Mt. Adams, Stagman Ridge Oct. 6th, 2020

[drm]

I have a headlamp. It gets turned on a few times per year. I think the current battery is going into it's second winter, maybe third.

[Webfoot]

Chip Down, what headlamp(s) do you use?




jerry, that's a different use profile than I had in mind. Almost anything works in a tent. I want my headlamp to work even if I fall in a creek, bash it against a rock, stow it under a leaking bottle, etc. If you have to evacuate in the middle of the night due to a wildfire will your kit be bright enough, long enough?

There are bigger, more powerful USB charging headlamps as you suppose, e.g. Fenix.

I don't think I understand your concern though. USB charging can be more convenient but it is typically not as fast—especially with larger batteries—as a dedicated charger. Further you usually cannot use the light while it is charging, and the charging ports themselves are often not waterproof (relying instead on a rubber plug) making your kit vulnerable for an extended period of time compared to a battery swap.

You wrote "I like the USB rechargeable because you don't go through batteries. And I hate having batteries that are partially discharged, I'm not sure how much, so I have to bring a spare set." It sounds like you are describing non-rechargeable cells. If you use a AA-size rechargeable, freshly topped off before your trip, you know it is full and with your light use you probably won't have to change it. You can carry a couple of lightweight Energizer Ultimate Lithium disposable cells as a backup as you see fit.

[retired jerry]

yeah, different lights for different user profiles

I'm just throwing out one possibility that will be right for some people

[Chip Down]

Chip Down, what headlamp(s) do you use?

I just happened to get a free Nitecore HC60, and I like it enough that I don't use my Black Diamond anymore. It's extremely simple. To turn it on, I press a button. To increase brightness, I press the button again. To turn it off, I hold the button. Perfect. USB rechargable, which I like, but I would consider rechargeable standard cells as well.

[Don Nelsen]

Here is a pic of the other headlamps I use. The green and blue one is the best, lightest and most reliable. The other two are back-up. I need to have a few around so I can always find at least one when I need it. Kinda like having a bunch of tape measures in your shop so there's always one around!

[Chip Down]

Don needs headlamps because he starts hiking at noon.
(I need headlamps because I'm slow )

[Don Nelsen]

Don needs headlamps because he starts hiking at noon.
(I need headlamps because I'm slow )

I thought it was because you start before the sun comes up.

[retired jerry]

Anyone that wears out shoes in three trips isn't slow

[K.Wagner]

Don,
Roman & I were up there a couple of years back. Loved the area. We went up the creek, beautiful, slightly challenging route.
We had the perfect timing to see the creek actually receding upwards. Because it takes about 12 hrs for the melt water to get down to the meadow, we were seeing the decrease from the previous night's flow. Fascinating to follow the receding water line as it disappeared into the sand!
I know about loosing a GPS, lost one on the approach to Minnie Peak. Know about where I set it down, and looked for it the next day, and a year later, never found it.