Buying guides

Know exactly which light to pack, in five minutes.

Pick your trip or your job. The guide tells you how many hours you will be in the dark, the headlamp and the setting that cover them, whether you need a spare, and the total in dollars. No form, no email. The answer is on the page.

What every guide tells you

  • Hours in the dark. From the time you wake to the time the sun is up, or the length of the shift, added up by stage.
  • The light and the setting. The headlamp and the exact setting that cover those hours, with hours to spare.
  • Spare or no spare. Whether you need a spare battery or a second light, and when you do not.
  • The total. What the kit costs as one figure, with live prices from the store.
  • The light you already own. How to check it against the same list, so you may not need to buy anything.
  • What the guide is not. A buying guide for lights, not climbing, travel or safety advice. The park's rules and your employer's rules come first, and the sources are linked.

Trip or job not here?

Tell the team the trip and the dates, or the job, and we will say what to bring.

No trip in mind, just want the right light? The finder asks what you do with it and shows the lights that fit.

Last reviewed 6 October 2026.