RED Flashlight

[Clapac]

The last Camino I did, I've noticied a pilgrim using a flashligh that had a red light instead of normal (white) light. He used it in the albergue, and this red light wasn't disturbing the other pilgrims, who were sleeping yet.
I think it's a good idea, because the flashlights at 5 in the morning annoy a lot!

 

[Arn]

Both red and green bulbs or filters are used at night so as not to impart your night vision.

 

[whariwharangi]

It works great until you try to find the red line marking the road on your map.

 

[KinkyOne]

The last Camino I did, I've noticied a pilgrim using a flashligh that had a red light instead of normal (white) light. He used it in the albergue, and this red light wasn't disturbing the other pilgrims, who were sleeping yet.
I think it's a good idea, because the flashlights at 5 in the morning annoy a lot!

Any flashlight is annoying at 5 in the morning

 

[J Willhaus]

Red lens: reminds me of the army. We were only allowed red lens lights as Arn says to preserve night vision.

 

[Bajaracer]

Any flashlight is annoying at 5 in the morning

A red lens flashlight is the least annoying light, I too used a red lens flashlight in the military, the berthing areas on a ship use a red lens light after 2200, I can sleep with one on and it doesn't bother me.

If only more pilgrims knew about a red lens for their flashlights, it could make the albergue experience a lot better.

 

[Tincatinker]

I use a red light, a cyclists clip-on tail light, great for minimising disturbance to others in Albergues and, in blinking mode, a valuable safety device on dark mornings.

 

[NavyBlue]

Red flashlights can be found in astronomy shops (search Rigel Starlite for instance). They feature an adjustable brightness control, which could be clever in this context.

 

[jmcarp]

Also, many headlamps have both white (bright) and red (dim) LEDs.

 

[KinkyOne]

Also, many headlamps have both white (bright) and red (dim) LEDs.

True..., like Petzl Tikka and similar, with 2 (or 3) dimmer steps white light & red light & red blinking light. Also available with rechargeable battery!!! Very usefull.

K1

 

[Arn]

Any flashlight is annoying at 5 in the morning

I do a four hour presentation on Sports Vision. Among moving targets: red and green are the most difficult because they blend in and the viewer may only see orange. In my case, I am color blind for both red and green. At night I see white light where there are actually red and green.
Makes night time navigation on the water rather interesting.
Unless the red/green lens light is aimed directly into your eyes...there is little disturbance noticed.
Hope that sheds some light on the discussion.
Arn

 

[J Willhaus]

I think it's a good idea, because the flashlights at 5 in the morning annoy a lot!

I hope people are not getting up to start walking at 5 a.m! We have not made our Camino yet, but in my readings it says not to THINK about getting up and disturbing others that early! I hope this person just needed to heed the call of nature and thank goodness he/she was using the red flashlight in any case although it still appeared to wake you up.

 

[Tia Valeria]

From posts on the forum I am afraid that whatever it says there are folk who do get up and start walking that early. Face/eye masks and earplugs are called for if you want to sleep on. Very light to carry but an essential part of my kit now.

 

[KinkyOne]

I hope people are not getting up to start walking at 5 a.m! We have not made our Camino yet, but in my readings it says not to THINK about getting up and disturbing others that early! I hope this person just needed to heed the call of nature and thank goodness he/she was using the red flashlight in any case although it still appeared to wake you up.

Well, you'll be disappointed here Especially on CF in "high season" I experienced that some even started (rustling in dormitory that is...) at 4 in the morning!!! I never will understand that, but I guess that's just me

 

[Mark Lee]

I hope people are not getting up to start walking at 5 a.m! We have not made our Camino yet, but in my readings it says not to THINK about getting up and disturbing others that early! I hope this person just needed to heed the call of nature and thank goodness he/she was using the red flashlight in any case although it still appeared to wake you up.

Yeah, like KinkyOne said, it's inevitable that you will experience people getting up and moving around at 5:00 am in the albergues, and there will be flashlight beams moving about and your average peregrino is not versed in tactical light usage, ha ha.
Don't sweat it though. It's all part of the Camino. It will actually bother you less than you think, and it had little to no negative effect on either of my Caminos. Like the saying goes, "it's all good".

 

[KinkyOne]

It's all part of the Camino. It will actually bother you less than you think, and it had little to no negative effect on either of my Caminos. Like the saying goes, "it's all good".

Ditto! I might just add that it will bother you at first, then follow Mark's advice
Have a nice Camino!

 

[J Willhaus]

Yeah, like KinkyOne said, it's inevitable that you will experience people getting up and moving around at 5:00 am in the albergues, and there will be flashlight beams moving about and your average peregrino is not versed in tactical light usage, ha ha.
Don't sweat it though. It's all part of the Camino. It will actually bother you less than you think, and it had little to no negative effect on either of my Caminos. Like the saying goes, "it's all good".

The red light is a good idea though. We'll have to dig out our from our Army days. Am I correct to assume that batteries are batteries the world over and that I won't have any trouble finding standard AAA or AA batteries in Spain?

 

[Mark Lee]

The red light is a good idea though. We'll have to dig out our from our Army days. Am I correct to assume that batteries are batteries the world over and that I won't have any trouble finding standard AAA or AA batteries in Spain?

