We鈥檙e minimalist travelers here at 国产吃瓜黑料鈥攚e don’t want any extra weight slowing us down as we explore the world. What we do like are practical gifts that make traveling easier, more convenient, and more fun. So our travel editors are revealing the items on their wish list this season鈥攁nd the gifts they’ll be giving to their favorite travelers.

I’m definitely adding that water bottle and the Hipcamp gift card to my wish list. 鈥擜lison Osius

1. Best Gadget

AirFly Pro ($55)

At first, I was skeptical of this tiny gadget. As a lightweight packer, I refuse to schlep more chargers or adapters than absolutely necessary to survive a long-haul flight. Yet this year, my husband, tech-savvy guy that he is, insisted we try the AirFly Pro Wireless Audio Transmitter/ Receiver on our trans-Atlantic trip to England. Usually, I just use the freebie headphones flight attendants hand out. But our vacation happened to fall during the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, which we watch obsessively, and I instantly became a convert to this gizmo: a pocket-sized, 15-gram transmitter that plugs into your seat-back audio jack and Bluetooths to any wireless headphones on the market.

We watched game after game on the plane鈥檚 live TV app, and time flew by. Since we had no cords to mess with, bathroom breaks were easy, and we streamed from two screens in tandem, each able to listen with both buds. The AirFly Pro has a nice 25-hour battery life as well, and now we never fly without it. This is the perfect stocking stuffer for any frequent flyer. 鈥�Patty Hodapp, senior contributing travel editor

2. Best Fanny Pack

Yeti Sidekick Dry 1L Gear Case ($40; strap is an additional $10)

Fanny packs, in theory, should make hands-free travel easier, right? Not always. My entire life I鈥檝e searched for the perfect pouch, only to be disappointed in the wild by their size, or lack of pockets, or uncomfy straps, or performance in poor weather. Enter the Yeti Sidekick Dry 1L Gear Case鈥攐fficially everything I need and more, available to use alone or with a strap.

The waterproof technology of the exterior has kept my stuff dry on brutally rainy trips in Iceland and Ireland, and is made from similar material to that of whitewater rafts, so it can take a beating. The case also floats if I accidentally drop it in water (been there, done that on a recent fly-fishing trip). And its internal mesh pockets ensure my passport, wallet, keys, phone, lip balm, and other gear stay organized.

I鈥檓 partial to the one-liter option because it鈥檚 the ideal size for me. But if you鈥檝e got a camera or bulky layers to protect, you may want the three or six liter. Don鈥檛 forget the Sideclick Strap (sold separately), which attaches to the bag so it doubles as a belt or sling. Now, you can carry your gear in comfort, worry free.鈥�P.H.

3. Best Personal Item

Longchamp Le Pliage Original M Travel Bag ($205)

I always try to carry on when I鈥檓 flying. This means that my personal item has to be incredibly efficient at holding a lot but must still fit under the seat. I have spent hours searching for the perfect backpack, but nothing has ever held as much as my nylon Longchamp tote bag does, or held up to wear and tear the same way. I jam this thing with shoes, my laptop, chargers, food, my dopp kit, you name it. The wide-top shape of the bag allows it to hold more than any other while I can still cram it under the seat. It easily attaches to my Away Carry On Suitcase, too.

The Longchamp has been on a lot of plane trips with me over the last 15 years and still looks great. It folds down to nothing when you aren鈥檛 using it and also makes a great beach, gym, or day bag once you get where you鈥檙e going. Be sure to order the shoulder strap with it, or you can to get the extract size, color, and straps you want, which is what I did. 鈥�Mary Turner, Senior Brand Director

4. Best Extra Layer

Patagonia鈥檚 Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket ($179)

I have had a version of this Patagonia rain jacket for years, and I take it on every trip. The jacket is super lightweight and packs down to nothing. It鈥檚 great for rain protection or when you need an extra layer for warmth in cold or wind. I bought mine a size up so that I could easily layer underneath it. The Torrentshell comes in men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 versions. It lasts almost forever, too.鈥拟.罢.

5. Best Gift for Long-Haul Travelers

Resort Pass (from $25)

ResortPass, which allows you to pay a fee to use hotels for the day, is the perfect gift for travelers. Maybe there鈥檚 a hotel that you can鈥檛 afford, but you鈥檇 really love to spend a day there, or you have a long wait for your red-eye flight home from Hawaii after checking out of your Airbnb. This is where ResortPass becomes wonderfully handy. You can chill by a hotel pool instead of hanging out at the airport.

I searched for day passes in my hometown of Santa Fe and found some great deals, starting at $25, at beautiful properties. ResortPass partners with more than 1,700 hotels around the world and that list is constantly growing. It鈥檚 easy to purchase . How much I would have loved this in my backpacking days, when sometimes I just needed a little TLC and a hot shower . 鈥�M.T.

6. Best Day Spa for Travelers

Olympic Spa (gift cards from $100)

If you’re ever in Los Angeles鈥攆or a few days, overnight, or during a long layover鈥攖here’s an amazing women-only spa in Koreatown, and I鈥檝e been telling everyone about it, because it is that good. doesn’t look like much from the outside, and the website isn’t going to convince you. But let me testify: this is a spotless oasis that will leave you blissed out after a couple of hours. There are three pools (saltwater, mineral water, and cold plunge), three saunas (herbal steam, red clay, and ice, the last of which was novel but not that cold), an oxygen-therapy room with a charcoal ceiling, and鈥攎y favorite鈥攁 salt halotherapy room where the warmth thoroughly seeped into my bones.

All that would be enough, but a friend recommended the Goddess treatment ($220), and that put me over the edge: a masseuse scrubbed nearly every inch of my body, from my ears to between my toes; plied my muscles down to overcooked-noodle consistency; and moisturized me to a seal-like slickness. After I spent 105 minutes on the table, the masseuse had to guide my limbs into the bathrobe and slippers. I am returning the next chance I get. Somebody get me a . 鈥�Tasha Zemke, managing editor, 国产吃瓜黑料

7. Best Phone-Camera Accessory

Joby GorillaPod Mobile Mini Tripod ($17)

I work with 国产吃瓜黑料 Online鈥檚 astrotourism writer Stephanie Vermillion, and this past fall she recommended a tiny tripod that pairs well with smartphones. She uses her mini-tripod when shooting the northern lights and other dark-sky scenes that require long shutter-speed times with no vibrations. But honestly, I鈥檓 just tired of long-arming photos of myself and friends in beautiful places. I can tuck this accessory into my daypack鈥攊t鈥檚 about the size of a large iPhone, and weighs the same as two Hershey chocolate bars鈥攁nd then set it up, adjust its flexible legs, pop my phone into its rubber jaws, set the timer, and take a snap that鈥檚 not a blatant selfie. Just what I’m looking for. 鈥�T.Z.

