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We recently started doing a little caching at night. We found our flashlights suck for this even though they are led. I thought my light my bright until I tried using it for night caching. I found it is is VERY dim. We are planning on buying a better light for night caching. Just wondering what others use and if anyone has any recommendations.
You want a regular powerful flashlight that can project a strong beam of up to 200 feet or so. Expect to pay good money for a good heavy duty flashlight such as this one.
I have a flashlight that is very close to that model. Always carry extra batteries with you as you never know when a flashlight will die on you in the middle of caching, especially if it’s been a while since you installed the batteries.
Most flashlights usually say on the package how far the beam will project, so again, you want one that can project 200 fet or so. Most reflective markers are usually within 100 feet, but some are further away and you want to be able to spot them with your light from a distance.
Hope this helps.
Make sure you can adjust the beam on your flashlight as well. A tight beam of light is much better than those flashlight that have a broad beam which spread the light out making it dimmer over longer distances.
We have a 2D maglite and find it very effective for night caching.
I highly recommend a maglite with a tightly focused beam. I have a 3 billion candlepower flood light but it doesn’t do a great job with the tacks. In contrast the focused beam will pick up reflectors much better, especially the “invisible in daytime” red/brown tacks.
Also, hold the beam at eye level for best detection.
On the Left Side of the Road...My father gave a mini mag 3 AA flashlite for christmas last year and works great. It’s either a 1 watt or 3 watt. I know he got it a Wally World.
Also, I picked up a couple book lights from a doller store a few weeks ago. You would be very surprised how bright a light it is. And what is kewl about it is that you can clip it to your hat or pocket and it’s only a BUCK! With batteries even!I’ve used a 2 AA maglight LED succesfully for a number of night caches. the trick is to hold the flashlight up at eye level, so that the focused beam moves with your head. Night caches are the BEST!
I have a 3 D cell Mag-Lite that I use to follow reflective tacks to deerstands…works great! Adjustable beam, and like stated a couple of times, keep it at eye level.
I don’t have one but this should take care of your problem.
@pcfrog wrote:
I don’t have one but this should take care of your problem.
A focused beam maglite works better than this. We’ve had them side by side in the field.
On the Left Side of the Road...I’m with Frizz, I’ve got 2 AA mag led’s:
http://maglite.com/product.asp?psc=2AACELL&pt=R
The newer one i have has some annoying thing where you turn it once its a normal flashlight, turn it again it flashes and then again and it flashes sos(I think). It works just fine but it can be annoying if you turn it on/off quick for some reason.
Thankfully my son found the one of mine he lost and it still worked so now I have two :>
We use a 3D Maglight. Agian keeping it at eye level. This flashlight works great, even on the father reflectors. We’ve already had one person stand with the flashlight and direct the other one where to go because if you move you loose it. Hope you have fun night caching! We enjoy it whenever we can.
I use my bicycle headlight. It is small, light, waterproof, runs on 4 AA batteries and has a *very* bright and *very* focused beam. It is a Cateye (Link).
I was using it on my bicycle one day and I could see a reflective road sign off in the distance that was being illuminated by this light. With the GPS that was also mounted to the handlebar, I measured that I was almost 1/2 mile away.
I use a light that straps around your head. Its always good to have a hands free light when caching.
We use both a 3D Maglite and an Inova X1 Emissive Energy light. The Mag-lite works well but batteries go dead quickly, especially in the cold, which is when we tend to do night caches. The Inova is far superior and every way. Size, durability, brightness, focus, light color and battery life. The emissive energy diode will likely outlast me and my future grandchildren for that matter. And I’ve had the same 2 AA batteries (lithium ion included) in it for two years now and still as bright as new. The drawback is price. Plan to spend about $50 for the X1, but you won’t be disappointed.
We use both a headlamp and a handheld. Our headlamps are Energizer’s from Walmart. Our handhelds were purchased at Sam’s Club.
We also have the “beamer” and “super beamer” that are used when we are at ground zero if we need more light. “beamer” is a 4 D cell mag light. “super beamer” is one of those million candlewatt deals from Cabela’s.
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