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Travel Gear Review: Why You Need To Travel With A Headlamp

10/4/2015

 

It's time to shine a little light onto your travels.

Picture
Shining a light on the coqui frog of Hawaii.
With all the grace and stealth of a bull in a china shop, I made my way out the tiny doorway of our tree house and across the even tinier landing to our outdoor washroom. The steps were slick with rain, the walls were full of shadows, and the air was thick with the grating call of the coqui frog. But I noticed none of this as my eyes nervously darted back and forth, sweeping the area for the rumored wild pig who called the property home. We were warned to make sure he didn't get into the kitchen hut (HOW??!?!) and I was convinced that a pig smart enough to infiltrate the kitchen could easily secure a foothold in the outhouse to plan an ambush.  

I had traveled for years without a headlamp, and then traveled years more with one that stayed in the bottom of my pack. And then, over the course of 72 hours in Hawaii, it more than earned its keep. Here's what you need to know when you buy one - and why I'll never go without mine again.
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I kept my headlamp on the treehouse nightstand, just in case.
I'm happy to report that I never did catch a glimpse of the wild pig (although I'm convinced he was lurking nearby). But I was thrilled that I could give the washroom a thorough sweep for oversized insects and other enemies before entering. And in the thick haze of jet lag, I was glad I wasn't stumbling around with my precious, pricey iPhone to provide light. Throw in a late night visit to Volcanoes National Park to check out the lava and my dusty, trusty headlamp was finally earning its keep!
Picture
Getting ready to trek for lava as dusk combines with vog in Volcanoes National Park.
A headlamp was one of those things I picked up because I felt it made me look like a REAL traveler - as good a reason to spend money as any, I suppose! I picked up the Energizer Trail Finder LED for about $15 at my local outdoors store. I kept it in the little 'just in case' section of my pack and hoped to never use it. I figured it was like a first aid kit - a smart thing to have and nothing more. But the tables have turned and my time in Hawaii has left me wanting more travel experiences where I actually need to use it! 
Picture
They both provide light - so which device is the best?
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So why can't you just use your smart phone, or even a regular flashlight? Why do you need a headlamp when you travel? First, for many activities a headlamp gives you a huge advantage by letting you have two free hands. Very helpful when you're trying to simultaneously go to the bathroom and keep the door firmly shut against the theoretical invading hoard of wild pigs!

Using a headlamp instead of your phone will help you conserve your phone's valuable battery life. Using a headlamp will help keep your phone safe. Hiking a dark trail, going to an outhouse, starting a campfire - you don't want to have your phone out and in danger! And headlamps are lighter and smaller than most flashlights, but still provide just as much power.
Picture
Even simple camping trips require a headlamp.
PictureWaiting for dawn in Myanmar to ride in a hot air balloon.
There are likely a lot of people who think that any kind of travel which requires a headlamp doesn't sound like a much of a vacation! And they're not wrong - treehouses (and outhouses) and rampaging wild pigs are not for everyone. I'm not even sure they're for me! But there are a lot of safe, clean, comfortable travel experiences where a headlamp still  might come in handy. 

Headlamps are invaluable for taking part in the evening programs of National Parks. Or walking down to the dock at dawn to enjoy a cottage sunrise. Or making your way to the launch point of your morning hot air balloon ride. You don't have to be a camper to need a headlamp!

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Small, simple, and affordable.
For evaluating multi-purpose, good value gear for the everyday traveler and mild adventurer, I suggest a different set of evaluation criteria other than beam length, lumens, and trail finding capability.  First and foremost, the most important consideration is weight. The main reason I love my headlamp is that it only weighs 1.6 ounces - having no batteries rules! Traditional models usually weigh 4 ounces or more.  

(This article isn't intended for an audience of hard core campers. I'm not reviewing headlamps for the purposes of night hiking or trail finding or mountain climbing. Travelers engaged in more more technical activities will find this  review chart from the Outdoor Gear Lab to be helpful. )
Secondly, read the fine print to see how long your headlamp will last. You want something reliable and a good value for the money. I've seen products advertised as having anywhere from 5 to 80 hours of light! My headlamp has a life of about 10 hours and given how intermittently I use it, I suspect it will last me a long, long time and the price point to replace it is just right. 

Third, it's important that your headlamp is comfortable to wear and easy to use. Look for adjustable straps, non-slip padding, and easy press buttons. Some other factors to consider include an adjustable high/low beam (nice to avoid blinding your hostel roommates), water resistance, and price. 
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Is a headlamp an absolutely essential piece of gear? No. Is it a fantastic tool that can prove tremendously helpful in your travels? Absolutely yes! And I'm happy to report that they are affordable, lightweight, and comfortable - now there's no excuse not to set up that campfire or head out to that National Park! As for late night sprints to an outhouse in wild pig territory - well, that takes both a headlamp AND some nerve!

