Writer advises how to best light your tent

When lighting your tent, there's a lot to consider, so says one expert.

As reminded by moutainlakeadventures.com, it's essential that campers bring some sort of lighting with them. Camping is great fun for all the family, but when it gets dark, it really gets dark. It's not easy to juggle with strategically-placed torches or having to share the one light source.

According to John Traynor, writing for outandaboutlive.co.uk, successfully lighting your tent falls under three broad headings: area, personal and task.

Area refers to lighting for the vicinity of the pitch; the provision of illumination for activities that take place outside the tent - cooking, socialising, eating and generally walking about - preventing campers from tripping over guyropes or other obstacles. Traynor recommends gas or liquid-filled lanterns over battery-powered alternatives: "[though they] take more time to set up...they are more economical and mush more powerful", he says.

In terms of personal lighting, each member of the party should have their own torch to make sure they can make it to and from the campsites' communal washrooms safely after dark. Traynor suggests wind up rechargeable torches, as these are fun for children and do away with the expense of batteries.

When carrying out a task, most campers require both of their hands to be free. That's why Traynor suggests a head torch: "leaves hands free...and delivers light exactly where you need it," he says. What's more, a head torch is also handy for reading after dark when others wish to sleep.