight camping escapades during the last few months, as well as for more prosaic tasks such as walking the dog after dark, and it’s difficult to be anything other than super impressed with this hardy little lightsaber.

While the Moonlight setting is limited in its usefulness (it’s good as a nightlight and to find your way out of the tent or dorm room without waking everyone else up), the strength of the beam on the other levels is brilliant. With a single button to negotiate, it’s really easy to toggle through all the various light modes, and the turbo and strobe features are just as simple to activate, by giving the button a double or triple click. 

You always know where you are with the battery, because there’s a charge indicator beside the operating button. All the time you have plenty of juice left in the bank this glows green, but when the remaining battery life goes below 20% it changes to red, and if you let it drop beneath 10% it begins to flash as an urgent reminder.

Herein lies one of my few criticisms of the E75: you are very reliant on being able to reach somewhere with a USB outlet in order to recharge the torch. I prefer the option of being able to take a stash of standard batteries along with me on longer trips and remote expeditions, just in case the rechargeable one runs out or fails.

My other grumbles include the absence of a color bulb (useful for preserving night vision when reading maps out on the trails, and sometimes for emergency comms) and the lack of a lock to prevent accidental activation.

However, these quibbles aside, I really love this flashlight. Besides its toughness, premium performance levels and high degree of functionality, I have been particularly impressed with the extra features that facilitate hands-free use, including a clip that have allowed me to attach the torch to clothing or tent pockets (making it an alternative to a dedicated camping lantern) and a seriously powerful magnetic base that allows you to position it on the side of vehicles, or pop it on anything else metallic. (You do need to be aware that the top of the torch will get hot on high beam after a while, however, so don’t leave it in contact with anything flammable while it’s activated.)

I don’t especially need this feature while exploring the trails and moors around Devon and the South West of Britain (and carrying an item with the intent of using it to cause injury here is illegal) but AceBeam points out that the E75 flashlight’s robust metal build makes it potentially useful as a self-defense tool if you feel threatened or even get attacked while out and about in the dark.

• How Advnture tests products

Lighthouse elite Focus100 LED Torch: first impressions

The Lighthouse elite Focus100 LED Torch is a pen-style flashlight that’s ideal as a backup light source for camping and night walking. Because it’s so lightweight and, literally, the size of a pen, you can confidently keep it in your backpack or jacket pocket in case your headlamp or phone torch fails. Though it may not have the power or beam distance as some flashlights, the LED bulb does give you 50 meters (164 feet) of illumination which is more than enough when you’re rooting around in your tent or taking a late night bathroom break.

This torch is charged by two AAA batteries and has three settings: high, low and strobe for energy saving and safety. To operate it, simply click a button like you would a pen, and if you want a more focused beam for complex tasks, you just twist the end. It’s designed by and for construction workers, so it’s water-resistant, impact resistant up to one meter and clips onto your shirt pocket for convenience, all of which comes in handy for the outdoors. It may not be a total replacement for a burlier torch, but for its portability, performance and price, it’s worth carrying with you everywhere.

Lighthouse elite Focus100 LED Torch: in the field 

I picked up this flashlight at an outdoors trade show in Liverpool in the spring and I’ve been bringing it with me on all my hiking and camping trips this summer. I’ll be honest, I haven’t used an actual torch in years, much preferring the hands-free convenience of a headlamp, so I was curious to see how I’d like it. 

Here’s how it performed:

Weight and packability 

You really can’t get any lighter or more portable than this flashlight. It’s the size of a pen, the weight of a slice of bread and has a clip so you can stash it in the pocket of your hiking shirt, if you wear such a thing. I personally just carry it in the top pocket of my daypack in case I need it, where it stows safely in the mesh pockets, but it’s small enough to go in a jacket pocket without being annoying. In that regard, it’s ideal for any travel where you might experience a power cut or be walking home in the dark.

Ease of operation and charging 

There’s no need to read the instructions on this device, it basically operates just like a pen. Click the button at the end and the high beam comes on. Click it to turn it off again, then the next setting is low beam and the final setting is strobe. You can also twist the end to get a more focused beam, which I’ve found handy for late-night rummaging in my backpack.

One downside is that it isn’t rechargeable, and does rely on batteries, which means you do need to carry extra batteries at all times. The manufacturers give it up to three hours of continuous use on low beam, though I’ve tested other products by Lighthouse and found they have a much longer battery life than advertised.

Functionality and durability 

With 100 lumens and a beam distance of about 50 meters, this isn’t some massive, high powered torch. It’s about twice as powerful as your iPhone flashlight. That said, it's a bright LED and I’ve found it more than ample for navigating my way through the woods at night for a pee, moving around camp and illuminating my tent. Though in general I prefer to have my hands free and use a headlamp, it is handy to have this as a lightweight backup that I can use to shine into nooks and crannies in my backpack, and it’s a bit easier not to dazzle my campmates with it too.

It’s not waterproof, but like most flashlights it’s water resistant and I’ve used it in the rain with no issues. It’s a pretty sturdy piece of gear and I’ve tested its impact-resistance by dropping it from hand height onto hard surfaces with no breakage. This company started out as an outfit for construction workers so I trust their gear to be rugged.

