Light experiences in the woods

[FlashSpyJ]

Two friends of mine was hiking out to the woods last night. Around midnight I took my motorcycle and headed out to them.

A couple of observations I made during my visit in the woods...

First thing is to have a light with low low output, like one lumen or so, its all you need when its pitch black! I had my P2D, and the low wasnt low enough!

Second is to have a headlamp when you are going to use both hands while looking for stuff in your bag etc! I keept my P2D in my mouth, think I got some drool in the tailcap, because it keept changing modes, very irritating!

So third would be to ALWAYS have a backup light! ( which I had, didnt need to use it but Im glad I had it!)

I will always have a really bright light, preferable an incan when going outdoors in the woods etc, had my Mag 2D ROP.

When i was going home, I noticed that my main light on my bike wasnt working, onle the high beam. Luckily I brought electric tape! taped the P2D on to the front mudgard with turbomode on. Worked well I must say! Later the main beam started to work again, some glicth.

So now I know what to bring when going out in the woods!

 

[KingGlamis]

In the woods I like my Streamlight Buckmasters Twin-Task 2L. It has three green LEDs rated at 10 lumens. Enough light to walk with, but not too bright. And the theory behind the green LEDs is that they are not supposed to scare off animals. Plus it has the 72 lumen incan for more light when needed (and I carry other lights of course).

 

[scottaw]

I thoroughly agree, less is always more in the woods. I like to hike w/ no lights at all (gasp cpf!) and after a few minutes you can see just fine. I recently decided to get a red led light, just incase the moon isn't out as bright.

 

[GregY]

A number of years back I sometimes would go walking in wooded areas and not turn on any light. When your eyes adapt, moonlight is enough for getting around fairly open areas.

On cloudy nights, under a canopy, on rough ground, etc. you're going to want some light. In those situations I like something with a little throw (so I can see farther than 2 steps ahead), even if the output isn't very great.

I recently had Milky build me an L1 with an SSC P4 and the stock TIR optic. I estimate 6 or so lumens on low, with pretty nice throw. When I need to I can see 20-30 feet ahead without blinding myself. Nice. And having the high in reserve for when I really need to *see* is comforting.

I live in the suburbs, bordering on wooded parkland. I've used the light now on a couple of nighttime walks and it's perfect.

 

[Windscale]

I agree that it may not be necessary to use a very bright light when hiking. But sometimes a bright light with a reasonable throw does come in handy.

For a long time my hiking EDCs have been:
Inova 24/7;
Favourlight 3 Watt headlamp (ran on 2x CR123As); and
SF 6P with KL3 (old style) (ran on 1x 17670)

Now the set up has been updated to:
Inova 24/7 (ran on 1x 3v RCR123A);
Gentos 0.5 Watt headlamp (ran on 1x AA eneloop); and
UltraFire WF 502D Cree (ran on 2x 18650s) or Z Power YJ-18WE (1x 18650)

The idea to have a strong light is not to use them but to have them when needed. The 24/7 has an excellent red mode which makes your eyes very comfortable when turned on in the dark.

 

[Esthan]

Another person came to the same conclusion
+1 FlashSpyJ

 

[Daniel_sk]

Another person came to the same conclusion
+1 FlashSpyJ

+2
A headlamp is very useful in the woods - If I had to choose between a flashlight and a headlamp for camping, then I'd take a headlamp. But best is to have both with you.

 

[tarponbill]

Technically not the woods, but I can see them from the back porch -- When the lights went out everywhere after hurricane Wilma hit Florida, the need for low light that lasted was driven home. No power, no gasoline, no places to buy batteries, no nothing. Low light and long running is best.

The Everglades is just next door to us and the dark there is complete. Lights with three levels of bright make a lot of sense, but it seems to me that most low levels are still too bright. The Dorcy 1AAA seems just about bright enough, when it's really dark.

Oh yeah, it's surprising how bright the moon really is :twothumbs

 

[ScottB]

Not technically woods here either but some rather profound darkness aside from a county park a few miles away with a couple of sodium lights . I've looked at them with a spectrometer I built and they are just two narrowband peaks (....||....) and no other energy.

