Warm spring days are here and the daylight hours are getting longer. When darkness falls on your campsite, blackness engulfs you and your campmates. A reliable, long lasting and bright light source is a necessity. Here’s our spotlight on lighting for base camping and backpacking.
Joby Gorillatorch Switchback
Joby is known for its versatile tripod and mounting accessories for digital and video cameras. The Joby Gorillatorch Switchback is a lighting choice for outdoorsmen and women.
Joby calls the 130-lumen Gorillapod Switchback their outdoor change-up artist because of its versatility. It can be used as a traditional lantern mounted on a Joby flexible tripod. The lantern has several brightness settings. Alternatively, you can switch it to a red fill light that gives a photo darkroom feel.
The integrated headlamp makes it unique and versatile. Push the button on the side of the Gorillapod Switchback and remove the light from the casing. Instantly, you have a headlamp. The headlamp uses the same light that illuminates the lantern, so it has the same brightness features and levels.
The light on the head-lamp can be flexed almost to a 90 degree angle, so you can get a better view of hand and foothold above in lowly lighted chimneys. The Joby Gorillapod Switchback takes two AA batteries and is touted to power-up for 72 hours. (MSRP $59.95)
Fenix LD25 Flashlight
The Fenix LD25 light beam is from a neutral white light LED. Fenix says that a neutral white light penetrates rainwater and dust and illuminates greater distances from its low color temperature.
At 180 lumens from a flashlight measuring just under six-and-a-half inches, the LD25 illuminates brighter and further than flashlights over the twice its size. Its smaller size (about 2.7 ounces) makes it convenient to pack for backpacking trips.
It turns off and on easily by clicking the push button on the rear on the LD25. Fenix has designed it with rock-hard aircraft-grade aluminum with an antislip and antifreezing grip. It’s waterproof to IPX-8 standard that protects it even if it is accidentally dropped in the campsites ice water-filled beer cooler. (MSRP $59.95)
Jason Elliot is the Editor and Publisher of OutdoorInformer.com. Elliot has established a respected following with the top industry professionals and gearheads for his nonbiased reviews of outdoor gear and apparel. Elliot is a regular contributor to Examiner.com, Trails.com and other publications on top of his editorial and writing role with OutdoorInformer.com.
Elliot left a successful fifteen-plus year management career that he worked at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies to pursue his passion for writing about the outdoors. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from La Roche College.