I don’t necessarily think of this as a replacement for a big, beefy flashlight, but it’s so light and compact that there’s almost no reason not to carry it.

• How Advnture tests products

I'm lucky enough to be able to test lots of exciting running tech, including many of the best GPS watches, but the fanciest gadgets aren't always the best investment. For me, a tiny clip-on light has been my best buy so far this year, and it's a game-changer for safety,

When you're planning to head out running at night, packing a fully charged headlamp is a no-brainer. If you forget, you'll stumble over a curb or be flattened by a cyclist, and your workout will be over before it's begun. But what about the shoulder seasons when you might start your run in bright daylight but finish in twilight, when visibility has dropped noticeably – or in cloudy weather when the sun seems to set an hour early?

Or what if you wind up running through a tunnel? One of my favorite routes passes through a mile-long converted railway tunnel, which is dry in rain, cool in summer, and a joy to use all year round. Unfortunately, it's also very gloomy, and the lights have recently been turned down even further for the benefit of the local bat and glow worm populations. Considering it's a shared-use pedestrian and cycleway, it's a recipe for disaster.

That's where the Million Mile Light comes in. It's a tiny, lightweight clip-on light that's powered by movement, so never needs charging. Just pop it onto your running backpack and forget about it. Best of all, it's available on Amazon for only $15.

The light comes in red and white, and contains four bright LEDs that flash surprisingly brightly when it's gently shaken. You don't have to be bouncing around for it to work; just the gentle movement of ordinary walking is enough to power it.

You'll need to take it off before you throw your running pack in the wash, but it's water-resistant and will be absolutely fine when you're caught in the rain. It even comes with a five-year warranty (though I'm hoping mine will last a lot longer than that).

If you're looking for a gift for a runner, or just want to make sure you're a little bit safer out there, I'd highly recommend it. Happy running!

• Best road running shoes: hit the streets in shoes recommended by experts

Let's shed some light on the best camping lanterns. These portable, rechargeable lights are extremely useful for various applications, from illuminating your outdoor kitchen and late night socialising to a spot of reading in the tent before forty winks kicks in.

What sets the best camping lantern options apart from flashlights and headlamps is the broad, soft and continuous light that they create. Flashlights generally give you a focussed beam and while many headlamps have a diffuse light setting, it's rarely as effective as a quality camping lantern.

If weight if your main priority, the best camping lantern is the neat little PrincetonTec Helix, which stands easily on uneven surfaces, has great burntime, and can be charged quickly via USB. If you're car camping, the Coleman 360 Light and Sound is a great choice, offering three versatile light settings and serving as a speaker for a little gentle music after dark.

We've put all the lanterns in this guide to the test on dark campsites, both inside and outside our tents, to see how well they work for helping you cook, read, and find your way at night. We checked how long each one lasts on a single charge compared to the manufacturer's specs, and checked each one's weight. When you're backpacking, every ounce counts.

The best camping lanterns

Small camping lanterns

Bound for the wild? Take along the perfect companion in the form of PrincetonTec’s Helix Backcountry lantern. There’s a lot to love about this little lantern – it may only weigh 155g and pack down to the size of a coffee cup, but it’s a very useful light source. Dim the light from a bright 150 lumens down to a more ambient 30 lumens, or switch to the red light mode when you want to locate something without blowing your night vision, or if you’re flying under the radar on wild camping trips.

We love the concertina-style lamp, which is easy to erect or fold down on the fly. The lantern has sturdy tripod-style legs for use on the floor, or can be turned upside down and hung from a branch or a tent loop – it’s is also water-resistant if you encounter stormy weather. This lamp is USB chargeable – if you’re going to be gone on an adventure for days at a time, consider PrincetonTec’s Helix Basecamp version of this lantern instead, which is charged with AA batteries (so you can take along some spares).

Come rain or shine, Biolite’s Sunlight has got you covered – this sturdy square lamp can be charged with solar power using a large panel on the back, or if the skies are grey it can also plug in via USB. The clever 360 swivel arm lets you attach this block of light to tents, tables or trees, or tie it to the back of your backpack if you’re hiking and want to make the most of the sun’s rays. At just 100g and a pocket-friendly size, the Sunlight is supremely packable.

This is a bit of a party option too, with three coloured LED light versions in case you want something a bit different when you’re heading to a festival or tenting it with friends. 100 lumens is more than enough to illuminate the inside of a tent, and works brilliantly around the house, too. We were also surprised by how affordable the Sunlight is – this is the cheapest lantern in our round-up and offers great bang for your buck.

We find ourselves reaching for the small but perfectly formed Moji lantern again and again – this dinky little light is perfect for wild campers, backpackers and anyone else who travels fast and light. We like taking our Moji lantern wild camping, as it’s so small and light (150g and about the size on an orange) that it fits in any backpack (or indeed, in any pocket). Once you’ve set up your tent, the lantern’s unfolding hooks will easily hang off a ceiling loop and offer a welcoming warm glow that, at 100 lumens, is still bright enough to read by or to help you see when you’re getting your sleeping bag or your supper sorted. Brightness is adjustable, and the Moji will shine bright for days on the juice of three AAA batteries. Simple but brilliant.

