For efficient survival its all about making smart choices with your torch strategy since they give you way more burn time per fuel unit. Watch the kerosene consumption carefully, torches will stretch 0.10l across 90 minutes while lanterns burn through that same amount in just 24 minutes which is a huge difference. Getting the wolf defense timing down is crucial, they'll back off the moment you aim that flame at them and if things get dicey, you can toss the torch to create a barrier between you and them.

The real efficiency comes from working with fires, since you can pull fresh torches straight from existing flames without using matches, and theres a sweet spot where you can chain-ignite new ones from dying torches with about 60-90% success rate if you time it right. One really interesting detail most miss is that crafted torches need cloth and kerosene but fire-taken ones just need sticks, so position yourself near campfires whenever possible to conserve those precious materials.

Keep in mind that unlike lantern fuel which degrades over time, torches stay stable in your inventory which makes them perfect for those longer expeditions. The key to mastering torch management is maintaining that fire transfer cycle, always keeping one lit to start your next one when needed basically giving you an endless chain of light sources without touching your match supply.