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The past few years a lot of my internet time has been spent on Flashlights and in Candlepowerforums. So here is a small essay on BugOut Flashlights. Its purpose is to commute some of my flashlight knowledge and offer some ideas & options that are new even to some members of this well-informed forum. And let’s start with a question.
Do flashlights have a place in Survival and a BOB?
Some say NO, and most of these people are of the Ultralight mentality, but as a true “flashaholic” I beg to differ.
First and foremost you might have – or for the purposes of Bugging-Out, Choose to move at night. And much more than convenience it is a safety issue. I have a torn - thankfully only that- shoe to prove it, because I got lazy and did not use my flashlight for the few yards to my car one night.
Someone may appetite himself to move like a ninja in the dark, or feel romantic walking by starlight. Or he may have to walk in the dark for real when E&Eing, or when he is forced to move out of camp in the middle of the night.
Also, a flashlight will be obviously needed item when one reaches his destination. And you have to carry it along, don’t you?
It seems self-evident, so let’s continue with discussing some considerations.
Weight Considerations
The biggest objection to carrying one or more flashlights is Weight... the Ultralight crowd is crazy on this, but with some informed and clever choices you might SAVING weight on the long run!
How about ONLY 16 grams of flashlight in your pants pocket? And what about 5 lumens of light per gram?
Yep current flashlights have developed to that and offer more choices on top of it, like multiple output modes, beacon modes, etc. But let’s wait on discussing these, for when we reach the backup flashlight options part of this post.
At this point I would like to mention that one reason I am writing this is a conversation with a serious hiker in another forum....
He questioned the logic for 3 flashlights and insisting on his Petzl Headlamp...
Then I started crunching numbers and proved to him that for the weight of his headlamp I could carry 3 of mine, or two and add 2.5 times his runtime.
Carry What You Cannot Fabricate/Devise
And that covers energy/batteries. While one can plan to make a 72-hour bug-out on one set of batteries with reasonable use, there is no way knowing if it will last that short in real life or knowing what the energy demands for light & other appliances.
Thanks God for lithium batteries. No matter what your light is, there are batts for that. (With the exception of most of the Petzls.)
And thanks God for the lithium AAA & AAs.
1. Lithium chemistry excels in low temp performance since it maintains true battery capacity better than alkalines.
2. In is far better in capacity/energy density too.
3. Lithium AA & AAAs have a higher voltage and that means less workload for the flashlight circuits, thus greater efficiency, thus better runtime.
4. These cells have significantly less weight than alkalines per piece.
Now combine attributes 2, 3, & 4 and read again the paragraph on weight. You can save weight when you determine needed runtime, or increase runtime for a given weight...And keep this in mind for when we discuss headlamps.
If You Have To Carry Only One Flashlight
..it better be a headlamp.
Self-evident. It frees the hands, lights follow your eyes, and they offer a wide beam for the near to you chores.
There are good options out there, mainly Petzl and Princeton Tec with the odd addition of Energizers that has some decent budget models.
But the headlamps that are gaining more and more ground are the Zebralights. An American company building lights overseas. You should check out the H501 & H51 models (and their flashlights as well). Solid construction, versatility on mounting them, huge output, and the efficiency/performance of the 51 series electronics is almost unbelievable.
A note on Petzls
While tested and proven they are losing ground on performance/output and efficiency. I had the luck of being helped on reverse engineering them by a very knowledgeable guy at CPF (caver & electronics man). Sad to say but the price of being reliable is WAY inefficient electronics.
Petzls are actually resistor-driven....that means no electronics to drive the LED properly, just groups of resistors for each output mode. With this method of operation light drops of by the very first second of use. That is OK for campground chores but it will quickly become evident in a prolonged continuous use.
And much more than this all the older and some of the new models cannot use Lithium AAAs. Also performance is lower with rechargeable batts (thanks to the voltage/resistored method of regulation)
Honestly what saves my Taktikka XP’s ass is the ability to swap filters and change the beam to a diffused one.
What one could sum all these to is, make your headlamp choice with caution and research.
One is None, Two is One.
Nothing lasts for ever, flashlights are man-made objects, and you may as well loose or give/lent a flashlight. So it is prudent to have 2.
So I always make a point on caring a second one. You need not carry a full size flashlight like a Surefire 6P. There are better performing and much smaller flashlights out there. Some options can be.
Mini AAA flashlights
If one light category bloomed the last years this is it. 3 or more modes, 80-90+ lumens, as light as 16-20 grams, and slim the size of your pinky. What the Maglite Solitaire would be today.
