Flashlights: Choices Worth Exploring

Up until a few years ago flashlights were basically a choice between some cheap flashlight that would eventually break, and rugged lights that were indestructible.  Maglite was the name brand most would think of when looking for a durable flashlight.  I owned a bunch of Maglites in various sizes ranging from a key chain light that I carried for decades, to the multiple D cell style light that could double as a baseball bat.

With the advent of LED lighting, the choices have changed.  For committed preppers a few quality flashlights are an obvious need, but no single manufacturer dominates the quality flashlight market the way Maglite did back in the day.  Maglite was a bit slow to jump on the LED bandwagon, and it left a market opening for competing brands.  LEDs last longer than incandescent bulbs and draw less power for the same amount of light.

Cheap lights are still an effective way to go if you need a bunch of lights and don’t have much to spend.  Cheap flashlights now have LEDs, but they will still break eventually.  Most families need a few flashlights in drawers around the house, in the glove compartment of each car, and tucked away with emergency supplies.  However, as a prepper you are eventually going to want to upgrade the lights you use to high quality lights.

LED Market

LED bulbs are brighter and draw less power than the incandescent bulbs that used to be the norm in flashlights.  As a result, you will see fewer large lights.  The bulk of a traditional flashlight was due to the size of the batteries.  A smaller flashlight would go through batteries rather quickly.

With the lower battery draw of an LED, a small flashlight will provide the battery life and brightness that would have required a larger size in the past.  Today a small flashlight with AA or AAA batteries will provide the service that C or D cell batteries would have provided when using incandescent bulbs.

Headlamps

Headlamps provide the benefit of allowing you to work hands free vs. a regular flashlight you hold in your hand.  In addition to the above advantages of LED bulbs, it is now possible to manufacture a much smaller, user friendly, headlamp.  A variety of new models featuring LEDs have been introduced.  Furthermore, you can store a headlamp and a handheld flashlight in the space formerly required for just a handheld light.

Batteries

In the past, flashlights often lasted until they were left unused for a prolonged period and the alkaline batteries leaked, making a mess of the inside of the flashlight.  Today there are better batteries available that are not only rechargeable, but less prone to leaking.

Since the chemical composition of rechargeable batteries is less likely to leak than a traditional non-rechargeable alkaline battery, I recommend using rechargeable batteries in your lights.  Think of the rechargeability of the batteries as a bonus, with the primary benefit being that they won’t destroy your flashlight from the inside.  You can also place your light and batteries, separately, in a zip lock bag.  Problem of leaking batteries solved!

Faraday Cage

Of course, one cannot discuss anything electronic without mentioning Faraday cages.  If you have concerns about EMPs, or CMEs, which most of us do, you will have a Faraday cage.  A stock of flashlights is an obvious thing to place inside your Faraday cage.  Leave the batteries separate from the flashlights.  Install the batteries after opening the Faraday cage.

Summary

In a SHTF world, you are going to be using flashlights.  Take a look at what you currently own and consider upgrading to LEDs if you haven’t already, or adding additional flashlights to your stock.  Include a healthy stock of rechargeable batteries, along with a couple solar chargers.