Cost of a Quality Flashlight for Camp

Q: How much should I spend on a flashlight?
— Emily, Toledo, Ohio

A: As with any piece of gear, first consider how you’ll use it.

If you want a big, tough flashlight to keep in the troop trailer or patrol box, you can get something like the Infinity X1 (infinityx1.com, $39.99), which is made with aircraft-grade aluminum and weighs a hefty 2.2 pounds. For a little pocket light that can help you find stuff in your tent late at night, the Scout Shop sells models from NEBO and Nite Ize, some for less than $15.

For a quality flashlight to use around camp, I’d budget between $15 and $30. You can find quite a few in that price range at the Scout Shop. You can, of course, invest more for features like rechargeable batteries, brighter bulbs and more durable materials.

One flashlight I like is the LifeGear Search Light 300 (dorcy.com, $19.99). On one end is a bulb capable of producing 300 lumens of light on its brightest setting, and on the other end is a built-in emergency whistle as well as another bulb that blinks. The blinking bulb can be seen up to 2.5 miles away, making this light a nice addition to your survival kit.