8. Best Gift for Nervous Flyers

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 ($349)

Listening to music while flying helps lessen the anxiety I often feel, especially during takeoff, landing, and periods of turbulence. I was gifted these excellent noise-canceling headphones a few years ago, and they were comfortable over my ears and even looked cool, but, sad to say, I left them in the seat-back pocket on a leg to Paris. I’m going to have to replace them, but I have a plan to avoid paying full price: by going to Bose鈥檚 amazing , which sells returned products at a significant discount. The brand鈥檚 tech team fixes the defects, and you’d never know the items weren’t brand-new. You also still get a year warranty. The only catch is that the item you’re seeking may not be available immediately. I just checked the shop for headphones, and they’re sold out, but upon the click of a button, I鈥檒l be notified when the next pair comes up鈥攁nd you can believe I鈥檒l wait.听鈥�T.Z.

9. Must-Have for Star Parties

BioLite HeadLamp 425 ($60)

I always travel with a headlamp, and not just for camping and being outdoors. Headlamps are tiny and easy to pack, and I鈥檝e stayed in cabins at the Red River Gorge or in Tahoe where the rooms were so dark I needed a light to find my socks. I still have the original Biolite 330 headlamp from when it was introduced five years ago at an affordable $50: it is super light (2.4 ounces), bright, and functional; is USB rechargeable; and has an integrated design that puts the lamp flush into the headband for simplicity and comfort. It also has a strobe light for rescues and red lights for night missions.

Compared to white lights, low-intensity red ones minimizes pupil dilation, allowing better night vision; red light is also less disruptive to wildlife. Red lights are essential for star gazing, and these days everyone is going to dark-sky parks and peering at the stars, meteors, and northern lights. Recently, looking for a headlamp for my stepsister as she went off to an astrophotography class in the Tucson desert, I picked the 425. 鈥�Alison Osius, senior editor, travel

10. Best Travel Pants

The prAna Koen Pant ($95)

When I went to Abu Dhabi to see my nephew graduate from high school, my luggage was delayed for three days out of a five-day trip. So I wore the same mahogany-colored Title IX capris nearly every day as well as on all my flights, and came back loving them more than ever, which is some testament. Sadly, I later lost those red pants. Yet I hit on a match: the Koen. I bought the Koen capris (two pairs), then the Koen shorts (also two pairs), and then the pants: my new fave travel pants and apparently fave anything pants, since I just wore them to the hospital for a finger surgery.

They are lightweight, silky, stretchy, and wrinkle free, and work for anything from hiking to around town. The front pockets are flat and unobtrusive, with hidden zippers, yet deep enough to hold a phone securely if you need a quick stow, like when juggling items in the airport. The pull-on waist is ideal for comfort and upright cat naps, since it lacks zips, snaps, or external ties. The Koen is overall sleek in its lines. I am psyched that it comes in regular, short and tall versions, and am getting the long ones for my older sister, who is taller than I am and travels 70 percent of the time for her work. Don’t tell her, because it鈥檚 a surprise.鈥�A.O.

11. Best Gift for Campers

HipCamp gift certificates (starting at $75)

Wasn鈥檛 it Clint Eastwood, he of The Eiger Sanction lore, who said, 鈥淚 would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth鈥�? No, wait, Steve McQueen. Point is, with digital for booking a campsite on Hipcamp, you can give that experience. A card ushers someone into an expanding community with sites across the country and in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. And these sites are not just for a tent in a grassy lot. They are for a yurt in the middle of a flowering meadow; they are for camping, glamping, RV spots, cabins, and canvas. The gift card never expires, nor will you ever run out of places.鈥�A.O.

12. Best Soak With a View

Mount Princeton Hot Springs听 (gift cards from $50)

The old mining town of Leadville, Colorado, sits way up there at 10,000 feet, and it鈥檚 cold. Luckily within an hour you can reach any of half a dozen hot-springs resorts, some of the nicest in the state or anywhere, to warm your bones. My sister used to live in Leadville, and when I visited we often took our young sons and let them play and soak..and maybe even slow down a little. The mountain-ringed Mount Princeton Hot Springs, in Nathrop, has geothermal springs, an infinity pool, natural creekside pools, and a view of the Chalk Cliffs on the 14,197-foot peak the property is named for. It that work for day passes, lodging, and dining.鈥�A.O.

13. Best Water Bottle for Travel

Katadyn BeFree 0.6 L Water Filter Bottle ($40)

I sure could’ve used this lightweight collapsible filtered bottle last summer for mountain hiking. On one trip with an eight-mile approach followed by a day on a peak and then the dread march out, I filled my bottles time and time again from a stream near camp, thirsty and getting careless when my filtration system took time. (Luckily I got away with it, or rather without giardia, this time.) Filtering at a rate of up to two liters of water per minute, the Katadyn is a fast and light (two ounces) system that would also be perfect for the trail runners and bow hunters in my household who don’t want to carry heavy water bottles. I would like to take the Katadyn hiking and traveling, since it鈥檚 light, packable, and makes for safe drinking.鈥�A.O.

14. Best Reading App

Everand Subscription (from $12 per month)

Whether traveling by car or air, I always download a series of audiobooks from my Everand (formerly named Scribd) app before going. With a library of more than 1.5 million ebooks and audiobooks鈥攑lus a collection of magazines and podcasts鈥攖o choose from, I never run low on options. Often, I鈥檒l base my pick on the destination: Desert Solitaire for a trip to Moab or A Walk in the Woods for a hiking adventure in Maine. Every time I board a flight, I pop in my earbuds and am fully entertained until we land. Or, since I like to sleep on planes, I might set Everand鈥檚 sleep timer to 30 minutes, and drift off by the time we finish takeoff. I love the app so much that I鈥檓 getting a subscription for my 14-year-old stepdaughter this year, too. 鈥擜bigail Wise, Digital Director

The post 14 Best Gift Ideas for the Traveler in Your Life appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I usually mourn the end of Daylight Savings Time. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 alone. After a summer and fall of long days, allowing us to run, ride, hike, and garden under the sun鈥檚 glow after regular working hours, having darkness descend upon our lives as early as 4:45 p.m. is a massive shock to the system. In short, it sucks.

But does it have to?