Multi-purpose camping lanterns

Extremely easy to set up and use, the 360 Coleman Light and Sound unit is an excellent camping lantern and a mobile disco all in one. The light has three brightness settings, from full beam when you’re desperately trying to locate things the midst of an inky moonless night (like the campsite toilet), to low when you just want to cast an ambient glow on the evening scene. The middle setting is ample for doing thing such as playing cards in the tent on those long evenings when the weather has decided to rain on your outdoor plans, and you get 16 hours of illumination on that setting (as compared to seven hours on high and 40 hours on low). 

The lantern charges via a USB port, and it can be hung from a tree or the top of your tent via a little handle. Our gripe with the light is that it doesn’t have a red setting, for use when you’re star gazing and don’t want to blow your night vision. What it does have, though, is an good-quality circular speaker at the base. With this switched on you can connect your phone via Bluetooth and play music for up to 20 hours while you sit around the fire or huddle in the tent. Just don’t keep your site neighbours up all night, or they might ram the 360 lantern where light was not intended to shine…

Versatility is the name of the game with Biolite’s Powerlight. This clever, flat torch works as two different lights: as a lantern, emitting a warmer, softer light; or as a powerful hand-held flashlight, with a max lumens of 250 and a range of 100 metres. The Powerlight’s versatility (and its dinky pocket-friendly size) makes it perfect for outdoor adventures as well as camping trips, and therefore worth its price. The Powerlight is USB rechargeable, and will also recharge your devices when you’re on the go, charging up to three smartphones when fully juiced up. Once charged, the softer lantern will burn for up to 72 hours. It has a 360° S-hook, so you can hang it from loops in your tent or branches of a tree, or angle from any direction.

At just 210g and in a compact size, the Powelight works for lightweight backpacking trips as well as traditional camping, and is useful for working outdoors or sticking in workshops and garden sheds, too. If you want one lantern/flashlight combo to rule them all, this is a great quality choice.

Classic style camping lanterns

If you’re after a simple and sturdy camping lantern for casual trips with family or friends, you can’t really go wrong with Vango’s Lunar 250 Eco. The eco in the name is due to the fact that this lantern can be recharged in sunlight, and if it’s a grey day it can also connect via USB to charge from the mains.

Once charged, the Lunar 250 goes up to a very bright 250 lumens, which will illuminate some of the landscape around your tent if needed. A handy hook on top of the lantern makes it ideal as a central light in a large family tent. The only downside is that, on test, the lantern’s runtime was only 3–5 hours, so you’ll need to recharge it regularly, making it less useful for multi-day holidays if you don’t have electricity available and the sun decides to hide.

Have you ever thought fleetingly about what you’d do in an apocalypse (or failing that, a power cut)? A wind-up lantern requires no batteries and runs on elbow grease instead, making it a brilliant choice for emergencies, but also great for camping trips and other adventures in the wild where you won’t be able to charge devices. Mountain Warehouse’s lantern has three settings and offers up to 45 lumens of light, which we found more than enough to illuminate any size of tent. Mountain Warehouse reckon it takes one minute of winding to get 20 minutes of light, although we found the lantern worked on a lower setting for three hours at a time after a few minutes of winding. Either way, it’s well worth picking a hand-cranked lantern for the lack of battery faff, and also as an excellent eco-friendly option. Children often like the challenge of creating energy that can be turned into light. It’s a pity the light the lantern gives off isn’t a tad warmer, but it’s still a great choice for car campers, and a good backup lantern for the home, too.

How we test the best camping lanterns

At Advnture we endeavor to test every product we feature extensively in the field. That means one of our team of reviewers and writers – all experienced outdoor specialists active across the US, UK, Europe and Australasia – taking it out into the terrain and climatic conditions that it’s designed for. If, for any reason, this isn’t possible, we’ll say so in our buying guides and reviews.

Our reviewers test camping lanterns in a range of outdoor scenarios – car camping, backpacking, base camping – assessing their value and performance against the claims of the brand in terms of illumination, weight, battery consumption, robustness and features.

How to choose a camping lantern

There are many different kinds of lighting solutions out there, with lanterns, headlamps and flashlights all competing for your attention. While headlamps are great for when you're out on the trail and, along with flashlights, are great for producing a focussed beam, a lantern is probably your best bet for lighting up a larger space, such as a family tent or your cooking area.

Following are some of the factors you should consider when purchasing the best camping lantern for you.

Design and weight

From traditional storm lamps to minimalist orb and square-shaped lights, the best camping lanterns come in all shapes and sizes. What design you pick is up to you – the only factor we’d recommend thinking carefully about is weight and packability. It’s simple – if you’re a wild camper or bikepacker, you’ll need a light that’s as small and as lightweight as possible, to avoid it taking up too much of your pack. We’ve included lanterns in our round-up that weigh just 100g and fit in your pocket, so you’re covered there. Family campers, car campers and glampers will be lighting up a bigger space and will have more room for storage and transportation, so they can pick a larger, heavier lamp.

