Were you left in the dark on your last hike? Sometimes, even if you only plan on being out for a few hours, you lose track of time. You may have spent too long lingering over that perfect mountain view that it’s starting to get dark, and the car is still a few miles down the trail. An essential item in any pack, in fact it is one of the ten essentials, is a headlamp or flashlight. Even if your plans do not call for being out after dark, be prepared and carry a light.

So which is better a headlamp or a flashlight? It may come down to your personal preference, but a headlamp offers a big advantage that a flashlight does not offer, hands free lighting. Both of your hands are free to read a map, cook dinner or just about anything else you need to do. Another advantage is where you look, the light follows. When shopping for a headlamp, you will see a lot of specifications and numbers on the label. What do they mean and which headlamp is best for you?

Three things to look for when shopping for your new headlamp:

1. How bright is the light?
2. How far does the light shine?
3. How long is the battery life?

How bright is your new headlamp going to be? One way that light brightness is measured is in Lumens. Lumens is defined as “The total output from a light source as it radiates out in all directions.” Lumens are a measure of how much a light glows. A 100-watt light bulb in your living room gives off approximately 1750 lumens. So why don’t we measure headlamps in watts? A watt is a measurement of power consumption while a lumen is a measurement of light output. Another measurement is Lux. The definition of lux is “The density of light that falls on a surface being illuminated.” A full moon shining on the ground has a measurement of .25 lux, so 1 lux would be about 4 times brighter than a full moon. Here are some popular headlamps on the market and the lumens they give off:

Petzl Tikka Plus 2	50 Lumens
Petzl Tikkina 2	23 Lumens
Black Diamond Ion	12 Lumens

Now you can determine how bright your new headlamp will be, next you will want to know is how far the light will shine. Most headlamps have multiple light modes so the headlamp will be more versatile. The Maximum Beam Distance or the furthest distance in meters the headlamp will shine usable light is measured with the light set on the highest mode with new batteries. On headlamp specification charts this is indicated by T= 0H or Time =Zero hours of battery use. With our headlamp examples from above, maximum beam distances are:

Petzl Tikka Plus 2	35 Meters
Petzl Tikkina 2	23 Meters
Black Diamond Ion	22 Meters

The last of the main things to look for when buying your new headlamp is battery life. Your light is only as good as the batteries you put in it. Common sense will tell you to always pack fresh batteries, or at least check what you have, before your hike. The different light modes on headlamps will affect battery life. Most lamps have a maximum mode with the most usable light but that also uses the most battery power. While the economic mode will provide enough light for most activities while giving you the best battery life. Looking at our example lights one more time, the first number is the battery life in maximum or high light mode and the second number is economic or low mode:

Petzl Tikka Plus 2	55 Hours-140 Hours
Petzl Tikkina 2	55 Hours-190 Hours
Black Diamond Ion	8 Hours-15 Hours

Is one type of battery better than others for headlamps? For normal use the answer is no. Inexpensive alkaline batteries work just fine. They dim slowly so you know when it is time to replace them. They do not work well in cold conditions, so if out in the winter keep them warm at night. Lithium batteries work well in cold weather, last longer than alkaline batteries and cost a little more. But when they are done they quit without warning. Rechargeable batteries work well, can save money and with the new backcountry solar chargers can be recharged just about anywhere.

The 3 headlamps that we have been using as examples all have special features that may help narrow down your selection. The Petzl Tikka Plus 2 has a red light that will help preserve night vision for chores such as map reading. The Petzl Tikkina 2 has an aimable light beam and adjustable head band. The Black Diamond Ion is an ultra light model that weights only 1 oz.

Picking the right headlamp is easy and will also keep you from being left in the dark on your next hike. Visit your local outdoor outfitters for a wide selection of headlamps or any of the other essentials you need for your next Take It Outside adventure. If you have questions or suggestions on how you can Take It Outside send us a note at takeitoutside@live.com.