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Joe Ankenbauer link
11/4/2015 10:54:00 am

I love this! I use my headlamp for everything. It's great for illuminating my tent and for when I need to fumble around the campsite. Thanks for raising headlamp awareness!

Vanessa
13/4/2015 05:12:54 am

My pleasure -more headlamps for everyone!

chrysoula link
11/4/2015 12:03:07 pm

Interesting article and funny! I don't own a headlamp but I probably should. It sounds very handy!

Vanessa
14/4/2015 01:40:48 am

Handy and hands free!

Sarah link
11/4/2015 01:48:45 pm

I've never used a headlight before, but I must admit, I've been in quite a few situations where I could have really used one. Guess I never really thought about it... Till now :)

Vanessa
12/4/2015 02:43:34 am

Hope you have some great travel adventures with one soon!

Sue Reddel link
12/4/2015 03:34:18 am

What a great idea! Makes so much sense. I'm going to pick one up to keep in my travel go bag. I also loved your coqui photo. When we were in Puerto Rico we heard them every night but never actually saw one!

Vanessa
12/4/2015 04:22:34 am

Those darn coquis! I didn't mind it when they were all singing -it was like a steady background noise. But when it was just one of them, I found the alternating silence then noise, silence then noise, to drive me crazy.

Fabio link
12/4/2015 06:46:13 am

Ah the trusty headtorch! So many times have we found them useful. The one major perk for me over a phone is that they're water resistant.

Vanessa
13/4/2015 02:50:48 pm

And as a bonus, it might even help you find your lost phone in the dark!

Suzanne Rudge link
12/4/2015 01:13:53 pm

Great points for using a travel light. Even hotel rooms can be super dark with shades drawn so one can always find a use. Your adventures sound pretty cool!

Vanessa
14/4/2015 01:41:50 am

So true. If a hotel room has an unconventional layout, trying to find your way to the washroom in the dark can be an adventure in itself without a head lamp.

Kerrie link
12/4/2015 01:56:07 pm

So smart to take a head lamp with you. I had never thought of it before but now that you mention all the reasons for it, it just makes so much sense.

Vanessa
14/4/2015 01:43:29 am

Let me know which one you pick up and how it works for you!

Jenna link
12/4/2015 04:26:25 pm

Although it has come in handy a few times, mine ends up sitting at the bottom of my pack quite often as well. It was a lifesaver for the times I did need it though! Great review and a nice reminder to get mine out and use it more often :)

Vanessa
14/4/2015 01:47:29 am

Thank you! You might find that making a plan for using a headlamp would help you get more value. Midnight stroll to the beach anyone?

Valerie link
12/4/2015 06:58:32 pm

I must admit, I have never even considered needing a headlamp for traveling! Since reading this though it has got me thinking of all the situations where it would come in handy, especially for camping. I will definitely buy one before our next big camping trip

Vanessa
14/4/2015 01:49:16 am

So handy for camping. Gives you a good way to check the toastiness of that marshmallow before adding it to your s'more! Leave it in the car as part of your emergency kit. Then pack it in your carry-on for your next big trip. It can come in handy everywhere!

Randa @ TBK link
14/4/2015 03:38:47 am

This is really smart, I have never thought to bring our lamp on trips. We don't do too many outdoor stuff at night but checking for bugs - yup.

Vanessa
14/4/2015 05:35:31 am

I'm not bug adverse - I just like being more aware of their location than they are of mine. Headlamps for the win!

littlemisskate link
14/4/2015 03:42:25 am

When I am camping with my dad we always pack our headlamps. Makes life so much easier to have some hands-free light. I have also found it useful around the house, and of course my boys love to play with them too.

Vanessa
14/4/2015 05:42:34 am

It is definitely a kid-friendly piece of gear, especially compared to some stuff that's needed when traveling and exploring the outdoors (like hatchets or fuel canisters!)

Christine link
14/4/2015 07:14:08 am

Okay, I have to say that you are so smart! What a smart idea it is to travel with a headlamp! My husband always has one with him in his truck, in his toolbox, in the barn, in the shed...but we have never taken one on a trip with us! I can see how it can come in so handy. Wonder why we never thought of bringing it on a trip!

Vanessa
14/4/2015 07:26:46 am

Thanks Christine! Your comment has made me think of a new use for it - you should have one in your car's roadtrip kit. Helpful for changing a tire or dashing into the woods for an emergency bathroom stop!


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