What lights you'd take on a long (camping) trip?

cy

Flashaholic
Joined
Dec 20, 2003
Messages
8,186
Location
USA
What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

Hi all,

I just got back from Freewheel, which is a 400+ miles week long bicycle trip across Oklahoma.

Ran into BentheadTX, who was wearing a clearly modded maglite on his helmet. We had big time fun talking LED's for the trip. He's got the brightest BB500 R2H in minimag, toasted my MM+ R2H firefly /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The second night after riding 70 miles with a high of 105 degrees. A major wind storm with 90mph+ winds blew thru the campground. It flatten out most of the tents. Mine survived the winds due the stable design of my tent. The time to go tent shopping was right after that storm, looking at the tents that survived.

People were running all over for shelter after their tents were flatten. One woman carrying her baby was lifted off the ground by the winds. Thank goodness they good off with only scratches.

The row of porta pottys blew over with someone trapped inside. Wheww... I bet that guy stunk. I heard he was yelling for help for sometime.

Needless to say my LED lights were put to use in that night. My two boys ages 11 & 15 were with me in the tent, they were EDC infinity ultra's and ArcLS first runs.

I did bring also bring in my backpack, Arc4+ and LSHP. But my EDC firefly almost never left my neck with arcAAA w/spyderco mini attached as a backup.

What lights would you bring on a long camping trip?

Thanks,
CY
 

Lurker

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Messages
1,457
Location
The South
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

It sounds like you have some great camping lights there. I personally wouldn't go camping without a good headlamp. My favorite is the Petzl Tikka Plus. Everything else is just backup for me when camping.
 

Hoghead

Flashaholic*
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
2,573
Location
Minnesota
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

I used to use the Petzl Duo (incandescent & 3 LEDs) with an Ultra-G and a Princeton Tec Tec40. I also take a Petzl Zipka for a spare headlamp and my wife likes to use it for reading while she's laying in her sleeping bag.

Now I use the Princeton Tec Yukon HL, & either Infinity Ultra-G or ARC AA. When I'm in bear country I also take a Surefire M6. I still take the Zipka too.

The Tec40 and now the M6 don't get much use, but some times when I need a bright light they are invaluable.
 

BigHonu

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 1, 2002
Messages
1,242
Location
Honolulu, HI
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

Stationary camp:
Lantern (gas)
PT Aurora and Petzl Tikka+ (one for backup)
one of McGizmo's PR based lights (intermittent use)
Arc AAA

For a mobile camp(not what I normally do), I'd get rid of the lantern, and use AA based lights as the AAs are more common.

Brian
 

Lux Luthor

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 10, 2000
Messages
1,944
Location
Connecticut
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

BigHonu,

You make a good point about the different types of camping. Since I backpack, I find I only need to add a few things to my pack to go camping. None of those things are necessary, but do add comfort. So I would just add a lantern to my normal lighting setup. I prefer LED, and one that also does amber.
 

Reaper

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 14, 2002
Messages
393
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

The lights I took to Yosemite National Park for a week was my every present CMG Infinity (since it's on my keyring), Blaster II, CMG headlamp and a KL3 on UBH 3x123. Most used was the headlamp and the KL3. The other guys were stuck with their generic Mags and what have you. One poor guy didn't even think to bring a light and no one wanted to lend him one.
 

BillBill

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Messages
133
Location
Spring, TX
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

Brinkmann rebel-long throwing for 1led, runs for two days at good brightness, works on really weak batteries.
Rayovac 1led-good flood, long runtime, not really bright
Rayovac Industrial 2d-nice beam (faceted reflector), works well with 2aa bulbs, durable (but not waterproof)
Red Inova-dim, unobtrusive keychain light

I have never been camping and don't really know what to expect but those are the lights I would like to take on a camping trip. Yes, a brighter light is needed, etc.,etc. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif
 

cy

Flashaholic
Joined
Dec 20, 2003
Messages
8,186
Location
USA
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

Looks like I need to get a good headlamp like the Zipka+.

That's the one item I'm always short on, a good head lamp. I've been kinda holding off waiting for a luxeon version, but got to get one soon.

Firefly in a Niteize headband works OK in a pinch.
 

paulr

Flashaholic
Joined
Mar 29, 2003
Messages
10,832
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

I'm wondering, how many minutes/hours per night do people on this thread actually use flashlights while camping?

For me, the answer has never been more than a few minutes a night, especially for any type of high powered light. For walking in the dark, a 5mm LED has generally been plenty, and usually when camping, I haven't had to do much in the dark anyway.
 

rycen

Enlightened
Joined
Feb 18, 2002
Messages
807
Location
USA
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

I could list a bunch but the one came to me first is the UK4AA ELED regulated long runtime waterproof common batteries and can take a beating.
 

cy

Flashaholic
Joined
Dec 20, 2003
Messages
8,186
Location
USA
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

Paulr, On the comping trip I just came back from, aprox. 1 hour burntime per day is about right. Most of that was from arcAAA hanging in the tent preping gear for the next day for two boys and me to ride 50-70 miles.

firefly on low walking around the campground would use up 15-20 min burntime typical.

Never had to replace batteries on this trip, except when trying switch to a new battery when bentheadTx's BB500 R2H was smoking my firefly. Rats it was not the battery.

My boys infinity ultras came no where close to using up the original battery on this trip.
 

paulr

Flashaholic
Joined
Mar 29, 2003
Messages
10,832
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

I think I'd take:

PT Aurora headlamp (tent setup, cooking, walking, etc)
UKE 2L xenon 2x123 (need a bright light now and then)
Photon II with red LED (night vision)
Arc AAA on keys (backup/I always carry it on trips anyway)

Even the above is really overkill.
 

