Sports Headlamps: Flood the night with light!

Headlights are finally getting more attention from the public and the sporting community at large. This could be because we often see movies with special forces troops wearing headlights on top of their helmets. Today, even headlamps found in a hardware store can outperform the best headlamps sold in a mountaineering store several years ago. This advancement and growing popularity of headlights is due to the increased use of new light bulbs that we call LEDs.

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are the new standard in headlights replacing old halogen bulbs. LED bulbs don’t get hot and have much better burn times, much longer than the collapsible fluorescent bulbs we used to use. LED”S bulbs can last up to 100,000 hours at 50% of their original power. But for all practical purposes, Petzl, a leading manufacturer of headlamps, claims that 5,000 hours is a best estimate at which the bulb is still the best. Bright enough for remote work and nighttime signaling LEDs are more shatter resistant than glass Headlight power is down to two factors (at least): the number of LED bulbs and the focusing lens in the headlamp.A headlamp can be classified in “lumens which measures the total amount of light emitted in all directions by a light source (REI). To put it into perspective, 300 lumens is the same light output from a 20-watt bulb that could be used in a reading light. Do not consider it very powerful. But if you put that much light into a housing like a headlight and combine it with a focusing lens that all headlights have, then you have massive power to focus a 100 yard beam. As with all equipment, the more you spend, the more powerful the product – especially the headlights. The Petzl NAO headlamp has a nominal power of 300 lumens and a beam of 108 meters! It can be rechargeable batteries and has an automatic sensor that adjusts the light for close work (Proximity Lighting). A lighthouse isn’t just for chores around the campsite. It can mean your own survival when the situation calls for it.

One afternoon around 6 pm I tore my ACL at the back of Vail Mountain. With the coming of darkness, I hit my knees and headed for the Shrine Mountain Hut, a few miles away. I found the cabin around midnight. I was surprised to find that it was marked with only a small 2 inch blue reflector! I have to praise my old Petzl zoom halogen lamp for finding that little speck of color in the dark. Talk about luck! Thank God the weather was clear. A good headlamp with a near and far beam of light is a must for night travel, rescue signaling, or just cooking. Must be able to operate at low temperatures. A lamp that uses standard AA batteries (especially rechargeable batteries) should have a battery pack that is worn inside clothing for use in very cold conditions. Headlamps using rechargeable lithium batteries seem to fit the bill, as they can be used over and over again and are not affected by cold. Naturally, you should test your batteries before you leave the house, and always bring backup batteries and light bulbs for emergency use. Lithium batteries are very reliable in extreme cold conditions and have an unlimited lifespan. For use in tents or cabins, a small hanging tent light can be valuable while preparing meals and will save your headlamps for more important uses. The same size batteries should be used for all electrical appliances for maximum interchangeability. Put a piece of tape over the on and off switches to prevent accidental activation while in a pack if they don’t have a lockout switch. Another nice feature is a strobe function that will allow the light to flash on and off for hours in case a distress signal needs to be issued.

Headlights may seem expensive. But you have to remember that when you need a headlamp, it’s probably not for fun. It may be dark and it may be snowing or raining. You are probably not in the dark by choice. You may need to read a map, use a GPS, or help someone who has fallen. You need it to work the first time and it had better be brilliant! Get an expensive headlamp and don’t look back. You will be making a good decision that will pay off many times over in your outdoor future.