There鈥檚 no way around the fact that it鈥檚 harder to do all the things we love in the great outdoors in the dark. Plus, the colder weather that accompanies the change of the clocks makes it doubly difficult to adapt to the changing reality. We鈥檙e suddenly left with a lot of waking hours of cold darkness when we just came off months of evenings where we could still get out and do our thing before鈥攐r even after鈥攄inner.

But there鈥檚 something to be said for embracing adventure, and nothing feels more adventurous than getting outside in conditions that suggest we stay indoors. Being outside in the dark is fun, and makes me feel like a rebel鈥攐ther people may be in their houses eating a civilized meal, watching TV, or sleeping, but I鈥檓 out there. Doing stuff.

I used to compete in multi-day adventure races, where I enjoyed the experience of running, hiking, mountain biking, and even kayaking with the help of good lights. And as a pacer of ultramarathons (), I鈥檝e loved running under the light of the moon on singletrack trails with a headlamp and waist-mounted light illuminating a rocky trail.

But I鈥檝e learned that you don鈥檛 have to be on an epic adventure to enjoy the magic of night-time activities. Lights meant for adventure can help us embrace the dark when the time changes. They can help keep us safe鈥攆rom tripping, from wildlife, from cars, and maybe even depression that can come from being holed up inside until spring.

The clocks are, inevitably, rolling back soon: November 3 looms. Instead of kicking rocks, muttering profanities, drinking wine, watching TV at 5 p.m., and waiting for bedtime, I鈥檓 vowing to head outside with one of the following lighting systems to have an adventure in the dark at least once a week until longer days begin again on March 9, 2025.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.听Learn more.

Light Up 国产吃瓜黑料

Headlamp

A headlamp is the ultimate adventure-enabling device. Put on a comfortable, capable headlamp like the , and it delivers hands-free illumination wherever you look, lighting up the trail, the skin track, or the neighborhood path for pre-dawn or post-dusk adventures of all sorts. This waterproof light beams up to 400 lumens of brightness, and changes output power with the tap of a finger (no futzing with gloves). The light can run on batteries, but I plan on using the recharge mode by plugging it in between bouts of heading out in the dark to hike, walk the dog, splitboard, or do yard work (yes, after sundown wearing a headlamp).

Waist-mounted light

For certain activities like trail running, I like having a light at waist level. Because it鈥檚 lower to the ground than a headlamp and on my torso, it stays aimed forward and down instead of illuminating wherever I turn my head (like a headlamp). The waist-mounted light is similar to a discontinued one I鈥檝e used for various adventures, like pacing friends during night sections of 100-mile trail races. The 150 lumens, the ability to focus or broaden the beam with a simple adjustment, and the easy-swivel mount combine to do a great job lighting up the trail. Flashing red LEDs on the backside help with visibility.听 Plus, it鈥檚 USB rechargeable.

Bike light

It鈥檚 been a while since I鈥檝e gone on a mountain bike ride at night, so I鈥檓 relying on 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 sister publication, , for their pick for front-mounted bike lights. Their Editor鈥檚 Choice winner for current lights is the . Aside from a clunky product name, this light earned high marks. It features three settings: high, medium, and low, with a display that tells the rider exactly how much burn time (battery life) is left in the mode in use. It鈥檚 also reportedly easy to mount to handlebars, easy to change modes on the fly, and waterproof. While I haven鈥檛 personally tested the light, these are the types of features I鈥檇 look for in a bike lamp.

Cozy Up and Be Prepared

Backyard fire

During COVID, I bought a听 for its compact size, real-wood burning ability, and rechargeable smoke-sucking attachment. My family and I lit fires and sat around it during the winter of 2020 with friends while remaining six feet apart. We鈥檝e used it a little since, but I鈥檓 planning to use it more this coming winter and am going to bribe my sons with s鈥檓ores so they鈥檒l join me. I love sitting outside and strumming a guitar or playing games鈥攊t鈥檚 a bit like camping, just colder in the winter, but the warmth of the fire helps. Building a contained campfire within this backyard stove when darkness descends before 5 p.m. is a great way to satisfy my need to be outdoors when I鈥檓 relaxing.

Flashlight

Being stuck on the side of the road for any reason is only more treacherous in the winter, and with more hours of darkness coming soon, I鈥檓 making sure I have a powerful light handy just in case. I鈥檝e been testing this flashlight for a few months now, mostly by keeping it in the back of my car for safety. With 5,000 whopping lumens, this thing is ridiculously bright, like its own super moon bottled up in a tube. Thankfully, I haven鈥檛 had to pull it out to solve any problems on the road in the dark, but I know it鈥檚 there in my car if need be, which gives me more confidence to drive to adventures in the cold darkness.

So bring it on, November 3. Thanks to good lights and a sense of adventure, I鈥檒l be ready.

The post Bring On the (Early) Nights, We鈥檝e Got Lights appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In darkness, there is light, but I wouldn鈥檛 deign to carry one. Not since I saw the light. It dawned on me: Why lug around a cumbersome AceBeam or a Maglite dumbbell, even one of those cute mini keychains, when I can affix a beaming bright bulb to my forehead? They may not be as trendy as these days, but in fleece-clad circles they are equally fashionable: headlamps are the fanny packs of the face.

The chef Wylie Dufresne once the source of his disdain for both to-go lattes and umbrellas: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like holding anything.鈥� I agree. What鈥檚 a little drizzle versus the hassle of dealing with an extra appendage all day? I have a cousin who marches into my house for dinner armed with a water bottle the size of a Vitamix, and I always wonder: Does she think we don鈥檛 have glasses?

As a suburban Boston-raised mallrat who grew up reading under a pink comforter with the same flimsy everyone did, I did not know of headlamps. It was my old boyfriend, a rugged Aussie named Rupert, who first introduced me to the practical joys of the hands-free light. Or 鈥渢orch,鈥� as he called it. It was the early aughts, which meant Rupert鈥檚 headlamp was giant and clunky, with a black rubber-encased lens as heavy as a Nikon and a colorful band as fat as a guitar strap. Hardly the sleek, piercing little LED numbers of today.

He鈥檇 take it everywhere he took me: into the backcountry, while hiking, camping, and fishing around Northern California. He鈥檇 wear it frying trout over his propane stove in the Sierra, pitching our tent under the stars along the Lost Coast, fleeing for the car one rainy night, when said tent leaked in Mendocino. On a dark November night in Yosemite, he and his brother, Finn, spent a good hour hoisting our food up a tree by the light of their headlamps鈥攐nly to have two bears ransack our would-be Thanksgiving dinner anyway as we slept.

Strapped around his brown mop, above his kind eyes and smattering of freckles, Rupert always looked handsome, at home even in his hulking headlamp. As alive as he always made me feel.

