Tent lighting

Twigletzone

12/01/2012 at 00:48

Hi all,

What do you guys use to provide light in a hiking tent? I like wind-up lights for the renewability and lack of faff, but I can't find anything that looks like it'd do as a lightweight and compact tent light. I've seen some pretty small dynamo torches which could be easily hung up - do they work OK as lanterns or is the beam too narrow?

(I do have a headtorch, incidentally, but it's a cheap one and likely won't survive its first soaking, so I'll be taking a backup anyway).

Salmon Shirted Panther

12/01/2012 at 01:29

http://s3.outdoorsmagic.com/members/images/46459/gallery/petzl-nut.jpg?width=350&height=197&mode=max

I use a Petzl Zipka Plus 2, a Petzl Zipka Plus as back up and a Petzl E-Lite in case of God knows what!

Edited: 12/01/2012 at 01:29

MercuryKev

12/01/2012 at 07:35

I use an Alpkit Bulb

http://s1.outdoorsmagic.com/uploads/images/productimage/7313.jpeg

http://www.dailyregister.com/archive/x462612091/g24400000000000000026c07eb84100cdf2f42298437132d2fd246e3bd2.jpg

A Micro Candle lantern

gary morgan

14/01/2012 at 21:05

the light as shown by kev will do the trick, it does add extra weight, it does give a better all round light that a head torch i find

benp1

14/01/2012 at 21:20

I used a UCO candle lantern in my pyramid shelter last weekend, worked really well

Matt C

14/01/2012 at 21:30

I use one of these tiny Photon Freedom lights (sometimes two in a 2-person tent). They're pretty bright for the size (iirc Paddy Dillon has carried one as his only torch on his travels) and weigh almost nothing. Suspended from the tent roof by the clip, it gives enough ambient light to see what you're doing and find things. If I want to read or need for light for something specific like cooking, then I'll switch to my headtorch.

ed h

14/01/2012 at 21:32

A photon for three seasons....whichever headtorch suits in winter.

Martin Carpenter

14/01/2012 at 21:39

Not sure quite how this compares to a photon weight wise, but certainly very light and handy.

ed h

14/01/2012 at 21:41

A photon is 7g.

I'd seen those on ULOG - any good?

Martin Carpenter

14/01/2012 at 21:48

As a 'lantern' I'd think yes - clicks on/off nicely and it is a nice diffuse light, while much lighter than lanterns proper. No idea how well it'll last etc mind.

Also clearly awfully heavy

Edited: 14/01/2012 at 21:49

S Wright

14/01/2012 at 23:03

if you're not a complete lightweight freak... a candle stuck in a spare tent pole is nice. garden candles have a stick poking out out & are good...you can also get citronella ones.
Otherwise, an alpkit headtorch hung off some elastic/dental floss

Twigletzone

14/01/2012 at 23:13

I actually tripped over these in my hunt which look quite intriguing... rainproof, and wind-up as well so they never go flat...

Spiritburner

14/01/2012 at 23:18

British milspec Arctic candles do me. About 3 weekends use per candle & they get lighter each trip!

Far nicer than that electric glow.

Car Camping? A paraffin Tilley or equivelent

El Manana

15/01/2012 at 07:35

Silverpoint Mini Lantern

Silverpoint Nano

Got both the above - the Nano is as good as the Photon

I quite like the look of those candle micro lanterns.

Salmon Shirted Panther

15/01/2012 at 12:29

gary morgan wrote (see)

the light as shown by kev will do the trick, it does add extra weight, it does give a better all round light that a head torch i find

I'm not sure what this means (better all round light). A head torch lights up where you are looking. Do you mean it is better to have light where you are not looking? How does that make the light better (ie it is there when not being used)?

Martin Carpenter

15/01/2012 at 13:07

Ambient light within a tent I think? Say lying around reading and the like.

Spiritburner

15/01/2012 at 14:47

Provides light to help you find your head-torch

I like to use my headtorch as little as possible in case I need it in the event of bailing out during the night or getting delayed & having to walk after dark the following day

GOF

15/01/2012 at 16:45

battery operated fairy lights (string of 20LEDs) - £1 from a poundshop. Good ambient lighting. For reading etc...headtorch.

Mate of mine has a windup thingy - all it did is wind him up..

Nick Rose

15/01/2012 at 21:44

If you follow El Manana's clickys on Silverpoint stuff and search you will find the Silverpoint Ozone which is a keyring torch weighing 25g which winds up and solar charges.
Not sure how good it would be.
I use a black diamond ion headtorch but I think batteries are b' expensive. Also use a cheap small cree led torch that uses far cheaper AAA batteries.

Phil Dorn 2

19/01/2012 at 19:59

Head to pound land for you ambient light string of fairy lights or a few glow sticks, snap shake and the jobs a good un, use a head torch for reading not particularly Eco friendly but cheap as chips

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