didn't read any of the other responses but couldn't you test your eyepatch theory in a dark closet in your house or in your room with all the lights off?

I actually bought a pair of night vision goggles the other day. I'm not sure how handy they will be, but the price was incredibly cheap so I couldn't pass them up. If for no other reason than just to be able to say I own a pair.

Posted by Crashplan Does anyone know of any headlamps that include green light or is getting dim green light more in the DIY category?

I found a headlamp that has a red light, blue light, green light and a white light. It costs $15 dollars at big 5 in California! I got lucky because it was on sale. I'm sure you can find one at a sporting goods store, or even online. Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.big5spo...e-d-headlight.html

Posted by NotBatman 1. click to view Listen here, guy: If you're not using a red light AS an eyepatch, then I don't even know how to help you.

We are the Borg. Prepare to be Assimilated. Resistance is futile.



In all seriousness, I find that a eyepatch allows me to see without the discoloration of my vision that red lights cause. For example, most pirates DID wear eyepatches- when boarding ships. That way, they could fight on the bright deck and in the dark insides of their targets without waiting for their vision to adapt.

Granted, you sacrifice some peripheral vision, as well as possibly some depth perception, but it's up to you. I find that red light doesn't shine as far or as bright as white light, and discolors my vision when I use it.

However, I usually just wait for my eyes to adjust. I'm usually not in such a hurry that I can't wait 30 seconds, so I use neither red light nor eyepatches.

Test it out in your own home to see what works for you- it's safe and allows for easy trial and error with minimal risk of harm.


Ooh, I just had an idea to get around the drawbacks of an eyepatch! Monocle Sunglasses!


All you need is a top hat and you can urbex like a sir!

Posted by MYSTERY-IS-IN-THE-AIR I found a headlamp that has a red light, blue light, green light and a white light. It costs $15 dollars at big 5 in California! I got lucky because it was on sale. I'm sure you can find one at a sporting goods store, or even online. Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.big5spo...e-d-headlight.html

Do you like it in terms of how bright it is? I know it says that it is 67 lumens, but is this something you would feel comfortable wearing in an abandonment at night? I'm looking for a headlamp which won't give away my location in a heartbeat to anyone on the outside.

Red light my ass you need this.
https://tnvc.com/s...tt-dsnvg-anpsq-20/

Posted by Crashplan Do you like it in terms of how bright it is? I know it says that it is 67 lumens, but is this something you would feel comfortable wearing in an abandonment at night? I'm looking for a headlamp which won't give away my location in a heartbeat to anyone on the outside.

If you are going to explore areas that are patrolled often, then I would recommend that you find a dimmer light. I will be using the light for tunnels mainly, so I will not need to worry so much.

I only gave you an example of the head lamps. I'm sure that you can find darker lights at a different store such as sport chalet, or maybe even big 5 has a dimmer version of the previous light that I showed you.

Posted by GreyMan I believe a lot of the armed forces worldwide are switching to green as well, for the same reason that you do not need as bright of a green light to see as you do a red.

This would mean they have to reprint all maps they have as there are made to work with red light.

I have some night vision goggles, they work great to check areas out for secuirty.

Besides this, try to use the smallest amout of light if you are in an area you can be seen.

Just eat bulk carrots bro!

Wait, maybe that's an old wive's tale.

Posted by Big Poppa Just eat bulk carrots bro! http://www.danube-...img_product_39.jpg Wait, maybe that's an old wive's tale.

Check this out:
http://blogs.scien...-believe-your-dad/
If you eat too many carrots, you can turn orange haha.
Send me a message if you try it!

Posted by MYSTERY-IS-IN-THE-AIR Check this out: http://blogs.scien...-believe-your-dad/ If you eat too many carrots, you can turn orange haha. Send me a message if you try it!

Actually, babies are particularly prone to it. I always knew Gerber was hiding something!

Posted by Steed Mythbusters did an episode on this. I think it would be worth a try at some point.

I remember that episode. They confirmed that wearing an eyepatch between dark and light helps with low light vision.

Though, besides the obvious of NightVision. Surefire and Streamlight make some awesome taclights.

I finally tested this theory at home. It worked pretty well. I decided to try it in a drain near my house. It worked in the tunnel of course, but there is not really any practical reason to do this(unless you notice your flashlight dimming). It messes with your depth perception which can be a valuable resource in any urbex climate.

Posted by skatchkins When I get up to pee at night I leave one eye closed while the bathroom light is on. I switch to the other eye to "see" in the dark while walking back to bed. I don't clean the toilets but I believe my depth perception to be unaffected.

Depth perception is something our eyes gather from the difference between the images of each eye, so you won't have depth perception without both eyes open. However, depth perception isn't quite as important as one might think.
I, for example, have poor depth perception, but I still no no trouble navigating/determining distances and rarely hit my head.

