When putting together emergency kits, flashlights are an important item to consider. Having the right flashlight for the right situation is crucial for potential power outages. Having light is essential for function after the sun goes down and we don’t want to get caught unprepared.
When buying a flashlight, it is important to focus on three main things:
- light output
- battery and run time
- use case/scenario
These four things will ultimately help you decide what the best brands and models are for your needs.
Light Output
For this guide, we are going to focus on LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs since these are by far the most relevant. Light output is simply how much light your flashlight emits. This is measured in Lumens. Simply put, lumens measure light output.
A lot of flashlights specifications will list the Watts which might confuse you. Watts is how flashlights used to be measured but Wattage is measuring energy use. This is good to know, but with the advanced efficiency of LED light bulbs, Lumens is a more accurate measure of how bright your bulb will be.
Now if you’re interested in diving deeper into light bulbs and looking at color temperatures I recommend starting out with this article. They take a much deeper look at light bulbs in general, but for now we know that the statistic to look for is lumens.
credit: https://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/lumens_watts/
Battery and Run Time
The next important thing you want to look at is battery type and the run time. Essentially, flashlights use either rechargeable or disposable batteries. This is important because the type of flashlight you buy may differ depending on your battery storage. If you have a lot of rechargeable batteries and other items that use them, then finding flashlights that are compatible may be better for you. If you already have a lot of disposable batteries in storage, it may be a lot better to focus on these kinds of flashlights.
Also, something to consider is flashlights that are completely renewable like crank flashlights, or solar powered ones. They will almost always work but may not be as bright and require a bit of effort. For example, if you are without adequate sunlight, a solar powered flashlight may struggle.
Another cool option is lights that come as part of a tool set. Having a basic tool kit is important for survival situations and if there is a power tool kit that all use the same battery, this can be an easy way to have a light with a reliable rechargeable battery, that also has other benefits so you are motivated to keep the batteries charged and ready to go. .
Once you figure out the type of battery, then it is all about how long it will last. Renewable and rechargeable batteries still have an average run time on a full charge. This type of information is crucial. How long will each light last. Factoring this into your decision process might be really important.
If you are constantly working with your batteries and use them daily, then rechargeable batteries with longer times would definitely save you some money. If not, it is definitely cheaper to stick with your standard disposable batteries as these are usually cheaper in the short term.
Use Case and Scenario
What is probably the most important thing to consider is where the flashlight is out and why or how they are being used. Flashlights, or light sources in general, have all sorts of different shapes and sizes that are geared toward helping you see. When we are buying lights, it is important to not buy a bunch of the same type of flashlight and call it good as a standard flashlight may not be the best solution everytime you need help seeing.
We recommend thinking about and being prepared for the following situations so that you have a light source for anything that might come up. If you have a few light sources for each of these situations that’s a good indicator that you will have most of your light issues covered. We’re also going to include our top 10 lights sources with a few different options for each Use Case
Every Day Carry (EDC) Lights
A savvy prepper is going to want to have certain essentials on them at all times. Whether it is on their person, or in a pack close by, EDC flashlights cannot but big bulky light sources. For these, you are going to want something small and sleek to clip in place somewhere. They should be a little sturdier and made to survive some wear and tear. Also, waterproof lights come into play for EDC lights as you never know what situations you may get into.
Tactical and Defensive
There are flashlights, and then there are your weapons that have lights on them. Anyone who has picked up a MAG light knows the feeling of dominance that a heavy flashlight can give you. Having a light source that doubles as a weapon can give you an extra sense of security if the situation calls for it. They make all sorts of lights that can be used for defense including lights that break windows, or have tasers on them. I would also in
Hands-Free
Clip-ons, Headlights or headlamps are among some of the most important types of light sources you can get in a survival situation. A good headlamp can give you a hands-free light source to allow you to work and hold things while still being able to see. This is invaluable because not having to hold a flashlight can double your productivity at night.
Lanterns
Sometimes, high lumen lights are not always the best options for simply moving around your living space. You may just need a low light source that will help you see but not blind you everytime you look at it. Area lights and camping lanterns are going to be your best bet for this situation. Candles can even be better for this than just a simple flashlight. Again, whenever you don’t have to hold something, the better off you are going to be.
Search
At times, it may be necessary for you to go on a search through the night. For these situations, you are going to want as big and bright of a light source as you can get, while still being mobile. Any light that has a flood light mode to send out a ton of light over a wide area is going to help your search go that much faster. The brighter the better so remember we are looking for the most lumens we can get here.
