It is a known fact that survival candles can help you survive in case of an emergency while you are in your backpacking trip. They can provide a light at night, warmth and they last for a long time. It is important to have at least one stick just in case of an emergency. Batteries can die out rather fast but emergency candles tend to last for a long time. I have listed a few amazing emergency candles down below and I am sure that you will find at least one of them to be satisfactory to your needs.
Best Survival Candles – Quick Chart
| Survival Candles | Weight | Wax Material | Burn Time | Dimensions |
| 1. SE OD-3WSC100 3-Wick 36-Hour Emergency Candle | 3.6 oz | Soy Wax | 36 hours | 2.75″ x 3.13″ x 2.75″ |
| 2. Coghlan’s 36-Hour Survival Candle | 4 oz | Paraffin wax | 36 hours | 1.5″ x 5.5″ x 4.2″ |
| 3. UCO Candle Lantern 3.5-Inch Candles | 1.6 oz | White Wax | 9 hour | 3.5″ |
| 4. Yehuda, Yahrzeit Memorial Candle | 10 lbs total | Paraffin | 24-26 hours | 3″ |
| 5. 115 Hour Plus Emergency Candle Clear Mist | 4.95 lbs total | Liquid Paraffin Wax | 115 hours | 9″ x 6″ x 4″ |
| 6. Coghlan’s Candles, 5 Pack | 1 lbs total | Not Available | 8 to 10 hours | 1 1/2″ x 5″ |
| 7. 9 Day Yahrtzeit Candle | 1 lbs | 100% Vegetable Oil | 216 Hour | 3″ x 3″ x 8″ |
| 8. Exotac candleTIN Emergency Beeswax Slow Burn Candle | 3.2 oz | Bees Wax | 30 hour | 2.8″ x 2.8″ x 2″ |
| 9. Emergency Candles- 7 Pack Slow Burning | 4.8 oz | Not Available | 4 hours | 3 3/4″ height, 0.7″ diameter |
| 10. 3 Pack 16oz Soy Emergency Soy Candle 120 Hours Plus | 16 oz | 100% Pure Soy Wax | 120 hours | 5.1″ height 3.15″ wide |
How To Choose A Survival Candle
Advantages Of Candles Over Electric Lights
Cheap
Candles are very cheap and you can even make them at your own home. There are lots of guides in the Internet that shows how. You don’t need to spend your valuable time on that because you can get a lot of survival candles for a very cheap price.
Wax Can Be Reused
Wax can be reused which makes the candle reusable. This can save people a lot of money and can make a candle last for a long time. While batteries tend to die out and they can no longer hold a charge in time, wax can be reused over and over with a few simple steps and modifications.
Gives Out Heat
Candles provide heat which is great if you need to stay warm. A candle will often have enough heat to warm your hands and a few parts of your body. This is a great feature to have especially if you are in an emergency situation where you will need heat.
Does Not Require Batteries
Candles do not need batteries. They can function on their own. You can save your batteries for other uses like charging your phone and stuff. A candle can burn for a long time as well. Survival candles can often compete with some lanterns when it comes to hours of operation or run time.
Disadvantages Of Using A Candle
Can Tip Over To Cause Fire
Candles can tip over, then fall on the ground and cause fire. You may end up burning your own home, forest or place where you lit up the candle. It is often very important that people make sure that the candle stays in place and not burn items inadvertently.
Flickering Light
The light of the candle can flicker. This can make people dizzy and not illuminate the whole room. Battery powered lanterns have lights that do not flicker. It will be a steady stream of light coming in from the LED bulbs. Candle lights tend to flicker.
Requires a lot to illuminate a big room very well
Candle lights are not as bright as bulbs and electric lanterns. You will end up getting a lot in order to illuminate a whole room. However, you do not need to illuminate a whole room in a blackout. You just need to light up your home or room for a few hours.
Candle Features To Think About
Burn Time
The burn time of a candle is very important. There are candles that last for an hour and candles that lasts for multiple days. If you are getting candles for emergency purposes then you should definitely make sure that the burn time is very long or that the candle will last for multiple days.
Candle Wick
There are lots of candle wick to choose from. Usually you do not have a choice on this. But a candle wick can affect the burn time of the candle. There are smoking wicks and wicks that are smokeless. Just make sure that you get something good or that is suitable for your needs.
Scented or Unscented
There are scented candles and unscented candles. This is really a matter of preference but if you are getting a survival candle then getting an unscented one would be more appropriate. You do not know the people that will be with you when you light up these candles if an emergency situation happens. They may be allergic to the smell of the candle so it is better to get something unscented.