A few years ago, I went to a craft store and bought some green and red plastic (transparent) Taped the green over my flashlight, and it worked out pretty well. If the light isnt dim or green enough, you can just add more layers.

Posted by MYSTERY-IS-IN-THE-AIR Thanks for all the good information. Now I won't have to use a creepy red light(which is the reason why I started this thread, I didn't want to use a red light xD).

But if you have to use low light, don't forget the people you want to avoid will be able to also see your not creepy green light.

If you already believe that a certain light color is creepy, you might want to stay at home.

Posted by SuchundFind But if you have to use low light, don't forget the people you want to avoid will be able to also see your not creepy green light. If you already believe that a certain light color is creepy, you might want to stay at home.

I don't think that a certain light color creeping me out should validate the fact that I should stay home.

I'm trying to find alternative light options, but if I need to, then I'll use red lights. You are right though. I could get spotted because of using a different light...definitely do not want that to happen.

I know this thread is pretty old, but I found it somewhat interesting and wanted to expand on what General Zod said about making your own colored light. This is really easy and cheap to do with flash gels. For a few bucks, you can get a variety of any colors you can think of at any local camera store or online. If I need colored light for night vision or for light painting a scene, I can simple use a rubber band or electrical tape to cover the head of my flashlight with it. These gels are simply thin sheets of colored plastic, easily replaceable, so you can add or subtract more as needed. They've come in handy for me many times.
As a side note; if I'm using a red or green light on an explore, it's primarily because I'm trying to avoid my light giving away my presence in a location, particularly near windows and such, so an eye patch wouldn't really be very useful. Not to mention, I want both eyes available when I'm exploring dilapidated ruins with countless hidden dangers in the dark. It's risky enough with two eyes, so why add more potential issues?

Posted by GreyMan From what I have read, it's more the intensity of light that matters. The human eye is supposed to be more sensitive to green than red, so you can use a lower intensity light if it's green than if you were trying to get the same ambient levels with a red light. I believe a lot of the armed forces worldwide are switching to green as well, for the same reason that you do not need as bright of a green light to see as you do a red.

You read it right. It's also why the non phosphor tubed night vision gear is green tinted. Lower output but your eye sees it better regardless. I use red and green lights in daily use, and with the exact same light output, green looks twice as bright to the eye.

Posted by Crashplan Does anyone know of any headlamps that include green light or is getting dim green light more in the DIY category?

Princeton Tec, Streamlight, Petzl, Surefire, and a few other brands do lights with green options. IMO look for a surplus Streamlight Scorpion on Amazon. Should be ~$40 or so (usually only available in the US) but has a white, red, green, and IR module. Sometimes the IR is replaced by blue. The surefire helmet lights are great as well, and they do a nice green and white LED one. I set up a few of my baseball caps to have these lights on them.

Personally, I carry a few different lights with different setups. Namely a Surefire helmet light with white and blue (I use it for hunting more often than not, but it is useful) a set of green lazerbrites (military battery powered glowsticks) and a Pentagonlight with screw in filters.

Posted by MYSTERY-IS-IN-THE-AIR Hey so I had a question about eyepatches. I know that using red lighting in dark areas doesn't disturb your eyes' adjustment to darker lighting once the light is turned off, but is it true that wearing an eyepatch is just as effective? My friend said that if you want to use a white light, all you need to do is wear an eyepatch when the light is on so that one eye will be adjusted to dark lighting and the other will be adjusted to the bright lighting which would be coming from the white light. Do you think it's a good idea to do this or should I just use a red light? Do you think that an eyepatch would disturb my depth perception?

For maximum night vision it takes about 45 minutes in total darkness. Within the first 5 minutes most of the night vision adaptation occurs.
Do not smoke within 12 hours; CO greatly reduces night vision.

Since the rods are positioned around the cones in the center of the retina, looking directly at something in low light is useless.
Do not stare off to the side either as starring can cause false perceptions of movement.
Rather allow your eyes to slowly move along the area you are looking at. Cones and the optic processing of the brain detects movement more readily than patterns. Even so to spot patterns using the cones keep your eyes slowly moving. If you spot something of interest, look to the side of it, not directly at it. It's still better even than to keep your moving with a side to side movement in that specific area to view the target object.


A trick I've used for decades is to close my dominate eye in brighter than ambient light until it passes. Therefor one eye is adjusted for darkness while still maintaining vision.
It's second nature to me to close either eyelid especially when I get something in it like while driving and don't want to stop or simply to rest that eye.

Rods are sensitive to all visible wavelengths Therefor any exposure temporarily damages night vision.

Red versus Green
Rods are sensitive to all visible light wavelengths but least to red. When viewing maps etc you need to use the cones to read. It makes more sense to use a green light source at the dimmer possible setting that permits viewing.
Red light preserves the color vision of the cones however. Cones are relatively insensitive to it.
http://www.astroma...embers/kniffen.htm
http://midimagic.s...g.com/huvision.htm