I have only had it a few days but my http://members.cox.net/rigelsys/flashlight.html# Skylite mini in green/white is my instant favorite for night dog walking in the desert. Continuously (analog) variable from a low setting with 320 hours runtime to a decent high setting. Switchable to green or white it is the only light I have aside from a mag solitaire that has low enough levels. It comes with a neck lanyard.

The only drawback is the 9v power but I'm using batts pulled from smoke alarms as others have mentioned.

I built a red led dropin mag 2AA and it is way too bright, even with an SF F04 diffuser. Its ok for the yard but not the "woods".

Sorry for posting without beamshots. I'm getting setup for that and should have some neat stuff soon.

Scott

 

[ltiu]

First thing is to have a light with low low output, like one lumen or so, its all you need when its pitch black! I had my P2D, and the low wasnt low enough!

This is where that Inova X1 gen 2 or 3 that a lot of people are complaining about being sooo dim compared to other 1AA lights come into play. The X1 is probably more than enough in the woods.

 

[FlashSpyJ]

Now I really must find a new low low light. A new headlamp with more than one mode, want one to be very low. And maybe a new handheld with low low too...

This never stops, every time you use your stuff you find new things that would be even better.... but its fun to buy new stuff!

 

[GregY]

This is where that Inova X1 gen 2 or 3 that a lot of people are complaining about being sooo dim compared to other 1AA lights come into play. The X1 is probably more than enough in the woods.

I have a gen 2 X1 that has also gone with me at night. I like the relatively low output, but to me it doesn't have enough reach if you're moving. If you're sitting still, trying to read a map or tie a shoe or something, it's just dandy.

My ML1 on low has similar total output, but much more throw (it really is much more focused) so you can see where you're going. A diffuser would probably be best if you want to do anything up close.

 

[ltiu]

I remember using my Petzl Tikka (old, 5 years old regular 3 LED Tikka, not the XP version) into very dark woods away from the city and it was pretty sufficient.

 

[zipplet]

I think the low on a light like the surefire L1 (older model) would be great here. Another good choice would be the photon freedom.

 

[swxb12]

How about a medium powered red light, like the X5?

 

[batman]

Bear Grylls from "Man Vs. Wild" had an episode where he was navigating the woods at night without a flashlight. He said in special forces they only move at night,..and the technique is to let your eyes become comfortably night vision adapted for about 40 minutes first. You get into a rythem and you can move really fast almost like it's daytime after that.
I've never tried that on a an overcast moonless night under tree cover,..but my guess is you might need a little extra help in those situations.

 

[supes]

I really like the L6's combination of throw and flood for use in outdoor areas. The L4 is also kick butt.

The new Rayovac 1AA Xtreme headlamp with the diffuser lens on the 1 watt another good one for the trails to see around your immediate space.

I have one conflict though, how and what type of lights do you guys use in very dense and vegetative wood areas? I've tried my SF M6 with MN21 HOLA before, and I still experience lots of shadowing and dark spots. Is there any way around this?

 

[ltiu]

I really like the L6's combination of throw and flood for use in outdoor areas. The L4 is also kick butt.

The new Rayovac 1AA Xtreme headlamp with the diffuser lens on the 1 watt another good one for the trails to see around your immediate space.

I have one conflict though, how and what type of lights do you guys use in very dense and vegetative wood areas? I've tried my SF M6 with MN21 HOLA before, and I still experience lots of shadowing and dark spots. Is there any way around this?

I know this is a flashaholic site, but anyone here used those night vision goggles used by the military? Would this work better in the dark woods?

 

[BB]

There is a night vision forum here too... But for a quick comparison of some of the better "true military night vision" equipment, and some of the equivalent "video camera" shots, AR15.com has a review with LOTS of PICTURES (dial-up modem unfriendly).

Basically, you still need some light to amplify. It is going to be a green/low contrast type picture--not equivalent to a Black and White picture in daylight...

-Bill

 

[MedusaOblongata]

I've done a lot of night hiking/climbing with no light at all. Or with with a light that I never turned on. (There were times when, after hours of hiking, I'd whip out a flashlight to look at something and my friends would be amazed, because they didn't even know I had one. Now they'd just assume I had one.)

For those who have problems with their flashlight being too bright, have you tried using a Photon or similar? I assume (perhaps I shouldn't) that all flashaholics have at least one of these around somewhere. I can't imagine it being too bright...