If also kind of like a cross between a coal miner and a WASP wearing as if he was some sort of rare outdoorsy Orthodox Jew. To Rupert, his headlamp was just another piece of gear, like his gaiters or trusty Opinel, which he鈥檇 use to pry us open an abalone, or spread oily sardines over a baguette as the perfect camping snack. To me, Rupert and his torch symbolized a sort of daring strength and self-sufficiency I lacked. A bold, beauty-filled life lit by AA batteries.

The electric Edison (as in Thomas) was invented in the early 20^th century following a series of coal mining disasters. It initially consisted of a steel-encased rechargeable battery pack hitched to a belt and linked like an umbilical cord to a bulb. A bulb later mounted on a helmet, which allowed miners to move about underground, illuminated, and unencumbered, for up to 12 hours. These days, we鈥檝e got 600 lumens and ever-lasting lithium batteries, featherlight weights, and varying light levels, from dim-red鈥攊deal for dinner conversation without blinding your date鈥攖o Luxor sky beam-bright, a.k.a.听

鈥淭ell me the occupation of someone who might wear a headlamp,鈥� my favorite game show once polled. Number one, indeed: Miners (65). Next, dentists and doctors (23). Detectives (4). Construction workers (3). Clearly, Family Feud fans aren鈥檛 an especially sporty lot. Add: rock climbers and spelunkers, ultrarunners, and SCUBA divers. Also, the nice wildlife-control guy who once recovered a not-small raccoon decomposing deep under my deck.

Out of the limelight, headlamps have long assisted in recovery efforts, from the rubble in to the 2018 cave rescue of the to September 11th. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum collection honors two headlamps: a duct-taped Black Pelican, donated by Dr. Cynthia Otto, a veterinarian who worked the night shift at Ground Zero treating wounded search-and-rescue dogs; and a four-bulb Black Diamond with 鈥淟t. Gleason FDNY 61鈥� etched on the inside of its elastic band鈥攖he name of the EMT from Queens who wore it for a week straight while searching for survivors.

Flashlight People, like Facebook users, are apparently an aging bunch. 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed older people buying flashlights,鈥� the lady at my neighborhood hardware store told me. I called REI, and the senior merchandising manager, Melissa Paul, agreed; the senior set prefers flashlights. Headlamps are a consistently larger business, she added. (REI: Headlamp People.) Still, both product categories have seen steady growth in recent years. Makes sense, what with the pandemic and proliferation of bomb cyclones and Cat 6 hurricanes. Apocalyptic times call for more than candles.

Not long after we broke up, Rupert and his brother died in a car accident, on their way back from a fishing trip in British Columbia. In my favorite photo of the two of them, they are headlamp-ed, happy, holding massive rainbows.

It鈥檚 been almost two decades. I tossed his leaky tent ages ago, but his light shines on through my marriage, motherhood, and middle age. I rarely go backpacking anymore, let alone running through the redwoods at 2 A.M. Still, I have a small arsenal of headlamps scattered around the house for other reasons. Walking the dog at night. In case the strikes.

I have a sturdy roof above me, and a warm bed flanked by nightstands topped with proper reading lamps鈥攂ut I never use mine. The shade is too translucent. The bulb, too cafeteria-bright. I suppose I could change it. But I don鈥檛. Instead, I prefer to cozy up with my book鈥攌ids curled in their beds; sweet husband quietly snoring beside me鈥攁nd press on my Petzl.

There鈥檚 freedom in my narrow nighttime field of vision. In the surrounding darkness, there is no overflowing laundry basket. No clutter on the dresser. No carpool logistics. No real worries. (Those come only after the light goes out.) There are no wrinkles anywhere but the sheets. Just me and my torch, and its subtle, if glaring, reminder: that life is, at the end of the day, still an adventure.

The post The Light We Carry鈥擮r Don鈥檛 Carry appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Epic ascents. Long treks. Dawn patrols and sunset hikes. All of the most memorable trail moments have one thing in common: You need a good headlamp to make them happen. Thanks to modern tech, the current crop of lights are lighter, brighter, and better than ever before.

The Winners at a Glance

Knog Quokka 150

BioLite HeadLamp 325

Black Diamond Distance 1500

How We Test

Number of Testers: 5

Number of Lights Tested: 8

Number of Nights: 31

Activities Tested: hiking, rock climbing, adventure racing, ski touring, winemaking

Meet Our Lead Tester(s)

Backpacker Executive Editor Adam Roy is a habitual night skier, so he appreciates a good, high-powered headlamp. He lives in Colorado鈥檚 Front Range, where he also backpacks, rock climbs, trail runs, and paddles the local reservoirs, often with his wife, small child, and smaller dog.

The Reviews: The Best Headlamps of 2023

Knog Quokka 150 ($30)

Weight: 1.7 oz
Lumens: 150
Pros: Simple, durable, built-in charging means no more searching for a cable
Cons: Not especially bright, somewhat bulky design

This streamlined number from Australian light manufacturer Knog is the antidote to fiddly, complicated headlamps. Knog nearly doubled the brightness of the Quokka from previous seasons, boosting lumens from 85 to 150, but kept the ultralight 1.7-ounce weight. The Quokka uses the same streamlined construction as the rest of Knog鈥檚 lights, forgoing a hinge and building the entire thing into a one-piece silicone strap that adjusts via a single plastic toggle at the back. Charging is similarly simple: Instead of using a cable, the entire light assembly pops out and plugs directly into a standard USB port. In use, though, the lamp is as fully equipped as any competitor, featuring a wide beam, red mode, spot, and combo with a range of about 70 feet鈥攂right enough to cut through the night during the long workdays our tester spent moving and pressing grapes on a Washington winery. An IP65 rating means this headlamp is waterproof enough to weather a storm, and the silicone strap means it won鈥檛 get soaked and cold, either.

Bottom Line: A simple, durable construction and bright beam makes the Quokka a reliable, do-anything chore headlamp to keep in the bottom of your pack.

BioLite HeadLamp 325 ($50)

Weight: 1.76 oz.
Lumens: 325
Pros: Light, packable, bright for size
Cons: Fiddly buttons, battery life on low setting just OK

From impromptu after-work hikes to dusk tempo runs, we found the BioLite HeadLamp 325 bright enough to use on briskly-paced adventures, but still light and comfortable enough that we often forgot we were wearing it. The secure hinge on the matchbox-size lantern didn鈥檛 shift or bounce when one tester took it on an 8-mile leg of an obstacle race at Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort, Texas. The compact package belies an impressive range (BioLite claims 230 feet on high; our tester found it more than bright enough for racing) and competitive battery life (40 hours on low, 3 hours on high from the integrated rechargeable battery). The wide, soft headband is comfortable and easy to adjust鈥攅ven, as our testers found, while on the move. At 1.76 ounces, it鈥檚 just a hair heavier than the much-less-powerful Quokka, and folds up small enough to use as an emergency headlamp.

