A torch is a super handy bit of equipment. If you’re straying far off the beaten track it is an essential survival tool. It can keep you safe on the path in the dark or alert others of where you are should you need help.
Alternatively, it can help make night time hikes or walks more enjoyable. Think the early morning hike in the dark before enjoying the sunrise over the valley. Or perhaps you wander to watch the stars. Maybe you’re lucky and you get to wish on a shooting star.
Hikers predominantly use red light at night because it causes the least impact on their night vision once turned off again. This means that they can still do essential tasks which require good sight such as reading maps or packing up camp without being dependant upon white light. It is also is less likely to wake up your fellow campers.
Human vision is a really interesting topic and different colours of light can have a difference beneficial uses. I can promise you there is nothing more annoying than being woken up at 3am to someone shining a torch on you by accident. Don’t be that person and learn about colour choices!
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Why Do Hikers Use Red Light?
Have you reached to turn off the light only to find yourself stumbling over your bedside table, arms outreached, yet when you wake up for your 4am bathroom trip you can make out most of the room? You can avoid stepping on your pile of dirty clothes you left on the floor. Save yourself the pain of stepping on the zipper. Yet you couldn’t do that when you first turned off the light.
Humans are not known for their night vision. It results in a grainy black and white image but for most tasks that’s all you need. Red light can give up the boost for seeing in more detail. Say reading a map or looking where you left your boots but once its turned off you wont be left momentarily blind like you would with white light.
This is because there are two types of cells in your retina. The cones and the rods. The cones are responsible for seeing colour. They are basically useless at night hence the greyscale. It only takes around 5-7 minutes for these to reach that maximum sensitivity at night. That’s not too bad a wait you may think if you still want the full definition of white light.
Rods are responsible for seeing light and shadow, creating the shapes around you. The issue it that it can take up to 45 minutes for the rods to adapt to the low light conditions. That’s a bit of a wait. There is no short cutting this path, therefore, it is all about preserving this night vision.
All light causes you to loose some of that sensitivity as your eye adapt so much faster to increased light than to lower light levels. So the brighter the torch, the less sensitive your eyes will be once it has been turned off. Hence the longer the wait for full sensitivity in the dark.
The trick is using a dimmer red light. We have more of these cones in the eye and the majority are located in the centre of the retina. This combination has the least impact on the surrounding rods. Making it a lot nicer on the eyes at night as well as allowing you to regain maximum night vision in the quickest amount of time.
Red light also doesn’t travel as far as other light colours, especially white light. This means you will be causing less light pollution and disturbing your fellow hikers a lot less. There is nothing worse than someone blinding you with white light while you were able to see perfectly well via the moon. Be polite with your light!
Do you need to grab yourself a head torch for your next adventure? There are plenty to choose from but a good option is the Lepro LED head-torch (Amazon). It gives you red and white light in different modes and is waterproof and rechargeable.
How To Use Other Colour Lights
Torches can come in an array of colours. Each have their uses for assisting with vision at night.
1. White Light
This is the light most people are used to when they turn on their torch. It is the closest thing to natural light that we have once the sun goes down. So if you want to maximise vision then this is the one.
The downsides to this variety is that it ruins peoples night vision whether it’s your own or your unfortunate passer by. This means once you turn the light off, your night vision will take the longest amount of time to go back to maximum sensitivity. It also can wake other people up should you need a toilet trip in the night.
2. Green Light
This colour can enhance the contrast between different colours, making it useful for map reading long past sunset. This colour is similar to red light but it does take a little longer for your eyes to adjust back than it would do if you used red light only.
3. Blue Light
Blue light is the best alternative to white light should you not want to use white light. It is commonly used by hunters to assist tracking blood trails. It also has it’s uses in deep valleys or maritime environments compared to that of red or green.
Compared to red or green light, it has the most effect on your night vision but it is better than using white light should you still need good visuals.
Do You Always Need A Torch?
If you are planning to be out and about after dark, then of course you should bring a torch. The question gets a little more subjective when you are planning to do a day hike.
Safety when hiking is paramount and I find there are some basic safety items which are worth it. Hikes can go wrong. You could plan a day hike, expected it to take a few hours and it turns out you got lost or miscalculated and you are cutting it fine with dusk coming in. In these situations, I would bring a torch just in case.
Torches are not only good for seeing your way or reading maps. Should the worst happen and you find yourself needing mountain rescue then it can be really handy in signalling your location to help them find you. Your torch should not be your phone for exactly cases like this where you need to preserve battery life to call for help. Having a torch can help you get yourself out of potential problems before them become dangerous.
That being said, if you are on a well walked short trail with plenty of people about or close to towns and villages in your local area where you know where you are going then the necessity of a torch is less of an issue. End of the day, it’s all a judgement call. Once you get hiking more often, you will start to know what is essential to you on different routes.
Fun Things To Do With A Torch
Torches are functional devices but they can allow you to have a lot more fun than just finding your socks in the dark. You can use them to create hours of fun for yourself or your friends and family by creating light art or shadow puppets.
Light Painting
Get creative and pop your camera on a tripod or other stable service. You can even use your phone as many now have a variety of settings. Set your camera to a timer to give you chance to get into position and to a long exposure. This allows more light in and chance for your light to reveal its path.
Turn on your torch and use the light to create a shape or picture. Drawing with the torch like you would a paintbrush. Remember you only have the time of the exposure so be free and quick with your lines.
Later you can always merge photographs in a photo editor to create a whole image or scene. Pop back to your camera and see what you have created. Use a variety of colours. If you don’t have changeable colours on your torch then improvise and cover the lens with some colourful sweet wrapper or craft wrap. So long as the light can pass through then it’s worth experimenting with.
Shadow Puppets
Set up a light source and point it at a screen. Perhaps the side of your tent, or maybe your coat. Then using your hands or anything you find around you create and experiment with making shapes, creatures and stories. The only limitation here is your imagination.
This is a great family activity to get the children involved. If you’re a little more grown up then perhaps make it into a game of charades, or a competition.
Create A Different Atmosphere
The lighting can be used to create different atmospheres. Perhaps you find a cool cave or a creepy tree. The use of light and colour can create a range of different shadows and effects which can create a whole new atmosphere. Add a creative twist to your photographs beyond the basic flash!
Conclusion
Red light is used because it is the best compromise between allowing someone to complete more intricate tasks that requires good vision such as reading a map and then returning back to using their night vision optimally in the quickest time. Torches can make or break a hike by allowing people to compensate for mistakes without it becoming a disaster through to allowing people to create even more entertainment on an evening. Happy Hiking!
