Buyers Guide to Lighting

What should you never go out into the hills without???? A torch!

This key little piece of equipment is not just there to help guide you through your night time adventures but it can be an emergency beacon and signaling device too. A small investment (and battery or power management) can literally save your life.

The humble headlamp has undergone an astounding technical re-vamp in the past ten years, not least in the amount of brightness they emit………..

Photo: Striding Edge, James Gibson

So what, exactly, is a lumen?

When faced with a wall of torches it is likely one of the key pieces of information visible is how many lumens each torch will emit. A lumen describes the amount of light radiated and is an easy way to start a comparison between torches but as with all things scientific – it’s complicated.

Lumens, are not measured with a standardised system, they will simply tell you how bright the lamp is in all directions, in all conditions. Torches come with a multitude of functions that mess with such uniform maths but they can offer customers a good idea of how bright a torch may be and are a great starting point for discussion.

Why should we focus on more than lumens?

For start, a good headtorch will offer a choice of beam type; a spot light function will offer more beam distance but less peripheral light (ideal for climbing or traversing tricky terrain) a flood light, however, will offer more peripheral light and less beam distance (perfect for clearing camp in the dark).

Intelligent or performance lighting adjusts beam type and distance automatically while in use and there are torches so smart that you can link them to an app on your phone allowing you to manage output and therefore battery life.

Then there are the additional features such as rear red lights, removable batteries, power source, headband comfort, tilting options, water resistance/waterproof – take time to have a chat with us to work out which style is the best for the activities you want to use it for. Between us, we’ve probably used all of them.

Weight and bulk should also be a serious consideration depending on the activities you wish to use your torch for.

How long will my headtorch last before recharging/requiring a battery change?

Run times quoted for torches are based on general use. In reality you will be using a variety of functions on your torch and temperature can play a major factor. Any battery will drain faster in cold conditions so if you are planning on using it in extreme cold look for one with a battery that can be tucked into clothing.

Brightness or burn time is always a question of balance. The brighter the light, the faster the power will drain. Beam distance and type will play a big part in how quickly your battery drains and it is worth knowing that a lot of torches have “regulated output” so they remain bright for a majority of their battery life and then die quickly. Make sure you have spare batteries or a powerbank to hand.

Some headtorches will have a power meter or a flashing method of telling you how much power they have left.

Finally, a torch with a locking facility is ideal to stop it accidentally turning on in your backpack and draining the power.

What is a Duel Fuel Torch???

Our American buddies use this term for torches that work on both regular batteries and rechargeable.

This feature is available across brands and is really useful if you are travelling further afield where charging points may be an issue. Alternatively, if you are going to remote extreme cold it may be that a traditional Lithium-Ion battery offers longer life than a re-chargeable. However, a Lithium-Ion rechargeable is better for intense use and always preferential when it comes to battery disposal and the environment. It is worth noting that in use at -20° C, a Lithium Ion Polymer battery loses an average of 35 % of its initial capacity, while a traditional nickel AA/ AAA battery loses 80 %.

How do I know my torch is waterproof?

Quality torches will carry an international Ingress Protection rating. The code represents the product's protection level against the intrusion of solid objects and liquids and is quoted in the product instructions with the letters IP followed by either one or two numbers. The first number represents solid objects; e.g: dust. The second represents liquid objects; e.g: water. The higher the number the greater the protection.

For example: A torch quoting IP3 had been tested to keep out rain. A torch quoting IP67 has been tested to give protection against temporary immersion and is dust tight – ideal for expeditions.

Do I get what I pay for?

Yes!

Petzl, for example, sell a multitude of spares and have an excellent UK based repair facility. Some of our staff team have Petzl torches dating back to the 80’s that are still in use today.

Any of the brands we sell have been through a stringent design, quality and testing process. In some cases this includes real world, low tech testing involving dropping from height, immersing in buckets of water and dropping large metal blocks on prototype torches before they are allowed anywhere near the marketplace.

Buy well, buy once.

What is the safest way to light my tent without carrying a separate lantern?

Candles are lovely but not terribly safe when it comes to lighting your tent. Wearing a headtorch can work but if you are sharing then at some point you and your tent mate are highly likely to blind each other. Torches that offer different colour light can work well – for example a red light will not affect your night vision and is far less intrusive when getting up in the night.

Solar powered inflatable lights are a great way to give off a soft tent light in camp or some companies sell small “lantern” pouches you can pop your head torch in to diffuse the light too. Silva recommends putting their torches into one of their clear dry bags for an all-weather camp light which means you don’t have to carry anything extra while backpacking!

Top Tips:

In rain or snow move the light from your head to chest height (i.e: on a pack strap) this is more comfortable for your eyes and improves your vision. This technique also works really well in still, damp cold conditions – with the light at chest height the light will not reflect off the water molecules that condense in front of your face as you breath out.

An orange light option preserves night vision but still allows you to read contours on maps. This function can work well for ultra’s or orienteering.

Try it on. Elastics come in a variety of widths and even if you are planning on using your torch on a helmet there will be times it will be on your head in camp. If you wear a pony tail – make sure it fits!

Click the image to listen to our light hearted podcast discussing the science of Lighting - Beam Me Up!