lighting

March 24, 2014 By Chas Bruce

Black Crater Cord Lock Light

This clever little beast of a light can replace the cord locks on any of your outdoor gear. We’ve put it on our jackets, on our sleeping bags–even on our shoes. Latch it on where ever you’ll need a handy light source. The clamping devise has allowed COG testers to attach this light to any stray cord. Hang it from the ceiling of your tent for reading. At $10 a pop you should carry several.

Black Crater Cord Lock Light in a hand — Black Crater Cord Lock Light illuminating a map

The Cord Lock Light uses a 3mm Hyper Bright white LED light and switches between 3 modes: low, high, and strobe. It’s water-resistant construction is ideal for use in harsh weather by backpackers, campers, climbers and joggers.

Black Crater Cord Lock Light on a sleeping bag

Weighs only 0.3 oz. (8g), and is no bigger than your average cord lock. Includes 2 lithium CR1220 batteries. The perfect addition to your gear to ensure you have light when you need it in all your outdoor activities.

$10

March 3, 2014 By Chas Bruce

JOBY Gorilla Torch 100 Flashlight

I can’t say when we’ve had so much fun on a test review. JOBY’s Gorilla series of tripods and now this adaptation to a handy light just look like fun monkeys. The Gear Guys are always looking for better illumination. The Gorilla Torch is one of the handiest we’ve found. The fully articulated legs will wrap around virtually anything. This hands-free LED flashlight fires off a brilliant 100 lumen beam. Now that’s bright! And according to the specs that will run 23 hours on a set of three AA batteries. Swing the dimmer to low and you’ll get 80 hours of runtime.

Joby Gorilla Torch 100 Flashlight with batteries — JOBY Gorilla Torch batteries

And that’s the thing: a dimmer to adjust to just the light you need. Take it most of the way down, say to about 12 lumens and you’ve got a heck of a reading light, and the legs will wrap around any old branch and the head tilts and turns to just where you want it. We took it took out to the dark parking and lot and found the magnetic legs would hold it to anything. Street lights. The fender of the car. We gripped the legs around the handlebars of the staff commuter bike and made an monkey headlight. Even better we gripped the vents of a bicycle helmet and made it into an alien spider monkey light. Endless fun!. Barrels of laughs! And a handy lighting tool.

Joby Gorilla Torch 100 Flashlight used in car repair — Using the JOBY Gorilla Flashlight in car repair at night

Kind of scrunches to a an 8 1/2 x 3 x 2 inch package weighing 6 1/2 ounces.

$30

May 24, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Baladeo “Roc” 3W LED Torch Lantern

We’re always on the lookout for a convenient tent light. The clever folks at Baladeo have come up with this dual-purpose lantern/flashlight.

Click on the large rubber end button for a bright 3 watt flashlight, with three-modes: 100%, 30% and flashing. It is bright and a nice handful for around the camp.

We tugged on the convenient hanger and revealed the diffusion tube that turns this into a lantern. Hanging near the apex of our tent, it provided nice even lighting. Enough to get through a couple chapters of the current mystery.

Runs for 3 hours at the high 90 lumen setting. Sturdy grey anodized aluminum housing that contains 3 AAA Batteries.

$40

January 16, 2013 By Nick Giustina

ENO HiFi Speaker System and Lights

Let’s get this party started! The only thing you need for an impromptu backcountry party are ENO Twilights, an ENO HiFi Speaker System, your iPod, and a rockin’ playlist.

The Twilights are 23 LED lights, on a 80″ wire, powered by 2 AA batteries. The light show will run you $20 and run for around 300 hours before burning-out. Wrap the lights around a full stuff sack, hang it from the cabin or tent ceiling, spin it and voila you’ve got a disco ball.

The ENO HiFi Speaker System is a case-enclosed pair of speakers and a pocket that holds your iPod. Powered by 2 AA batteries, costing only $20 and weighing in at only 22 oz., the HiFi isn’t loud enough to piss-off your camping neighbors but is good for some private ambiance.

Maybe pull the HiFi out for a desert hike and lunch, cue-up some Willie, Waylon and the boys, and put some “country” back in backcountry!

$20

August 11, 2012 By Chas Bruce

d.light S250 Solar Lantern Mobile Charger

This camp-ready solar lantern was really designed for the developing world, where after dark illumination can provide huge cultural advantages.

The d.light S250 has provided bright, safe and affordable light for millions of people who do not have access to reliable electricity in over 40 countries. Certainly safer than open flames, this LED lamp can provide up to 12 hours of bright light and a 100-hour night light from a full day’s charge.

The S250 is a dual-purpose solar light and mobile phone charger. A surprising number of people in the developing world have cell phones for primary communications. A sturdy plastic housing protects the unit from dust, insects and water.

The S250 comes with a handy grip and a top strap to allow users to hang the unit from hooks or poles. It has four different light settings from bright to a low night light. Also charges from any AC/DC source and will charge various cell phones.

Ten percent of profits go to providing this lamps to people in need. You can also make a donation for persons in need. d.light also makes 2 smaller lamps including a nifty $12 solar desk lamp.

$45

August 1, 2012 By Chas Bruce

Nite Ize MoonLit LED Light

Night Ize has combined two great products: the Spotlit LED lamp with their Gear Tie. The LED provides a nice diffuse beam, perfect for reading, and the Gear Tie allows you to position it most anywhere.

The Gear Tie is 18″ long and totally bendable to wrap and fit any application. Wrap it around a tree branch or a stay in your tent. Also has a flash mode where you can wrap it on your bike handlebars to keep you visible in the dark.

Water-resistant. Uses two CR2016 3 volt batteries that will glow for 20 hours and flash for 25 hours. Weighs an ounce.

$11

July 25, 2012 By Nick Giustina

LuminAID LED Light

We’re always on the lookout for the perfect camp reading light. The LuminAID LED light provides perfect diffuse lighting to hang at your camp. After charging in sunlight for an afternoon, we inflated the bag for extra diffusion, and hung it from a tree at our campsite.

The LuminAID Light consists of a solar panel, a slimline battery and LEDs wrapped in a tough, inflatable plastic bag. Deflated, it’s the size of a wallet.

Once we charged it, the lamp put out a bright light (measured at 35 lumen) and it burned for almost 4 hours on the high setting. We didn’t try it, but the literature says the lower 20 lumen light will burn for six hours. The battery should be good for 800 charges. The LuminAID uses a Lithium Polymer battery that will hold a charge for 4 months.When you pay $25 for your LuminAid another one is sent to a needy person in a developing country. You can direct one to an individual for $10.

This will float obviously, and provide a nice pillow when needed. Weighs about 3 ounces, and folds to 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

$25

July 11, 2012 By Chas Bruce

Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern

The sacred Hozuki plant was the original design for the ancient Chinese paper lantern. Snow Peak adapted this design to capture the beauty and romance of the Chinese paper lantern.

The new Hozuki Lantern combines functionality and beauty like never before in outdoor lighting. Now, you can create the romance of a candle without burning down your tent.

The Hozuki Lantern features an innovative Candle Mode that allows the LED to respond to sound or wind with a flicker of light; press the on/off button twice to enter candle mode. In addition, the Hozuki has three different brightness settings allowing you to light up your favorite book before going to bed or the entire campsite while cooking your dinner.

$90