Bottom Line: On dawn patrols and after-hours runs, this headlamp lights the way without weighing you down.

Black Diamond Distance 1500 ($200)

Weight: 7.5 oz.
Lumens: 1500
Pros: Extremely bright, easy to operate
Cons: Powertap controls hard to operate with gloves

Ever wished you could strap a car headlight to your helmet? The super-powered Distance 1500 isn鈥檛 far off. With a tap on the side of its housing, users can unleash 1500-lumens for ten seconds, pushing out a 117-meter cone of light suitable for scouting ski runs or multipitch rock routes. (It鈥檚 possible to customize the headlamp to run at that brightness for longer, but it drains the battery quickly.) Its normal high setting of 800 lumens was more than bright enough for an after-hours Nordic session at Colorado鈥檚 Butler Gulch, where the Distance 1500 helped us dodge early-season rocks on the downhill with ease. For such a heavy-duty headlamp, it鈥檚 remarkably easy to forget you鈥檙e wearing it; the flexible plastic blend curved naturally around the back of our tester鈥檚 head over a wool hat, and at 7.5 oz., it鈥檚 a featherweight compared to other ultra-bright models. The rechargeable battery is easy to swap out and lasts 6 hours at 300 lumens, enough light for skinning or normal camp tasks. We did wish for an extension cord that would let us carry it in a coat pocket to keep it warm, although the battery performed well, even in sub-freezing temps.

Bottom Line: This head-mounted light cannon is built for skiers, climbers, and anyone else who needs to see far away in the dark.

How to Buy

Consider what you鈥檙e going to be using your headlamp for: ultralight hikers and rock climbers will usually want to prioritize weight over brightness, while night skiers and runners need to see a little further down-trail. Everyone else, including most backpackers and campers, will benefit from something in between: look for a model with an output between 300-500 lumens and a red light mode to help preserve your night vision. While disposable battery-powered lights are still available, rechargeables have become the norm over the past few years; if you鈥檙e spending a lot of time hiking at night or taking a lightweight headlamp on a long trip, consider bringing an external battery to top it off during the day.

When it’s time to upgrade your gear, don鈥檛 let the old stuff go to waste鈥揹onate it for a good cause and divert it from the landfill. our partner, Gear Fix, will repair and resell your stuff for free! Just box up your retired items, , and send them off. We鈥檒l donate 100 percent of the proceeds to .

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It takes motivation to run in the dark, so don’t let your clothing be the barrier to getting out the front door. Safety is key for low light, dark mornings, and early nights. Fortunately, there have been many steps forward in technology to help runners see the next curb and for cars to see them. We certainly have some brand favorites here from brands who have invested hard research dollars into making products that help you shine.

Petzl IKO Core Rechargable Headlamp |

If you鈥檙e more about chasing the moonlight than the sun, then you鈥檒l appreciate the Petzl IKO Core rechargeable headlamp for its bright light (500 lumens) and adjustable, lightweight design. Pre-dawn and late night runs are made accessible thanks to multiple LEDs that light up in either a flood or mixed beam with three levels of brightness. If you鈥檙e a multi-sport athlete, the headband can also fit on helmets, be worn around the neck, or function as a campsite lantern.

This unique and ultralight headlamp weighs in just under 80 grams, and features a no-bounce design, which is great for long, dark winter runs. Hydrophobic design is water and sweat resistant, and the long-lasting battery won’t disappoint.

Petzl Sefti RL Headlamp |

If you鈥檙e taking to the trails before the sun comes up or knocking out ultra-mileage through the night, you want a headlamp that will match you stride for stride. The Petzl Swift RL headlamp is our pick for trail runners for three reasons: 1) The 900 lumen light output, 2) The Reactive lighting feature that senses and adjusts the illumination based on your surroundings, and 3) The long battery life (up to 30 hours in Reactive mode).

Noxgear Tracer 2 Body Vest |听

The Noxgear Tracer 2 is high visibility with a minimalistic feel. The LED safety vest is adjustable with two thin light-up straps that fit over any outfit you鈥檙e running in and a simple chest strap that holds it in place. We love the long-lasting battery (we鈥檝e run an entire season with only a single recharge) and variety of color options (16 total combinations) that make running in the dark just a bit more fun.

Brooks Run Visible Collection

Unabashedly, we are #teambrooks when it comes to high visibility running apparel. Their was developed with a 360 view on visibility. If you’re going to invest in low-light running, you need to be seen from all angles and this collection has you covered.

Brooks Run Visible Tights |

With subtle reflective details near the hips, knees, and ankles, these full-length Run Visible Tights from Brooks look just as good on a run in the light as they do in the dark. The tight fit offers light compression while giving runners full range of motion.

Brooks Run Visible Convertible Jacket |

The Brooks Run Visible Convertible Jacket is two great safety gifts in one. Runners have the option to wear it as a high visibility jacket, or partially packed up into a vest on those warm summer night runs. The jacket also works well as a standard windbreaker/rain jacket.

Brooks Run Visible Insulated Vest |

A good running vest is a game changer for keeping your core warm on cold days. The Brooks Run Visible Insulated Vest goes a long way in providing warmth and visibility in the form of 3M Scotchlite reflective strips. The contrasting black, white, and yellow details are not only ideal for low-light visibility, but plays into the flattering cut.

Brooks Run Visible Thermal Hoodie |

Brooks put a lot of thought into their Run Visible line, even bringing in color experts to best utilize contrasting colors, fluorescence, and reflective strips in high motion areas to be as sure as possible that drivers will see the runner from a far and safe distance. Combine that with a warm, yet sweat-wicking fabric like the Run Visible Thermal Hoodie has and you have a high quality secondary layer for chilly runs.

Oiselle Firecracker Reflective Jacket |

Consider the Oiselle Firecracker Reflective Jacket your everyday outer layer for all dark winter runs. The entire jacket is made from reflective mesh material, so you鈥檒l be 100 percent visible. Want to light yourself up even brighter? There is a pocket on the backside of the collar to attach an additional safety light.

Benvo Shoe Clip Lights |

We鈥檙e thinking about stuffing stockings with top-notch shoe accessories like these shoe clip lights. No need to know sizes or style preferences to give a thoughtful gift, as these lights easily attach to the heel of any running shoe and offer visibility from a quarter mile away. The runner in your life will appreciate the merry and bright miles they tackle in these. 听

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Camp lighting used to be boring: you brought a lantern for the table and a headlamp for everything else. Now there鈥檚 a long list of clever lighting options that make camping more comfortable and convenient. Here are our four new favorites.

