Light for the campsite, without the glare
Plain answers on lanterns, headlamps and the numbers on their boxes. We cover brightness, colour, night vision and batteries for tent and vehicle camping. Each page says where its facts come from.
All the lighting notes
- Lumens Explained for Camp Lights
What lumens, lux and candela mean on a camp light box, how beam distance is worked out, and why a bigger number isn't always a better light.
- Lantern or Headlamp: Which Job Suits Which
A plain look at what a lantern and a headlamp each do well at camp, so you can decide whether you need one, the other or both.
- Warm White vs Cool White Camp Light
What warm and cool white mean on a camp light, what the sources say about mood and insects, and what they don't say.
- Red Light and Night Vision at Camp
How long eyes take to adjust to the dark, why red light disturbs that adjustment less than white light, and how to use it around camp.
- Reading Battery Run Times on Camp Lights
What a maker's run time figure measures, why a light can dim long before it stops, and how to read the number so it doesn't mislead you.
- Rechargeable vs Disposable Batteries in Camp Lights
How alkaline, NiMH and lithium-ion batteries differ for camp lights, how to store spares, and what the US aviation regulator says about carrying them.