Why a Flashlight on the Trail?
A flashlight may be the most undervalued yet often invaluable item to include with your trail gear. Although I don’t pack a flashlight on every trail trip, I’ve been extremely fortunate to always have a flashlight when I truly needed it on the trail. Here are some real-life examples of when I’ve needed a flashlight on the trail:
Dorcy flashlight for trail
- Trail tunnels – On both the Route of the Hiawatha Trail and the C&O Canal Towpath Trail, a flashlight is a must for the extremely long tunnels. (Although I just heard that the C & O trail tunnel is currently closed.)
- Night riding – Never recommended, night-time bicycle rides are sometimes a necessity. Once on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail in Pennsylvania, I ended up riding for two hours after sunset. It wasn’t fun, but I’m glad I had both a handlebar-mounted light and a headlamp.
- Trailhead camping – Despite my preference for hotels and bed & breakfasts, I occasionally pitch a tent before or after a multi-day trail ride or hike. In those instances, it’s nice to have some lighting for both the tent and for nocturnal wanderings.
Flashlight Recommendation
I recently had the good fortune to test the Metal Gear XL-M Extreme 618 Lumen LED Flashlight by Dorcy. Now that is one bright flashlight. I wish my bike-mounted lights were that bright. It would come in handy on my morning coffee sojourns.
Dorcy flashlights are not only bright, but they’re also quite durable and efficient. Dorcy carries a complete line of flashlights for all your home, trail and camping needs. Some of my favorite Dorcy products include their LED Camping Backpack Flashlight, their Submersible Lantern Series and their LED Headlamps.
I highly recommend that you have some type of flashlight available every time you venture out on the trail. You never know when you’re going to need one, and you’re better safe than sorry. Not only are flashlights great for seeing things in the dark, they’re also great for being seen. Fortunately, when you’re on the trail, you don’t have to worry about being struck by a car, but it’s still nice to be visible.
