I've found that LED headlamps are actually a good bit brighter and shine farther than halogen headlamps, although the LED's I have require a battery pack on the headstrap, which although it is a tad annoying, is still worth the better lighting. If you want a good brand, check out Petzl or Princeton Tech, I got mine for a good price.

I've been using a Petzl MYO 5 for quite a few years now, and last time I hiked out in the dark, my partner observed that I should get a new lamp, since my features a halogen bulb. Now, back when I bought it, pure-led lamps simply could not throw as far as the halogen bulb could, and I've used the halogen lamp often enough that I believe one person in every party should have one (even if everybody else has just tikkas). The thing is, it chews through batteries like candy.

Is there a headlamp out there that can match the focused throwing power of a halogen bulb that isn't the Petzl Ultra (which is awesome, but most of a pound, and more than $400)?

To give you an idea of where LEDs are at these days, I've been gradually replacing the downlights in my house with LEDs. Previously we had 11W CFL fittings (supposed to be direct replacements for 50W halogen); the new 3x1W LED bulbs replace them very comfortably.

Pardon my dimness, but I don't see why you need so much light. I assume you're looking at getting home after dark, returning from an outing in the hills? Climbing or hiking? With a group?

In contrast to what you say, I like my Tikka on its lowest setting, so I can see where I'm walking.

When I'm coming down from a mountain after sunset, I'm usually on a trail. On a forest trail, I need to see the difference between dirty leaves and leaf-covered dirt. Gravel even. I need to see a few yards ahead, so I don't trip.

Bushwhacking at night is more of a problem, but if I can see down-hill at all, I can certainly see and avoid dead-fall trees, or rocky drop-offs. However if I can't navigate through this, that means I should not try, and I'd have to get comfortable somehow for a night in the trees.

Night-hikes above tree-line can be very serious, and this is another case where you must be prepared to spend the night on the rocks, under the stars. If you have trouble finding your route, no amount of light-power could possibly be adequate.

So maybe I'm mis-reading your OP? Maybe you are out on the wide-open prairies, and you are trying to locate the next farm? But farms usually have some kind of light outside?

Anyway maybe you could explain your need for super-power beacons?

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You know, some people do more than just walk on a trail by headlamp. Some people even CLIMB in the dark...on purpose! Or even if not climbing UP, I have found a bright light invaluable for tricky 4th class descents. If I know that I'm going to be on technical ground, a small Tika-like headlamp is just not enough.

But, but , but ...

When I'm climbing up, the rock is a few feet ahead of me, at most. Beyond a body-length or two, I can't see the features anyway, not even in daytime.

Pretty much the same story going down, too.

Rappelling by moonlight, I love to turn off my light. But even by starlight, the route is generally along the fall line. Plus, when I'm second guy down, I can see the first guy's beam (but not the guy).

You've got me on 4th-class, though. Although there's been some 4th-class down-scrambles I've done on rappel.

So I gotta ask again: what's all the light power for? What are you guys looking for, that you need the power?

But, but , but ...

When I'm climbing up, the rock is a few feet ahead of me, at most. Beyond a body-length or two, I can't see the features anyway, not even in daytime.

Pretty much the same story going down, too.

Rappelling by moonlight, I love to turn off my light. But even by starlight, the route is generally along the fall line. Plus, when I'm second guy down, I can see the first guy's beam (but not the guy).

You've got me on 4th-class, though. Although there's been some 4th-class down-scrambles I've done on rappel.

So I gotta ask again: what's all the light power for? What are you guys looking for, that you need the power?

I actually found that kind of throwing power very useful during 3am approaches above treeline, or after dark, above treeline, when you were looking for the next cairn 50 yards out, rather than the trail because the trail didn't exist as such.

Its useful when you're trying to determine if the couloir you need to climb (which you need to climb at night to avoid rock fall kicked loose by the sun) is the one you're looking at, or the one next door. Or maybe you've covered your cache in reflective tape, and you want to make sure you're on the right track before you've gone past it.

The other issue is that most LED lamps use multiple bulbs in a row, so using the shadows to gauge depth of features is all but impossible. That's more easily addressed, but basically, if I'm doing anything but walking a well defined trail or reading, I don't care for the small LED lamps I've encountered.

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I actually found that kind of throwing power very useful during 3am approaches above treeline, or after dark, above treeline, when you were looking for the next cairn 50 yards out, rather than the trail because the trail didn't exist as such.

Its useful when you're trying to determine if the couloir you need to climb (which you need to climb at night to avoid rock fall kicked loose by the sun) is the one you're looking at, or the one next door. Or maybe you've covered your cache in reflective tape, and you want to make sure you're on the right track before you've gone past it.

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