Princeton Tec Snap Solo Headlamp ($35)

You can wear the as a regular headlamp, but the light also comes off the band and attaches to a ferrous听surface via a strong magnet鈥攁 feature that makes it twice as useful. I regularly slap it to the side of my stove as a spotlight while I鈥檓 cooking dinner so I never burn the onions. I hung it inside my wheel well when I had to diagnose a suspension problem on a remote dirt road one night. I also attach it to the side of my roof rack as a lantern that lights up camp. When it鈥檚 time for bed, I pop it back in the band and use the light to make sure I don鈥檛 step on any animals while emptying my bladder. It uses three AAA batteries and runs for 10 hours on its highest setting.

Nite Ize Radiant Rechargeable Shineline ($25)

If you camp with kids, you need at least one of . I use mine to line the top of the tent and leave it on while they fall asleep. The blue and green versions aren鈥檛 so bright that they keep the kids awake, but they glow just enough to help them get their bearings and feel reassured in the tent. Other times, I鈥檝e laid one of the lights down the middle of our camping table to help with ambiance during dinner. I鈥檝e also hung several in nearby trees (via the included gear ties) to add a little flair to camp. Each string is powered by a rechargeable battery and uses fiber-optic and LED technology to light things up. Its run time is six hours.

BioLite AlpenGlow 250 Lantern ($60)

At its most basic, is a rechargeable 250-lumen lantern I like for the tent or the dinner table. But thanks to a built-in accelerometer, I can also shake it to change light modes. One shake makes the lantern mimic the light from a flickering candle. Another shake makes the internal LEDs cycle through a variety of colors, creating a party atmosphere that my kids absolutely love. If you prefer buttons, there鈥檚 one of those that you can use to control the modes the old-school way. A hook on the top allows me to hang the lantern wherever I want, and a USB-A charge-out port is great for juicing up my phone. The AlpenGlow runs for five hours.

Klymit Everglow Light Tube ($20 and up)

Car campers who want to save space should look here. That鈥檚 because packs down to the size of a large orange but unfurls to be over two feet long. (The XL version, $40, is nearly three feet long.) Inside the Large, a string of dimmable LEDs casts up to 220 lumens, and the light attaches to nearly anything via a Velcro strap or a set of two magnets. The Light Tube does not come with its own power source, but it鈥檚 easy to attach to a small power bank via USB. I don鈥檛 use the Tube to cook dinner because the light is too diffuse but it鈥檚 great for under an awning.

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Lars Alvarez-Roos, co-owner of听adventure travel听company Bio Bio Expeditions and legendary camp cook, has seen every type of outdoor cooking disaster imaginable in his 35 years as a guide鈥攆rom burgers charred like hockey pucks听to the time he used oven mitts to extinguish my flaming hair after I got overzealous with lighter fluid when I was working for him as a young guide. Here are his tips to help you avoid camp kitchen nightmares.

The Problem

Mixing vegetables and meat in a cooler. The result on day two or three of a听trip is meat juice permeating the cooler as the ice melts. 鈥淚t gets into everything and ends up contaminating it all,鈥� Alvarez-Roos says.

The Fix

鈥淥n a multi-day event, use a separate meat cooler, dairy cooler, and vegetable cooler,鈥� he says. That avoids cross contamination. 鈥淚f you are camping with just your family and are bringing enough food for a weekend, I would say everything should be separately vacuum packed,鈥� Alvarez-Roos says. Meats and cheeses need to be vacuum packed or at least in airtight containers or听resealable Ziploc bags,听but sometimes those can be penetrated by water if they鈥檙e not fully closed.

The Gear

If you鈥檒l be using it a lot, invest in a听 ($150). Otherwise,听you鈥檒l need airtight containers, resealable plastic听bags,听or a spare cooler.

The Problem

Not using enough ice.

The Fix

鈥淢ake sure you have at least one third of the cooler dedicated to maintaining your thermal reservoir,鈥� Alvarez-Roos says. That means that should should have a one-third ice to two-thirds perishables ratio at the beginning of your trip. 鈥淚f you pre-freeze vacuum-sealed meats, you could look at those as ice blocks,鈥� he says.

Alvarez-Roos also recommends using sealed ice containers so you don鈥檛 have to worry about melt water like in problem number one. 鈥淭ake gallon containers of milk, clean them out, fill them with your clean drinking water, and freeze them so you have good clean drinking water as the ice melts,鈥� he says.听Distribute the icea as evenly as possible throught the cooler.

The Gear

Any container that can hold frozen water. This also might be a good time to think of upgrading to a larger cooler if your current one doesn鈥檛 have enough space for all of your food with the appropriate ratio of ice.

The Problem

Forgetting the butter or oil. 鈥淭his is the number one thing people leave home when camping,鈥� Alvarez-Roos says.

The Fix

Have a designated camp cooking oil container with the date you last poured oil in on there. I use electrician鈥檚 tape and a Sharpie to label what it is and when I last topped up, and it lives in my camp kitchen box.

The Gear

Alvarez-Roos suggests the ($2) as a container to store your preferred cooking oil.

The Problem

Bad cutting board hygiene. 鈥淎 lot of times people cut the chicken on a cutting board then use the same one for lettuce and tomatoes,鈥� Alvarez-Roos听says. 鈥淭hat is a major no-no.鈥�

The Fix

Bring two or three cutting boards if you can and designate different boards for different types of food prep鈥擨 use one for meat and two for veggies, fruit, and cheese. It鈥檚 even easier if you get different colored boards and designate a specific color for a specific type of food throughout your camping trip. If everyone knows that the red cutting board is contaminated with things that could sicken us all and overfill our groover in mere hours, no one assumes it is clean and whips up a salad on it. Taking the assumption out of the equation leads to heaps less miscommunication.

The Gear

While wooden cutting boards are nicer to serve from, plastic cutting boards are easier to transport, easier to disinfect, and generally less expensive. You can get away with听flimsy ones, but I find that the extra rigidity like the boards in ($18) makes transporting food significantly easier.

The Problem

Burning things, or having the flame blow out on finicky camp stoves.

The Fix

Alvarez-Roos recommends orienting your stove so the prevailing wind is blocked and then keeping an eye on the actual size of the flame, especially if you鈥檙e not used to cooking on gas. 鈥淜eep an ear on it, too: the louder the noise the bigger the flame,鈥� he says.

