Flashlight for a bug out bag / car bag

[Micon]

I'm hunting around for the best suggestions around a light to put in a bag that will likely sit in the trunk of a car or in a corner closet.  The normal suggestions for longer term storage is to keep the batteries and light separate, so the both last and are ready when you need them.   As is the nature of needing a light, when you do, its dark though!  I don't relish the need to fumble in the dark trying to figure out how to get the two things together when I likely need it quickly.  I do have a couple of glow sticks in the bag but I know I would be loathe to crack one for the 2 min I would need it to get the batteries and light together.

Right now my best thought is a cheapo light that is ready to go, that I routinely replace every 6 months or so, and a better light that has the batteries out.  That means extra weight though so I'm not convinced.  Are those hand crank lights a good alternative, or are they more gimmicky and prone to breaking (my mistrust makes me think the latter!)

[Lodewijk]

I haven't had a crank one be worth anything yet, myself.

If you want to keep batteries apart from the light, best bet IMO is to EDC something small and use that for putting batteries in your bigger bag light. You can get a Stylus Pro for like $20 at Cabela's and they're a great. A daily carry flashlight is unbelievably convenient to begin with, much more than people realize.

For go bags or car bags I use headlamps myself, and I just check the batteries periodically. YMMV.

Interested in what you end up doing.

[majorhavoc]

I've had a few hand crank flashlights over the years and every one one of them has failed.  Well, they would still work, but whatever internal battery/capacitor they come with always seems to crap out after a year or two.  When that happens, now matter how much you crank, the feeble light they produce stops the instant you stop cranking.  That makes it pretty much impossible to manipulate anything with your hands - unless you have a second person cranking away and aimling the light while you work. 

Think of the cheapo extra light less as extra weight and more along the lines of redundancy.  Which any prepper worth her salt will tell you is a highly desireable thing.  Does your go-bag have zippers?  What about an inexpensive keychain light on one of the zipper pulls?  (or better yet, two)  It weighs next to nothing, will be instantly accessible even in pitch darkness, offers a backup light source and addresses your legitimate concern about keeping your primary light source separate from the batteries that power it. 



I also like Lodewijk's suggestion about headlamps for go-bags.  All other things being equal (quality, output, etc), they're more versatile than a regular flashlight.  They free up your hands and are much better for overland navigation at night.

[NT2C]

Hand cranks are an option, but there are better ones.  A good quality flashlight that uses rechargeable Li-Ion batteries is probably your best bet.  Something like a Sofirn SP33S or Sofirn SC21 Pro if you want something small would be well-suited to what you want for two main reasons, first, a charged Lithium-Ion battery will take more than a year to drop to 50% (take it out and recharge it when you adjust the clocks for DST) and a half turn of the battery compartment disconnects the battery from the light.  When you want to use it, twist it tight again and you're good to go.  I've not posted my review of the SC21 Pro yet but it's a really nice little light, small, comes with a hat clip, good runtime, and strong beam. 

Oh, and an alternative to the big glow sticks are the tiny ones used for night fishing.  They give off a surprising amount of light and are about a dime apiece on Amazon.

[NT2C]

I'll also point out that you're now eligible for one of our contests, this one expressly for newbies to prepping.  And... you're the only entrant at this moment.  The contest ends in just a couple of weeks.  You'll find more details in our Contests areas but the grand prize is a go-bag personally put together by the UFoZS admin staff and stocked with everything from food to a Geiger counter.

[EBuff75]

I have a cheap Convoy M2 flashlight that I keep in the CERT bag in my car.  It lives in there year-round through Michigan winters and summer heat.  It uses 18650 Li-ion batteries and I've got several of the basic Panasonic ones with it (one in the light, two others as backups).  There have been times that I haven't bothered to check on it for 6+ months, only to find that the batteries are around 95% or better state of charge.  Pop them on the charger and they're topped off in just a couple of minutes. 

[Rednex]

Well I do a bit of everything mentioned so far.
I have the keychain lights an the keys, and on/in bags. I keep a flashlight in my pocket( single AAA size), then those cheap $1.00 flashlights from Walmart in each room. Better Li ion flashlight on night stand's, in truck's and BoB/Inch bags.

I'm still playing with the Sofirn SP35.

[flybynight]

I'm hunting around for the best suggestions around a light to put in a bag that will likely sit in the trunk of a car or in a corner closet.  The normal suggestions for longer term storage is to keep the batteries and light separate, so the both last and are ready when you need them.  As is the nature of needing a light, when you do, its dark though!  I don't relish the need to fumble in the dark trying to figure out how to get the two things together when I likely need it quickly.  I do have a couple of glow sticks in the bag but I know I would be loathe to crack one for the 2 min I would need it to get the batteries and light together.

Right now my best thought is a cheapo light that is ready to go, that I routinely replace every 6 months or so, and a better light that has the batteries out.  That means extra weight though so I'm not convinced.  Are those hand crank lights a good alternative, or are they more gimmicky and prone to breaking (my mistrust makes me think the latter!)