Stability
Make sure that the candle is somewhat stable and the weight is somewhat evenly distributed. I often drip hot wax on the container, table or ground and place my candle over it. The wax would cool and stabilize the candle or put the candle in place. However, there are candles that are badly designed that they tend to fall or tip over.
Type Of Wax
There are different types of wax to choose from. Paraffin being the most cost effective wax out of all of them. Some wax will have a scent while some will not. Some waxes will have a longer burn time and some will be more expensive.
Backpacking Features To Think About
Weight
It is important that the survival candle that you will bring into the backpacking trip to be light in weight. If it is too heavy, you may end up not bringing it. We have to carry a whole bunch of items and a survival candle is just not a necessity. We need to carry sleeping bags, hammock, tents, cookware and so on. A heavy candle will just create more problems for us. We really don’t want to be too tired while in the wilderness because we carry too much.
Durability
If you are placing the candle in the backpack, then it has to be durable. Your backpack will have lots of equipment and other gear in it. There is a good possibility that the candle will get squished if it is not very durable. If it gets squished, you will no longer have a usable candle with you.
Container
The container has to be stable without blocking the light of the flame. A good container is great for preventing the candle from tipping over. A container can prevent accidents and mishaps. A good container will prevent fires which is very important if you are going on a backpacking trip.
Compact
The longer the burn time, and the smaller the candle the better. We just do not have a lot of space in our backpacks. It is best that we use that space wisely by getting backpacking gear or survival gear that are very small or compact. The more compact the candle, the better it will be for us. We will have more space for other survival gear in our backpacks. For example, first aid, signal mirrors and so on.
Price
The price of the backpacking candle matters also. There are a lot of cheap candles out there that are very effective. There are a lot of candles that are expensive also that you do not need. They probably have a scent or something that makes them expensive. A normal candle with good burn time is often sufficient enough for our backpacking needs.
Best Survival Candles
Here are some of the best survival candles that I know of. These are great candles to use and to have in case of an emergency situation. All product links are affiliate links.
1. SE OD-3WSC100 3-Wick 36-Hour Emergency Candle
Weight: 3.6 oz
Wax Material: Soy Wax
Burn Time: 36 hours
Dimensions: 2.75 x 3.13 x 2.75 in.
Feature Summary: Has 3 wicks, 36 hour candle, material is high quality, reusable tin packaging
Short Review: There are lots of people who like this survival candle. This is one of the greatest in its price range. This comes with aluminum reusable tin packaging. The top layer is made of soy wax which is known to burn a little cleaner with very little soot. The bottom layer is made out palm wax which is known to be the longest burning vegetable wax. Combine them both and you get this amazing survival candle that burns for 36 hours. Great for camping purposes especially when you are running out of batteries.
2. Coghlan’s 36-Hour Survival Candle
Weight: 4 oz
Wax Material: Paraffin wax
Burn Time: 36 hours
Dimensions: 1.5 x 5.5 x 4.2 in.
Feature Summary: Provides heat and light in an emergency, compact design allows for more items to be carried, great for the campsite, RV, and cabin
Short Review: I love making use of this long burn candle and I know you will also. Coghlan is an amazing company that offers inexpensive items that are very effective. The quality isn’t very high but for the price, they are worth it. This candle has 3 wicks which allows it to burn bright. It lasts for 36 hours also or 12 hours per wick. Comes in a durable and reusable tin container for easy storage. Good item for the outdoors and for emergency purposes.
3. UCO Candle Lantern 3.5-Inch Candles
Weight: 1.6 oz
Wax Material: White Wax
Burn Time: 9 hour
Dimensions: 3.5-in.
Feature Summary: Item is made out of high quality materials, ideal for camping, hiking, outdoor adventures, survival kits, and emergency preparedness, burns for 9 hours
Short Review: These camping candles lasts for about 9 hours each. This is meant to be used in conjunction with the UCO lantern. The candles are very well constructed and they work very well. I highly recommend them. They are about 3.5 inches in height and great for outdoor or emergency purposes because they lasts for a long time. The item features high-melt temperature that decreases dripping and soot from coming out. Good set of candles that is very affordable and multi-purpose.