If you want to know brands, ITP/Maratac, 4Sevens, Nitecore & Fenix are good place to start since they make the most compact ones too.
I carry one along with some basic items in a ziplock in my pocket. The items carry flat and comfy and even loosing my gear I will still have them.
Small AA flashlights
Fenix L1 has become the archetypical lights on this category. Their newer models still carry the glory of the very good electronics, but newcomers have taken some of their market. Jetbeam, Nitecore, ITP, O-light, Lumapower, 4Sevens all solid choices.
These light offer serious utility performance and multiple modes up to the point of being semi-programmable.
Mini AA & CR123 flashlights
A cross between the 2 categories above. They are more compact, lighter and usually twistie style. 4Sevens & Nitecore come to mind as prodides for.
Cross-Over Solutions
This is for the case one wants a single light to use as a headlamp too…
Many opt for a small flashlight on a headband….This solution is a bit problematic since the light should be angled downwards and not point on eye-level…There is a headband for this but I am forgetting its name…
Another way is the 4Sevens Quark Prism. A periscope like accessory that bends the light 90 degrees and fits over the Quark line of flashlights and similar one saoriund the same diameter. It comes with its own headband and light angle can be set by twisting the flashlight on its holder
The reverse option is the Zebralight H51… It’s is peculiar headlamp much like an L-shaped flashlight. And has a flashlight like concentrated beam. One can handhold it, and the manufacturer supplies also a clip that allows to carry it in a pocket the way of an Anglehead flashlight.
If You Have To Carry Only One Flashlight #2
...then its better be a Surefire.
Talking about reliability Actually.
And obviously, it is not sane to carry something for miles only to find it has pooped off when you needed it! Quality is never cheap too.
So many of you might say that Surefire is the only option for whatever task, but that comes with trade-offs too, like low runtime and increased weight.
Granted, Surefires the prime examples of a workhorse with the least chances of breaking down but they are machines after all. (And I have a spectacular failure of the 6P model to show). On top of that chances are that you might loose it before it breaks.
So my advice is leaving the 6P or LX2 behind and gaining some weight for a second/ backup light. If it is still a Surefire you wish, get an E1B and a headlamp or a Mini AAA light as a backup. It is still a better system.
If You Have To Carry Only One Flashlight #3
..should it be a Tactical flashlight?
If you think there is such a use/need for it then make the choice...
But what is a tactical Flashlight...Briefly put any light that offers the capability of momentary activating the light.
Thankfully flashlight evolution allows us to integrate utility features in true “tactical” flashlights. Take the new Surefire LX1 for example. Push or twist partially on and you have a general purpose low output. Reflexively continue the motion and you are at 100%.
The Malkoff MD2 is another example. Surefire 6P style, you can install the MD Ring in the head that converts the light into a two mode one, by twisting the head...IF it gives you trouble, remove it and throw it away...
And there are other options too....The latest fad in flashlight design is a momentary (forward click ala Z59) tail switch and a second switch or selector ring on the body to control modes. Jetbeam RRT-series, Lumapower, Fenix, O-Light & others have a bazillion models to choose from.
Get a Flashlight in a Popular Battery Size
Well, this works good IF you find any batteries left to buy.
One can trade batts or move batts between lights & appliances, but you have to have your preparations made beforehand, especially regarding BOL use.
In an emergency situation the crowds will rush for AAA, AA & the D sizes. Less popular are the CR123 kind, and people in CPF report that the C-size never seems to run out during blackouts.
I have some more things to say on the issue but I am saving them for the Light & BOL paragraph.
Other Options of Bug-Out Lights
I am better served by a “throwy” flashlight
Throw is a flashlight circles slang for the ability to illuminate in increased distances.
And it is a good point to add that one can make use of a concentrated beam flashlight up-close. But the opposite cannot be done.
But nothing comes cheap in our world and if you want real throw you got to step up in reflector size and weight.
Thankfully most tactical flashlights are optimized for throw. And reflectors – especially those with a smooth surface- the size of a Surefire 6P make it quite good in that regard.
E2DL, LX1, LX2 are also doing well and there are more from Felix like Tk11 and Tk20. With further research you can find more models that perform well in that regard, and most of them can fit in a belt holster or a side cargo pocket.
My option is an “esoteric” one, a modified good quality Chinese light. It accepts one AA sized battery and P60 drop-in modules. With the help of custom electronics I can run this on any AA type of battery including the Li-ion ones. Optimizing the LED and Reflector for throw I can beat ANYTHING in the same diameter of reflector.