Lumens

You’ll see lanterns and flashlights with either LED or Xenon bulbs on the market, and we found both worked well on test. The key is the amount of lumens they emit – for a lantern you may want to use as a torch, we recommend going above 150 lumens for decent brightness. For lighting up a 4-person tent, the fireside or even allowing you a bit of reading light in your hammock, 100 lumens should be more than enough. Many of the best camping lanterns are dimmable, too, which is a handy feature for controlling ambient light.

Burntime

The burntime is how long a lantern will stay lit before its fuel runs out, which in the cast of an electric lantern, is its battery. This is a crucial consideration if you plan to use your lantern for many hours on end. When camping in the off season, it gets dark much earlier than in the height of summer. It's likely you will be cooking and socializing with help from the light of your lantern. If you then retire to your sleeping bag and have a decent session with your latest book, it's likely you'll be stretching your best camping lantern's capabilities.

Charging

There are lots of different ways to charge camping lanterns – some take batteries, others can be recharged via USB, some are solar and some can even be hand cranked. 

The best charging option for you depends on how far you like to head into the wild on your camping trips. If you’re camping for just a night or two or have somewhere to charge devices, a USB lantern is great (and is a more eco-friendly choice than using batteries). If you take a power pack along or a solar charger, you will be able to juice up your lantern multiple times, even in the backcountry. 

Having said that, battery-powered lanterns are also good idea for wild campers and backcountry adventures, as long as you carry lots of spares (we prefer to use rechargeable batteries when possible). Solar lanterns are brilliant if the weather is looking good, and we like the ease of hand-cranked lanterns, which need nothing but human power to run - guaranteed to appeal to your inner prepper.

Electric vs gas powered

These days, electric powered lanterns are the norm and most contain batteries that charge just like your phone, using a USB. The advantages of electric lanterns are that they are quiet, lightweight and are less likely to set your tent on fire. You can carry a power bank to give your lantern more juice on multi-day trips. However, power may be at a premium when backpacking and you may want to prioritize other items like your mobile phone, watch or headlamp when it comes to recharging. Cold temperatures also reduce the performance of batteries.

Traditional gas-powered lanterns are better suited to freezing conditions, giving you a bright flame with a long burn time. Of course, they require ventilation to work and must be kept away from flammable materials. 

What to do with your old camping lantern

If you have an old camping lantern that no longer works, make sure to dispose of it as waste electrical equipment, and properly dispose of any batteries (rechargeable or removeable). Most centers have facilities for recycling any kind of household batteries, and many large supermarkets also have collection bins for alkaline batteries.

If your lantern still works and you're just planning to upgrade, consider donating the old one to a charity or thrift store, or a local outdoor gear exchange. Make sure to check that they accept electrical items first, though.

A camper’s kit just isn’t complete without a good torch. When darkness descends, the best flashlights push back. Instead of weak yellow beams that drain batteries quickly, today’s models deliver incredible amounts of illumination with powerful rechargeable batteries and incredible run times. 

The construction quality of the best flashlights has also improved immeasurably over the last decade or so. Materials are more durable and lightweight, with vastly improved levels of shock resistance and waterproofing. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, clipping a flashlight to your belt feels as natural as the multitool you already carry. We have looked at a variety of the best flashlights for a range of applications here, including some that can be solar charged anywhere, one that’s designed specifically for runners and a little light that makes an excellent back-up beam to include in your Everyday Carry kit. 

Bottom line

Whether you’re exploring the backcountry by foot or car, or simply camping out with the family in the backyard, a quality flashlight is an essential piece of kit. For all-round performance, we highly rate the Ledlenser MT14 1000 as the best flashlight you can have in your gear cupboard. It's rechargeable, has a powerful light and a long run time. Everything you want from a flashlight, in fact.
If you want a simple, rugged torch that just works, the Maglite XL 50 comes recommended. It has one mode only but lights things up with a powerful beam when you press its one button.

It's all about ambience. Whether it's the social experience of sharing a basecamp meal after a long day in the hills, or you're tucking in the to the latest winner of the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature, a camping flashlight provides a pleasant, diffuse light source. It's far better than blinding each other with your headlamps or reading with the less shiny end of a flashlight propped in your mouth like a crime show detective.

So, number one: ambience. But I've also got plenty of other reasons you need a camping lantern for your backcountry adventures. Granted, they may feel like a luxury, especially when headlamps and flashlights are already an essential part of every adventurer's kit. But, thanks to their 360-degree illumination and ability to create a consistent, stationary light source, they should feature on every camping checklist.

Here are 9 reasons you need a camping lantern next time you head out into the wilderness.

Meet the expert

Toady's best deals

1. Improve the ambience

• Camping lanterns offer a soft, warm, unobtrusive glow
• Many come with a red light setting so as to not disrupt your night vision

Flashlights and headlamps are ideal tools for finding your way to and around your campsite in the dark. Once there, however, their powerful, penetrating glare can seriously detract from the ambience of your setting. Camping lanterns, on the other hand, offer a soft, warm, unobtrusive glow that, whether artificial (LED) or natural (propane, butane, or oil), is far easier on the eyes and provides a far more homely feel. Many models also have a red light mode that lets you locate your gear or keep your camp lit up without blowing your nightvision. 

