Heading for the lodge in fading daylight, you break a binding. Whether you're hiking, biking, paddling or skiing, a flashlight can mean the difference between a night in a space blanket or in a warm bed, even between life and death. So we asked Casey Klahn, camping equipment expert at REI's Seattle store, to shed some light on the topic. Avoid light plastic or stee l, because of flimsiness and weight, respectively.
Most varieties have switches, which can fail.
Another option is the variety with lenses or tops that screw down to make contact between the battery pack and bulb. These include waterproof varieties, which are an excellent choice for paddlers and rafters. Those with two are lighter, but generally provide a beam with less brightness. Ni-cads are the most economical and environmentally sensible, since they can be recharged, and disposal of battery lead is not an issue. But they have the shortest charge and you must buy a re-charging unit.