BigHonu

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 1, 2002
Messages
1,242
Location
Honolulu, HI
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

[ QUOTE ]
paulr said:
I'm wondering, how many minutes/hours per night do people on this thread actually use flashlights while camping?

For me, the answer has never been more than a few minutes a night, especially for any type of high powered light. For walking in the dark, a 5mm LED has generally been plenty, and usually when camping, I haven't had to do much in the dark anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

When I am camping, usually fishing is the primary activity. I tend to do alot of night fishing only because some species are more active at night. While there is a lantern (or two or three) among us, we all like to fan out and walk the shoreline. It is usually during this time that I have my headlight on to manuever, check my gear, etc. I use my brighter/longer throw light when I need to scan the terrain ahead of me to pick out the best path. Total time the lights are on depends on how often we move, how unfamiliar the terrain is, and how often I get my line caught in the rocks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Aloha
Brian
 

B@rt

Flashaholic
Joined
Nov 21, 2001
Messages
10,467
Location
Land of Tulips and Philips
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

A 5 mm based headlamp like the BD moonlight. (The Pro for AA compatibility, but only when it also has the brightness settings... )

A LS based light. (DD will yield the longest runtimes.)

A backup light, ( My Arc AAA suffizes in most cases. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Some batts.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif
 

BentHeadTX

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
3,892
Location
A very strange dark place
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

cy started it!
I went on a week-long bicycle tour and walked in wearing my helmet. Perched on top was my brightest BB500 R2H minimag, Fraen LP with Kroll klickie. A gentleman wearing a lanyard asked about the lumen output (50-60 or so), stated it must be a luxeon (it is) and is probably driven with a BB500. Awww heck, I ran into a CPF'er!

cy showed me his MM+ driven R2H Fire~Fly (amazing light) and we compared lights at the campground. Since he was the first CPF'er I have ever run into, I had no idea how the "sammies" compared, I found out. I was a little brighter with that wonderful whiteness we all know and love. Not bad for a light that gets over 2 hours of burn time from 2200 mAH NiMH batteries.

My other light I took along was the ole' 2D Mag with an R2H driven with MM+ and two 11,000 mAH D cells. It is amazing what that thing will do in the darkness, we were entertained with the narrow pin-spot beam and were throwing it out for over a hundred meters and more. It is a good light for the "what was that" portion of your camping trip. Now that cy has purchased a WX1S Luxeon V, I think he is going to build a light cannon.

My Arc AA loaded with a lithium was the perfect light to use in a crowded campground. It gave enough light to see everything clearly and has amazing runtime. I need to get one of those headbands for minimags to make a headlamp out of the Arc AA. If I need more light, the R2H minimag will do the trick.

To summarize, and Arc AAA/AA or Infinity Ultra will give you the walking around light you need, one of Wayne Y's sandwiches will provide the light you want... and throw in a larger ultra-long throw cannon to see things at long distances.

One other thing, CPF'ers show up in the stangest places! I HAD to purchase an AAA-Premium from cy as a momento of my ride (that is the story I am sticking to) Enjoy your camping and bring spare batteries.
 

4x4Dragon

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 14, 2002
Messages
1,027
Location
Lexington, SC
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) tri

[ QUOTE ]
rycen said:
I could list a bunch but the one came to me first is the UK4AA ELED regulated long runtime waterproof common batteries and can take a beating.

[/ QUOTE ]

HERE, HERE! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

this is my new primary backpacking light and glovebox light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 

oldgrandpajack

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
931
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

Took two MiniMags, with Opalec New Beam Modules, on the last fishing trip, about two years ago. They were great.

Today, I'd probably take the Surefire A2-WH and an E2O or two. Probably would include a couple of Ultra G's too. They all would have their lanyards attached. Be a good idea to have SC03's for the A2 and E2O's.
oldgrandpajack
 

d'mo

Enlightened
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
937
Location
Rochester, NY
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

Last year in Maine, I gave a CMG Infinity to my 2 year old daughter. Battery life can't be beat so I didn't care if she left it on all night. My wife and 7 year old daughter used an Arc AAAs. I EDC an Arc LS so it was my primary light, but it was occasionally too bright for tent use. I also took my PT Surge for "reach out and touch someone" brightness that's still economical to use. I ended up lighting up a skunk that had some into our campsite looking for bits of left over lobster.

This year, no doubt, the VIP will be the star of the show being able to take the place of all of these lights, particularly if the BH and/or BBH are out by the time we go.

Camping and flashaholism belong together /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

daloosh

Flashaholic*,
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
1,569
Location
New York
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

How apropos, considering as how we are leaving in a couple hours for some light weekend camping, that I was up last nite at 3am thinking about what lights to bring.

Around my neck, speaking of d'mo above, is his Arc AAA LS mod in Jets' N tail body. Around my wrist will be Charlie's VIP. In the tent, we've got Ultra-G on a short lanyard, and in the tent pockets X5T-HA on my wife's side and Chop's KL1 3W mod on myside with 3x123 Vital Gear host.

That's the basics. Rounding out the selection is LSH-P, Inova X1, and a PT Surge. Oh, and the Arc AAA on my keys. And I forgot, I'm bringing two dozen $1 countycomm lights for the kids to play with. This is the best part of camping!

daloosh
 

d'mo

Enlightened
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
937
Location
Rochester, NY
Re: What lights you\'d take on a long (camping) trip?

daloosh - off topic, but I'm happy to hear you're enjoying the AAA-LS mod /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Top