Torches:
Putting Some Light on the Subject

Torches would appear in msot peoples list of things to have in their survival kit. Whatever your survival situation there are some things that are definitive ‘must haves’. One of these is some kind of illumination. A torch is the obvious choice for this, but there are several other options that may be worth thinking about.

Most experienced outdoor pursuiters carry more than one means of lighting, as much for convenience as opposed to absolute necessity. A minimum of one good torch should be part of any survival kit. Ideally, it should be compact, lightweight, have a reasonably bright, evenly distributed beam that isn't too narrow and it should last for some time on a set of batteries.

Logically there should be some kind of torch easily to hand at all times. Many inexperienced people put a torch in a pocket but find when they are faced with a situation where they need it, either can’t get it because they are incapacitated or find that it doesn’t work because it has been left on or switched ‘itself’ on. It pays to carry a torch, attached to the outside of the kit, where it can easily be found. Outdoor torches must be waterproof and must not be able to be turned on accidentally.

There are several kinds of torch on the market.

Penlight sized torches are normally powered by two AAA-cell batteries. The biggest drawback to these small pen lights is the very small beam width. It is preferable to have a wider beam for general survival use even if this means giving up some noticeable brightness. The narrower, brighter beam of a penlight would be better for signaling use. However, one of the considerations of any survival kit is weight, so this is where this type of torch would come into it's own. They are small enough to carry on your person and represent an easy solution to emergency lighting.

A larger torch will tend to have longer battery life but the increased weight may not compare to say an extra set of batteries for a penlight torch. Another advantage of a larger torch is that they tend to be stronger and more robust.

Many torch users have had the annoying experience of the bulb or batteries failing, usually at an inconvenient moment. Most people will carry spares but it’s a challenge to change a bulb in the dark. There is an answer to this or at least longer lasting torches.

These use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) instead of conventional incandescent bulbs. They range from the single LED, to larger lights with tens of LEDs. This type of torch is extremely efficient because LED light bulbs outlast incandescent light bulbs by as much as 25 times. They don’t use a filament, so they are much more durable than standard incandescent bulbs. LED light bulbs are made from silicone chips and can have a life span of up to 100,000 hours.

If you need extra brightness then halogen torches are another choice. The problem with these is that they tend to drain batteries more quickly than those of the incandescent or LED type but have superior lighting power.

For times when you want to use both hands and have some light on the as well, there are three solutions.

• Hold it in the mouth. This gets tiring after a while and is far from the best solution. It’s also hard with a larger torch.
• Head strap which holds a small torch on the side of your head with an elastic strap, which is the most practical solution since it allows you to use the same torch as you normally carry.
• Special purpose torch, the headlamp.

Torches run on batteries, so only have a limited useable life unless spare batteries are carried. This is a sensible option as with any situation you really don’t know how long you are going to be there. It is important to use only alkaline or lithium batteries for survival kits. If the batteries you buy are not dated, always mark them with an expiration date. It is preferable to replace batteries earlier than to risk failure in the field. The cost, even for lithium batteries, isn't so high as to be worth the potential for ending up with ones that don’t work.

A conservative storage life for undated alkaline batteries would be 3 years and for lithium ones 6 years.

Lithium batteries are an excellent choice for survival kit use because of their long shelf life, up to 10 years, with 90% to 95% capacity, or better, retained. Lithium batteries also deliver far better cold weather performance. Although they are more expensive than their alkaline alternative, they have an added benefit in that they are much lighter by over one third (14.5g vs. 23g).

It's good practice to carry a spare set of batteries, or more than one set if warranted. Also it is worth carrying at least one spare bulb. These are the least reliable part of any torch and have an indefinable working life. It is worth checking the spare bulbs before packing to be sure that they are serviceable. The really bright and newer technology bulbs are known to be fragile. When packing them, it is as well to remember this.

It is imperative that there is no way the torch can be turned on accidentally, if batteries are installed. Some experienced outdoor pursuiters prefer not to keep any batteries in the torch although this means that they will have to install the batteries before it gets dark or even in the dark. Even apparently foolproof switch designs find ways to turn themselves on. For those with button switches on the body, thin hard plastic tubing large enough to almost slip around the body can be cut long enough to cover the switch and then split vertically so it can be spread slightly. It will grip securely and prevent inadvertent activation, but can be easily removed.

Lights that switch by rotating the head in or out can be secured by fixing a piece of electrical or duct tape over the connection of the body and the head. This will be much easier to remove if you leave a short piece of the end of the tape pulled back on itself, so it doesn't stick.

Torches are an important part of any survival equipment. It is odds on that if you are in a survival situation, you will have to spend at least one night out in the field. This means that having a working torch is imperative as you will have to see to light a fire, move around and retrieve objects from your kit. It pays to shop around carefully for a torch or torches and it is a good idea to buy the best one that you can afford. The prerequisites are robustness, long battery life, weight and brightness. Invariably there is a compromise in all three but you have to decide which is top of your list and shop accordingly. You may pay more initially for a quality torch, but you’ll save money in the long run.