2. 360-degree illumination

• Camping lanterns provide an omni-directional light

The unique selling point of camping lanterns is that they offer a more diffuse glow compared to the narrow, strobe-like lighting provided by your headlamp or flashlight. And while a headlamp or a flashlight slung from a branch, ridgeline, or aimed across your campsite from a rock or camping table will likely illuminate a 20- to 30-foot patch of terrain in the direction it is pointing, a decent camping lantern will light up every square foot of area surrounding it for up to 20 feet in all directions. 

3. Dazzle prevention

• The diffuse glow of a camping lantern won't dazzle your campmates when you flick it on

Death and taxes are the oft-cited great inevitables that every human must look forward to during their earthly sojourn. For those of us who choose to spend some of that sojourn under canvas, however, there exists a third inevitable – namely, being dazzled by the blinding glow of our camping companions’ headlamps inside or around our tents. In the humble camping lantern, however, we find a solution that allows us to save our headlamps for wayfinding and lets our camping cohorts locate their midnight snacks, teddy bears, or stash of TP roll without assaulting our eyes.

4. Hands- and head-free lighting

• Many tasks around the campsite require your hands to be free, which you can't achieve with a flashlight
• Sorting items out in a small tent with a headlamp can cause frustration

Many campsite tasks – pitching your tent, cooking, even cracking open a can of your post-hike tipple – require using two hands. Unless you happen to have a third one at your disposal, therefore, a flashlight is rarely the most practical option. Unless, that is, you want to hold it in your mouth, which ain't the most hygienic. Moving around inside your tent with a headlamp on can also cause frustrations, most often resulting in the headlamp’s beam being blocked by the fabric of the tent canopy, the aforementioned assault on the eyes of co-campers, or, after an hour or two of use, the lamp’s headband causing considerable discomfort to your dome. 

5. Multi-functionality

• Most modern camping lanterns are multi-functional
• Some double up as a flashlight, while others can be used as a power bank

Oil and gas-powered camping lanterns of yore did little more than provide a reliable source of illumination, contribute an (additional) unseemly reek to our campsites, and cause the occasional inadvertent bonfire when knocked over by stray limbs. Modern iterations, however, bring a little more to the table, with some models doubling as a flashlight or even as a power bank. Some models also have handy loops or S-hooks for easy hanging, or tripod-style legs for use on the floor. Given that most use LEDs, moreover, they’re pleasingly reek-free and pose zero fire risk. 

6. They’re more portable than you think

• Camping lanterns can be extremely lightweight and portable too

Once upon a time, camping lanterns’ heft and bulk earmarked them as suitable paraphernalia for car-camping excursions only. Thankfully, times have changed. Nowadays, camping lanterns are far more backpack-friendly and feathery affairs, with models like the Black Diamond Moji tipping the scales at a mere 3 ounces (86 grams) and the Biolite Sunlight just 3.5 ounces (100 grams). Both of these lanterns boast an output of 100 lumens and can easily be squeezed into a trouser pocket, making them perfectly suited for more far-flung adventures.

7. Long battery life

• Camping lanterns can boast runtimes up to 75 hours on a single charge

While camping lanterns can’t compete with the best headlamps in terms of runtime, some models of LED camping lantern can keep your campsite lit for up to a highly respectable 75 hours on a single charge, while others have solar-charging functionality or use a wind-up charging mechanism that lets you forgo faffing around with batteries altogether. 

8. All about the angle

• Camping lanterns are easy to position, making setting your desired lighting very straightforward

You may think we’re nitpicking, but we’re yet to meet the flashlight or headlamp that can be hung around camp or in our tent – whether in the gear loft, on accessory hooks, or on a ridgeline – and continue to cast its glow in the desired direction for as long as it remains there. Camping lanterns’ multi-directional glow, however, means that they offer a “set it and forget it” kind of functionality, meaning you’ll be able to carry on with your tick extraction, knitting, game of cards, or reading your bedtime book without having to redirect the beam every time your sleeping partner tosses or turns or a waft of wind diverts it elsewhere.

9. It’s best to have a backup

• It's always worth having a spare light source should your first choice fail

An old Navy SEAL saying warns us that “two means one, one means none.” While numerate campers may quibble, the maxim’s muddled arithmetic imparts invaluable wisdom: namely, that no essential gear item should be without a backup. And never is this advice more applicable than in the case of electronic items carried into the wilds, where drops, battery death, water damage, or electrical failure could leave us lumbering about in the dark each night until we make our return to civilization. So, while we’d always recommend that a great headlamp be one of the first gear items to go into your pack, having a secondary source – in the form of a lantern, say – is a good policy.   

While no one expects to have the same level of lighting when camping as they do at home, a dark campsite is no fun at all. You need a good camping lantern to help you see what you’re cooking, to keep track of your family and avoid tripping over the tent. It also gives your camp a nice cozy feel when you’re staying outdoors. 

Of course, a lantern is also essential in an emergency situation where you don’t have electricity because of a storm or hurricane. There are a range of lanterns with a variety of power sources and light outputs. Here are the best lights for your next camping trip or when you’re forced off-grid.

