Snow Peak Snow Miner Headlamp

Excellent but lacks a red light.

Sticking with our early morning (before sunrise) walking routine, we have been using the SNOW PEAK "SNOW MINER" headlamps and they are pretty dorky looking, but are extremely well designed and serve a dual purpose.

This is the only headlamp that I found that was BOTH a headlamp and a tent/camp lantern.

There is a large 1.5" diameter silicone globe on the front of the headlamp, push the dome in to collapse it and you get a focused spotlight that easily throws a beam well out in front of you (claims 40 meters).

But squeeze the dome and restore it to its dome shape and the spot light turns into a soft glowing area light that will light your tent. A couple of these will light a small campsite. The light in this mode is easily bright enough to read a book by, and is diffused enough so that you don't go spot blind. It eliminates the need for a compact flashlight in the pack as it serves multi duties. One of the 2 adjustment clips on the headband includes an integrated hanging hook, so you can hang if from a rope, branch, etc.

It also has HIGH - LOW - STROBE capabilities. The single silicone encased button controls all functions. Push once for HIGH and again for OFF; push quickly TWICE for low and again for OFF. Push quickly 3 times and the warning strobe starts with a claimed 200 hour flash time. While on HI (80 lumens) and claims to burn for 55 hours with 3 (included) alkaline AAA batteries. Also, if you have it in HIGH mode you can push and hold the button and it will slowly DIM the bulb allowing you to control the brightness, release at the desired brightness and it stays at that setting until you turn it off.

The integrated hinge allows you to angle the headlamp down and it has several (5) secure click stops so you can adjust it to project the beam exactly where you want it.

There is no RED LIGHT/GREEN LIGHT functionality so this is probably NOT a good headlamp for setting traps, hunting, etc. It is, however, an extremely good light for backpacking. IT WOULD BE A PERFECT LIGHT IF IT OFFERED A RED LIGHT FOR PRESERVING NIGHT VISION. Still its a great light. Works in a tent or at a campsite as an area light with the silicone dome popped open, works as a headlamp with it popped in

At 3.6 ounces on my scale (with batteries installed) it's not the very lightest unit, but it's plenty lightweight. I can see why this won the BACKPACKER Magazine Award for best headlamp. Again, great backpacking/camping headlamp, probably not a great hunting/trapping headlamp.