Let there be light!

Regardless of whether you are going hiking in the middle of nowhere, camping at Wimborne St. Giles or going on a coach trip to somewhere, if you forget a torch you could be left stumbling in the dark. In the winter it can only take an hour more than planned on a hike to find yourself lost in the dark. Not only for usefulness but also for safety it is essential that you have a reliable and suitable torch.

The right light

Firstly, consider what you are going to use the light for. Is it going to be just for emergency use, reading a map by night or something more versatile? There is a wide range of torches and light sources available, each with advantages and disadvantages depending on usage. Lets take a look at what is available…

Hand Held Torches

The standard hand torch is so common almost every house has one. It has been around for more years than most of us can remember and for many people, it can be all that is needed.

There are a lot of variations on the design so now they can be rechargeable, super powerful, adjustable beams, waterproof or even housed in glow in the dark cases.

The biggest brand name in this type of torch is Maglite. They are made to very high quality with a standard design. They have features including adjustable beams, spare bulbs housed inside and very tough casings. In fact, they are so durable that they have a lifetime guarantee. This means that they are especially good for those of us prone to breaking things!

Typical Maglite Hand-Torch

Head Torches

At one time or another within Scouts, you will probably end up trying to do some map reading at night, cooking at night and maybe even repairing your tent at 2am in a thunderstorm! (I am speaking from personal experiences here!). In all of these situations, it is a big advantage if you have your hands free and this is where the head torch comes in. The head torch also offers the advantage of always pointing in the direction you are looking in.

There are various designs of head torch now with features like adjustable beams, L.E.Ds, lightweight batteries and power-saving modes.

The main brand of head torches is Petzl. They have a wide range for all sorts of uses and are very popular within Scouting.

Petzl Duo Head-Torch

Mini L.E.D. Torches

There are many different types of these around. From ones that attach to your key ring, ones that clip on to almost anything, ones that look like light-sabres and sometimes built into other gadgets.

These are often cheap but are no substitute for a proper torch. They are however good as a backup and for emergencies. You can use them to send signals, find a keyhole or read a book but they are no good for looking in the distance at objects or which way a path goes.

Mini Keyring L.E.D. Torch

What are the differences between bulbs and L.E.D.s?

I won’t go into all the technical jargon of how these things work but rather tell you about how they are different to use.

Like light bulbs at home, torches always used to have their bulbs blow. This has now become much rarer with the new types of bulbs and especially L.E.D.s.

Bulbs

Bulbs always used to be Tungsten and not really very bright. You will notice this with old torches. These are not very good and you will still find them on some cheap handheld torches. These types break easily and consume a lot of power.

Now halogen bulbs are often used. They are the brightest type but are still power hungry. An alternative to these are Xenon and Krypton bulbs which last five times as long although the light they shine casts rings and is not even.

L.E.D.s

These are becoming much more common in torches for a number of reasons:

• They consume very little power whereas bulbs waste roughly 90% of their power giving out heat.
• They can last much longer. Some small L.E.D. torches can stay on as long as 2 weeks constantly!
• They save you money from buying fewer batteries.
• L.E.D.s are very strong and are much harder to break.
• You don’t need spare bulbs as they will not blow and last 11 years.
• The light produced is more natural and doesn’t produce any rings.
• They tend to weigh less.

There are a few drawbacks though:

• They are not as bright as bulbs and therefore require a number of L.E.D.s or more powerful batteries (The more L.E.D.s the brighter the torch).
• The range of the light of an L.E.D. torch is not as great. This means that it isn’t as good for walking at night. If you are going to use one of these for a night hike, we recommend that you use one with at least 7 L.E.D.s.

Combination Torches

Some more modern torches now have both a bulb and L.E.D.s. This means that you can run off L.E.D. for general things like finding kit inside your tent and switch to the bulb for some long distance light on a walk. This is very useful but does add a bit more weight and of course cost.

Give me more power Scotty!

The power supply your torch uses will in-part decide how bright you torch is and how long it will last.

It is always good to choose a torch that takes batteries that are easy to buy such as AA size. If you need more power, some torches now are coming with a battery pack that attaches to your belt taking the weight off your head or hand.

For most torches, you should use alkaline batteries. You can however use lithium batteries that last longer and are more powerful but are more expensive. We don’t recommend that you use rechargeable batteries. They don’t last as long and fail with little warning. This is not good for emergencies. When you are in the middle of nowhere, you are not going to find a place to plug in a charger!

Features

There are many different features to torches. Here are a few:

• Adjustable Beam – This is common and useful as it changes the light beam from wide to narrow.
• Choice of bulb – Some torches allow you to change the type of bulb in them and others allow you to switch between them.
• Bulb Storage – Some torches have an in-built housing with a spare bulb. Petzl and Maglite normally have this.
• Optional Battery Packs – Some torches have the option of have the batteries on your waist or your head, others allow you to use different battery types.
• Anti-Roll Design – Some hand-torches are designed not to roll when put down on the ground.
• Waterproof – Most torches are fine for use in the rain but others are totally waterproof and can be dropped in puddles without harm.
• Bombproof – Some torches can take a beating and others need to protect a delicate bulb. Therefore, they often use rubber to absorb impact and tough metals.

Looking after your torch

• Never leave batteries in a torch if you are not going to use it for a long time as they could leak and damage the torch.
• Make sure you store bulbs in a padded safe place if they aren’t built into the torch.
• Always check your torch works before setting off for a camp or hike.
• Check the straps of head torches for signs of wear and tear.
• After going through wet conditions, make sure your torch is dry before storing it.
• Check and grease rubber O-rings in waterproof torches.

Only use it when you need it!

When you use as little light as possible you can gain night vision so don’t have your torch on constantly at night. This will also allow your batteries to last longer. Different coloured lights affect your night vision in different ways. Coloured lights or glow sticks can be very helpful. For more information on night vision, see our fact sheet on the subject. You will still need a torch though in case of emergencies, looking at detail and far off objects.

Make sure that it is legal!

We must point out that, large torches e.g. 6D cell torches are classified as a dangerous weapon, just as if they were a baseball bat. This means it is an offence to carry them in public. Torches of this type are of very little use as they produce just the same amount of light and for just as long as many modern smaller torches.

Final Words

It is always best to get the best you can afford. Remember that the best is not necessarily the most expensive. What is ideal is what suits you and suits the conditions you are going to be in. You can always ask to try a torch in a shop or possibly see what other people use.

As with any equipment look after it and it could serve you a long time. Many people that used to be in the troop 10 years ago are still using some of the same equipment today as they kept it in good condition.