A nice little headlamp arrived at WildSnow HQ a few days ago. I caught Louie trying to sneak out the door with it, but managed to snag the thing for a once-over.
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| This tiny lamp (quarter in photo for reference) runs on two CR2032 lithium batteries — pricy little buggers at around $5.00 each (though some reports indicate they can be had for as little as ninety cents). Thus, we’ll probably use this more as an emergency headlamp or for summer backpacking when it’s not producing photons for hours on end. That said, if you want to pay for the batteries or find some cheap ones, this thing is bright enough and versatile enough to use for just about anything.
Speaking of emergency use, the packaging claims a 10 year shelf life for the batteries — if that counts while they’re in the unit then here be an excellent rig for storage in a survival kit or some such. Getting on with the features, this has to be one of the easiest headamps to switch modes with I’ve ever seen. Instead of a non-intuitive button, it has an obvious lever with six settings: locked off; econo mode (45 hours); full bright (35 hours); white flashing; red flashing; red night vision saver. As well as a minimal headband, the light has a cool little clip that’ll attach it to a tent flap or hat brim. The E+ comes with a lightweight hardshell carrying case as well (.7 oz, 18 gr). The case is not water sealed but that’s a non issue since this headlamp is rated waterproof to a meter. Weight of the unit (no case) is 1 oz, 28 gr, which is not the lightest tiny lightsource you can get for inclusion in an emergency kit, but it is a heck of a lot more functional than some of those little dim LEDs that don’t even have a headband. |
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| E+ hard case is useful for packing in extreme situations such as an equipment cache or 4×4 toolbox, but at nearly one ounce it weighs too much for core light-packers. The black thing is a rubber o-ring used to secure the lid on the case.
In all, this is a cool mini that has definitely become part of my lamp arsenal. That is, if I can find it… there goes the kid, sneaking off with it. Whatever… thumbs up from WildSnow.com! |
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
