Headlamps are one of the ten essentials. The type of headlamp you use and how you use it will affect your safety and the safety of others in your winter backpacking team. Hikers often select headlamps based on weight rather than waterproofness and functionality. Be careful not to sacrifice safety.
For winter backpacking purposes a headlamp should provide a range of specific functionalities (discussed below) and the user should follow practices that ensure the headlamp is not lost or inoperable when it is most needed.
Basic Headlamp Skills
Learn to operate your headlamp without looking at it.
- Test your headlamp and familiarize yourself with its features and settings before your hike.
- Attach your headlamp to your helmet using the four external headlamp clips.
- Ensure the on/off button is positioned facing up.
- With the helmet on your head, reach up and activate the headlamp, then switch through the variable brightness levels, red mode, and strobe mode, and adjust the up-and-down angle.
Ideally, you can teach yourself how to operate your headlamp while it is out of view on your head and when you are in difficult terrain and weather conditions.