Choosing a Torch

Now when the evening begins to set in you are not going to be able to just reach over and flick on the light switch. You will need to have some form of portable lighting with you. There are many different forms of lighting you can take, each with its own benefits and disadvantages. The first step in choosing your lighting is to decide what you are going to need it for. Write yourself a list of requirements and then scroll down the page to see which item suits your needs.

Torches

Torches tend to be lightweight and durable making them ideal for walking to and from the toilet block at night and spotting guy ropes when walking across a busy field. They come in many different forms and the more you pay the more durable and powerful the torch is. Below I have selected a few torches I believe are good examples of what you can buy within a certain price range to meet certain requirements.

At the lower end of the price scale is the Uniross Compact Torch which retails on Amazon for £6.04 and acts as an affordable, compact torch that is extremely lightweight with reasonable durability. This kind of torch comes with rechargeable batteries that can be charged 500 times saving you money in the long run.

For a few more pounds you can invest in a really durable torch like the MAGLITE TORCH BLISTER 4D BLACK which I have included as it comes with the benefit of the excellent Maglite reputation. Retailing at £21.91 you do pay extra for durability but the Maglite range are made from 'aircraft' grade aluminium and are water and shock resistant. You do have to compensate with weight but it is a small price to pay for an excellent torch. I always keep a Maglite with me.

The Dynamo wind up led flashlight torch*Silver/Black retailing at £5.99 is an example of an emerging technology proving popular amongst campers; A wind-up torch requiring no additional batteries! If you are unfamiliar with wind-up torches then the basic principle is that you wind a dynamo for a few minutes, storing energy as you do, which then powers the torch for a few minutes. These torches are great because you can just leave them with your camping stuff and not have to worry about the batteries running out over long periods of time. They can also be more cost effective in the long term ; £5.99 is effectively the cost of two sets of batteries so within a year you will have recouped the costs I'd imagine! These torches can be just as durable as regular torches but again you pay extra for this durability.

The 16 LED ULTRA BRIGHT HEADLIGHT HEAD LIGHT TORCH retailing at £6.99 is a battery powered head torch and is excellent in situations where you want your hands free. This can be on night walks, when your outside re-setting guy ropes in the middle of a stormy night, or when you just want to read your book as the night draws in. I have deliberately selected an affordable version but as always if you want longer lasting, brighter, more durable versions you will pay more.

The key factors you need to be accessing are 'Is it durable enough?' , 'Is it bright enough?', 'Does it last long enough?' , 'Is it cost-effective?'. By weighing up your requirements against the specification for a torch will easily allow you to determine which is best for the job.