Bottom line

Lighting is a camping essential and while a flashlight will help you find your way to the toilet and back, a lantern will illuminate your camp nicely and make it easier to enjoy spending time outdoors or in your tent at night. Our choice is the Vont 4 Pack LED Camping Lantern. These cleverly designed compact lights are good value so you can invest in a set of four and choose which parts of your camp to light up. They’re small and basic but also tough, bright and perform their job brilliantly.

If you’d prefer a bigger, brighter lantern, the LE LED Camping Lantern is the one we’d go for. It’s a dependable and good value camping lantern with some handy features.

One of the best camping flashlights is an essential item for any self-respecting camper. Most of us city-dwellers forget just how dark it can get in the backcountry. Once the sun goes down, you absolutely need something to illuminate the way ahead or help you to sort out camp. Plus, when it's misty, you can also have loads of fun pretending you're a Jedi knight.

The best camping flashlights have come a long way in recent years. These days, the finest models give you a powerful beam that can last for days. Not only this, they're also supremely durable, designed to take plenty of abuse throughout their lifetime.

In short, we wouldn't set out for the backcountry with our best camping tent without one of these models. In this guide, we reveal the finest torches for general camping, the best rechargeable and solar powered options, as well as lightweight options for running and wild camping.

Of course, we're also advocates for taking a couple of the best headlamps on any adventure and you can't beat the diffuse glow of one of the best camping lanterns for campsite ambience. However, for handheld, focussed illumination, the best camping flashlights have got you covered.

Best camping flashlights all-round

This small, lightweight, rechargeable flashlight delivers a powerful punch of light. Four light modes are controlled through Ledlenser’s Smart Light Technology and an ‘Advanced Focus System’ that lets you program and personalize the light beam for your specific environment and activity, offering functionality ranging from broad flood to long-distance focused beam. 

The USB rechargeable battery includes a status indicator to give you real-time, accurate readings on battery life. The MT14 delivers an incredible nine hours of run time on the highest mode and almost 200 hours at the lowest setting. The housing is weather-resistant, but not fully waterproof, so don’t go submerging it.

We rate this excellent torch as the best camping flashlight option of all.

This flashlight feels rugged the instant you pick it up. Crafted from aluminum, the housing is checkered to deliver a firm grip. No more frustration dropping your torch just when you need it. The 263-lumens beam is strong enough to illuminate your work. With a fine balance in your hand and five modes managed from a single button control, it’s easy to match the beam to the need. A belt hook keeps the Dark Energy flashlight close at hand. Powered by a pair of CR123 batteries. This torch is the middle offering in a range that also includes a less powerful flashlight with 128 lumens ($62) and a big brother that packs a punch that has 678 lumens behind it ($130).

Best flashlights for runners

If your training schedule means running after dark – and you’re not keen on wearing a head lamp – it’s nice to have a torch that’s designed specifically for that very activity. The Terra Fire shows that level of specialization the instant you pick it up. The ergonomic handle and 24-degree download projection angle illuminate the running path ahead of you. No more stumbling on cracked sidewalks or slipping on ice. Using USB rechargeable batteries, the Terra throws out 400 lumens in three modes. With a five-hour run time on high, there’s no worry about a fading light stranding you on the trail after dark. Although bad weather may send you scurrying home, the water-resistant housing is protected from snow, sleet and rain (but it’s not fully waterproof, so don’t submerge it). 

Best rechargeable flashlights

Simple, elegant design carries the day with this flashlight, produced by an Australian company that specializes in making bike lights. The torch packs a strong 600-lumen circular beam, which can be used as a camping flashlight or interchanged with another optional light head to serve as a bike light. Five light modes help you customize the beam. 

The PWR Bank also offers a USB port for charging other devices. A simple one-button push reveals battery life status. A removable lanyard helps you keep the flashlight handy when you’re setting up camp or organizing the inside of your tent. Knog hasn’t made the waterproofing rating of their lights public yet, but it seems to be weatherproof.

With this versatile flashlight, you can shift from spotlight to wide flood with a simple twist of the head. The end cap switch activates six illumination modes, from a high beam to a momentary strobe. The PowerSwitch dual power delivers juice through micro USB rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries or two CR123 batteries – which aren’t included but are widely available. Having this option means you can take spare batteries on longer adventures, where you won’t be able to plug the torch in and recharge. 

A charge indicator light turns from red to green when fully charged, and visa versa, so you can make the switch to batteries in good time, and there’s no more worrying about a fading light just when you need it most. The precision-machined, rugged mil-spec aluminum body is shockproof, crushproof and water-resistant (not waterproof, though). A steel belt clip keeps the flashlight secure and accessible.

Best solar-powered flashlight

Goal Zero moves away from the traditional flashlight shape with the Torch 500, which can be charged from the sun. The angular shape means it can be used as a handheld flashlight, or the unit stands on its end for use as a floodlight – useful in a tent and in all sorts of other situations when you want to keep your hands free. A built-in solar panel and USB-C rechargeable battery powers a 500-lumen three-level spotlight. The integrated powerbank also lets you charge other small electronics, such as a smartphone, GPS unit or headlamp. The rugged housing is waterproof. Use the convenient clip to hang the light to provide more illumination when needed. 

