A flashlight is the most crucial equipment that should be your companion, no matter what situation you’re in. It’s one of the most versatile tools that serves a ton of purposes, especially when you’re packing a survival kit. Without a flashlight, a survival kit is incomplete because you will need light at any place and any time. However, choosing the right flashlight is the only option for survival kit packing.
Only a proper and suitable flashlight can help you in the most versatile way of working. Choosing the right flashlight comes with a ton of criteria to meet, which might seem complicated if you’re a beginner to it. In this article, I’ll help you know how to choose a flashlight and get you through the criteria to meet. I’ll help you with the boxes that you have to check before buying your next survival flashlight.
Why Is Flashlight Important In A Survival Kit?
When it comes to choosing a flashlight to complete a survival kit, it becomes the utmost vital tool right after knives or fire. When a power outage happens because of a hurricane or other disaster, a flashlight will keep you functional.
If you end up getting stuck in the middle of nowhere because of an accident, it will help you in several ways. You must have a flashlight when you have to signal a rescue team or light up your area. It’s even more crucial when you’re in a boat, trekking, camping, or on an RV.
How To Choose A Flashlight In 2020
Choosing the right flashlight can be an easy job if you know what to look for in it. Here is how to choose a flashlight and the features and benefits you must look for in it:
Cost
More expensive is not always better; having the right options and the correct type of controllability should be the primary target. You cannot have multiple expensive lights when you need to have flashlights in different places. But, you can have tens of cheap flashlights, in your home, car, emergency kit, and so on. It’s the primary difference between a cheap and expensive flashlight you have to keep in mind.
Flashlight type
Depending on different aspects, you have to select the flashlight type you need before you can go buy one. There are several flashlight types you’ll find for different purposes like camping, rescue mission, occasional use, cycle mount, and so on. If you have to get busy with two hands, you should go for a head-mounted flashlight. For camping, lantern styles are better, and the dual-option lights are suitable for both the power outage and forward beam.
Brightness
The brightness of the flashlight defines how much space you will be able to light up or how far you can see with it. A flashlight will come in different levels of brightness, which you’ll understand by the lumens it has. A 100-lumen flashlight may come enough for regular usage. However, you have to get a bright and powerful light if you’re getting it for an emergency kit.
Size and weight
Body weight and the structure size of the flashlight should be a big concern when you’re choosing a flashlight for an emergency kit. A small but powerful light should be your target if you’re getting it for your survival kit. If you’re getting it for your boat and go fishing or kayaking at night, you must go for a bigger light with a handle on it.
Zoom option
Some flashlights will have a zoom option on them, which means you can focus the beam on a point or spread it around. This option in a flashlight helps you with focusing on ornamental objects or use as a reading light.
Beam type
Different types of flashlights will offer you different types of beam, and they all have distinct offerings as well. You can find flashlights with a sharp disk-like beam, light gradation with a bright focal in the middle. Decide if you want a floodlight without any focal point in the middle or light with a fixed focus.
Power option
You want to have a battery-powered flashlight, hands down. But where the dilemma comes into play is the type of battery. The rule of thumb here is the Lithium-ion batteries are the most efficient out there, but a bit expensive as well. You must make sure the battery is detachable so that you can easily replace the batteries when it dies. It will also help you carry spare batteries to change when they run out of charge.
Charging time and option
Another thing about the power option for the flashlight is, the battery has to be rechargeable, not a one-timer. USB rechargeability is a bonus as you can charge it anywhere you want, even if you don’t bring the charger it came with.
Bulb lifetime
The bulb lifetime also has a big role to play when you’re storing your flashlight, especially for an emergency kit. The typical incandescent bulbs can last you anywhere between 1,000 to 2,000 hours. But the latest LED bulbs will last you for as long as 50,000 hours without any problem. So, be sure to check what type of bulb it takes in.
Weatherproof or not
As you’re getting a flashlight for an emergency kit, you must make sure the light is water and dustproof. When you’ll encounter an accident, you might need that a lot. An IPX8 rating will define it as a waterproof flashlight that can keep you on the go, no matter how nasty the situation is.
Impact resistance
Depending on the build quality and the build material, the manufacturer will tell you how resistant the flashlight is to impact. If you’re getting it for an emergency kit, it’s important to select a flashlight with impact resistance.
Pocket clip and Mountability
It’s important to determine if you need to hook the flashlight to a handle, like a bicycle or so. If you have that type of importance, make sure the flashlight has mounting options for the cycle. Also, it’s an extra convenience, if you have a pocket clip on it as well.
Filter and color variation
If you have different color options in the same flashlight, it will be a great option, especially for an emergency. You can light it up in different colors to draw the attention of the rescue team or anybody from a distance. However, only the best emergency flashlights will have this feature as it’s a special case.
How Do You Use A Flashlight
Using a flashlight has a pretty straightforward process; here is how you can safely and easily use one:
- Make sure you have the right type of flashlight for the right situation that serves the purpose.
- Always keep the charge on full and use it often, you never know when an emergency comes in.
- Hold it correctly with the handle or the body where the power switch is under your thumb.
- Turn it on, use it for a while and turn it off for a few moments so that the bulb doesn’t overheat.
Frequently Asked Question
Here are the most frequent questions about flashlights that you should know about:
Are 1000 lumens good for a flashlight?
Yes, a 1000 lumen flashlight should be enough if you’re using it for casual use in daily life.
Are 2000 lumens bright enough for a flashlight?
A 2000 lumens bright flashlight is enough, even for special situations like search missions.
How many lumens is a bright flashlight?
Anywhere from 200 to 10,000 lumens is bright, depending on the purpose.
How many lumens are considered bright for a flashlight?
Flashlights with more than 10,000 lumens are the brightest for an extreme rescue mission.
Final Thought
Getting the right flashlight is a daunting job unless you have your causes correct. Now, with the criteria I’ve mentioned above, you know how to choose a flashlight for different situations. In a nutshell, when you’re getting your next flashlight, make sure you’re getting the lumens right.
Be sure you have the control options convenient, the battery life correct, and the body size perfect. If you make sure all the key points match your situations, you will get over from any situation, as long as a flashlight can do.