12-10-2014, 07:05 AM
Then go for efficiency of the light to carry less weight in batteries. LED lighting will use the least power for the amount of light they produce. Choose a LED lighting that uses high energy density batteries. The lithium rechargeable batteries are both lightweight and store a lot of energy. My ice fishing tent is all black inside and others are also dark, so use overhead lighting instead of relying upon light shining up and out to bounce back from the walls and ceiling. There are ice fishing lights made this way, but I have no experience with them. I like a simple headlamp that puts the light just where you're looking and controlling it to only be on when I need it. I have one that has a selectable bright narrow beam for seeing far into the distance and a dim wide beam for close. My favorite for close is just a tiny single cell AAA LED flashlight that isn't bright and I let my eyes adapt to seeing with low light. One lightweight thing you should have anyway that will also help with your natural night vision ability is dark sunglasses to keep the brightness of the day on ice and snow from attenuating your night vision for later.
I know you go for considerable hikes, so for you, I've emphasized less weight to not inhibit your mobility advantages which I relate to because I like to be prepared to travel light and fast though I often go heavy when with a group and mobility is less of a factor. I just got the Nils ice auger to run around making holes and finding and following schools of fish. But, there will also be times when I set up heavy for social aspects of ice fishing and maybe go even heavier set up to make hot chocolate and maybe even fry fish. For heavy, I'll favor propane and for light, I might just have a headlamp and a tiny flashlight.
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I know you go for considerable hikes, so for you, I've emphasized less weight to not inhibit your mobility advantages which I relate to because I like to be prepared to travel light and fast though I often go heavy when with a group and mobility is less of a factor. I just got the Nils ice auger to run around making holes and finding and following schools of fish. But, there will also be times when I set up heavy for social aspects of ice fishing and maybe go even heavier set up to make hot chocolate and maybe even fry fish. For heavy, I'll favor propane and for light, I might just have a headlamp and a tiny flashlight.
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