June 26, 2019
Lights (headlamps)
Yes indeed, I only talk about headlamps.
If you are carrying anything else, you will be much happier
when you switch to a headlamp.
I have done the hardcore ultralight thing and carried a keychain light,
but I can do just about as well with nothing at all.
There are a host of competing manufacturers, each with a host of different lamps,
and all of them churning out new models every time you turn around.
This short list just gives you a few that I have experience with.
You can make yourself dizzy looking at other options and checking what new
things are being offered.
The big question is whether you actually expect to be hiking with a headlamp.
If so, carry the real thing (like the 18650 cell lamp I recommend).
Also don't simply look at lumen output -- which it seems is what sells headlamps.
Look at run times at the brightness levels you actually expect to use.
It is a rare situation that you will want or need the maximum
output of your light. A good "moonlight" mode with a long runtime is far more
important than maximum output. 50 lumens is quite adequate for hiking at
night once your eyes get dark adapted.
Thrunite TH10 V2 - 5.8 ounces
If you really expect to be night hiking in unfamiliar terrain,
this is what you want. Perhaps carry an extra battery (1.6 ounces).
It uses an 18650 Li-Ion cell.
This has a built in USB charger, so you don't also need to go buy an
18650 charger to use it, which is really nice.
The following times are based on a fully charged 3200 maH battery.
I am usually using a 2000 maH battery, so I will get about 2/3 of
these times.
- firefly 1.0 lumens, -- mA, 40 days
- low 37 lumens, 50 mA, 57 hours
- low/med 138 lumens, 160 mA, 13 hours
- medium 350 lumens, 450 mA, 4 hours
- high 1100 lumens, 2150 mA, 90 minutes
I hiked for hours using an older version with an 11 lumen output.
The 37 lumen "low" mode of this light would be quite a luxury by
comparison.
Fenix HL23 (HL22) - 3.1 ounces
This uses a single AA cell and works fine with NiMH rechargeables.
- H 150 lumen 1.5 hour
- M 45 lumen 4.5 hour
- L 3 lumen 55 hour
The only advantage this offers over the much lighter "BINDI" below is
that you can swap in fresh batteries in the field.
And it uses plain old AA batteries, which you can get almost anywhere.
Petzl BINDI - 1.2 ounces
I don't own one of these. Yet, anyway.
It is ideal for the usual in-camp use on trips where you don't
actually anticipate hiking by headlamp.
It has an internal Li-Ion battery that you charge via USB.
- H 200 lumen 2 hour
- M 100 lumen 3 hour
- L 6 lumen 50 hour
- Red 1 lumen 33 hour
The light has a 1.5 hour reserve (at 3 lumens).
It has a red mode, but the low white is more battery efficient.
Note that this yields superior performance to the HL23, but at 1/3 the weight.
Petzl Zipka - 2.3 ounces
This is an interesting option if you are considering the Bindi.
For only 1.1 additional ounces, you are getting twice the battery
and therefore twice the run times.
(You get a 1250 maH battery instead of a 680 maH battery).
This is if you buy the "CORE", which is a Li-ion
battery with USB charging built into the battery itself!
Price if you also buy the CORE is about $60 (compare to $50 for the BINDI).
Note though that you have the option of using 3 AAA cells if need arises.
Having 9 hours of 100 lumen light makes it a realistic option if you unexpectedly
have to do some night hiking.
- H 300 lumen 2 hour
- M 100 lumen 9 hour
- L 6 lumen 120 hour
- Red 1 lumen 60 hour
Black Diamond Spotlight 160 - 1.9 ounces
This caught my eye. It uses two AAA batteries and is NOT USB chargeable.
Black Diamond was known for misrepresenting both the IPX-8 waterproofing as well
as expected run times on the bigger "Spot", so specifications for this light ought
to be viewed with some skepticism.
- H 160 lumen 2 hour
- M 80 lumen 14 hour
- L 6 lumen 60 hour
It does have a red light mode.
It allows brightness to be changed smoothly and continuously, which is nice.
The best part is the price at $27.
Have any comments? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Tom's backpacking pages / tom@mmto.org