Head torches

A reliable, easy-to-use headtorch is essential for any hillwalker. Lucy Wallace puts options for all budgets to the test

TTECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION has significantly improved the performance of hands-free lighting in recent years. LEDs use microchip technology, allowing for increasingly complex modes and settings with dazzlingly bright output. There’s also a wide range of power sources available, from disposable alkaline batteries to rechargeable options in many forms. All this choice can be confusing when selecting the right torch for outdoor use. Most people only carry a head torch for emergencies; but when that time comes, one that isn’t up to the job is only going to exacerbate any problems that nightfall brings.

Because my main job is an outdoor instructor, I spend a fair amount of time deliberately on the hills at night. I’ve learned that a head torch that is reliable and intuitive to use really makes a difference. I prefer a model that is lightweight, with good battery life and the flexibility to change batteries on the move. Being able to cast a beam around 100m helps with picking out features when navigating in the dark. I’m often wearing gloves, and not in the mood for faffing about, so I also like something that is simple to operate, and that does the basics well.

These head torches were tested in a range of situations, from night navigation exercises and wild camps to dog walking in local forests, between the months of November and January. I carried out a more controlled test when I observed the beam length and quality of each, side by side in a patch of mature forestry plantation near my home. Here I was able to measure distances and observe how each torch performed.