Best flashlight for wild camping

There are more advanced models in this collection of the best flashlights, but sophistication sometimes brings complication. The XL 50 is a simple, rugged, dependable tool. One button delivers a powerful beam for close-up work environments. One mode, one purpose, one singular benefit. Show me the light. It’s small, compact, light and inexpensive, so you can buy multiple units for your backpack hip belt pocket, day pack and glove box – this is a dependable little light that you can have as a secondary light source, in case all else fails. 

How we test the best camping flashlights

At Advnture we endeavor to test every product we feature extensively in the field. That means one of our team of reviewers and writers – all experienced outdoor specialists active across the US, UK, Europe and Australasia – taking it out into the terrain and climatic conditions that it’s designed for. If, for any reason, this isn’t possible, we’ll say so in our buying guides and reviews.

Our reviewers test camping flashlights in a range of outdoor scenarios – camping, hiking, caving and wet-weather activities (where appropriate) – assessing their value and performance against the claims of the brand in terms of illumination, beam strength, weight, battery consumption, robustness and features.

How to choose a camping flashlight

Every one of the best camping flashlight options above deliver high-performance illumination. Here are some criteria to help you evaluate the options and help you narrow down your choices. Add one (or two) to your gear kit, tick them off on your camping checklist and push back the dark.

If you haven't got a headlamp either, it's worth getting both. For guidance on their features, advantages and disadvantages, see our feature on headlamps vs flashlights.

Lumens

When it comes to the best camping flashlight, one of the first features brands brag about is the number of lumens offered. Lumens is a measure of how bright a torches' beam is, with max output being the number of lumens when the torch is on its most powerful setting. 

More is better, but that’s not always the full story. Different applications require different shapes and sizes of beams. From tight focused beams to full flood, the number of lumens is influenced by environment and application. Generally, a good flashlight will boast a minimum of 200 lumens, which is bright enough for the vast majority of applications.

Multiple light modes

Today’s flashlights are far more powerful than a simple high, medium and low settings. Most of the best torches offer a collection of useful settings including emergency, strobe and burst modes that target all of the flashlight’s lumens in a tightly focused beam. There’s no consistency between brands in terms of controlling and switching between modes. Power buttons can be found on the side or both ends of the flashlight housing. Some models can be programmed or customized for specific uses and preferences. All function well – just find a model that fits your needs.

Power source

Flashlights have been part of a camper’s gear kit since they were invented. The tech inside has evolved a long way, from low-power light bulbs to impressive LEDs that light up the night. Power is the next innovation. Many models have switched from standard AA batteries to rechargeable longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries.

Backpackers embarking on multi-day adventures can use flashlights with dual power sources, so they can take spare batteries, or use a torch with an inbuilt solar panel. With long run times and fast recharging rates, there’s no reason to stumble around in the dark.

Runtime

The runtime is the amount of time the flashlight will operate on a fully charged battery. Of course, different modes and settings drink juice at different rates, so it's worth getting clued up on these. Marching through the dark with your light on full is all well and good but if it runs out on you, you'll wish you'd had it on a lower setting. After all, you can always recharge when you get back to camp.

Extras 

Flashlights that use micro USB ports to bring power to the rechargeable batteries can serve a second purpose. With some models, the flashlight’s power bank can be used to recharge small electronics like your best GPS watch, headlamp or smartphone. The power banks don’t store a lot of power, but nice to know there’s a little extra juice when your other gear is fading. 

Weather resistance and durability

The best camping flashlight is a piece of kit that works hard. They get dropped on rocky terrain on campsites, rolled around in the beds of pick-ups, and accidentally dumped into streams and lakes. Most torches are constructed of durable aluminum water-resistant housings. Surfaces are checkered to enhance the grip, especially when your hands are wet. Every flashlight’s product description includes a rating that explains the water-resistant or waterproof level of the flashlight’s housing. Take a look and match the model to your applications. 

What to do with your old camping flashlight

If your old flashlight is still in working condition and you're just upgrading, think about donating it to a local outdoor gear exchange, thrift store, or charity shop. Just make sure that they're accepting donations of electrical items first; local regulations mean not everywhere can take them.

Flashlights don't last forever though, and if yours is broken, start by removing the batteries and disposing of them safely. Many household recycling centers can take lithium or alkaline batteries, and large supermarkets often have collection bins for alkaline batteries too.

The rest of the flashlight can be recycled as waste electronic equipment (WEE). If you live in the UK, RecycleNow has a postcode search tool that will help you find a facility that will accept it. In the US, many scrap metal recyclers will take small electronics (though you won't get much cash for a flashlight). Many big box stores like Staples offer free electronics recycling, but not all will take lights, so check before you make a journey.

You often need a flashlight most when you don’t have one with you. Whether it’s locating a keyhole in the dark or unexpectedly finding yourself walking on a dark road, having a flashlight small enough to always have on your keyring and in your pocket is undeniably a good idea. As anyone who’s relied on their phone flashlight for more than a few minutes as the battery runs down will also confirm. 

