Your local adventure group is going somewhere ? [ We dont know yet ] , and have chosen you to go along as the flashlight expert !
The expedition will be 10 strong , your job should you chose to accept it :
Chose flashlights for the team to cover a 30 day trip somewhere ...
Tell us what you chose and why , how you plan on powering the lights for a month .. Keeping in mind the team has to carry in everything for the full 30 days , and there will be no porters or helicopter re-fills .
Provide links if you like : To the product-s you have chosen .
This message will self destruct in .......................
To start with I am thinking the above headlamp. I'm am not sure where we are going so if we are able to dispose of rubbish. I will us aa's if not 14500 for longer run time. Has a low setting which is good for longer use and flood is useful for walking, close up use etc. Its also lightweight and the headlamp allows hand free use.As I'm not sure where we are going so maybe we won't be walking much at night. Then again we could be caving lol.
I would also suggest a small handheld single aa/14500 so the same batteries could be used and it's lighter to carry. Clip might be useful. Eneloops are also an option. I haven't picked this light yet. Probably xpg. Maybe http://www.batteryjunction.com/jetbeam-pa01-r5.html jetbeam pa01
I would equip everyone with these lights. Not heavy. Probably only use eneloops as they are easier to charge than 14500
Solar charger could be good (unless caving). to be continued... Like this http://www.gizmag.com/go/4363/ or
Most large expeditions I'd go on are vehicle-based, so I'd say the most important supply is lots of jerry cans (I own about a dozen for my jeep, but might need more depending on the trip), then just a good stock of modest 18650 lights (longest runtime) and a bunch of car chargers.
If it's a backpacking trip, and around here where solar is next to useless most of the year, again modest 18650 lights, and probably 2-4 spare cells per person. They're pretty light, and easy to carry. A large campfire would be built every night, so the lights wouldn't need much use. Each person would also be equipped with a firestarting device to make sure this happens.
Hrmm... I've got a case of large millivolt generators / thermopiles for repairing furnaces... I wonder if I have enough to make a campfire-powered li-ion charger? :)
30% of your body weight is pushing it. You won't carry that much for more than a day or so unless you are a lot fitter than about 99% of the world's population. Lights, batteries, chargers... About 20% of body mass is too much for sustained carry for most folks. Weight matters.....
Remember that the US issue body armour weighs 14kg (30lb). Most countries' issue armour weighs a lot more than that. Worn it. Run around wearing it. Don't want to do so again.
Bah, I've done portage trips in northern ontario, complete with bears / moose / wolves. I can canoe with my eyes closed and do eskimo rolls in a kayak while eating a sandwich [wet one]...hehe, well not quite but close.
Batteries/flashlights, sure bring a few of your choice. Otherwise, naptha gas and my 25-30 yr. old coleman lantern does the trick. That and a nice fire to keep your buns warm is all you need. Perhaps a playboy magazine if you're all alone.....Edit: woops, you're in a group, hide those dirty mags.
(I know I'd bring along a feeldoe if I'd get to share a tent alone with a girlfriend...)
Don: An 18650 cell is, according to a random google result, 40 grams... three of them is 120 grams, which isn't much weight for the number of hours of light you'll get out of them. Figure another 120 grams for a decent flashlight, brings you up to a quarter of a kilo... or less than 2% of what that body armor weighs.
