Whether it was part of the plan or the result of misadventure, being out in the field after dark or before sunrise can bring challenges. A trail you thought you could navigate with your eyes closed is suddenly filled with rocks and exposed tree roots that are conspiring to twist your ankles. When you can’t see where you’re going, it’s all too easy to zig when you should have zagged and you end up lost. Even just finding your way when nature calls at the campground feels like an adventure, and not the fun kind.

Fortunately, we live in an age where blindly mucking about in the dark is merely optional. There is a range of portable illumination products that are well-suited to nighttime excursions in the great outdoors.

Whether you’ll be hunting, hiking, or camping, here are a few things to consider when you’re shopping for the solution that might be perfect for you.

Ease of Use

If it’s awkward or clumsy, you’ll leave it home. Look for something that will fit your hand well without being cumbersome. With a flashlight or headlamp, you don’t want several different buttons or dials cluttering things up. Just a simple on/off switch that will cycle through the different illumination modes will suffice.

Brightness

Speaking of illumination modes, you’ll probably want something that offers at least a couple of different brightness levels. This might be hard to believe, but it is entirely possible to have a flashlight that’s too bright. If you’re hunting for a missing tent stake, for example, and your only light is blasting the ground with 2,000 lumens, you may never find it due to the glare.

Portability

The light has to be easy to bring along on your adventures. That means it shouldn’t feel like a boat anchor weighing you down, whether it’s in a pocket, on your belt, or in your pack. That said, larger lights can offer a greater range of options, so you need to take into account your anticipated use case scenarios.

With those considerations in mind, let’s look at a few different options. Each light in our list brings something different to the table.

Pocket Mate® USB

This might be the most convenient option on our list, simply because it can ride on your keychain or zipper pull. It goes wherever you go without you having to think about it. The Pocket Mate^® USB delivers a surprisingly bright 325 lumens on the High setting, though the 45 lumens on Low will be plenty in many cases. It’s just two inches long and weighs a mere half-ounce. This is a particularly great option for the children in your camping or hiking group. It operates via a simple on/off button and the light is tiny enough to be easily manipulated by small hands. The Pocket Mate^® USB is charged via USB, hence the name. This means you can use your battery bank to top it off if it starts to dim during your trip.

• Max Lumens: 325
• Length: 2 inches
• Weight: 0.5 ounces

Sledge® Headlamp

Being able to go hands-free can be vitally important with some tasks. For example, if you’re headed back to the truck after hunting all day, your hands are already full enough without adding a flashlight to the mix. A headlamp makes things easier, whether you’re carrying gear to camp or washing dishes by moonlight. The Sledge^® offers four output modes: High (600 lumens), Medium (300 lumens), Low (100 lumens), and THRO^® Mode, which gives you a burst of 1,000 lumens. All of this with a comfortable headband that will keep the light in place as you move.

• Max Lumens: 600
• Length: 1.57 inches
• Weight: 4.60 ounces

MacroStream® USB

The pocket flashlight is where the Venn diagram of urban EDC and camping EDC intersect. This is an ideal solution for someone who just wants one light to manage. The MacroStream^® USB is a very popular pocket flashlight, and for good reason. It’s easy to carry, very dependable, and well-suited for virtually any environment. It offers 500 lumens on High and just 50 lumens on Low, giving you a good range of brightness. At 4.5 inches long and just 2.2 ounces, it won’t take up much of your valuable pocket real estate.

• Max Lumens: 500
• Length: 4.5 inches
• Weight: 2.2 ounces

MegaStream® HP USB

In some cases, there may be a need for an exceptionally high-powered flashlight. If your outdoor portable lighting needs veer closer to a searchlight, this might be just the ticket. Make no mistake, this isn’t the one to grab if you’re searching through your backpack for a bottle opener. It is, however, ideal if you’re searching a hillside for a lost hiker. Or, conversely, if you’re the lost hiker it’ll be great for signaling to rescuers. On High, it blasts a whopping 1,350 lumens, and you can dial that back to 470 lumens on Medium or 145 lumens on Low. This is truly a handheld spotlight, which definitely can be handy in some situations.

• Max Lumens: 1,350
• Length: 6.61 inches
• Weight: 9.0 ounces

Super Siege® Lantern

There’s something to be said for area lighting for campsites and cabins. It allows you to play cards or other games after dark, as well as see what you’re eating. Lanterns are a great option for those situations, especially if the area is under a fire ban and campfires aren’t allowed. But packing a glass and metal lantern along with a jug of fuel might be a bit much. The Super Siege^® Lantern is an excellent option. It provides three levels of illumination of white light, as well as another three levels in red light to preserve your night vision. It even has a USB port for charging your phone or other devices.

• Max Lumens: 1,100 (white), 2.7 (red)
• Height: 7.5 inches
• Weight: 1 pound, 14 ounces