When it comes to buying a keyring flashlight, it’s important to get a good balance between size and brightness. You don’t want anything too bulky that you can’t attach your keys to it. Similarly, you don’t want something that’s so small it can’t have the power to give you a decent beam of light for a good length of time. Some weatherproofing and impact resistance is important too as you want a light you can rely on. Here are our favorites.

Bottom line

While you wouldn’t want to rely on such a small flashlight for all occasions, you’ll be thankful you have a good keying light when you need it. There are vital moments where you need to throw light on the situation, like finding something valuable you have dropped in the dark or warning drivers you’re in the road. This make a keyring flashlight an essential item to carry every day. For a perfect balance of size to brightness, we would recommend the Streamlight 73001 Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight. It’s got the beam of a much bigger flashlight and has a clip that makes it easy to attach to any keyring. What more could you want?

If you prefer AAA batteries to button cells, the Maglite Solitaire LED 1-Cell AAA Flashlight is a good choice. It’s a dependable, bright light from a classic American company. 

Solar power is great for decorative outdoor lighting. Whether it’s strung around your campsite or glowing on your patio, the fact that you don’t need a power source other than the sun makes solar string lights a practical, affordable option for illuminating an outdoor space. You only need to glimpse at Instagram to see how photogenic solar string lights can make your camp or garden as it creates a nice ambient glow and makes an area look special. 

Outdoor solar lights generally work by charging an internal battery through a small solar panel during daylight hours which then powers the lights when it gets dark. A sensor will switch them on automatically when darkness falls or they can be triggered by nearby movement. The brightness of the light depends on the capacity of the battery, the number of LEDs in the lights and, of course, how much the sun has been shining during the day, although a lesser amount of power is captured when it's overcast too. Although they won’t burn as brightly or as long during the winter, when there’s less sun, a string of outdoor lights can’t fail to add some sparkle to your backyard, garden or camp. Here are the ones we’d recommend.

Bottom line

A string of outdoor solar lights will give your camp or garden a cozy ambience and a special shimmer at night. They are so easy to hang up and use without having to worry about electricity or wires that it would be almost rude to leave your outdoor space unilluminated. Our recommended lights for most uses are the Brightown 29FT Solar String Lights Outdoor G40 Patio Lights. They are durable, reliable and surprisingly bright. We can see them becoming a fixture of your garden or something you always pack when car camping with friends and family.

For portable outdoor solar lights for backpacking, we like the MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights. Any doubts you might have about whether you need to take fairy lights on a trip disappear when they can also work as a power bank and a torch and pack up so neatly. 

A flashlight is the first thing you reach for when the power goes off. In an emergency that could involve a sudden blackout, like a hurricane, flood or storm, you want to be able to put your hand on a flashlight that is reliable, durable and easy to keep charged. 

The best emergency flashlights are ones you can rely on to provide a vital source of light when you need it most. They need to have several power sources so you don’t have to worry about running out batteries and will often use solar or a hand crank as well as batteries. Some models combine a flashlight with an emergency radio that can pick up NOAA weather alerts and a power bank for charging phones. Here are the emergency flashlights you want to find in your survival kit when the worst happens.

Bottom line

An emergency flashlight needs to perform well in an emergency. That means it’s durable, bright and easy to power when you can’t rely on the electrical supply. For these reasons, we would recommend the FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio Flashlight. Combining a light with a weather radio makes a lot of sense and this model has powerbank to keep your phone working too. As well as the bright flashlight beam, there’s a reading light that could be useful in any blackout.

If you just want a flashlight to use in an emergency though, the GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000 is a good choice. It’s nearly indestructible, dazzlingly bright, although different modes can make it dimmer if you need it, and won’t let you down – as long as you have batteries to power it.

Welcome to Advnture, the new home of AnglersMail.co.uk

Sonik SKX 3+1 Alarm, Receiver and Bivvy Lamp Set description: a feature-packed alarm and receiver set with a free bivvy light.

Specifications: alarms: two multi-coloured LEDs; seven alarm and tone settings; six sensitivity settings; one-touch mute button; forward and drop-back bite indication; Nite-Lite function; rod-friendly rubber inlays; screw-in snag ears; protective covers supplied; low-battery warning; 150 m range; takes 2AAA batteries. Receiver: four colour channels; LEDs that indicate drop-back bites; Light and Sound, Light and Vibration, or Light, Sound and Vibration indication options; matches the alarm tone automatically; low-battery warning; anti-theft alarm; built-in torch; 150 m range; lanyard attachment point; table-top cradle holster supplied; requires 2AAA batteries. Bivvy light: manual on/off mode or automatic illumination mode; six colour channels; six levels of brightness; delay adjustment; low-battery warning; magnetic and bivvy hook attachment supplied; requires 3AA batteries.

My verdict: this upgraded partner to the popular SKS Alarm, Receiver and Bivvy Lamp set is bound to attract interest.

The fact that you can scroll through a choice of LED colours on the alarms at the press of a button will be well received.

I also like the one-touch mute button, as it enables you to silence your alarms when you make adjustments to your bobbins, but it will reactivate after 30 seconds, so you don’t accidentally leave your system on silent by mistake.

The range of adjustability is useful, as are the smart, removable snag ears on the alarm heads.

Even the bivvy light offers six brightness settings and a time delay function.

Price: £229.99.