THE HEAD TORCH provides hands-free illumination and, as well as being useful around camp, is a key item of safety gear for all hillwalkers. We may expect to be off the hill before nightfall, but things don’t always go to plan. We need to be prepared to navigate our way safely off the hill in darkness if necessary.
A good head torch will provide reliable, ample light for sufficient time to do whatever is needed. It needs to be weather-resistant, lightweight and easy to operate with gloves on and in poor conditions. It should be straightforward to replace the batteries, or to recharge, whilst on the hill.
When choosing a head torch, make sure it meets these basic requirements, and then think about what else you want it to do. How powerful does it need to be? Brightness comes with a weight (and cost) penalty. How durable? What about battery life? Will you be using it in emergencies only, or do you plan to use it for many nights in a row for wild camping? Do you need a wide pool of light for lighting the path ahead or a long, focused beam to aid complex navigation (or both)?
It’s a good idea to carry spare batteries, or even a spare lightweight head torch, in case your main one
