How to choose the right light

"Tell me how many lumens your light has and I'll tell you how many people it can be for".

One of the first criteria is wattage of the light. For LED lights, which are the most common, efficient and economical on campsites (as well as at home), this is expressed in lumens (lm). This measurement shows the total amount of light it produces.

• For a camping light that will be used for just one person, opt for 40 or 50 lumens.

• For two people, choose a 100 lumen camping light

• For four people, simply double the value for two people, so you'll need 200 lumens (simple, isn't it?).

• For an ultra-powerful camping light that can be used for up to eight people, you'll need 400–500 lumens.

That's just as well, because Quechua has thought of the needs of lone hikers and groups who want to have some light in the evening to chat and play cards! Our range includes LED camping lights for one person (40 or 50 lumens), two people (100 lumens), four people (200 or 230 lumens) and up to eight people (400 lumens).

Also, the shape of our lights means that they can shine at 360° for optimum illumination!

>> See the full range of Quechua camping lights

Lighting for camping: child’s play! As your child gets older, they will surely want to have their own light to be independent and stay up at night (after all, it's the holidays and there's no school tomorrow!). Quechua has thought of your little ones’ search for autonomy and has designed a 40-lumen light that's easy to use and resistant to shocks and rain! And its cubic shape makes it easy to slip into a bag without taking up much space. It even has a little handle so your child can carry it anywhere. It's available in three colours, so each of your children can have their own.

>> View the BL40 camping light

Of course, these values expressed in lumens are the maximum values for the light. Many LED camping lights, including those in our range, have several modes and light levels to alternate between full power, dimmed or red light. Why a red light? We'll tell you all about it below. Stay with us!

Throughout the BL40, BL50DYN, BL100, GL160, BL200, BL230, the torch option of the BL230 and the BL400 :

Operating time is linked to the light's autonomy, expressed as a number of hours at a given wattage. This means that a light used at its maximum power will discharge more quickly than if it were used with a soft light at half the maximum lumens or in red mode. For each light, refer to the product data sheet to find out its precise autonomy.

For example:

• The BL100 camping light (with 100 lumens, so it's all in the name!) has autonomy of 26 hours at 100 lumens, 60 hours at 50 lumens and 130 hours in red mode.

• Certain lights can be recharged with a dynamo. Their autonomy will therefore depend on your own energy to turn the crank! This is the case with the BL50 LED camping light (50 lumens, as it says in the name!). You'll need one minute of elbow grease for four minutes of light. And if you're ever exhausted after your hike, you can always recharge it using the included micro USB cable from a standard power socket or a camping solar panel.

The big difference between lighting in a tent or outside is the risk that the light will have to withstand the elements, especially the rain. Secondly, it's true that you may not want to bother with an indoor or outdoor light (it was already a real game of Tetris getting everything to fit in the boot of the car).

So, we recommend a versatile, rain-resistant light with several lighting modes. The best of the best: an ultra-powerful light with several softer modes, a red light mode and that can be placed on the ground, on a table or suspended.

At Quechua, all our LED camping lights are IPX4 rated: they are resistant to rain in all conditions. They're perfect for both outdoor camping and bivouacs!

Ultra-powerful, solid and rechargeable, the BL400 has more than one intensity. It can be used in tents or outdoors, and can be used for between four and eight people for up to three and a half hours at maximum output. It has five modes: one red light and four yellow light intensities: 30, 100, 200 and 400 lumens. A simple rotation will allow you to switch from one light intensity to another! All in all, it's likely to be more fashionable than most of the lights in your home! It might even end up as a mood light in your living room during your evenings at home between two weekends at the campsite...