How do headlamps for ski touring differ from conventional headlamps?
Headlamps for outdoor use must meet special requirements in order to remain stable during outdoor activities. Compared to other torches and headlamps, a headlamp for ski touring or cross-country skiing is characterized by its high performance, manageability and robust, lightweight design.
Their primary aim is to provide you with sufficient light so that you can also ski at night. In addition, they are often equipped with emergency functions that can save your life in an emergency.
Difference between normal headlamps and ski headlamps:
- Brightness: For extreme sports, the more lumen output a lamp has, the more suitable it is. Nevertheless, you should be able to adjust the brightness or light beam as you wish. An adjustable light cone, also known as a zoom function, offers you the advantage of being able to adjust your focus as required and thus illuminate distant and close-up areas. The Advanced Focus System of the HF8R Signature and the Flood and Spot of the H19R Signature from Ledlenser, for example, offer you this advantage. Both headlamps offer an output of more than 800 lumens at the highest brightness level. Additional light modes such as an SOS mode can be life-saving in emergencies.
Our tip: In the dark, bright light can cause severe eye strain. If your lamp has a red light function, your eyes won't have to get used to the darkness too much after using the lamp and will be spared.
- Light range: Apart from a high lumen output, a headlamp for ski touring should be able to produce a light beam that can adequately illuminate the path over several hundred meters. This is only possible with a long beam range. Ledlenser lamps work with the latest LED technology. These can not only shine in terms of light modes, but also offer you the option of different brightness levels. In combination with an adjustable light cone, you can freely select your perfect lighting range and even focus on a small spot several hundred meters away.
- Lighting time: Nature is unpredictable, so the lighting time of your lamp should be. A ski headlamp should have a long burn time, ideally several days, so that you are not left in the dark in an emergency. In addition, there is hardly any opportunity to buy additional batteries or recharge batteries during outdoor activities. Are you looking for a headlamp that will give you more than 3 days of light? Then take a look at our HF8R Core from the HF series. This offers a light duration of up to 90 hours at the lowest brightness level.
- Energy efficiency: Ski headlamps must be able to deliver maximum performance under extreme conditions. With the right LED technology, a long light duration can be combined with high luminosity in a high-performance lamp. LEDs have the advantage over conventional light sources that they consume less power for the same lumen output. Nevertheless, it can happen that the power runs out or that you forget to change the batteries or recharge the battery. In these cases, models that can be recharged with a power bank are suitable. If you have a power bank, you don't have to worry if the headlamp runs out of power. Thanks to LED technology, the light sources consume less energy, which also increases the burn time. If the lamp requires batteries, you should always have extra batteries with you. You have to decide for yourself whether an additional battery box is too heavy for your overall equipment.
- Shockproof and waterproof: Skiing involves freezing temperatures, so a headlamp should remain functional even in sub-zero temperatures and snowfall. Impact resistance and protection from the weather are just as important. Snow on a lamp can liquefy at any time and penetrate the housing. Of course, it can also happen that you drop your flashlight in the snow. For these reasons, we always recommend a waterproof rating of at least IPX8 when choosing a torch for ski tours.
- Design: Skiing is a strenuous sport, which is why the right equipment needs to be robust but also lightweight. It is also important that the headlamp fits on the ski helmet. To save weight, the headband of headlamps for ski touring tends to be narrow and elastic. In addition, the headband should have silicone or a silicone-like material on the inside so that it does not slip during outdoor activities and stays on the smooth helmet. With the right headband, any headlamp will fit on a ski helmet.
Good to know: The luminosity of a lamp varies from model to model and can vary between 10 and more than 2000 lumens. How many lumens a lamp needs depends on the intended area of use. In general, however, you should always choose a lamp with a light output of at least 600 lumens at the highest brightness level for outdoor activities. You can find more information on outdoor headlamps in our guide.
