In our wide range ofhiking accessories and equipment, we have selected headtorches to accompany you on your hiking adventures.
How to choose your hiking headlamp?
When choosing your kit, take time to assess your needs — are you looking for a lamp for a multi-day trek, a few nights of camping, or simply as a backup during a hiking trip?
We recommend always carrying a headlamp on your hikes — if you ever need to head back later than planned, this light source could be a lifesaver!
To help you choose, here are the criteria we recommend taking into account:
- Light output: choose a more powerful lamp if you want to walk or run at night; for map reading or a bivvy, lower output may be sufficient. Our tip: most lamps offer multiple lighting modes so you can adapt to the situation and extend battery life
- The power source(s): lithium battery or standard batteries, sometimes both. For longer use, it'll be easier to carry spare batteries in your backpack
- Battery life in use: bear in mind that batteries will drain faster in cold conditions — not all brands mention this
- Choose an intelligent beam — wide enough in front of you and more focused at distance, so you can clearly see what lies ahead
- Additional lighting modes: a flashing light for alerts, a red LED to avoid dazzling others at bivvy, or an orange light for reading IGN maps — all useful depending on your activities!
The headlamp for your mountain activities
As we've seen, once you know the key criteria for choosing your headlamp, it's time to kit yourself out.
Essential as a backup on a hiking trip, an affordable entry-level model will do the job and could save you. For camping, a model that lets you read in the tent or do the washing-up at night will suit you perfectly. For activities that require more night-time light — such as trekking, bivvy or orienteering — go for a higher-end model with the ability to read your maps at night.
Whatever your activities, lamps must be waterproof with an IP rating for rain and capable of functioning even in extreme temperatures! The brand Silva is a specialist in headtorches and is available at Cimalp.
To complete your trek or hiking kit, find: