Let there be light

Introduction

The camping season is upon us. For some mad types, it never goes away, but we at least have a few months off (camped at Halloween last year, started again towards the end of April).

When the sun goes down, you need a source of light. A campfire is a good one, but needs effort. And you can't take it into your tent, camper van, caravan, etc.



Obviously you can use a torch or a gas lantern or battery powered camping lantern. But they are all quite hefty (unless you have a small powerful torch). And they require new batteries or gas to keep them going.

Setup and Use

Step forward the LuminAID solar light. When folded up, it's about the size and weight of 5 or 6 credit cards stuck together. It has a small fastener on the side, unclip this and it unfolds into something the size of an iPad made of translucent PVC (other fondleslabs are available).

You can then inflate it using the small attached nozzle (the classic variety found on the old fashioned beach ball). It is now an iPad sized pillow with a handle built in. In the centre is a small solar panel with a simple button and a small red LED.

When it's off, the LED lights up to indicate the solar panel is charging the battery. Press the button and the light comes on in "low" mode. Press again for "high" mode. Press again to switch off.

So you go out for the day and leave it in the sun to charge. If there's not somewhere to leave it around your pitch, you can just carry it with you all day, perhaps just on the back of your rucksack. It is so light that you won't notice it.



When you get back to your site, you have a light source that can last throughout the night. In low mode it's enough for reading by and provides a nice amount of light. In high mode it is quite an impressive light source and can light up your tent or camper van enough for you to find your way round at night. The handle is very useful as you can hang it from a hook in a tent or similar.

Conclusion

Colour me impressed. This has been away on a couple of camping trips now and we've used it every night. A handy light source, which doesn't need batteries or gas. If you have a caravan or camper van with a leisure battery, but you're on a site with no hook up, this will be a great way of increasing the amount you can get from your leisure battery.

If you are away in a tent, this is a lightweight light source. If you're on an expedition, hike, DofE or similar, this is the perfect thing to carry.

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