Camp Lighting

Types of lanterns 

• Electric: Long battery life; bright light output; low heat; safe for kids 

• Fuel-powered: Lights up a whole campsite; needs ventilation; can be noisy 

• Candle-powered: Soft lighting; very quiet; adds ambiance 

Lantern fuel types 

• Liquid fuel: Refillable white-gas/auto-gas tanks; fuel-efficient 

• Propane: Good efficiency; refillable tanks 

• Butane: Small, disposable canisters; easy to use 

Light output 

• Higher lumens equal more light output 

• More light means shorter run time 

Other key considerations 

• Batteries: Need to carry extras; Alkaline batteries lose power below 20°F; lithium handles cold better; carry extras 

• Mantles: Necessary for fuel-powered lanterns; smart to carry extras 

• Size and Weight: LED lanterns are much lighter and more compact

Choose your beam type

• Flood (or fixed): A single short-focus beam works well for general tasks in camp or while walking. 

• Spot (or focused): Spotlight that penetrates a long distance. Best for route-finding or quick activities. 

• Adjustable: Can shift from a fixed to spot beam. 

What to consider when shopping 

• Regulated output: Option that maintains light at steady brightness level throughout battery life—then dies quickly. 

• Light output: Measure (in lumens) of light intensity on highest brightness setting. 

• Beam distance: How far the light will shine before the brightness diminishes to equivalent of light from a full moon. 

• Run time: How long the battery will last at various settings. 

• Controls: Some lights have safety locks to prevent accidental switching on. 

Brightness  

Typically, the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light.   

• A headlamp with a high lumens count will consume energy at a higher rate than one with a lower lumens number. 
• Most headlamps offer several brightness levels like low, mid and high (max). Others may offer an emergency strobe or red-light mode for nighttime vision. 

Consider the power source 

• Lithium battery–powered headlamps are a good choice for cold-weather use, since lithium batteries outperform alkaline batteries in cold conditions.
• Rechargeable batteries can be used repeatedly but tend to lose power when sitting idle.  

Understand headlamp beam type and distance 

• Flood (or wide): This spreads the beam wider and is for general, close tasks like cooking dinner or reading. 
• Spot (or focused or narrow). A tight beam for longer-distance viewing, such as navigating a trail at night. 
• Flood and spot: Adjustable headlamps are the most versatile.