Well, I don't know about you, but I like having things to see by. Sure, on some nights, you can go to the latrine without light, but there are always card games to play, talks to have, and you may just want to see in your tent one night as you talk to your hiking/camping companion. Most importantly, there might be an emergency (first aid needed, etc.) that would greatly be simplified by having light available. In fact, for all of these reasons, I do tend to carry more than one source of light, running on different fuels, in my pack.

I believe in emergency preparedness, so my list of things to consider include things you may not care about. The light source must be:

• Light
• Reasonably compact
• Use multiple fuels or batteries
• Not require pressurized/non-refillable tanks

I personally like Maglite flashlights. They tend to have very bright lights. The bulbs they use seem to allow a decent battery life. My favorite part is that they are made of aluminum. Very sturdy little flashlights. I usually carry a 2-AA cell and a 2-D cell Maglite. The only drawback to this is the excessive weight of the 2-D cell Maglite. These flashlights are perfect for illuminating the path or helping you dig through your pack in the dark.

I also like the Energizer Folding LED. It is only a few bucks at your local Walmart. What makes it cool is that it only takes 4 AA batteries. With one of the two LED elements on, they claim it will provide light for over 200 hours on one set of batteries; over 100 with both LED elements on. I can't say for sure if this is correct. However, I can say it sure does run a long time. This light is perfect for reading and lighting up the inside of your tend. Basically, any place you don't need a bright light pointed in one direction, this is the perfect light. Weight probably won't be an issue with this light, though the size may be if you are pressed for space (though it isn't very large).

Batteries go dead, fuel runs out. I always figured it would be nice to have a candle-powered light source in a group. I found this one originally at L.L. Bean. It pretty cool. It has three candles in it. The way it is built you can light one, two or three. You can heat up water and food on this, though it won't be perfect for cooking. It is about the same size as the Coleman Exponent pack lantern. It should fit in most pockets. Obviously, this thing doesn't put out quite as much light as a gas lantern. It is a good lantern; especially as a backup.

If you get it, don't use it in a tent. Just like a gas lantern, it will put off fumes and maybe melt your tent.

This lantern is pretty cool. It now goes under the name of Coleman Exponent. The model number is now 229-725. Depending on your needs, it may weigh a bit much at around 29 ounces (I believe that is without fuel).

My only real complaints about this lantern are: The only place I have found that sells the #20 mantels it uses is L.L. Bean. The Peak 1 version (which is what I have) didn't have a totally clear globe. It had a lot of white paint on it. I may just buy a replacement globe for the Exponent and put it on mine. They are the same lantern. This lantern can also be difficult to refuel if you don't have a funnel, especially when filling from MSR fuel bottles, as I do when out packing. Overall, still highly recommended.

Beyond what kind of stove or lantern you use, there is also the choice of fuel types. This is especially true not that dual and multi-fuel stoves and lanterns are available. Below is a table of pros and cons of each type, as I understand it.

No matter what fuel you use please, don't spill fuel in the outdoors!