Day-hike lighting (flashlights, headlamps) - what do you take?

What lighting do you take along for a day-hike?

  • Flashlight only

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Headlamp only

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Both flashlight and headlamp

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Keychain light or similar

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Nothing

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
HikingMano

HikingMano

Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
7,702
Just curious to see what other folks are carrying/using. What lighting do you take along on day-hikes? You can vote in the poll and comment on your choice if you want.




I once carried both a flashlight and a headlamp in my hiking pack and on backpacking trips, but I found that if I needed light, I always used the headlamp and rarely used the flashlight. I'd really only use a flashlight when walking around at night while camping, or when doing something at night where a light with a good throw is advantageous.

So I took the flashlight out of my day-hiking pack, and even consider leaving it home for backpacking. I WANT to bring the flashlight along, since it can throw light and because it's got nifty features for signaling in case of emergency. But I don't NEED it.

I tend to look at the headlamp as more of a survival tool and the flashlight as more of a luxury. I can make shelter, fire, and do camp tasks with the headlamp, and with much greater ease than with a flashlight. And I can still signal in the dark decently, in fact, many modern headlamps even come with a strobe feature for greater contrast. But a flashlight is a life-saver if you're trying to get somewhere in the dark (unexpectedly still hiking back out to your car when it's getting dark) and I think it makes a better signaling tool than a headlamp simply because it's (usually) brighter and can throw light farther.

Is there any reason I'd be better served with carrying a flashlight in my day-hike kit instead of, or in addition to, the headlamp?




One other note, I would guess most of my flashlights (on the regulated circuitry level) would provide me with more hours of usable light than my headlamps on an equal supply of batteries. So I guess it has that going for it.
 
I take both :) I like to have a nice 2xcr123 light with stupid lumens and awesome throw and spread for general nighttime shenanigans, and I use the little petzl E-lite as a "headlamp" as the situation warrants... Usually if I need a headlamp its because I'm working on something within 2-5 feet of my face, if I'm actually walking around then I definitely like to have my flashlight out :)
 
Surefire Minimus has been with me for 3 years full time in the cargo pant pocket, and I recently got a Quark mini that runs on a single cr123 as well for a backup. So far, the quark is a great light. I don't plan on needing it but its nice to know its there (barely there). The minimus could qualify as my favorite piece of gear, ever. I always carry a third (petit killer) on my keychain, and a dedicated L4 in my car.

As a side note, its always nice to have a lightweight back up to offer a friend who inevitably forgot their headlamp. NEVER loan out your primary light, even for ten minutes. Walk with your friend and help them do what they need to do, keep your light.

I was on a caving trip in Brazil and my friend realized he loaned his backup to a friend the night before, and ran out of juice on his primary when we took a wrong turn ---we ended up below ground longer than expected. If it wasn't for my backup light (a Petzl at the time), I don't wanna even think about what would've happened. It wasn't a "share 1 light" type of ordeal when you're climbing wet rock faces deep below God's green. I think a back up and extra bats is mandatory, its the one time you're caught out without a light that'll convince you to change your setup, and save a broken ankle or worse.

I'm tempted to say light should come immediately after food, water, and shelter. When you're outdoors and something goes down--- storms, animal visits, etc... I want that light to be ready, and I want a backup.

Sorry if this reads like PTSD.
 
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For a day-hike, I normally just take a single-CR123 flashlight. Since I like to travel light, I often consider not taking a light at all. I've never failed to finish a day-trip before dark, so it seems like a decent idea. But the cautious side of me always wins out, and a light ends up going into my pack.
 
I carry a small flashlight that uses a single AA lithium battery and carry a spare battery as per the old boy scout backpack essentials from oh...say...30 years ago. They still recommend that btw. Lithium= long long storage life even when not in use, better temp extremes, 2-3X longer life light (I use a 90 lumin LED). It is small, rugged and compact. The only difference when I would be climbing is I also add a head lamp.
 
I should add what I carry. I normally have a Princeton Tec EOS Rebel (70 lumen model) with Lithium AAA primaries stored out of the light and an extra set. When I carried the flashlight (not long ago), it was a Quark 2xAA (not the XMLs, one of the original models) running lithium AA primaries with a spare pair of cells as well.

