Electronics and Headlamps

The new and improved Petzl e+LITE ultralight, ultra-compact headlamp is twice as bright as the earlier version and comes with a more comfortable elastic head-strap, emergency whistle, swivel stand and plastic protective case, all standard. Still powered by two CR2032 batteries, the upgraded e+LITE provides 50 lumens of light (up …

I originally bought the Black Diamond Spot headlamp for use on winter backpacking trips where I need extra light for melting snow after dark, but I like it so much I use it the rest of the year. It is great for cooking after sunset, walking back to my tent …

The Black Diamond Ion is a cute little headlamp powered by two AAA batteries that has a built-in dimmer switch, red light mode, strobe, and an electronic lock. Getting a headlamp with a locking on/off switch is a must-have if you know you’ll need to count on it at night. …

If you’re a hiker, camper, runner, or cyclist and need a reliable powerful headlamp for nighttime use, you should check out the new Petzl Tikka RXP. I’ve been using one for the past few weeks and it puts the other headlamps I own to shame. This in a very cool …

The most important feature on a hiking headlamp is a locking on-off function that prevents the headlamp from accidentally being turned on when not in use. It’s just common sense. Your headlamp won’t do you any good if it gets turned on accidentally inside your backpack and batteries drain. The locking …

The SPOT Gen 3 is the newest device is the SPOT family of satellite-based personal locator beacons and communication devices designed for outdoor adventurers and represents a significant improvement over the earlier SPOT II in terms of usability and functionality. My History Using a SPOT II I’ve carried a SPOT …

I’ve been testing the Powermonkey Extreme Solar Powered Charger since early spring for keeping my Android cell phone charged on backpacking trips where I use it for a off-trail navigation and to read ebooks at night. While the Powermonkey Extreme is a very durable and well though out product, I’ve …

When the weather starts getting a little colder and darkness falls before 6PM, I add a few luxury items to my pack on overnight backpacking trips, like a mini-lantern and a paperback book to pass the time at night. On my last backpacking trip, I tested a Black Diamond Orbit …

I do a lot of solo backpacking in some out of the way places and my wife, understandably, worries about my safety. This year she asked me to bring along a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) on my more remote trips where a serious injury, like a broken femur or a …

I keep lithium batteries in my backpacking gear repair kit.  I do this to reduce my ultralight pack weight since lithium batteries are 1/2 to 1/3 as light as alkaline batteries. However, lithium batteries also provide many more benefits besides lighter weight and if you’re not using them today, you …

There’s nothing worse than having a having a stubborn rain jacket zipper that won’t zip when it starts to rain heavily. To prevent this, I lubricate all of the zippers on my hiking coats, sleeping bags, and shelters at least once a year McNett Aquaseal Zip Tech

The Photon Freedom Microlight is an ultralight LED light weighs a mere 6 grams (0.2 oz) and can easily replace that clunker of a head lamp you are wearing today. It comes with a detachable hat clip that you can wear on a baseball style cap or clip to a …