12V camping lights are an essential bit of kit. But there are some important aspects to consider when deciding what to buy. It doesn’t matter if you’re hundreds of kms from civilisation or setting up on a family-friendly campsite, you’re going to want a reliable, durable and efficient source of light once the sun has set.
5 Steps to Choosing the Right 12V Camp Lights for Your 4x4
The following are the main considerations when selecting the 12V lighting options for your camping setup.
1. The type of lights
Camping lights come in various guises, such as:
- LED strip lights.
- Dimmable LED strip lights.
- Lanterns
A lantern or two to grab for a bit of illumination if you arrive in the dark can be handy. But they don’t really cast light over an extended area. For that, nothing beats the power of the strip light.
Whether you go for a dimmable option is down to personal preference. While you might not think it’s a feature you need, once you add the ability to dial up and down the brightness as you choose, you’ll wonder how you ever got on without it.
2. The colour
No, not Christmas tree colours, but the option of red or white light. While it’s not absolutely necessary to have both, once the bugs get active after sundown, you’ll really (and we mean, really!) be glad to flick on the bug-repelling properties that red light brings.
3. Power source and consumption
Unless you’re only ever going to camp where there’s mains electric, you’re going to need lighting that doesn’t drain your power source. The low voltage of modern strip camp lights is designed just for this, lighting up your camping setup with minimal power draw.
4. The quality
Cheap lights are just that – cheap and will need replacing sooner rather than later. However, the most expensive aren’t necessarily the best either. The key to choosing the best 12V camping lights is to assess the following functions:
- The housing: They should be made from a material that’s robust enough to cope with constant outdoor life – aluminium is ideal. This also has the benefit of being lightweight – something that should always be considered when purchasing any camping gear to ensure you add as little to your vehicle’s payload as possible.
- Sealed for outdoor use: The Aussie environment can (and usually does) throw everything at you when out in the wild. Camp lights need to be tough enough to withstand the worst of the rain and the relentless heat of the summer sun. Plus, be dust, salt and sand resistant – three of the biggest culprits when it comes to wear and tear on everything to do with camping and 4x4 life.
- Solid installation fittings: There are multiple ways that camp lights can be fitted to your outdoor setup. Be sure that any mounting tabs are strong enough for continual use. Weak, flimsy fittings will soon degrade – and nothing’s more frustrating than setting up your site, only to realise that you can’t hang up the lights.
- LED lifespan: This is usually determined in hours – 50,000 hours equates to being in continual use for 5 years – and this is the gold standard when choosing your next camp light purchase.
5. Size and brightness
Strip lights come in a variety of lengths, such as 30cm, 60cm and 90cm. The right size is, once again, down to personal preference. You also want to check the lumen (brightness). Anything from 300 upwards is pretty decent – and you can find much brighter if you require this.
One of Australia’s best-selling camp lights is the PDP dual colour LED strip light. And with good reason. It scores highly on all the above-mentioned aspects and is super-easy to install when you arrive at your camping spot. If you want to go one step higher, consider the PDP dimmable dual colour LED strip light, that does exactly what it says on the tin..
Both lights offer:
- Excellent quality that’ll last for years – even with the hardest use.
- 50,000 hours of light.
- A rigid, aluminium build.
- Dual colour illumination (white & red).
- Low voltage, energy-efficient use that won’t drain your battery.
- Easy DIY installation