What are the Best Lights for Backpacking and Camping? | Headlamps, Lanterns and Flashlights

Thanks to the development of LEDs and rechargeable batteries, there are now many lights to choose from for your camping or backpacking trips. In this video, I'm breaking down the advantages (and disadvantages) of headlamps, lanterns and flashlights, to help you choose what's best for your next backcountry adventure.
Check out LEDlenser: www.ledlenser.com/en/​
My other favorite gear for backpacking:
Backpack:
Sleeping Mattress:
Sleeping Bag: bit.ly/3JTea1h
Satellite Communicator: bit.ly/3HvEqMQ
Camp Stove: bit.ly/34mBc06
Cook pot: bit.ly/3tdCZ23
Freeze dried Food: pinnaclefoods.co/
Headlamp: bit.ly/3sYXKOS
Rain Jacket: bit.ly/3JGoOYU
Down Puffy Jacket (warm!): bit.ly/32Jn5Sb
Down Puffy Jacket (lightweight):
Hiking Boots: bit.ly/3eSMmvy
Hiking Socks: bit.ly/3qLVyaI
Water Filter:
Water Bladder: bit.ly/3t2SrxF
Camp Pillow: bit.ly/34n4749
Folding Knife: bit.ly/3sXQNNH
Trekking Poles: bit.ly/3Hzq4LB
SUBSCRIBE to Backpacking TV for more great tips! / backpack...​
FOLLOW US
Facebook: / epictrails365
Instagram: / epictrails365
MADE POSSIBLE with the Support of:
Ontario Creates: www.ontariocreates.ca/​
PRODUCED BY
Heliconia: www.helipress.com​
Contact: [e-mail]
#WinterBackpacking​ #Hiking​ #WinterCamping

[@mendyviola]

When bike-packing, I carry 4 lighting options: a bike-mounted headlight (for travel on bike), a head lamp (for walking around), a solar powered collapsible lantern (for inside and around the tent) and an Uno candle lantern (general lighting). I’m never in the dark unless I want to be.

[@jimaikmanokc]

Completely agree about Ledlenser - they make great products. I always carry their P3 flashlight. During 3 season backpacking the MPOWERED Luci Pro 2.0 - works great as a lantern and with it's solar charging capability keeps my GPS charged.

[@BackpackingTV]

Nice! Yeah those Luci lights are legit. I like those too!

[@TAVAAR7]

If you have a specific purpose in mind for a light it helps determine what specs are more important. Lumens, candela, throw, spill, color (mainly for night but also other things like fog penetration), power source, peak power/run time, step down, weight, bulk and heat generation just to name a handful off the top of my head are all things to consider.

[@BackpackingTV]

Indeed! Well said.

[@danielschetrompf1861]

Best video I could find on headlamps, everyone else seemed like they were advertising stuff you just gave great tips and info thanks

[@rohanjs.]

The new black diamond spot 400 is a favourite of mine. Good video

[@chanaii5178]

May you please make a video on Things you take on a 5 Day Camping Trip? If you haven't already

[@spefix5447]

I’m trying to look for some gear for my birthday and this will help, thanks!

[@BackpackingTV]

Heck yeah! Glad I could help!

[@semen.j.6131]

Good, informative video! As usual.

[@BackpackingTV]

Thank you very much!

[@matwey967]

Led Lenser is not best quality or most efficient anymore and are very expensive for that what they offer, there are much better brands out there now like Fenix, nitecore, and maybe Olight

[@BackpackingTV]

Oh yeah? I'll give those a try. But I've been very happy with Ledlenser.

[@konaononjepon1582]

true but i like ledlenser too

[@BassBrothers4]

having a red light is nice when walking around camp at night so you dont blind people or wake them up by hitting them with a white light

[@P.T.S.E.]