Camp Lanterns
Hardly worth the trouble I feel. They emit light sideways. Most time you want light that shines towards the bottom of your tent too, or on the top of the table....
Any flashlight with a milky white diffuser cap on – tailstanding of hang from somewhere- will serve you better. And this diffuser may act like a battery container saving you some pack space too.
Battery Vampires
These are lights that drain every little drop of battery juice. Candlepowerforums maintains a list of these lights, with newer findings by the members added occasionally.
I strongly suggest trying your flashlight with a set of low batts. (take caution on the 2-3 CR123 batt lights, this may be a dangerous process for reasons beyond the scope of this post)
You see there are lights that shut off suddenly when the batteries reach a certain low voltage. And there are ones that will go on with a continuously declining light output, even lower than that of a match. BUT there is a catch to it....Most of these may never turn on again if you turn them off during this process. True Battery Vampires will always turn on, even at very low battery voltages...
The most notable of is the Gerber/Infinity Ultra AA. It is a backup light so one can compromise with the low antiquated output. But is a Solid light than can run on AAAs too. I carry one along with my headlamp in my Grab&Go Funny Pack.
Hurricane Lights
At least their modern versions of which are LED converted D size flashlights...
D batts cannot be beaten when it comes to capacity under medium to low current demands. So one buys a Drop-in PR LED bulb and uses his old light as a long lasting light to brighten a room during a night without power. (actually even the low output 1watt LED replacement bulbs will output more light than a 2D krypton flashlight). Runtimes start from 12 hours of continuous use and scale upwards depending the characteristics of the applications.
So now you can breath new light into your old GI Anglehead flashlight.
The 10 Essentials list has become a 11 one.
Redifining your Energy Demands & one more point of the AA & AAA lithiums.
Looking beyond your flashlight needs, there may be more things to power with batts in your BOB. GPS, Cell-phone, Palm-top, Radio etc...
Most of these run on AA batts or there are special emergency chargers for them with replaceable AA & AAA batteries. These will have output plugs for your mobile and mini-USBs.
Then there are the solar chargers, which can output USB-compatible & up to 15V voltage. Some even have trays built in to charge AA or AAAs. There are so many good choices in a heap of junk products and I am stepping on unfamiliar ground here.
Two Notes:
1. If you are gonna opt for rechargeable batteries buy Eneloops... And be done with it.
2. Solar chargers are great, but one must sit down and calculate the energy output/ weight carried ratio....It is getting better and better as use hours are adding up, but for a 3 day BOB, or even a 3 week stay in your BOL, I would say NO. It is far better to carry extra batteries.
My best advice is... Standardize in devices that take replaceable batteries. There is a very good chance your flashlight will work sufficiently with partially depleted batts pulled from your MP3 player.
Flashlights and your BOL
I am adding this paragraph ‘cos there should be a continuation of planning regarding the use of flashlights and illumination needs in you final destination.
Now 3 possible uses come in mind
“Tactical” use during security checks – already covered above.
“Search/Long Distance” – also partly covered. But if you can have your BOL outfitted beforehand, then you can go big with Large reflectors and Large batteries.
“Long Runtime” use - partly covered, but two issues should be further discussed.
The Ability To Use Any Scrounged Up Battery
Here you can walk two routes. Either go for many flashlights and one for each battery type, or a single flashlight and use battery adaptors. There are D-size to AA, C to AA, AA to AAA, and you can make other versions on your own in a jiffy. So you can have a solar panel and charge AAs then use these in a Maglite 2D that you can tailstand in a candle mode with the head removed. You get the picture.
LED replacement lamps are key to this, and you have to choose the desired input voltage beforehand. Most models are 2-3 and 4-6 batteries only.
Setting Up a Multiple Power & Voltage System
You may have a generator at your BOL, a Car and a Solar charger/panels. These are all good choices for powering/charging your flashlights and small appliances. I am still in the process of setting up a system around 3 voltages. Car 12V, USB 5V and rechargeable battery 1.2V. And this without the inclusion of a solar folding charger/panel that will have an output voltage of its own.
So far I have covered these combinations. 12V>1.2, 12V>USB. 12V>3.6 (lithium rechargeable batteries), 1.2>USB, USB>1.2. It will get more complicated with the future inclusion of a battery power bank and Solar, and with some more converters and chargers. If this screams losses and low efficiency, wait to you crunch the numbers of...
Study and Choose Wisely, Kostas