The Gear

I have personally found that Camp Chef鈥檚 Rainier Stove ($170) has听a good simmer mode and enough wind-blocking capabilities to mitigate blow-outs on all but the windiest days.

The Problem

Cooking and cleaning in the dark.

The Fix

鈥淢ake sure you pack a headlamp for cooking听and also another light source,鈥� Alvarez-Roos says. 鈥淚f you get to camp after dark, it is really hard to cook dinner without.鈥� He recommends having two headlamps that live in your camp kitchen kit.

The Gear

The ($20) won my听inexpensive headlamp test a few years back.听Bringing a simple, reliable, solar lantern听听($25)听is another great way to hedge your bets against washing dishes in the dark.

The Problem

Not fully cleaning or disinfecting your dishes. This can lead to people getting sick.

The Fix

鈥淥n river trips, Bio Bio Expeditions uses a four-bucket system,鈥� Alvarez-Roos says.听Here鈥檚 how the system works: scrape your dishes into a garbage container, then soak them in a pre-rinse to soften tough food particles. Then, scrub like crazy in a bucket of dish soap and water. Step three: dip those dishes in a rinse听bucket of clean water to get the suds off. Finally, disinfect the dishes in a bucket of water with a capful or two of bleach in it and air dry.

鈥淚f you have the luxury of a river right there, that is ideal.鈥� Alvarez-Roos says.听The river affords a great deal of water to fill buckets with, but we do not suggest washing your dishes in the river. Please closely follow the local guidelines听to properly dispose of your grey water after use.

The Gear

Build a sanitizing station with dish soap, Clorox bleach, and a Sea to ($25).

The Problem

People burning themselves.

The Fix

Bring oven mitts and long tongs. Alvarez-Roos suggests using the longest tongs that storage space will allow. It is rare that you wish you had shorter tongs, but you will always be听thankful for extra distance when cooking over an open flame.

The Gear

Oven mitts听from home. If they can fit in your kitchen bin, some ($7).

The Problem

People not helping out in the kitchen.

The Fix

鈥淧eople cook better when they are happy, and people are happier when they have music,鈥� Alvarez-Roos says. 鈥淢ake sure there are some speakers and a way to play music in your outdoor cooking space.鈥�

Alvarez also taught me a rule that I have used for nearly two decades: if you鈥檙e on a cooking crew and don鈥檛 have a job, you should check in with someone who is busy and offer them a drink. Getting a cold lemonade served to you while flipping burgers in the heat is a quick path to happiness.

The Gear

I love the sound quality from JBL鈥檚 ($120). It nails a wide range of music, from sweet folk-tune voices to solid base drops. It鈥檚 slightly smaller than a classic 32-ounce Nalgene and听has about a 12-hour battery life, so a single charge can get you through a weekend鈥檚 worth of meal preparation and cleaning.

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Just because you鈥攍ike me鈥攚aited until the last minute to get a Valentine鈥檚 Day gift for your significant other听doesn鈥檛 mean it can鈥檛 be excellent. The goal here is to be thoughtful. Anyone can buy a giant bouquet of expensive flowers, but I feel like romance can be strongly shown in practicality; after all,听a gift that鈥檚 used by your partner dozens (or hundreds) of times will give them many opportunities to think of you fondly. Here are a handful of great gear items听that will do just that.

Black Diamond Cosmo Headlamp ($30)

The most capable outdoorsfolks don鈥檛 upgrade their headlamps; instead听they听just trudge along for years with the same听simple light because it still works OK and was cheap. hits the practicality sweet spot: it鈥檚 feature rich without being overbuilt听and听is relatively inexpensive. With a stormproof (IPX4) housing, three LEDs, and a red-light mode, this听will be a nice improvement for your partner. It also locks, which means they won鈥檛 have worry about it turning on inside their pack and draining the three AAA batteries inside.

Bogs Bozeman Tall Boot ($150)

It sucks to gunk up your favorite running shoes with a messy yard project, so a solid pair of mud boots like the is one of the most thoughtful things听you can gift听a significant other who鈥檚听into gardening or landscaping. Burly but nimble, which lowers the chances of spearing a toe with a shovel tip, these听can be hosed off and thrown in the听garage when you鈥檙e done. Plus: dry feet are happy feet, making for a happy partner.

Mystery Ranch Traditional Face Mask ($16)

If you鈥檙e like my family, you have a drawer full of masks, but they always seem to be dirty. How many times have you reached for your favorite one before a trail run听only to find that it鈥檚 sweaty because your partner just used it? Solve that by getting them a new, dedicated mask that you promise will be only theirs. We love from Mystery Ranch, based in Bozeman, Montana, because it鈥檚 comfortable and functional: the bendable nosepiece means it doesn鈥檛 slip, and the filter sleeve and breathable outer offer听solid performance and protection.

Dermatone SPF 23 Original Tin Face Balm ($7)

Every time your significant other puts on , it will be like you鈥檙e delivering them a little kiss on the cheek. It鈥檚 incredible how much comfort a nongreasy SPF moisturizer adds to your exposed skin on a cold ski day. This听tidy little tin can live in their ski pocket all season鈥攔eminding your partner how much you care about them and their face again and again.

Opinel No. 9 Knife ($18)

Early in our relationship, when my wife asked me if I wanted to go听鈥渃heck out the knives鈥� as we were shopping for a camping trip, I knew she was the one. I have tested hundreds of blades for my job here at 国产吃瓜黑料, which is a perk she enjoys, too. But her favorite, the one that lives in her desk year-round, is the inexpensive . The hardy handle and simple lock give听her enough confidence to whittle, but it鈥檚 also aesthetically pleasing enough to complement a cheese board.听

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One way to avoid the crowds and better social distance is to run at odd hours, which, as we head into warmer months, is all the more accommodating because of the cooler night-time temps. This means running when it is dark, which is easier and safer than it used to be, with today鈥檚 running lights, which are both lighter weight and brighter than ever. The following lights, either on their own or in combination, will keep help you stay safe and brighten your path. Only now you鈥檒l have a new problem: 鈥淲hen will I rest?鈥�

BioLite

Headlamp 200 $45

Bright enough for trail use, at 200 lumens, this lightweight rechargeable light features white spot, dimming, red flood, red strobe, white strobe and lock out modes. It weighs only 1.75 oz, is water resistant, tilts for beam adjustment, has a 40-hour burn time on low (good for 8 meters of beam) or 3 hours of high (50 meter beam). The headband is well balanced and sleek with a minimalist approach that stays flush on your forehead without bouncing.

