Different Flashlights Different Benefits: Find Out What Works for You

The first form of light source that you could carry around was the torch. Fire burning on a piece of wood was used by the Egyptians back in 3000 BC and it is the earliest form of portable illumination. In the first century CE, candles replaced oil lamps which were used around 500 BC. Fire was still the only light source in the 1850s but this time people used Kerosene lamps. It wasn’t until 1899, 12 years after dry cell batteries were invented and 20 years after the electric light bulb, that the first flashlight was made. These early flash lights provided light only for a brief moment, hence the name. After more than a century later flashlights or also known as torches, emerged in different forms powered by different technologies.

LED

I’m sure you’ve heard about LED as it’s a pretty common technology nowadays used in different devices. LED stands for light emitting diode which is a type of semiconductor that can generate light from electrons passing through. With this type of flash light little to no heat is being generated which is why they are so popular nowadays. This essentially gives them a longer lifespan and makes them more efficient than other types of flashlights such as incandescent ones.

Incandescent

An incandescent torch is the most affordable solution you’ll come across. These flash lights are widely used and they also have been around the longest. Incandescent lights are bright but they generate a lot of heat which is why they are so inefficient and have a short lifespan. They are known to easily break and can be powered by different types of batteries one of which are D batteries.

HID

A high intensity discharge torch makes use of ionised gas that has current passing through it in order to generate an extremely bright light. They are not as common as incandescent or LED lights as they are often bulky and overpriced. They do provide a bright light source which people often describe it like a knife cutting through the dark.

Halogen (Xenon)

Halogen, or what are also known as xenon flashlights, make use of a filament and pressurised xenon gas in order to provide bright light. The xenon gas also helps extend the lifespan of the filament. They are also the brightest lights you can find, even brighter than HID torches, but they are usually not as long lasting as LED lights. Other gasses that these lights use are krypton and halogen.

Shake

These type of flashlights are a convenient alternative to the aforementioned lights since you never have to worry about running out of power. Although the result you get is a dim light, the intensity of this light is enough to help guide you on a foot path. But if you want to be able to illuminate objects from afar you might want to avoid a shake flashlight.

How Do Shake Flashlights Work?

Unlike the above-mentioned flashlights, shake lights don’t rely on batteries for power – they have magnets inside instead. Shaking the flashlight generates power since it causes a reaction between the magnets.

Hand Crank

Like shake flashlights, hand crank torches are also very convenient but although different, they do rely on batteries. People that visit places where electricity is not as available and reliable find hand crank lights very useful. They come in handy when used outdoors too, where you also don’t get to rely on electricity as much.

How Do Crank Flashlights Work?

Hand crank flash lights work with the help of a handle, some gears, an electric generator and usually LED’s. When you crank the handle it makes the gears inside rotate and turn the generator rotor. This charges up the battery and provides the LEDs with power.

Headlamp

These are a bit different than the traditional flash light since and as you’d expect, they go on your head. Although quite smaller in size, headlamps can be quite powerful too which makes them ideal for your next hike at night or camping trip. These lights make for a hands-free experience, be it working on your car or exploring a cave.

Tactical

With a tactical flashlight you essentially get a feature-packed device which is commonly used by law enforcement and military personnel. These flashlights are also used to disorient people thanks to different light modes that come standard. Tactical lights are made rugged and they can usually survive through all kinds of weather conditions, impacts and in different water levels. This largely depends on the IP rating they have assigned and the materials they’re made of.

Lanterns

The same goes for lanterns, as while they may not have the same shape or form as a traditional flashlight, they are still a great option for providing light in close quarters. If you are going camping a lantern is a great choice since it will give you enough light for you to be able to read your favourite book or prepare your gear when heading out. Depending on the size of your tent you may need to get more than one lantern.