{"id":8786,"date":"2021-03-09T21:57:33","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T20:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/?p=8786"},"modified":"2024-03-06T12:10:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T11:10:17","slug":"linterna-frontal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travesiapirenaica.com\/en\/head-torch\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose a mountain headlamp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Headlamps are probably one of the instruments that have evolved the most over the last few years, decades. During this time they have achieved greater illumination at lower power consumption, longer battery life, smaller and smaller models, more resistant to shocks, humidity or cold, different types of light, different light beams, and even headlamps with intelligent lighting and all kinds of improvements.<\/p>

From the point of view of sports and outdoor activities, headlamps have completely displaced handheld torches, as they allow you to have your hands free. In addition, we must bear in mind that they are a fundamental part of the basic mountain equipment<\/strong><\/a> and we should always carry it with us, even if we plan to return home before dark. In case of accident or loss, the light of the headlamp will help us to be located in the middle of the night.<\/p>

As we have just mentioned, headlamps have evolved a lot in recent years, thanks on the one hand to new technological advances and to the fact that a multitude of manufacturers have come into play. That is why, in view of the growing market offer and the multiple features they offer and promise, a standard was needed to standardise all these features and allow the end buyer to compare the different models in a clear way.<\/p>

Lighting standard. ANSI\/PLATO FL 1 2019 protocol.<\/h3>

It originated in 2010, when several manufacturers met to set common standards and the first 501c6 standard was approved in the state of Delaware. The big breakthrough came at the end of 2016, when the first ANSI\/PLATO FL 1 2016 standard was approved, now revised and named as ANSI\/PLATO FL 1 2019<\/strong>.<\/a> The acronym ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute.<\/p>

This standard deals with several concepts that will allow us to understand the different characteristics of the headlamps and, more importantly, will allow us to establish a clear comparison between the different brands. So, if you are interested in buying a headlamp, the best thing to do is to familiarise yourself with some of these concepts.<\/p>

The standard is summarised in 7 icons that we will see below, to which we have added several more concepts that we thought it would be interesting to discuss.<\/p>

Features to consider when choosing a headlamp.<\/h2>
\"8
8 tips for hiking at night<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>

Luminous flux:<\/h3>
\"\"
ANSI\/PLATO FL 1 2019 standard icon<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The luminous flux, <\/strong>the amount of light emitted by a source, is the measure of perceived light output and is measured in lumens (lm). The power<\/strong>The light output, on the other hand, is a measure of energy consumption, not of light output.<\/p>

With today's LED technology, it is possible to have a lower wattage torch with a higher light output than a torch with a higher power rating. This is why lumens have become the best method of comparison. However, it is to be expected that higher brightness means higher consumption (power).<\/p>

As a guideline, headlamps range from about 200 lumens to 1000 lumens for the more \"powerful\" models.<\/p>

The vast majority of today's headlamps have different power settings, so that the battery life can be extended when there is less demand for illumination. This was not the case with the older filament bulb models, not so long ago.<\/p>

LED technology:<\/h3>

Although there have been many advances in lighting over the last few years, probably the most recent one is due to LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology. And although the early LED headlamps lacked \"power\" this has changed and in terms of the mountain, they have completely replaced halogen bulbs, combined LED-Halogen systems and of course, filament bulbs.<\/p>

The reason is simple, LED technology is very efficient, with a very long lifetime and low energy consumption. It produces a crisp, bright, flicker-free light and it doesn't heat up and can be manufactured in different colours.<\/p>

The most cost-effective method of producing white LED light is to combine a blue light diode and a yellow light diode. Some headlamps allow a choice between a bluer (brighter) and a yellower (warmer and more natural) type of light. Direct exposure of blue light to the eyes can cause damage to the retina.<\/p>

The red light, which is nowadays incorporated in most headlamps, is very useful for use in shelters or in places where people are sleeping, as it is less obtrusive. The flashing option is very useful for calling for help in case of an accident or emergency.<\/p>

Aperture of the light beam:<\/h3>

Nowadays, many models incorporate the possibility of adjusting the light beam (the light cone). There are some that regulate progressively or in steps, between these two positions:<\/p>