Pro Tips: Lighting Options For Camp
When the sun dips below the horizon on a river trip, having the right lighting makes all the difference. Whether it’s navigating camp, cooking dinner, or simply creating a cozy atmosphere, good lighting is essential. This guide covers various lighting options—ranging from the practical to the decorative—that will enhance safety, functionality, and ambiance on your next multi-day river adventure.
Headlamps: Your Best Friend at Camp
A good headlamp is arguably the most versatile lighting tool you can bring on a river trip. Lightweight and easy to pack, it ensures you’ll have hands-free illumination whenever you need it.
Why Headlamps Are Essential
- Hands-free operation: Perfect for cooking, setting up tents, or reading a book without holding a flashlight.
- Adjustable Brightness: Switch from low beams for reading to bright settings for night hikes or navigating camp.
- Compact and Lightweight: Modern headlamps pack a lot of power into a small size, making them ideal for river trips where space matters.
He should have been using the red light to keep those bugs away!
Pro Tip: Look for a headlamp with a red light mode to preserve night vision and avoid blinding your campmates during those late-night chats.
Camp Lights: Portable Solutions To Add Flair
Portable camp lights are perfect for illuminating larger spaces, such as a communal dining area or the tent interior. They can also be helpful to illuminate the path to the groover. Solar options like Luci Light and Goal Zero Crush Light are great light weight no battery need options. Another great option is battery powered string lights!
Solar Lights
Luci Light is a popular inflatable, waterproof, and solar-powered lantern. It is easy to stash in your gear bag and can charge while you float down the river.
Goal Zero Crush Light is another great light weight option. It is collapsable for compact storage and can be charge while floating down the river.
Battery Powered Lanterns
Lanterns provide ample light for group settings and are great for placing in the middle of a table or hanging from a tree branch. Many models now come with adjustable brightness settings and can run for hours on a single set of batteries. I really like the BioLite Alpine Glow Look for lanterns with a USB port to double as a power bank for charging devices.
BioLite Alpine Glow
Battery Powered String Lights
String lights add a whimsical touch to your camp setup while providing practical lighting for paths or communal areas. Lightweight and compact, they’re easy to hang around trees, canopies, or tent poles. Battery-operated models are convenience, don't rely on solar chargin, but make sure to bring extra batteries to keep the ambiance alive all trip long.
Campfire: The Classic Light Source
No list of camp lighting would be complete without the campfire. A well-built fire not only provides essential warmth but also creates the perfect backdrop for stories, music, and camaraderie
Campfires offer excellent ambient lighting, draw people to a central hang out point, are basically required when it's cold outside. While it can be a gamble on finding firewood, you can always cook on the open fire as well. At the very least bring the s'mores fixings and enjoy.
Fire Safety Reminder: Always check fire regulations before your trip.
Tips For Lighting Success On The River
- Bring Spares: Pack extra batteries or a small power bank to recharge your solar lights and devices
- Avoid Bright Overkill: While bright lights are useful, aim for soft, ambient lighting to preserve the serene river atmosphere
- Layer Your Lighting: Use a mix of headlamps, lanterns, and string lights to address different needs—task lighting for cooking, ambient lighting for dining, and focused lighting for reading
- Hang It Up: Bring lightweight carabiners or straps to suspend lights from trees or tent poles for better coverage
- Be Mindfull Of Others: Always position lights carefully to avoid disturbing fellow campers' night vision or creating glare
Conclusion: Light You Camp, Light Your Experience
Bringing a mix of lighting options ensures you’re prepared for every situation, whether it’s setting up camp after sunset or creating a festive atmosphere for an evening under the stars. A good headlamp keeps your hands free, portable camp lights illuminate shared spaces, and battery-powered string lights add a whimsical touch. And, of course, the campfire provides timeless ambiance and warmth.
With the right lighting, your river camp becomes more than just a stop for the night—it becomes a welcoming retreat where memories are made. So, next time you pack for a river trip, think beyond function and add some flair to your camp setup.
Happy paddling and glowing nights!
