Nothing literally stops an outdoor hiking enthusiast from discovering the wild nature around, not even the darkness of the nights!
After a long tiring day, when the sun dives into the farthest horizon, hikers and backpackers get ready to explore the silent mystery of the nights.
But just like the daytime, you are not having the advantage of sunlight to hike with clear vision and safety at night.
In that case, you will definitely need some lighting tools to support you with a clear vision to have a safe journey. So, what are the night lighting tools for hikers and backpackers?
Well, this is exactly what we are going to discuss in this article in brief. Stay tuned!
Why Would You Hike at Night?
You may think, isn’t it enough to hike in the daytime? What’s so special about nighttime hikes?
Well, hiking under the hot sun is not as pleasant as it would be when you hike under the night sky with the moon, stars, and all those cosmos objects of the Milky Way galaxy!
Not only it will save you from scorching heat, but also it will allow you to connect yourself with the calming beauty of nature. Daytime is usually full of noises, crowds, and all the hustle bustle that are completely shut off during the night adventure.
So, you can completely focus yourself on the calming nature around and enjoy the silent music of the nighttime darkness being relaxed.
Lighting Tools for Hiking at Night
When it comes to lighting tools for night hikes, there are generally two options- Headlamps and Flashlights. Each of these lighting gear has its own share of application, advantages, and limitations as well.
#1. Using Flashlights for Night Hike
Before the invention of headlamps or other modern lighting tools, flashlights have been fulfilling the very need of showing the path at night or in the darkness for ages.
This is one of the most important hiking equipment that no hiker should miss taking with them before going out at night.
This lighting tool is easy to use and portable enough to carry. For some people, especially old-school traditional folks, flashlights are the only favorable source of lighting tools for camping or hiking.
Whether you are walking through the trails, or about to set up your camp, flashlights always come in handy to have a clear vision.
Even in terms of emergencies, flashlights are pretty much necessary to have an instant idea of what’s actually going on. So, what are the benefits of using flashlights for night hiking?
Let’s talk about them one by one:
Wide-angle View
Moonlight is not always enough to get a clear picture of what’s waiting for you a few meters ahead. With a flashlight in your hands, you are confident enough to walk through the path knowing how you should take each step.
It gives you a wide-angle view so that you can easily identify any possible threat out in the wild. There can be a slithering snake, a bear, or even broken tree branches just a few steps ahead of you, you never know!
But when you have a powerful flashlight with you, you can clearly see any of these threats from a safe distance and avoid falling into life-threatening situations.
Battery Support
Hiking through the wild nature at night requires a continuous source of lighting. Especially when you need to walk for hours, having other forms of lighting options are not sufficient enough to provide constant support.
Because except for flashlights, all the other lighting tools run on the electric charging system, and they tend to support less than battery-supported flashlights.
For longer trips, you need something that can assist your vision for hours at a stretch. And, flashlights are the best option in this case, as you don’t have to worry about recharging every now and then and you can carry batteries according to your need.
It’s recommended to take several sets of batteries when you are carrying a flashlight as your lighting source at night hiking.
Modern Flashlights Offer Exciting Features
Unlike traditional flashlights, new-age flashlights come with some advanced features to make your night hiking more comfortable.
Now you can even zoom in and out the beam to either narrow or spread the view with some advanced flashlights. Some of them even come with a water-resistant feature to support your vision in extreme weather.
Some flashlight companies added illumination patterns in their lights to help the users asking for help in emergencies through distress signals.
Cons of Using Flashlights
Though flashlights are one of the best lighting sources for night hiking, they do have some limitations too.
Holding flashlights for long periods is quite exhausting and tiresome and it can cause hand fatigue. They can fall down anytime, especially when it’s been held for too long, or in terms of emergencies.
If they fall on a rocky surface, most certainly will be damaged and leave you with regrets. Sometimes they can also attract the unwanted attention of wild animals that can lead you to danger.
#2. Using Headlamps for Night Hike
Headlamps are another popular form of night hiking lighting tool that is usually worn on users’ heads. This lighting tool is more preferable for those who want something to light up their ways without using their hands.
Sometimes the trails or the terrains can get really tricky with an unknown maze. You never know when you accidentally hit yourself on some rock, twig, tree branches, or even sleeping animals.
In that case, your hands must be free from any other tasks so that you can conveniently move obstacles, catch yourself, fight or even run if needed.
This is where the necessity of a hands-free lamp for backpackers comes into play. So, why would someone choose headlamps over flashlights? Let’s get to know about some exceptional benefits-
Hands-Free Use
Yes, we have already talked about it and that’s the best part of using headlamps. So, these lamps eliminate the need of holding the lighting source and allow you the freedom to use your hands for other important tasks like setting up a tent, cooking, reading a map, carrying firewood, or even having a snack.
Easy to Use
When you consider other sources of lighting (Powerful ones), they are either bulky, heavy, or a bit complex to use.
In terms of headlamps, they are lightweight and pretty easy to use without any hassle at all. They do not only provide extra security but also they don’t get slipped off even when you are running.
So, unlike other lighting tools, you don’t have to worry about rolling or falling them away. Even if you think of carrying space in your backpack, they take a very little amount of space and don’t even bother you with their weights.
Better Focus
Unlike flashlights, headlamps are more preferable when you need to focus on a particular place for doing some important task. As the lighting tool is set on your head, you are always clear with your vision and sure about your direction.
When you walk with a flashlight in your hands, you have to constantly move the hands as a natural flow and this creates problems with your focus. But, with the help of headlamps, the focus is always on point and you don’t have to suffer to adjust to your vision.
Versatility
Just because it’s named as headlamps, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wear it on your head only.
Depending on the demand of the situation, you can use it on other parts of your body and can even use it as an alternative to flashlights. This versatility makes this lighting tool a more preferable choice.
Advance Features
Modern-day headlamps come with some advanced features to make your night journey more blissful. Some of the advanced headlamps offer floodlighting, spotlighting, a variety of power options, multiple charging options, focus settings, and much more.
So, having a headlamp is a must for people who want all these exclusive features and benefits.
Limitations of Headlamps
Despite having all these benefits, headlamps have serious drawbacks too. Most headlamps don’t offer powerful light emissions like flashlights.
They are not even ideal for group hikes as they can only provide a personal focus for an individual. Due to one single focusing area, using headlamps can create a tunnel vision that can make your side vision darker.
Final Words
Hiking is fun when it’s done with proper equipment, gears, preparation. And when it comes to being a night owl hiker, lighting tools are the most important equipment you should consciously choose.
We hope this article helped you know about what are the night lighting tools for hikers and backpackers comprehensively. Pick up your lighting tools according to your need.