Flashlights, headlamps, rechargeable sticks and lanterns are another very important part of your kit. I carry a flashlight everyday in my pocket and have a spare flashlight and headlamp in my EDC bag with extra batteries just in case along with a spare headlamp in my Inch bag. I have a separate flashlight on my weapon belt.
I also have a large flashlight that stays in my vehicle at all times and a large one that stays in my home at the ready. There is a rechargeable stick on my EDC bag and one in my inch bag. I have a lantern in my Inch bag as well for tent lighting and to keep condensation down inside the tent.
Flashlights and headlamps are only as good as the batteries in them. Remember to switch the batteries out regularly. I switch batteries in everything when the time changes each year. I put any batteries that are still good in the use right away basket in the house so all the flashlights that do not get used as often have fresh batteries every six months.
Flashlights
Flashlights are a super important part of the bug out scenario. I just started carrying a small Olight S1 Baton flashlight in my pocket for every day use and I was AMAZED how much I use it. It is water resistant, compact, the kit came with a rechargeable battery, battery charger, a red lantern end and a glow lantern end for inside use. The red is so handy so you can see out windows and keep your vision at night and also doesn’t give away your position as readily as a white flashlight beam. I have a Olight R50 on my shopping list and the S2 Baton just came out and I am definitely shopping for one of those.
I also carry two Fenix flashlights, one came with a lantern end for tent light or reading light. They are very tough and super bright flashlights. They have never failed me and I use them daily.
Headlamps
Headlamps are handy when you need to be hands free with light, such as: working, cooking, building fire, pitching the tent, heading to the bathroom at camp and making repairs. I have a pretty basic headlight now that is a Energizer headlamp with a red LED option. Red LED is really the way to go, offers sufficient light without advertising your location to a wide area with bright white light. I am in the market for a Fenix headlamp and a Nitecore pocket clip light with a 90 degree beam.
Rechargeable Sticks
Why use chem lights if you don’t have to? They are only good for one use. I found these UVPaqlite rechargeables are awesome. They only need a few minutes of sun or flashlight to charge. I use these as bag markers, scuba tank markers and tent stake markers. I also use the mats for inside the tent.
Lanterns
I only currently carry one lantern and that’s a UCO micro tea light lantern. The tea lights are cheap, the lantern is light and I can use it inside the tent to take the chill off or to reduce condensation. You can get parts for these online also as well as citronella candles.
Amazon.com
