[selfbuilt]

Recently had a fabulous 2 week stay at a remote rainforest wilderness lodge in Costa Rica. Flashlights were a must, since the nearest electrical grid was 20 km away, and they only had solar-charged batteries for providing minimal compact fluorescent lighting in the cabins. [EDIT: I should clarify: this was still a *luxury* remote lodge, with superb food and comfortable accommodations - it's just the surroundings that were incredibly wild]

Lodge setup was about ~15 cabins, spread along periphery of two small clearings in a 750+ acres of largely undisturbed rainforest. Second clearing (where we stayed several nights) was a 15 min hike after dinner, and included a 200-foot suspension bridge that had to be crossed every night in zero ambient lighting conditions (due to the forest canopy). Rooms were open air, so it was a pretty wild experience.

My EDCs were a Fenix P1D-CE and Lumapower D-Mini (smooth reflector, with 2-stage tailcap from my fifthunit LILL), and my wife carried a Fenix L2T. We both had backup L0P-SEs and photon clones for emergencies.

Some general observations: given remoteness, most guests traveled light (as did we – single backpacks apiece), but many only had cheap, dim, 1st gen LED lights (although a couple had brought 2D Mag incans). All the under-lit guests commented on their lack of foresight on not bringing proper lights.

How did our lights perform?

P1D-CE: This got the most use as an all-around light for trail walking at night, on primary or hi. Bright sidespill was very helpful for seeing what was around your feet in the forest trails (always a big concern – came across a Fer-de-lance once!). I occasionally used the low mode for night trips to the bathroom, but generally preferred the L0P-SE as it was easier on night-adapted eyes. If you could only take one light, this should be it – or better yet, the L2D-CE now that it’s out (with its lower low mode).

D-mini: Used almost as much as the P1D-CE, sometimes in combination (i.e. P1D-CE lighting up ground in front of my feet, D-mini for spotting those noises in the brush or at the end of the suspension bridge). Phenomenal light for distance spotting, lighting up the canopy, etc. The two-stage cap from LILL was very helpful for conservation of battery power (roughly half the output, twice the runtime). This light garnered the most attention from other guests, as it easily out threw the 2D Mags.

L2T: decent all-purpose light, although obviously a bit underpowered compared to the Crees. My wife liked simple UI, and used this light constantly – she preferred it over the L0P-SE for bathroom trips at night, because of option for high mode at a moment’s notice. Next trip, it will definitely be replaced by a L2D-CE.

L0P-SE: relatively little use. I originally thought we might have used these more, since you don’t need a lot of light to see in the complete dark. But since cabin was open to the wild outdoors, you want the option for more power at a moment’s notice (you wouldn’t believe what traipsed through the room some nights!).

So there you have it: both the P1D-CE and D-mini were excellent performers for their intended purposes – although the P1D-CE could use a lower low, and the D-mini needs a proper 2-stage switch. If I was to recommend today, I think the L2D-CE and Lumapower M1 would be your best bets among current choices.

Sorry, no beam shot comparisons of the lights … but here’s a red-eye tree frog I caught with my D-mini (on low) during one of my nightly excursions to the local ponds. Without a decent light, you would never have seen one of these - they are nocturnal, and only come down out of the trees at night.

Enjoy!