| Headlamps to make you see like an owl |
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| Written by Chris Anderson |
| Monday, 01 July 2002 01:56 |
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Let There Be Light Never cook spaghetti dinner at camp, search for a tent spot or fear the boogeyman in the dark again. A new breed of headlamps has arrived, casting fresh light on overnight paddling trips. Following is a sampling designed to perform in any situation—from a quiet evening canoe paddle to sea kayaking in the next Eco Challenge. Honey, have you seen the tent stakes? For tooling around the campsite—including searching for firewood or looking for someone else’s flashlight—a new line of lightweight headlamps are the best choice. The latest, greatest technology are LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), which last for years and consume far less energy than traditional bulbs. Plus, they’re absolutely tiny, meaning you don’t strain your neck holding up your headlamp. Petzl Tikka ($34.95) Specs: Three AAA batteries, 3 LEDs, 2.4 oz. Performance: The Tikka is about as compact as they come. It has one simple headband and the batteries fit in the bulb housing with the snap of a button. Three LEDs emit a soft blue light, just enough for setting up the tent, then taking a jaunt on nearby trails. During testing, the Tikka proved its versatility by doubling as a lighted dog collar for a beagle with undesirable wandering habits. Black Diamond Moonlight ($34.50) Specs: Three AAA batteries, 4 LEDs, 1 replacement LED in battery pack, 3.2 oz., water-resistant Performance: The Moonlight is quite similar to the Tikka. The fourth LED and battery pack on the back of the headband add a little bulk in exchange for a brighter beam and extended burn time. The light is still soft enough to avoid blinding your paddling partner and offers a range of adjustment to focus on a book or toward distant scary noises. If Leathermans were lights These are the good-for-any-situation, multi-purpose headlamps. Most incorporate adjustable, long-range beams with short-range, fixed bulbs. They’re a little bigger than the LEDs, but cast a stronger beam. Black Diamond SpaceShot ($59.50) Specs: One 6V and 6 AA batteries, 1 Xenon Halogen bulb, 1 LED, replacement Xenon Halogen in battery pack, 8.4 oz. Performance: For any gear fanatic, the SpaceShot is the stuff of daydreams. It sports numerous features including a "voltage regulator that provides 4.5 hours of continuous, non-fading light." (If you’re cooking dinner that long, you should probably be looking at campstoves instead.) The water-resistant, nylon battery bag houses six AA batteries and a 6V battery that provides 12 hours of backup LED lighting. Look to Black Diamond’s three AA Gemini for a smaller headlamp package. Petzl Duo ($66) Specs: Four AA, 1 Halogen bulb, 1 6V bulb, 1 replacement Halogen and 6V in lamp housing, 200 grams, water-resistant Performance: The Duo sports a design that fits perfectly with sea kayaking the tropics. Its features are simple—flip the light switch down for the low-intensity bulb, up for the brighter Halogen. This is a bread-and-butter headlamp; it works fine without the latest-greatest LED technology. Princeton Tec Vor Tec ($39.95) Specs: Four AA batteries, 1 Halogen bulb, 1 Krypton bulb, 8 oz., waterproof to 1,000 feet Performance: The Vor Tec looks rather unimpressive next to the smaller LED headlamps—somewhat burly, to be precise. However, try it once and develop a new appreciation for simplicity. Use the Krypton bulb and wide-beam reflector for washing dishes or reading the river map for the next day’s float. Combine the narrow-beam reflector and Halogen bulb to temporarily blind tent mates. Best yet, you can drop it overboard when going to the raft cooler for a late-night beer: It’s waterproof. Princeton Tec Matrix ($48.95) Specs: Two AA batteries, 3 LEDs, 1 incandescent bulb, 4.5 oz., waterproof to 2,000 feet Performance: Similar to the Vor Tec, the Matrix is quite surprising. The three LEDs are housed in a reflector piece that inserts just like a normal bulb and provides enough light for any campsite activity. The Matrix also comes with a fleece stuff sack and a high-output bulb for situations where brightness is needed—like picking M&Ms out of the midnight snack gorp bag. Mixed bag Many headlamps are manufactured for highly specific applications. Here are a few that shine in paddling-related activities. Dark Ends HD..4 ($110) Specs: Rechargeable NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) battery, 4 watt Halogen bulb, 6V overnight charger Performance: Looking for an attractively designed headlamp that won’t mess your hairdo? This isn’t the one. However, the HD..4 blazes so bright it could double as a lighthouse beacon. It comes with a simple "plug me in overnight" charging system to restore its five-hour burn time. The no-frills, though somewhat bulky, workmanship of the HD..4 makes it ideal for situations where compactness is negligible but spotlight-strength beam is desired. Petzl Saxo Aqua ($29.95) Specs: Four AA batteries, 1 Krypton 6V bulb with replacement in battery compartment, 232 grams, waterproof to 70 meters Performance: The Saxo Aqua is a headlamp-flashlight hybrid—the headband detaches from the light housing so that it can double as a flashlight. In the event you’ll be paddling in the tropics and snorkeling at night, this is the light. Pelican Tracker ($13.75) Specs: Two AAA batteries, 1 Xenon bulb, waterproof Performance: The Tracker isn’t a headlamp but it makes a great backup light source. It’s tiny, durable, waterproof and emits an incredibly bright beam considering its size. Use it to find your headlamp in a pinch, or your shuttle keys after a late take-out. Originally Published, Paddler July-August 2002 |
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