Black Diamond

Sprint 225 Headlamp $45

Weighing a mere 1.8 oz, the rechargeable Sprint 225 packs a wallop into a small, lightweight package. The splash-proof, locking headlamp can last up to 20 hours on a full charge at 6 lumens for 7 meters of light or 1.5 hours at the full 225 lumens for a 40 meter beam, including reserve power. There is also moderate mode of 120 lumens for 20 meters and a strobe mode for safety.

Sprinter 275 Headlamp $75

With an option of three AAA batteries or rechargeable, the Sprinter 275鈥檚 battery pack is rear mounted to minimize and balance the weight and prevent annoying undulations. There are also rear red strobe lights for safety. The low setting of 6 lumens, which is rather anemic, lasts for 100 hours with 6 meters of beam while the mid level of 140 lumens lasts for 8 hours with 26 meters and the high, of 275 lumens, lasts for 4 hours for 40 meters. 听Burn times are slightly longer with the AAA batteries.

The BD 1800 is compatible with the Sprinter 275 and other models and comes with a USB charger so you can recharge on the run and cost $25.

Nathan

Luna Fire 250 Chest/Waist Light $40

Moving the light off the head, either as a secondary light or as the sole source, allows for versatility and fewer shadows and, in some cases, a steadier beam. The Luna Fire can be worn on either the chest or waist and easily clips off when not in use. There are three base settings and the burn times range between 8 hours and 3 hours. In the safety strobe setting it lasts 24 hours. There鈥檚 also a 鈥淪print鈥� mode that stays on for 5 minutes with 250 lumens before an auto reset.

Terra Fire 400 RX Flashlight $60

As a running-specific handheld flashlight, the Terra Fire is ergonomically built to slip in the palm of your hand with a听 comfortable wrist strap. The five modes offer low, medium, high, strobe and 鈥淪print,鈥� which provides one minute of 415 lumen brightness. There鈥檚 also a rear red light. The burns times range from 7.5 hours to 24 hours and the unit comes with a rechargeable battery.

Petzl

200 Bindi $60

The mighty Bindi weighs only 1.2 oz and can be worn as a headlamp or around the neck. It is rechargeable, water resistant, has a red light mode, and has a 6 meter, 5 lumen mode that lasts 50 hours on a charge or can go to 200 lumens for 2 hours.

900 Swift RL $120

The Swift RL quickly became the standard lamp on the ultra scene, due to its power (900 lumens on reactive mode), energy gauge, staying power (up to 100 hours at 10 lumens/12 meters of beam) as a durable, weather-proof, rechargeable and easy-to-use and well-secured lightweight (3.5oz) headlamp. It does, however, take a while to recharge, if that鈥檚 a relevant consideration for you.

UltrAspire

Lumen 400z Waist Light $120

With three brightness options, 100, 200 and 400 lumens and a bevel adjustment to adjust between flood and spot, the waist-mounted 鈥�3D鈥� lighting cuts down on shadows and allows you to turn your head without directing the beam, saving your eyes with a steady output that stays even and stable, given it sits right on your hips. The belt, battery and light weigh only 7.3 oz, including a rear blinking light. The belt includes a sweat-proof pocket that can hold a large cell phone, should you want take it along for safety.

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On most backpacking trips last year, I carried the Black Diamond Iota headlamp. Its 150 lumens were plenty for three-season conditions, and听it weighed only 1.9 ounces听and packed away small.听I loved that it was rechargeable, so I could keep AAA batteries out of the waste stream and听recharge it midtrip using the same portable charger I use for my phone and InReach.

For spring 2020, Black Diamond has introduced the听 ($45).听While it is technically new for this season, it鈥檚 essentially a brighter and updated version of the Iota, which will be dropped from the line. The brand sent me an听early-production version of the new model last fall for review.听

Key Specs

• 1.9 ounces
• One听LED bulb with a nonadjustable oval flood beam
• Up to 225 lumens of light output
• Rechargeable lithium battery
• IPX4 waterproofness rating (resistant to splashing from any direction)

Best For

Over the winter,听I听found the Sprint 225 to be ideal for night running on bike paths, streets, and some very easy trails in and around Boulder, Colorado. Last fall听I carried it as a just-in-case light on long听trail-running loops in the Indian听Peaks and Rocky Mountain National Park. Going forward, I plan to carry it on most听of my backpacking trips, which typically occur between April and September.

My only complaint about the Sprint 225 for backpacking is that it lacks a red light. This night-vision-saving feature is wonderful on group trips to prevent you from blinding your companions, and in camp it鈥檚 often the only light I use. Because of this omission, the Sprint seems more optimized for moving (trail running听and day hiking) than camping.

The Sprint 225 is not to be confused with the ($75), which is also new for spring 2020. That model is slightly brighter, powered by three AAA batteries (single-use or rechargeable), and has a second head strap.

Light Output听

The Sprint 225 uses one听LED bulb. Its light pattern is wonderfully smooth, with no distracting rings.听It seems almost perfectly optimized for night running and night hiking鈥攊t focuses most of the light ahead听but still manages to illuminate the periphery. It鈥檚 a nice happy medium between a spot beam (which makes you feel as if you鈥檙e running in a tunnel and which can be dizzyingly bouncy) and a flood beam (which doesn鈥檛 throw enough light out ahead).

Black Diamond reports that the Sprint 225 can maintain its maximum 225-lumen output for 1.5 hours and听its minimum six-lumen听output听for 20 hours. This seems roughly accurate鈥擨 learned the hard way that the Sprint 225 has enough power for one 60-to-90-minute night run, but it needs to be recharged before a second outing.

The Competition

How does the Sprint 225 compare to other headlamps?

Let鈥檚 start by pitting it听against its predecessor, the Iota. They are comparable in price, size, and weight,听have the same operating configuration,听and share many features, like the three-LED battery meter and PowerTap, which allows the user to switch between full and dimmed modes with one touch. The Sprint is 50 percent听brighter (225 lumens as opposed to听150), and it has a few small improvements. For example, the Sprint remembers its last brightness setting when it鈥檚 turned back on, whereas the Iota has an adjustable default. Black Diamond also reports that the Sprint鈥檚 lens is more efficient at transmitting the light from the bulb to the environment.

The Sprint 225 is brighter and less expensive than the , which has only 200 lumens and retails for $60. However, the Bindi has a red light. Because of improvements in LED technology, it鈥檚 also likely that Petzl will soon release an updated, brighter version of this headlamp.听

The , which puts out 360 lumens and has a red light,听weighs the same as the Sprint but costs ten dollars less.听If Nightcore updated its听1990s-era computer-age aesthetics, maybe it鈥檇 be onto something.

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