When you're traveling - whether you're in a hotel or campground - sometimes you want to illuminate a little more than your smart phone app will allow. But in the battle against packing absolutely everything, flashlights often get left at home. The Bushnell Rubicon T100L flashlight is small enough to tuck into a pocket, yet its 152 Lumens cast a bright beam on dining menus and the source of that mysterious noise. The red halo mode is ideal for helping your natural night vision without behaving like a spotlight, and the aircraft-grade aluminum casing means you don't have to gasp when you accidentally drop it. The need for only a single AA battery keeps you from packing too much in that department, as well.

What we liked: The beam distance in this tiny flashlight is 230 feet - impressive for an inexpensive travel light.

Not so much: If you just toss this into your pack, something might accidentally depress the on-off button and drain your one battery.

Vitals: Bushnell Rubicon T100L Flashlight, $37.49 from www.amazon.com.

- Jill K. Robinson, travel@sfchronicle.com