Outdoor Retailer: Fun lights, all about the blink

by Seth Levy
January 31, 2011

In our final Outdoor Retailer Winter Market blog about lighting, we focus on lights that bring not just the blink, but also the bling.

Whether they were lights to decorate your hammock, a battery-powered lantern that flickers when you "blow" it out, or a light reminiscent of a light saber, there were a number of interesting lights at Outdoor Retailer in January.

The Eagles Nest Outfitters lights could have substantially brightened up my last long, dark, lonely hike.

Eagles Nest Outfitters

Eagles Nest Outfitters, a small hammock and accessories manufacturer based in the southern Appalachians, showcased its Twilights, essentially a battery-powered string of 23 LED Christmas lights, designed to be strung from the ridgeline of a hammock or tent.

Twilights for your tent or hammock from ENO.

They might seem frivolous, but at 4.5 ounces the Twilights could add some serious cheer to a long winter expedition.

Twilights

Weight: 4.5 oz
Length: 80"
Batteries: AA
$19.95
Available: Now

Snow Peak

Snow Peak's Hozuki Lantern

Snow Peak has a reputation for simple, elegant, unique gear. Consider its collapsible backpacking chopsticks or craftsman-quality solid oak and copper Peg Hammer.

The recently updated Hozuki LED Lantern is inspired by traditional Japanese paper lanterns, and flickers like a candle. The lantern is made of soft silicone and can be hung in a tent or set on a table.

Snow Peak upped the wow factor by installing a wind sensor that makes the lantern flicker and dim when the wind blows. The 2011 version, available in March, doubled the Hozuki's battery life in exchange for gaining .3 ounces.

Joey Tuma of Snow Peak demonstrated the Hozuki Lantern at Outdoor Retailer:

Hozuki Lantern

Weight: 5.6 oz

Output: 100 lumens

Batteries: 4AA

MSRP: $89.95

Available: March 1, 2011 (updated version)

Essential Gear

eGear has a number of little lights more appropriate for day hikes or dedicated ultra-light hikers. One standout is the Dyno-Mite light, powered by a small hand-crank generator. This bright LED light isn't lighter, because the generator charges internal batteries, but it does remove the need to carry (or even purchase) spare batteries.

Tony Salemi of eGear demonstrated the Dyno-Mite for us at Outdoor Retailer:

Dyno-Mite

Weight: approx 1 oz
Output: 10 lumens
Batteries: N/A; 1 minute of winding = 5 minutes of light
MSRP: $7.95
Available: Now

Nite Ize

Nite Ize has a large and varied selection of lighting accessories, toys, and gadgets. First up, in terms of simplicity and function, is the ZipLit, which provides light, functional illumination at chest level in the form of an ordinary zipper pull.

I can't recall another light at the show that had as many options as the Inova 24/7. This interestingly shaped light has eight different modes, which are accessed via a unique rotating switch, and four different mounting options.

Jennifer Bryan of Nite Ize demonstrated the Inova 24/7 light at Outdoor Retailer:

Inova 24/7

Weight: 2.75 oz
Output: 10 lumens
Batteries: 1 123 lithium cell
Price: $59.99
Available: Now

Inova Microlight XT LED Wand

The Inova Microlight Wand glowing mysteriously.

In terms of sheer fun, the Inova Microlight XT LED Wand is worth a mention. This transparent plastic wand turns an Inova Microlight mini LED light into an enhanced glow stick or light saber.

Unlike a chemical glow stick, the Microlight Wand is reusable, waterproof, shockproof, submersible, and produces a linear light source in addition to a diffuse, creepy glow.

Microlight XT LED Wand