Oh yeah, you can easily find AA's and AAA's for sale in Spain. On my second Camino I had one set of two AA's in my small flashlight and and spare set of two in my pack. That was all I needed. I didn't use my flashlight much. Did no walking in the dark and always waited until after the initial surge of awakening and moving about peregrinos was finished before I got up and started my day. On my first Camino I probably walked while it was still dark on only four or five different mornings.

 

[boots682]

The last Camino I did, I've noticied a pilgrim using a flashligh that had a red light instead of normal (white) light. He used it in the albergue, and this red light wasn't disturbing the other pilgrims, who were sleeping yet.
I think it's a good idea, because the flashlights at 5 in the morning annoy a lot!

Was that me? Caminho Portuguese; Porto to Santiago, 10 Oct to (Seminario Menor) Oct 25 - 29.
I was using a dual color LED flashlight with low intensity RED and high intensity WHITE.
Great for navigating to the toilet several times in the night without bumping into others or stumbling down the stairs.
Very compact, lightweight (as possible with lithium AAA batteries), used nightly.
Highly recommend dual function lights like this one.

 

[KinkyOne]

Was that me? Caminho Portuguese; Porto to Santiago, 10 Oct to (Seminario Menor) Oct 25 - 29.
I was using a dual color LED flashlight with low intensity RED and high intensity WHITE.
Great for navigating to the toilet several times in the night without bumping into others or stumbling down the stairs.
Very compact, lightweight (as possible with lithium AAA batteries), used nightly.
Highly recommend dual function lights like this one.

Sorry, but many scenarios came to my mind ("Was that me?")

K1

 

[OTH86]

From one who likes to sleep a little later, I was delighted to notice a dorm-mate used his red flashlight one morning. I did wake up - but that was just me - not his flashlight. But it seemed to be so much more "mute" than the brightness of the regular ones. Thanks so much Giovanni!!
Terry

 

[alexwalker]

I hope people are not getting up to start walking at 5 a.m! We have not made our Camino yet, but in my readings it says not to THINK about getting up and disturbing others that early! I hope this person just needed to heed the call of nature and thank goodness he/she was using the red flashlight in any case although it still appeared to wake you up.

Welcome to the Camino. You are in for a surprise...

 

[kmrice]

I took a red/white headlamp.
i never got to use it as the little light on my watch helped me enough to get to the bathroom.

However...the switch of my headlamp kept turning on when it was in my pack. So my pack kinda had a "ET phone home" thing going on.

Check your instructions; my headlamp as a lock setting which prevents this.

Karl

 

[Bajaracer]

I hope people are not getting up to start walking at 5 a.m! We have not made our Camino yet, but in my readings it says not to THINK about getting up and disturbing others that early! I hope this person just needed to heed the call of nature and thank goodness he/she was using the red flashlight in any case although it still appeared to wake you up.

Let me tell you about the early risers, this group of (insert name) pilgrims got up at 0430 and woke everybody with their talking and packing, finally they rolled out about 0515, I got up 45 min later and had breakfast with the two volunteer hospitaleras, they too shook their heads about their own countrymen (not Spanish) and were not happy either. I finally rolled out at 0630 and passed them while they were having breakfast at the next town.
The thing with most early risers is that you won't see them again, they leave early and get to the albergue usually before noon, I usually walked until 1400-1600, I felt it was a waste to just walk until noon and sleep the rest of the day. You can spot them because they are the ones sleeping the whole afternoon and like to turn off the lights at 2000, I still turned on the lights if it was before 2200.

 

[basquelady]

I hope people are not getting up to start walking at 5 a.m! We have not made our Camino yet, but in my readings it says not to THINK about getting up and disturbing others that early! I hope this person just needed to heed the call of nature and thank goodness he/she was using the red flashlight in any case although it still appeared to wake you up.

The earliest we were disturbed was in El Burgo Ranero; 3.40 by a Canadian man who left at 4am; this was Sept 22nd, so still dark for at least 3 hours!

 

[Bajaracer]

The earliest we were disturbed was in El Burgo Ranero; 3.40 by a Canadian man who left at 4am; this was Sept 22nd, so still dark for at least 3 hours!

I just read the Manifesto of Villafranca de Bierzo, the closing remarks said this:
"The Camino is here for walking and enjoying, not for racing from albergue to albergue, standing in queue from 9 a.m. to get a bed for the night. Respect and solidarity should come first on the Jacobean Way. "

Even I'm surprised that someone would be waiting in the queue at 0900 waiting for the albergue to open.

 

[J Willhaus]

I just read the Manifesto of Villafranca de Bierzo, the closing remarks said this:
"The Camino is here for walking and enjoying, not for racing from albergue to albergue, standing in queue from 9 a.m. to get a bed for the night. Respect and solidarity should come first on the Jacobean Way. "

Even I'm surprised that someone would be waiting in the queue at 0900 waiting for the albergue to open.

I will pray for these people who feel so driven. I do know a friend who feels she and her spouse will not have enough vacation days and is feeling very pressed for time and yet still wants the experience. I recommended based on some of the things I saw on the forum for them to to bicycle instead. In any case, I will do my best on my Camino to be quiet and use a red flashlight if I have to get up in the night to use the facility and rise for the morning at an acceptable hour.