If you are looking for a lightweight headtorch then the Silva Siju is a perfect choice. Coming in at 35g (excluding batteries) you cannot get much lighter.
This head torch features two unregulated LEDs which fire out 16 lumens up to about 15 metres with 3 light modes. This headlamp is also waterproof to IPX6 standards and includes Silva’s cocoon system for easy storage. We like this little beauty and will be putting one in our kit as a backup for our main headlamp.
IF you are looking for an industrial strength headtorch then the twin halogen Tiga Tools SL could be for you. This beast pumps out a whopping 440 lumens from it’s 20 Watt halogen bulb with a very impressive range of 250 metres. The other 6 Watt bulb is still capable of producing 120 lumens and a range of up to 100 metres. This is the sort of output you would expect for a caving headtorch but unfortunately this unit is not submerisble (although it will withstand a deluge).
As you wuold expect with a headlamp of this type the power comes from a belt battery and the NiMH version supports the bulb for 8 hours at 6W and two and a half hours at 20W.
Whilst we would not really recommend this headtorch to the outdoor enthusiast it is a very reliable and well built unit for engineers or industrial workers.
Energizer are better known for manufacturing batteries so it was a bit of a surprise when they launched their LED headtorch. The current model is 
lightweight with a single eleasticated fitting and foam padded setion behind the light unit.
The Energizer headtorch uses 3 AAA batteries which are held just behind the LED unit and once this is on your head it is so lightweight that you tend to forget it is there. This can certainly make it a very useful device. However – this is not a heavy duty item, waterproofing is not very thorough and LED output is not that bright – really only suitable for in the tent or around camp.
I was reading the Petzl news releases and was horrified to learn that there is such a thing as counterfeit Petzl products :
Whilst I was not too concerned about the concept of counterfeit products with regards head torches I was very concerned about other products, in particular climbing gear items such as karabiners and harnesses. As a climber I know how important it is to have trust in your products and I don’t think I could trust a cheap imitation. These counterfeit products have not been through the stringent Petzl design and testing process so who is to say that they will work when your life really depends upon it. Fortunately a guide has been brought out to help you decide on if your Petzl product is genuine. From reading the guide I can see that so far no counterfeit head torches have been reported yet but I think this could be just around the corner.
If you are a runner and have never come across runners world then you should definitely be heading over there to checkout some useful advice. When you take a look through the forum it is obvious that a Petzl head torch is well regarded by most runners. And no surprise ! The lightweight nature of and LED head torch from Petzl such as the Zipka or Tikka offer a bright head torch with great efficiency and ease of use. Without a doubt it seems that Petzl has become a firm favourite of runners and LED Lenser and the other brands have a long way to go to gain a reasonable market share.
As with many products in this day and age the majority of headtorches and components are made in China, I am sure you have seen some of the cheap LED head torch imports available on the market today. But how do they live up to the established brands of Petzl or LED Lenser. Well – I thought I would put it to the test and managed to score a cheap model for less than 5 quid and compared it to my well trusted Tikka 2. What I found was that whilst the illumination provided by the cheaper model was sufficient the build quality was poor when compared to established brands – you know those raised lines you get on plastic where the moulds don’t fit properly ? Well there were plenty of those on the cheap headtorch and I also found the plastic to be quite brittle.
I then gave both head torches the ultimate test – I gave them to my 5 year old kid to play with and guess what – the cheap imported headtorch lasted about 30 seconds whilst the Petzl is still going strong.
So – take my advice – fork out for the branded headtorches such as Petzl or LED Lenser because anything else is just false economy.
I have climbed for many years and have always found a head torch very handy (or hands free 
). My main area of climbing has always been the French Alps – Chamonix and if you have climbed in that area you will know that you start most routes at night or early in the morning because as the sun comes up it turns to slush. I distinctly remember crossing the glacier and seeing a line of headtorches behind me – like firefly ants in a line. Can you imagine not using a head torch to show you the way on a glacier ?? Crevasses and seracs would be just waiting to gobble you up. I have always used a head torch and have found it invaluable in an emergency should I wish to signal for help. Anyone who has been climbing in the Alps will tell you that the descent is a dangerous part of any climb = if the light is fading then you WILL need a illumination to show you the way !
Well winter is nearly over and thank God for that ! I have been training for the marathon all winter and this has meant early mornings and late nights – both of which have been dark. To help me with my training I have been using a couple of different head torches depending upon how dark it actually is. Of course – my favourite head torch has been the Petzl Tikka 2 – great for running – this head torch provided me with enough light to see the potholes but was light enough to be comfortable on my head.
The other headtorch I have been using is also a Petzl headtorch – the Petzl Myo XP and I must say I have been very impressed with this headtorch :
When it comes to choosing batteries for your head torch it is best to consider spending that little bit extra on a reputable brand such as Duracell or Energizer. I have used cheaper brands in the past and in fact wrecked one head torch when the batteries split and leaked acid which corroded the electrical contacts. Rechargeable batteries are also an option although I have found that they do not hold their charge as well as the traditional type. You should also consider what you are going to be using your head torch for – if it is just walking the dog then go for something cheaper but if it is for climbing where your headtorch may save you from a life or death situation you should get out your wallet and invest.
I have used both Duracell and Energizer and found that by far the longest lasting and best performing were the Energizer Ultimate Lithium which just seemed to last for ever and ever – even at high altitude and low temperature so would recommend these for use with your head torch.
The vast array of head torches on the market can be quite confusing but there are a few simple head torch basics to consider :
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