For a great key ring light Olight gives these away every few months ($5.00 shipping). Amazing little light
https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=658.0

Without getting into expensive head lamps. This is a very economical head lamp . Doesn't have the throw or lumens of the more expensive lights but is a very workable headlamp. There's a thread about them here I couldn't find 

https://www.amazon.com/EVEREADY-Headlamps-Resistant-Emergency-Batteries/dp/B09LDJGLWX/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.3432eb1a-1558-4445-9430-9bb3e7f7b9b7%3Aamzn1.sym.3432eb1a-1558-4445-9430-9bb3e7f7b9b7&crid=3OZKDC2WUYOOH&cv_ct_cx=eveready+headlamp&keywords=eveready+headlamp&pd_rd_i=B09LDJGLWX&pd_rd_r=60ca010b-67ee-4db9-a554-6f8c31fdff31&pd_rd_w=mC70X&pd_rd_wg=Z9IS3&pf_rd_p=3432eb1a-1558-4445-9430-9bb3e7f7b9b7&pf_rd_r=BBXMM9CJY3KE8Q689KCX&qid=1684029051&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=ever+ready+head+lamp%2Caps%2C150&sr=1-1-5985efba-8948-4f09-9122-d605505c9d1e

Higher end lights have been reviewed here . NT2C has done dozens himself.  I would pick one  that can really reach out that you like and get it . Being able to see just what that noise is a hundred yards away is very comforting . plus  it can be used as a weapon to blind some one.

These three ( or similar ) are what I suggest   

[Micon]

Dang, a whole bunch of good replies.  A think a mix of these might do well and just see which I like, cause the prices arent bad.  Already looking at that headlamp, a keychain light to clip on (awesome, didn't think that but makes total sense to have it super available!), and those fish pole mini glowsticks.  I've seen those before but just forget about them.  At 10c I wont feel like Im wasting valuable resources cracking a couple for... whatever.  Worse case the young kids can play with them if they are just sitting around!

I almost hate to post this cause Im sure its junk, but I also got suckered into buying one of those noaa 5 million features in one things:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BSPS8Q?th=1 .  For $22 if it can charge a phone for even 5 min that alone might be worthwhile.

[tirls]

We use a Petz eLite as an emergency torch in our car. It uses a button cell for battery, so it should be good to go for 10 years. I think Black Diamond makes a similar one.
It's actually a surprisingly good headlamp, the only reason I don't use it regularly is because I can't recharge the battery.
For everyday use I have a AA torch and a rechargeable Olight on the keychain.

[flybynight]

Dang, a whole bunch of good replies.  A think a mix of these might do well and just see which I like, cause the prices arent bad.  Already looking at that headlamp, a keychain light to clip on (awesome, didn't think that but makes total sense to have it super available!), and those fish pole mini glowsticks.  I've seen those before but just forget about them.  At 10c I wont feel like Im wasting valuable resources cracking a couple for... whatever.  Worse case the young kids can play with them if they are just sitting around!

I almost hate to post this cause Im sure its junk, but I also got suckered into buying one of those noaa 5 million features in one things:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BSPS8Q?th=1 .  For $22 if it can charge a phone for even 5 min that alone might be worthwhil

It's got mostly good reviews . About six years ago we were visiting our daughter and her husband in Georgia. I found a similar type radio at the local walmart. I bought five of them for under 20 bucks each. Gave two of them to my daughter ( for Hurricanes) Brought the other three home  . Took one out  for emergency use , left the other two in their packaging box and wrapped them in aluminum foil  , put them in the basement. So anyway my point is... Did you buy two? ( Preppers creed , One is none, two is one )

[NT2C]

I almost hate to post this cause Im sure its junk, but I also got suckered into buying one of those noaa 5 million features in one things:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BSPS8Q?th=1 .  For $22 if it can charge a phone for even 5 min that alone might be worthwhile.

That one's actually not horrible.  With both an internal 5,000 mAh battery and the ability to use AAA cells or AAA Li-Ion batteries you have multiple sources of power for the radio (critical in any kind of disaster) as well as a way to put a partial charge on a phone.  The solar panel on it is not great, but might be enough to charge the three AAA Li-Ion batteries over a couple of days of bright sun, and the hand crank should be enough to get you some radio reception time for emergency broadcasts.

[majorhavoc]

I almost hate to post this cause Im sure its junk, but I also got suckered into buying one of those noaa 5 million features in one things:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BSPS8Q?th=1 .  For $22 if it can charge a phone for even 5 min that alone might be worthwhile.

That one actually looks nicer than the portable solar/crank weatherband radio that comes with the prize 72-hr go kit.  Can't speak to it's reception, but I think that's a larger internal battery.  And in addition to the flashlight function it also has that second flip-up area light, which could be very useful in a power outage situation. 

The radio in the prize go-kit is a bit lower spec, but I was impressed by the radio function's sensitivity; especially the ability to pull in broadcasts on NOAA weatherbands and AM stations. 

[NT2C]

I almost hate to post this cause Im sure its junk, but I also got suckered into buying one of those noaa 5 million features in one things:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091BSPS8Q?th=1 .  For $22 if it can charge a phone for even 5 min that alone might be worthwhile.

That one actually looks nicer than the portable solar/crank weatherband radio that comes with the prize 72-hr go kit.  Can't speak to it's reception, but I think that's a larger internal battery.  And in addition to the flashlight function it also has that second flip-up area light, which could be very useful in a power outage situation. 

The radio in the prize go-kit is a bit lower spec, but I was impressed by the radio function's sensitivity; especially the ability to pull in broadcasts on NOAA weatherbands and AM stations.

Ummm... about that radio you put in the go-kit...  I kinda "supplemented" it.  I just happened to have a dozen or so Retekess TR625 NOAA Weather Radios laying around and gathering dust on their boxes so I tossed one in.  It's not intended as a portable radio, it eats batteries too fast (24-48 hours in monitor mode) for that.  It's intended as a home plug-in weather radio with S.A.M.E. capabilities and battery backup.  I added it on the presumption that before you can grab the go-kit and go you might need to know if it's time to go or not. 

[echo83]

It's not cheap, but I've used a Petzl Tactikka for years. It is water resistant, runs on common batteries, and is way more convenient when you're changing a tire. 

It's pretty whiskey tango, but I keep a spare set of batteries taped to the back of the headstrap.