These days, taking a break from the busyness of life by visiting the great outdoors has become a frequent form of escapism. Not only are you physically distanced from your worries, but looking up at the vastness of starry nights can be a humbling and inspiring experience.
Most of us have a tendency to take our modern luxuries for granted when packing for a camping trip, with electricity being one of the more notable. Quite expectedly, when you take a trip out into the wild, this becomes increasingly difficult to come by. The scarcity of this resource is precisely why having proper LED camp lighting kits with you can make all the difference.
How Do You Choose a Camping Light?
Naturally, there’s some degree of diversity when it comes to the world of illumination, with some options being better suited for certain activities than others. For the most part, the common factors you’d need to consider when selecting a camp light kit include:
Length and Diameter
The overall size of the light plays a vital role in its portability and viability for certain situations. In this regard, you’d want to pick something that will fit easily into your bag without taking up too much space or weighing you down.
At the same time, consider whether the bulb has a large enough diameter to ensure it produces light in all directions. Generally speaking, the longer and wider your light is, the better results you’ll have. If your campsite is quite large, one long light might be more beneficial than two shorter ones.
Battery Type
When determining the battery type to use for your LED camp light kit you need to consider the primary environment that you’ll be using it in. For instance, if you’re actively outdoors and engaging in activities like fishing, then a rechargeable battery would be more ideal than disposable ones.
On the other hand, if you’re camping in a more stationary setting, then disposable batteries would be the better option since they provide longer power sources. You won’t have to worry about charging them up or finding compatible outlets in the wilderness as you can easily reach for a new one on the spot.
Beam Type
The type of beam that the light emits is a critical factor in determining how it’ll perform when used in different terrains. In most cases, you’d have the option of choosing between a floodlight and a spotlight beam.
A floodlight is best for illuminating a large area, often being a great pairing for camping sites with multiple tents. Its broad range of coverage enables it to sufficiently light up a larger area for extended periods.
Alternatively, if you need more concentrated and focused illumination for activities like fishing, then a spotlight with its narrow beam type is usually the way to go. It has the added advantage of allowing you to adjust the beam width and angle to further customize its performance.
Capacity
This refers to the amount of power the light can produce, measured in terms of its watts. Usually, more powerful lights are capable of producing brighter and more intense illumination, mainly thanks to the extra watts.
However, you have to be wary of the added weight and bulk that come with higher-wattage LED camp lighting kits as they tend to be heavier and less portable due to their larger batteries. Their suitability for certain activities may also be limited given their size and power output.
Lumens
These are a measure of brightness, with higher numbers indicating brighter lights. There’s a notable correlation between this metric and wattage, as lights with higher wattages tend to produce more lumens.
In any case, when selecting your LED camp light kit check the lumen count as this will give you an indication of how bright it is and whether or not it can perform in certain outdoor activities. Some models are even capable of producing up to 1000 lumens, which can be more than enough for certain camping trips.
Lux Distance
This metric is slightly different from lumens, as it measures the distance at which the light is capable of illuminating an area. Again, you’d want higher numbers here as they indicate that the camp light kit can cast light further into the dark.
Naturally, you don’t want to go too far out of your way, as this could put you in danger and possibly attract unwanted attention. However, a light that can reach up to 300 meters should do just fine for most outdoor adventures.
IP Rating
Short for the Ingress Protection Rating, this metric tells you how protected your camp light kit is against dust particles and water. Higher ratings usually mean that the kit can better withstand all sorts of weather conditions, making them more suitable for outdoorsy activities.
Ideally, you want to find a light kit with an IP67 rating, as this indicates that it’s fully dust-proof and can withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water. This allows for a much longer lifespan and makes it more durable for use in damp or wet environments.
Colour
The colour temperature of the light that’s produced serves more than just an aesthetic purpose, as it can influence how bright the light is. Higher colour temperatures tend to have higher luminous efficacy, making them brighter and more intense.
Cooler colours, such as whites and blues, normally have higher colour temperatures, while warmer colours like yellows and reds tend to have lower temperatures. This can be a vital aspect to consider when selecting a light, as the colour temperature can affect its performance.
