What To Look For
When it comes to illumination, LED flashlights are pretty tough to beat. Chances are you'll want portability, brightness and long-lasting battery life in your LED. Look for a flashlight with multiple modes because different LEDs can have different uses. A good number to look for is three small LEDs. Flashlights with this design will typically have the spread for lighting a tent with a soft glow and the penetration power necessary to spot things at night. Some LED flashlights will have a spotlight and spread function, which can be a useful distinction. If you intend to use your flashlight for setting up camp, cooking or any other prolonged function, then a headlamp is tough to beat. Unless you need something really bright, chances are you'll be best off with an LED flashlight without a separate battery pack. Many headlamp LEDs will have a heavy battery pack that sits on the back of your head, but chances are a flashlight with the batteries built into the light's body will suffice under most conditions.
Common Pitfalls
Beware of any LED flashlight with a low battery life. If an LED flashlight is rated to last fewer than 20 hours, then you might want to reconsider. Chances are the flashlight is poorly designed and inefficient or too bright for normal use. Another common pitfall is to buy the cheapest flashlight. When it comes to LED flashlights, you get what you pay for. Cheaper flashlights may not be durable enough to stand up to being dropped.
Where To Buy
Purchase your LED flashlight at an outdoor outfitter or online. Buying at an outfitter such as REI gives you the advantage of knowing how the light will fit in your hand. Judging sizes from pictures and statistics online is notoriously difficult.
Cost
A good LED headlamp will typically cost around $30 as of August 2009. Cheaper flashlights can be found fairly easily, but anything less than $15 is likely untrustworthy in a wilderness situation. Fancier headlamps, super-bright flashlights and waterproof models typically cost upward of $50.
Comparison Shopping
Try the lights in advance if you get the chance. Nothing beats knowing what the beam will look like in dark conditions. This is particularly important if the LED flashlight you decide on does not have multiple functions. Headlamps are easy to compare side-by-side because you will be looking primarily for differences in size and battery rating, which is almost always posted on the back of the packaging.
Accessories
An extra set of batteries is essential when you are out in the woods and in need of reliable light. Another worthwhile accessory for the dedicated night hiker or stargazer is a red filter, which will keep you from losing your night vision every time you turn on your flashlight.
Insider Tips
Pick a brightly colored light or wrap a bit of reflective tape around the butt of your flashlight so you don't need a flashlight to find your flashlight.
