High Sierra Topix

I did not switch to the Luci to save weight and not sure it really is a weight savings. I just like the quality of light better. I am usually solo but i have always been annoyed by others wearing headlamps that obnoxiously shine right into my face at night.

Yep, I really don't like the headlamps in camp. Diffuse light is much better. It was minor weight savings for me, but a better light for my use.

Then I guess I don't understand your aversion to batteries with respect to a headlamp or water treatment.

Not a distinct aversion, so much as if I bring a headlamp, I feel compelled to bring extra batteries in case it turns on inside my pack, if I bring the steripen I need to bring extra batteries too. Without weight penalty, both these changes made my loadout simpler, and less "stuff". I'm not a luddite, I just want simple/easy/friction free. (I LOVE the jetboil, despite non-trivial weight, for exactly that reason)

I used a headlamp one time and didn't like it. Besides I later decided that for me night time was for sleeping.

rayfound wrote:...if I bring a headlamp, I feel compelled to bring extra batteries in case it turns on inside my pack, if I bring the steripen I need to bring extra batteries too.

It sounds like a headlamp that couldn't turn on accidentally (or had an auto-off feature) would be one solution.

Neither of my lights is likely to go dead in my pack. The original version Tikka has a mechanical slide switch and it would be very difficult for it to turn on accidentally. It's got such long battery life it wouldn't even matter that much if it did. The keychain thing has an auto-off feature. I never take spare batteries.

There are times when a headlamp is the tool of choice. I don't know how many of you were around when we used to hold little metal flashlights in our teeth when setting up camp in the dark. The development of lightweight backpacking headlamps was a godsend. And the modern ones are so small and light you could carry two and in most cases barely notice it.

the mini mag lights had a dental adapter so you didn't have to put your teeth on the bare metal. Lets see. I have a headlamp in the truck in case of a mishap and I need the light, and a headlamp when I backpack because no moon and hiking out heavy at night would have been a pain/dangerous in one situation without it. Equipment choices kind of depend on the trip/logistics involved.

Agree that the LED's are superior and the batteries last a long, long time.

Not a distinct aversion, so much as if I bring a headlamp, I feel compelled to bring extra batteries in case it turns on inside my pack, if I bring the steripen I need to bring extra batteries too.

Never had my headlamp turn on and for the steripen I reverse two of the batteries after each usage.

It's a little heavy by some people's standards (not mine), but I have an older Petzl headlamp that comes with a convenient lantern attachment that I've been pretty happy with. A few years ago it was one of the higher rated models offered by REI. I tend to use the lantern feature more often than the headlamp, but having the directed, hands-free option is nice for certain in-camp applications as well as the rare night hike. I have a Luci too but haven't taken it on a hike yet so am unable to offer a comparison.

rlown wrote:the mini mag lights had a dental adapter so you didn't have to put your teeth on the bare metal.

Those came a little later but there was indeed a period where that was one solution. I never got one though. My old mini mag was missing a lot of blue paint at the end. I wonder how much of it I swallowed?

With the first generation of smaller headlamps you had to worry about the incandescent lightbulb burning out. Some of them even came with a spare lightbulb stashed inside the body of the headlamp.

maverick wrote:Never had my headlamp turn on and for the steripen I reverse two of the batteries after each usage.

I've had my newer, fancier headlamp turn on in the pack many times. It just takes a button push to do it and it has no auto-off. Not a very well thought out design. The whole thing is poorly designed, especially the user interface. Most headlamps I've looked at seem that way. On mine, getting to the batteries isn't all that easy so reversing them (while I have done it) doesn't work well as a regular routine.

The last time I checked out the available headlamps I was pretty disappointed. Why am I still using a headlamp that's over ten years old? It's not because it's that good (it isn't). It's because the newer ones are worse in some important respects. They could be so much better...

my headlamp is in the outside mesh pocket, so i'd see if it automagically turns on. It's a petzl tikka about 10 years old. love it, and I don't have to chew the back end of an aluminum mini mag

Did find a good use for the mini mag after I retrofitted it with the LED option. Abalone diving. Find the ab, drop the light, get fresh air and dive back down and pick the ab. They are bright and waterproof.

I've had my newer, fancier headlamp turn on in the pack many times. It just takes a button push to do it and it has no auto-off. Not a very well thought out design. The whole thing is poorly designed, especially the user interface. Most headlamps I've looked at seem that way. On mine, getting to the batteries isn't all that easy so reversing them (while I have done it) doesn't work well as a regular routine.

Still have a older Princeton Tec, the On/Off switch is recessed which makes turning it on accidentally difficult.