Why a ski headlamp from Ledlenser is worthwhile
The right ski equipment is essential to be able to keep going on a long ski tour. Ski mountaineering is more strenuous than it looks. Skiers pay particular attention to the weight of their equipment. Nevertheless, the lamp must be weatherproof and powerful. With Ledlenser headlamps, you have the advantage on ski tours that they are:
- Easy to use and provide grip and accuracy even when wearing gloves
- Provide maximum brightness with long battery life
- Have a luminosity of up to 4000 lumens in boost mode
- Have different light modes from flashing light to boost function for maximum light
- Are protected against dust and moisture
- Are exceptionally durable and have a long service life
- Are equipped with a red light function
Good to know: The advantage of headlamps over flashlights is that they give you unrestricted freedom of movement. It is also relatively difficult to operate a flashlight if you are holding ski poles in your hands at the same time. If your headlamp has an additional red light function, you can illuminate your surroundings as usual at long and short range without your eyes having to get used to the darkness for a long time after switching off the light. They are also ideal for reading maps or searching for items in your rucksack. When buying a headlamp with red light, make sure that the model can also produce a bright white light.
Ski headlamp vs. outdoor flashlight
Are you looking for a handy, lightweight and powerful lamp for skiing? Then a headlamp is the best choice. This leaves your hands free to hold your ski equipment, such as cross-country poles. Another practical feature is that you can illuminate your field of vision with a simple movement of your head. Headlamps are rightly real all-rounders that are also popular for trail running, mountaineering or hiking.
You always need a free hand to operate a flashlight, which can restrict your freedom of movement enormously when skiing. However, a flashlight can be an additional companion for your ski tour. Here too, it is important that the torch is as light as possible, as ski tours are quite strenuous. Additional light modes such as a flashing or SOS light can also be useful for outdoor activities.
Headlamp as an indispensable companion in the mountains
You don't just go skiing on vacation and are wondering whether you can also use your ski headlamp for mountaineering or hiking? The outdoor flashlights and headlamps from Ledlenser are suitable for skiing, hunting and fishing, but also for hiking and mountaineering. When hiking in the mountains, hikers should always carry a lamp with an output of at least 600 lumens in the highest mode for safety reasons. If you are looking for an all-rounder headlamp for cross-country skiing, skiing and mountaineering, the Ledlenser HF8R Core from the HF series with more than 800 lumens is suitable. For more information on flashlights for hiking, you can take a look at our guide.
Headlamps for ski touring: What should you look out for when buying?
When buying a headlamp for skiing, there are a few factors to consider. First of all, you should ask yourself how many lumens a headlamp for ski touring should have. For outdoor activities, lamps with a high luminosity are generally the best choice. Good ski headlamps should have a luminosity of at least 600 lumens in the highest brightness mode. Other factors that your chosen model should fulfill are
- appropriate brightness and light modes
- light colors
- battery life
- energy efficiency
- good grip on the ski helmet
Ultimately, the price-performance ratio should be good. Comparing the prices and functions of different models will help you find the perfect headlamp for ski touring.
The best headlamps for skiing from Ledlenser
Your next ski vacation is coming up and you want to know which lamp to choose? To make your search easier, we have selected the two best ski lamps from Ledlenser:
H19R Signature
The H19R is the perfect headlamp for winter sports enthusiasts and extreme athletes. Thanks to its robust design, IP68 waterproof rating and red light function, this headlamp can shine in the dark on fast descents.
The advantages of the H19R Signature at a glance:
- Red light function
- IP68 protection
- Maximum light range of 330 meters
- Up to 4000 lumen output in boost mode
- Operating temperatures from -20 to 40 degrees
HF8R Core
With Adaptive Light Beam technology, you can use this model completely hands-free. The HF8R Core also impresses with three brightness levels, red light and a zoom function.
The benefits of the HF8R Core at a glance:
- Automatic dimming and focusing
- Red light function
- IP68 protection
- Maximum light range of 210 meters
- Up to 1600 lumen output in boost mode
- Operating temperatures from -20 to 40 degrees
HF6R Signature
For ski mountaineers who value particularly lightweight equipment, the Hf6R Signature offers a good compromise between performance and weight. It is ideal for ski tours that start early in the dark.
The advantages of the HF6R Signature at a glance:
- 135 grams light
- Red light function
- IP68 protection
- Maximum light range of 170 meters
- Up to 1000 lumen output in boost mode
- Operating temperature from -20 to 40 degrees