4. Yehuda, Yahrzeit Memorial Candle
Weight: 10 lbs total
Wax Material: Parafin
Burn Time: 24-26 hour
Dimensions: 3″
Feature Summary: Each candle lasts for about 24-26 hours, lots of candles in each pack, no scent, easy to use
Short Review: This is an extraordinary outdoor candle set that I have grown to like a lot. This is very useful to have and can be used in a lot of ways. Most of the time, this is used for emergencies like a blackout. The candles are about 3 inches and burns cleanly. Not a lot to say about a simple item other than it works well. The price is pretty good also. Lasts for about 24 hours or one day for each item and has no scent at all.
5. Candlelife Emergency Survival Candle
Weight: 4.95 lbs total
Wax Material: Liquid Paraffin Wax
Burn Time: 115 hours
Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 4 inches
Feature Summary: Great candle to use during blackouts, 100% smoke & smell-free, great for emergencies
Short Review: If you want something amazing then this outdoor set of emergency candles is right for you. This is an amazing item that lasts for about 115 hours. You get so much life and usefulness with each item. This does not have any smell and does not have any soot as well. A great item to have for camping, backpacking or for emergencies. These provide a great light source in times of a blackout or when the power gets shorted.
| Check Out My Other Reviews – backpacking knife sharpeners – backpacking headlamps – backpacking frying pans – backpacking signal mirrors – backpacking water containers |
6. Coghlan’s Candles, 5 Pack
Weight: 1 lbs total
Wax Material: Not Available
Burn Time: 8 to 10 hours
Dimensions: 1 1/2″ x 5″
Feature Summary: This is made to last for a very long time, designed to be space saving, company is very trust worthy
Short Review: Another amazing candle made by Coghlan. The design of this is both aesthetically pleasing and functional at the same time. This is a 5 pack candle with a very affordable price. The candle provides a lot of light in emergency situations. Contains water proof breathable hypora lining that repels water. A great set of candles to use in a camping trip or backpacking trip. Great for the outdoors and good for emergency situations as well.
7. 9 Day Yahrtzeit Candle
Weight: 1 lbs
Wax Material: 100% Vegetable Oil
Burn Time: 216 Hour
Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 8 inches
Feature Summary: Made with 100% vegetable oil wax , company is very good, safe plastic holder
Short Review: This emergency candle is one of the best. This has top quality materials and it is pretty affordable. This is very stable and can stand on its own. Other candles are not like that, there is a chance that they will fall and burn everything. The plastic holder allows this candle to stand freely by itself. Made out of 100% vegetable wax and has a soft glow to the light. Nothing too bright nor too powerful. The whole candle lasts for about 216 hours.
8. Exotac candleTIN Emergency Beeswax Slow Burn Candle
Weight: 3.2 oz
Wax Material: Bees Wax
Burn Time: 30 hour
Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.8 x 2 in.
Feature Summary: Three wicks that lasts 10 hours each, durable and reusable tin packaging, lasts for 30 hours
Short Review: You need to check out this slow burning candle before this is sold out. This candle is made out of bees wax and lasts for about 30 hours. It has 3 wicks with 10 hour burn time each. A slow burning candle that is great for emergencies, outdoor camping and backpacking. Bees wax is completely free of petroleum also. This item comes in a very durable tin packaging that makes it easy to store and transport this item. Good item that is very lightweight and easy to carry which makes it great for the outdoors.
9. Emergency Candles- 7 Pack Slow Burning
Weight: 4.8 oz
Wax Material: Not Available
Burn Time: 4 hours
Dimensions: 3 3/4″ height, 0.7in. diameter
Feature Summary: Company makes amazing items, popular company with lots of positive customer ratings, strong and durable construction
Short Review: This emergency candle is wonderful and I know you will like it. There are items out there that are very fragile so at least listen to my suggestions. This one is really sturdy. This candle is very affordable and lasts for a long time. The whole set is very cheap or affordable while also coming in 7 pieces. This item should lasts for quite a while and should be used for survival, camping, backpacking, emergencies and so on.
10. 3 Pack 16oz Soy Emergency Soy Candle 120 Hours Plus
Weight: 16 oz
Wax Material: 100% Pure Soy Wax
Burn Time: 120 hours
Dimensions: 5.1 in height 3.15 in wide
Feature Summary: Lasts for about 120 hours, this is an amazing company, made to last for years to come
Short Review: There are a lot of consumers who love this survival candle. This item is inside a glass and the glass allows it to stand up or be stable. The top of the glass does heat up but the bottom does not. So try not to hold the top part. This is made out of soy wax and don’t smell anything when it burns. A great item for emergency use or for car camping trip that lasts for days. I like the glass because this makes it very safe and easy to use.
| Check Out My Other Reviews – backpacking potty trowels – backpacking hammocks – camping wool blanket – hiking water filter – leather passport case |