You know those bits of gear that sneak their way into your 4X4 and never leave? The ones that earn their keep not by looking flash, but by quietly pulling their weight when the chips are down? That’s exactly what the Bushwakka Outdoor Torch has turned into for me, a deadset glovebox hero that’s always charged, always handy, and punches way above its weight for something that looks like a regular torch on the outside.
First Impressions
It’s a compact unit, just under 20cm long, and built from rugged aluminium alloy that feels like it could survive being run over by your tow rig. But where this thing starts earning brownie points is in the features. Bushwakka have clearly designed it for 4X4ers, campers, and anyone else who finds themselves squinting into the darkness while holding a spanner, a tow rope, or a questionable meat pie after sundown.
Out of the box, you’ll need to remove a little insulation tab to get it firing. Once that’s done, you’re away. It charges off USB-C, a huge win in 2025 when just about everything else we carry does too, and I’ve got mine plugged into the centre console where it sips power quietly between missions. It’s always topped up and ready to go when I need it.
Blindingly Handy
Let’s talk light output, because this is where the Bushwakka torch absolutely smashes expectations. Rated at over 1000 lumens on high, it’s proper bright. But what I love is the versatility. You’ve got five modes: Strong, Medium, Low, Flash, and SOS. That gives you everything from a full-power search beam to a low-key light for around camp when you don’t want to cook your eyeballs or spotlight the neighbours.
The telescopic zoom is a ripper too. Slide the head forward and you’ve got pencil beam mode. Think tight, focused light that’ll bounce off a gum tree a few hundred metres up the track. Pull it back and it throws out a wide flood. Perfect for lighting up the campsite, under the bonnet, or around the rear end of a bogged 4X4 while you’re digging out in the dark.
There’s a proper white laser diode inside, and it feels like a serious bit of kit. Not just a toy torch you’d chuck to the kids to keep them happy while you set up the swag.
Built for the Bush
Bushwakka haven’t just slapped a bright light in a shiny housing and called it a day. The Outdoor Torch is clearly built for outdoor abuse. The body is tough aluminium, the end cap’s got a tactical-style point that doubles as a glass breaker. A genuinely handy addition if you’re ever stuck in a vehicle in an emergency situation (or just need to crack into a stubborn packet of jerky).
Importantly, it’s not heavy. It’s not bulky. And it doesn’t need some obscure charging cable you’ll never have on you when you need it most. That USB-C port is a godsend, plug it into your 12V setup, solar pack, power bank or head unit and you’re sorted.
Battery life is solid too. I’ve tested it around camp on high mode and got just over four hours out of it. Drop it back to medium or low and you’re stretching that well into the night. It charges fairly quickly and has a built-in indicator so you’re never caught out with a dead light when you need it.
Where It Lives
This is one of those bits of kit that shouldn’t live in your drawers with all your camping kit. It’s way more useful than that. Mine lives in the centre console between the seats where I can grab it at a moment’s notice. Whether I’m checking the tyre pressure on the trailer late at night, spotting a track marker in the dark, or just hunting for dropped keys at a bush toilet, it’s right there.
Door pockets, gloveboxes, stashed under the seat, it fits just about anywhere. And unlike a lot of “tactical” lights on the market, it doesn’t scream wannabe commando or come with a price tag that makes you question your choices. At $119 it’s not a cheapo throwaway, but it feels like value when you factor in the build quality, rechargeability, and real-world usefulness.
Final Thoughts
The Bushwakka Outdoor Torch is exactly what you want in a glovebox essential: simple, reliable, tough, and properly bright. It’s got enough modes to handle everything from a breakdown to a bushwalk, and the telescopic zoom lets you tailor the beam to suit the job at hand.
It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. But it doesn’t need to. It just works, and that’s why it’s earned a permanent home in my rig.
If you’re after a proper bit of lighting kit that won’t let you down when the sun dips below the horizon and the work’s just beginning, this might be the best $119 you’ll spend on your touring setup.
Bushwakka Outdoor Torch – $119.00 AUD
Available from: Bushwakka Adventure Gear
Charging method: USB-C
Brightness: Up to 1000 lumens
Modes: Strong / Medium / Low / Flash / SOS
Battery life: 4hrs on high
Extra features: Telescopic zoom, glass breaker, aluminium body
