When caught out after dark on a hiking trip or forced into a few hours of late night skiing through backcountry terrain, a quality headlamp is essential. The Petzl e+Lite Headlamp serves either as your go-to back-up if your primary headlamp fails to perform, or functions as an ultra-light lighting alternative. About the same size as a sports watch, the Petzl e+Lite Headlamp weighs slightly less than an ounce with the lithium batteries installed. Including the hard plastic carrying case, the unit weighs just 1.62 oz., a small price to pay in the weight department when illumination is all that separates you from the trailhead or a warm sleeping bag. For the size, the Petzl e+Lite Headlamp is more than adequate in a pinch. The three white LEDs throw a beam of 62 feet in maximum mode, or lights the route 36 feet ahead in economy mode. Built for tucking into a survival kit and then forgetting about it until the time comes that you need it, the e+Lite Headlamp has a shelf life of 10 years. It also features white and red strobe modes for rescue purposes, has an option to illuminate with the red LED alone to preserve night vision, and has a lock mechanism to keep the switch from accidentally turning on inside your backpack. The e+Lite's head strap also works as a wristband for mounting the light on the hand or forearm, and a clip allows for easy mounting on a hat, helmet, shirt or backpack shoulder strap. A ball joint attaches the lighting unit to a base where the strap is attached. This ball joint allows the Petzl e+Lite Headlamp to rotate a full 360ยบ for unlimited aiming.
