Thread: Hut lighting ideas

As you are asking about lights suitable for carrying in here is what l have used & liked over the years guiding/own use,l ended up going for solar rechargeable for most, preferring to use the old buy once philosophy rather than buying battery for short trips & needing something rechargeable for longer trips.

My wife & l also have a fair bit of experience using solar for lighting as over my time working as a guide/exploring, in the remote Top End of Oz ,we spent years using solar lighting rather than having a noisy generator going while using the Mitzi Canter twin cab, 4x4 truck l built as a camper for us to be based out of.

I have just linked the Oz sites we brought these off so have a search for the NZ suppliers or just get them mailed over,(back when we did it solar was specialized/limited in availability, now most good hardware/camping/4x4/boating stores have offerings),l have got sick of dealing with numbnuts here so if a supplier starts shaking their heads or rolling their eyes when asked about availability of items you know are commonly available OS, l just order from OS .

Have found these really good for in our huts/extended fly in camps & rafting trips here in NZ as well as being light /small enough to pack in all are solar chargeable & some offer to be able to be used as a power banks-


https://www.wubenlight.com/products/...bank-functions



https://sunnybunny.com.au/solar-ligh...d-lantern.html


This is very good for light weight hunting giving about 45 hrs of full power & rechargeable -


https://www.bioliteenergy.com/produc...33410307096675



Just as a bit of info that may be of interest ,these are excellent for long term base base camp lighting our hunting group has been hunting together for 14 yrs & do multiple extended hunts each year to spots like Fiordland /Stewy & fly in 7-14 day base camp for Tahr etc we have used the old version for years in our buried poly pipe stash kits ,meaning all we do is fly in with solar rechargeable kit,provides light for over 200 hrs on low setting.We use those roll able solar recharge mats staked out so not wind affected during the day while we are out hunting ,means virtually unlimited light & if someone is coming in late through bad weather a good light source to spot camp from a long way off,also good for fishing off the beach or spotting Kiwis running amok on the beach at Stewy,prepping skins,boning out etc while stew cooks at camp .


https://www.dorcy.com.au/product-pag...cusing-lantern

From my experience what you are best of looking for options for really light weight rugged options are LED lights used for cycling ,like the Bio light above & their other offerings ,these are waterproof ,light weight & usually have long battery life & multiple light options.All the lights l have chosen are easily stored in those waterproof camera cases for carry in rafts or wet weather & have got years of service out of them .

Of course something l would never be guilty of doing but l have heard rumors of some bastards of husbands surprising their lovely wife with a flash new set of solar garden lights ,earning many go hunting brownie points & a couple said lights mysteriously disappearing while said good husband went hunting, only to reappear when he returns ,apparently the heads of those solar lights can be detached from the stakes & perform very well when hung up with a bit of Para cord ,not that l would know .