Candles give little light and are dangerous, and your phone’s torch drains the battery you need to stay in touch. For a blackout the ideal is to combine a head torch per person and a lantern for the room. Here are 5 options.
How to choose
- Head torch: keeps your hands free for cooking, going down the stairs or looking after a child.
- Lantern: lights up the whole room, like a lamp. It’s what gives a sense of normality.
- USB-C rechargeable: charge it from a power bank or a power station.
- Hybrid (battery + AAA): the safest option; if the battery runs out, you switch to AAA batteries.
- Warm light: less tiring on the eyes during long cuts.
Quick comparison
| Model | Type | Power | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petzl Tikkina | Head torch | AAA batteries (or Core battery) | One per person, cheap and reliable | € |
| Petzl Tikka | Head torch | AAA or Core battery (sold separately) | The most versatile head torch | €€ |
| Glocusent 60 LED lantern | Small lantern | Rechargeable | Bedside, bathroom, children’s room (budget) | €€ |
| Ledlenser ML6 | Large lantern | Rechargeable, works as a power bank | Lighting the whole living room | €€€ |
| Ledlenser P7 Core | Hand torch | AAA batteries | Lots of power: stairs, storage room, street | €€€ |
Approximate price range: € under €30, €€ €30–60, €€€ over €60. The real price is whatever Amazon shows.
The models, one by one
Petzl Tikkina
Best for: a head torch for each person without spending much.
- About 300 lumens, plenty for moving around the flat
- AAA batteries: keep for years in storage
- Light and very easy to use
- Against: buy spare batteries
Petzl Tikka
Best for: anyone who wants a good head torch for years, at home and in the hills.
- Runs on AAA batteries and accepts the rechargeable Core battery
- More power and a red light mode
- A benchmark mountain brand
- Against: twice the price of the Tikkina
Glocusent 60 LED lantern
Best for: bedrooms and the bathroom. Small, with a hook and magnet.
- 60 LEDs with several light modes
- USB-C rechargeable, up to 120 h on low
- Light, with a handle for hanging
- Against: a less well-known brand than Ledlenser
Ledlenser ML6
Best for: the living room or kitchen. It’s the home’s lamp during the blackout.
- Powerful, dimmable light for the whole room
- Power bank function: charges your phone
- Large battery for several nights
- Against: the most expensive on the list
Ledlenser P7 Core
Best for: when you need to see far: the building’s stairs, the garage or the street.
- 450 lumens and a focusable beam
- Runs on 4 AAA batteries: no charging needed
- Robust, one of Ledlenser’s best sellers
- Against: no good as ambient light
Tips
- Leave a head torch on the bedside table in each bedroom: the blackout might catch you at night.
- Charge rechargeables every 3 months and keep spare batteries for those that use them.
- A lantern hung from the ceiling, or face down on a bottle of water, lights more than one on the table.
- Avoid candles: they’re the main cause of fires during blackouts.
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