I EDC a Quark Mini 123 in neutral tint, so that one usually goes along for the ride as well unless I take my keys off the keychain. I also have an iTP A3 EOS upgrade (just replaced older model with R5) in my PSK with lithium primary AAA and two extras (again batteries not left in light). I also have a Micro photon on a keychain of handy stuff in my pocket which I take when hiking, and a cheap $1 county comm coin cell light in the backpack.

I guess I'm not lacking in small backup lights :o :D
 
I've tried many different lights and headlamps, but I finally came back to the MiniMag LED. Picked one up on sale a few years back and it's been perfect for me. I hike a lot in the evenings so I end up walking back as it's getting dark. I like the flood setting that illuminates the trail in front and to the sides of me. It also seems to be really good on batteries. I like the old school-ness of it too :D
 
I'm thinking about getting a Zebra H51 just because I can't decide between a headlamp and a flashlight!

This, and also because I already pack spare AAs for the GPSr. I don't like carrying two kinds of spare cells.
 
I use a Black Diamond ICON with a CountyComm SO-LED clipped to the headband if I need a reading light. E2D Executive Defender in my packs belt pouch.
 
I think the single biggest reason to take a backup light is that batteries and bulbs can be unreliable and you can't always know when they are going to go. When something like a Quark Mini weighs about 1 oz with battery and provides enough light to hike on a dark trail for hours (or act as an emergency signal), it's hard to argue against tossing one on your keychain or in a side pocket in the eventuality that your main light doesn't function for some reason.
 
I usually only take a headlamp so I can still have light but keep my hands free if needed. If I'm going on an overnighter or backpacking then I'll take both a small flashlight and headlamp.
 
gdpolk said:
I usually only take a headlamp so I can still have light but keep my hands free if needed. If I'm going on an overnighter or backpacking then I'll take both a small flashlight and headlamp.
Click to expand...

Yeah, same here :thumbup: It's so much easier doing things at night when you have your hands free. But I'll take both if camping or backpacking because I'm more likely to be walking around at night.
 
I always toss in my Black Diamond headlamp (3x AA w/both an LED and bright Zenon bulb) and a 1x AA LED flashlight and try to ensure i've fresh batteries in 'em. They're light, water-proof and if i need something, i can make 'em both last a long time.

Hands-free light sources in times of need are HUGELY valuable.

I usually don't get into trouble nowadays (don't ask about some of my solo mountaineering trips....), but i've somehow have managed to find folks who got into it and these little equipment additions are well worth their weight.
 
I always have a Streamlight MicroStream clipped to my pocket with a spare battery in my pocket. I use the same set-up at work, home, and in the woods and have found the light to be very reliable. I usually carry a spare light or headlamp in my pack with an extra set of batteries.
 
I'm not 100% sure, but I guess I never really used a light source on my day hikes.
Still, I carry a small flashlight (like a Quark mini or similar ones), just in case. I tend to avoid unnecessary weight, but the weight of these things is really almost zero.
No headlights no other sources of light (unless I plan to stay out for the night, or to enter caves, and so on).

:cool:
 
I always have at least one of those LED button-type keychain lights on me. I also use a Petzl E-lite quite a bit.
 
Something else I do is make sure that anything that requires batteries all use the same size. If I'm just on a hike and don't bring a camera my AAA headlamp and light are what goes. If I'm taking my camera (point and shoot that I bought specifically because it used AA) then I'll take my AA headlamp and flashlight. Doing this lets me throw just a couple of batteries in for spares without having to carry multiple sizes for spare power and in the event I'm out longer than expected I can make the best use of all of my battery power.
 
I take both. ALWAYS my Zebralight H31 headlamp, and then to match batteries I usually bring a 1x123 or 2x123 4Sevens Quark. I used to use 5mm LED style hadlamps, but since converting to a high-powered headlamp I will never go back. When I overnight backpack, I tend to use my headlamp a lot more around camp after dark than my flashlight. I do however always keep the flashlight in my pocket and find it much more convenient for many quick lighting tasks.
 
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