From my experience, you are not going to use most of the features that are offered with modern headlamps. The high-beam, low-beam and the other different kind of strobe options becomes really annoying as you have to click through them just to get your lamp to turn off. Meanwhile, the ones that have both torchlight and floodlight LEDs usually can't do one of the two properly, and after you figured out which one works the best for you, you will stuck with that setting anyway. The only innovation that I have found actually useful, is the motion sensor switch. Especially with lamps that have built-in rechargeable batteries. For the secondary lamp, I went with the cheap option, and bought a simple bicycle lamp with COB LED. They are way cheaper than anything that the big name headlamp brands offer, and functionally they are just as good for a small floodlight. Not to mention, they are in the similar weight range. They also have the benefit of having multiply option for attachment, so you can even fix them on your tracking pole or tent pole, or clip them on your backpack, belt or your clothing. The rechargeable ones usually have the same running time, around four hours. They usually state an IP4 waterproof rating, which in the real world means, they would probably tolerate a bit of a light rain, but wouldn't trust them for more. Also, the bicycle market has their own brands, so if you are willing to pay a bit more, you can get better quality, but still at a lower price, as the competition is way higher. For the sake of the ultra-lighters, I have to mention, that I have checked those key-chain usb LEDs too, which are basically a breadboard, with an LED, that you can directly insert into a female USB slot. They are cheap, light-weight and pretty much useless. They give only as much light as your phone's lamp and they heat up to the point that they can cause burn damage. If you want to go with usb powered light for tent lighting to save on batter weight and take advantage of your powerbank, then go with those flexible laptop lights. Just check if they are drawing enough power, because powerbanks have a minimum requirement, otherwise they turn off.

[@jasonbourne6307]

Anything that can be recharged by usb or solar are great choices. What I use is a Petzl Tikinna headlamp with a usb rechargeable battery, for flashlights I have 2 that are also usb rechargeable and my GoalZero 250 flashlight that is solar, usb and crank powered, and my lantern is a GoalZero Crush that is both solar and usb rechargeable.

[@BackpackingTV]

Yeah big fan of rechargeable here. Sounds like you've got a great setup!

[@jasonbourne6307]

@@BackpackingTV thanks. Yeah, it's all depends on what I plan to do. I can use different solar chargers and lights for any situation. If I happen to be in the wilderness for the summer I have a Goal Zero 50 watt solar panel coupled with my yeti 150 charging pack where ever I set up my base camp. I am a big fan of goal zero products. Solar is free, use it to your advantage.

[@garyo4456]

Good experience: Nitecore 25. Zebra Light. Peax Headlamp

[@dfwnick5309]

Thanks Bro..

[@UnclaimedGnat]

Nice cotopaxi fuego 🤙

[@BackpackingTV]

Thanks! I'm a big fan of this jacket.

[@shirinjafari9811]

سلام لطفا راجب کفش مناسب کوهنوردی ام ویدئو بگیرید ،ممنون

[@thelovertunisia]

What is the best for inside a tent for reading for example?

[@BackpackingTV]

I really like using small lanterns for reading. But any headlamp on low output is great too. I like these little guys for lanterns. www.ledlenserusa.com/collections/lanterns/products/ml4

[@shirinjafari9811]

Good like

[@RichRich1955]

Black Diamond headlamps have contact problems and don't accept nimH rechargeable batteries. Petzl headlamps no problems.

[@BackpackingTV]

I've had good luck with Petzl headlamps too! BD however...

[@farstrider79]

My Black Diamond accept NIMH batteries all the time. Check your brand of battery, some of them are thicker.

[@batwithglasses]

Old??...pish!... When I saw your thumbnail, the first thing I thought of was the song "You light up my life" by Debbie Boone...uh....you were saying?...LOL

[@batwithglasses]

We have used Petzl Tika Plus for years without fail, granted they use AAs but are very efficient on drainage and the red night light is always helpful fewer maps in the dark and still retain your night vision. Gotta go and listen to my Debbie Boone LP! Cheersb

[@BackpackingTV]

haha, thank you!

[@BackpackingTV]

And yeah I've used that same Petzl for a long time as well. That was steady for me for years.

[@tabliechty9318]

Don't want to be a hater,. but Ledlenser quality sucks......Acebeam or many others will be running a long time after the lender is in the trash. Ledlenser is run by bean counters who cut the most obvious corners like latches and switches.....

[@Langor]

You only got my like because of the lame dad joke in your outtro :p now, to go spend my money on things i don't really need.