8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Hunting Light

When you are hunting at night, having the right equipment is essential. Hunting lights can help you see through dark areas and allow you to spot game long before your prey becomes aware of your presence.

These lights come in a variety of different forms, which means that there are some things for hunters to consider when they decide on what kind of light will best suit their needs.

Here I will talk about all the important things to consider before buying a hunting light so that you can make the right purchase.

8 Essential Things to Consider Before Buying a Hunting Light

Hunting lights are a staple accessory for hunters. They are used to illuminate the target, making it easier to shoot. If you love both hunting and hiking, you should have an ultralight flashlight for hiking along with your hunting light.

However, hunting lights can be expensive and if you buy one without considering what it is for, chances are that you will end up with an expensive light that only sits in your garage or storage unit collecting dust.

So, before you buy a hunting light, consider these things.

1. Battery life

When buying a hiking flashlight for hiking at night, the light’s battery type matters. The output of LED bulbs has gradually increased over the years. Today you can easily buy a 100% LED output hunting light. However, it is important to check the type of batteries required to power the bulb.

If you are buying a hunting light that requires proprietary batteries, you need to check if it comes with a charger. Some hunting lights do not have replaceable batteries and the battery cannot be recharged or replaced.

You also need to consider the battery life. No matter how bright the rechargeable hiking flashlight is, it is worthless if the battery dies after a few hours. When shopping for hunting lights, you should check their advertised working time.

2. Weight

You should especially consider weight when you are going to a large hunting area.

Smaller flashlights or hiking torches tend to have less weight, but when the batteries are fully charged, they can offer similar brightness to a larger hunting light. Also, they are easier to position while you’re hunting and they can be a better fit if you prefer to wear a hat or a hiking head torch while hunting.

Some hunters use two lights, one for their gun and one for the hunting blind. The task of balancing the weight becomes easy if you opt for a headlamp instead of one with a handheld design. Or, you can choose an ultralight backpacking flashlight.

3. Brightness

When it comes to brightness, there are three measurements that you need to consider.

Lumens are the total amount of light emitted by the bulb. Candela is the maximum beam intensity that the light emits. And, lux represents how much brightness falls on an object.

So, check these three things when researching the brightness of your hunting light.

4. Quantity of bulbs

Different hunting lights come with different numbers of bulbs. The more bulbs there are, the better the chance that you won’t miss your shot. That’s why you will find a large number of bulbs in the best hiking torch of any popular brand.

So, make sure your hunting light has multiple bulbs so that it helps you see in dark areas.

5. Light Color

The color of the light that comes out of your hunting light is another thing you should consider. Different colors have different purposes, so choose one that’s suitable for your needs.

Red light is easy on the eyes, but it doesn’t help much to illuminate your target. However, it’s useful as a night vision enhancer. So you can see your surroundings, even if the light isn’t bright enough to pierce through the darkness.

Green light is a popular option as it offers excellent visibility and doesn’t disrupt night vision as much as other colors do. It’s also perfect for map reading, as it doesn’t reflect on paper.

White light is what you need if you want to see the colors of your target. This light is good for hunting, but not the best option when you are in motion or when you want to preserve your night vision.

Blue lights are great for fishing since they attract fish and algae, making them perfect bait. However, blue light can also disrupt a hunter’s night vision.

6. Light’s design

There are two types of hunting flashlight designs: the handheld design and the headlamp design.  If you are an experienced hunter, then you know that both designs have their pros and cons.

A handheld or walking flashlight is easy to use for gun hunting since you can direct the light wherever needed. The headlamp design works well when you are in a sitting hunting position and your hands need to be free.  Headlamp design is also more suitable for bow hunting and turkey hunting.

7. Weatherproofing

A hunting flashlight is useless if it can’t withstand the outdoor elements. Since you are investing in an expensive product, make sure that your purchase is weatherproof. To check this factor, look at the IPX rating of your hunting light and make sure that it’s IPX4 or higher.

8. Durability

One of the most important things you should consider is the durability of your hunting light. You need something that’s sturdy enough to handle the elements, especially if you’re going somewhere where wildlife roam freely. If you go hunting on a regular basis, make sure that your hunting light is up for the task.

Final Words

Hunting is a time-honored tradition that many people have grown up with. It’s not just for the boys either, as women are getting in on the action too! However, hunting can be tough if you’re not prepared.

One of the most important factors to consider before going out into the wilderness is your lighting sources and how they will work for you. I believe this post will help you understand the main things to consider before buying a hunting light. Good luck!