Rinjani summit trek: which headlamp, and how much battery?

A trekker's headlamp lighting a steep ridge of loose volcanic sand under a starry sky, trekking poles planted.

Climbing Rinjani? The summit push starts at 02:30, in the dark.

In one operator's two day itinerary you leave the rim camp at 02:30. The climb takes 3 to 3.5 hours up loose volcanic sand and rock, with a trekking pole in each hand. You reach the summit between 05:30 and 06:00, at sunrise.

Short answer

First, ask your operator which headlamp it lends, what battery it takes and whether it comes charged with a spare. If you want your own: the Nitecore HA29 UHE headlamp on its middle setting, a second charged battery (HLB2500), and a second light with its own battery. The second light can be the operator's loan headlamp or one you already own.

See the kit ↓

The trek at a glance

Rinjani Dawn Adventures' two day Sembalun summit trek, as the operator publishes it. Other operators and routes differ.

Rinjani National Park suspended online booking from 1 September 2026. Indonesian press reports that the Senaru route reopened and booking resumed on 3 October, with five routes, Sembalun among them, operating. The park was closed from 1 January to 28 March 2026. Confirm your date, route and ticket with your operator and the park before you book. Read the park notice or the Antara report.

Satellite map of the Rinjani summit trek Day 1 runs from the Sembalun gate to the crater rim camp, shown as a white dashed line. The summit push runs from the rim camp to the summit, shown as a solid yellow line. Three numbered points mark the gate, the camp and the summit.
Day 1, in daylight Summit push, by headlamp

You come down the same way in daylight.

Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery, 25 Sep 2026. Route from © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), through the operator's published gate, camp and summit points. For explanation only, not for navigation.

  • 4.2 kmcamp to summit along the mapped line, in the dark
  • about 1,100 mof climbing on the summit push, operator figure
  • 2 days1 night in a tent at the rim camp
  • 02:30leave camp for the summit
Elevation profile, Sembalun gate to the summit Elevation rises from about 1,050 metres at the Sembalun gate to about 2,600 metres at the rim camp after 8.6 kilometres, shown in grey for day 1. It then climbs to about 3,640 metres sampled near the summit after 12.86 kilometres, shown in yellow for the summit push. The operator states the summit as 3,726 metres. 1,000 2,000 3,000 m 0 4 8 12.86 Distance, km
  • 1Sembalun gate
  • 2Crater rim camp
  • 3Summit

Heights from SRTM 30 m data, so read them as about. Yellow: walked by headlamp.

Your two days, hour by hour

Times are the operator's published example. Your guide sets the actual pace.

09:00 to 17:30Headlamp off
Day 1: Sembalun gate to the rim campOpen grassland, then a steep climb of about 3 hours to the rim. Keep the headlamp where you can reach it in case you arrive late.
18:30Low or red light
Dinner and tent tasks at campUse the low setting, or the red light, in a camp of tents. The red light is a courtesy, not a rule. Keep it short to save the battery for 02:30.
A trekker sitting at a tent door at dusk on a bare ridge, a dim headlamp lighting a daypack.
02:00Low light
Wake, hot drink, check your headlampThe operator checks head torches at this point. Put yours on over your hat and make sure it works.
Gloved hands checking a headlamp at a tent door by its own low light, a steel cup beside the boots.
02:30Headlamp on
Leave campSteep ascent over volcanic sand and rocky ground. Use the middle brightness setting in neutral white. To get there from off, hold the Power button for one second, then press it once.
Trekkers leaving a few tents at night on a dark ridge, each lit by their own headlamp beam.
Upper slopeHeadlamp on
Loose volcanic sand and gravelPoles in both hands. The slope is steep and your feet slide back on the loose surface. The light stays on your head.
Boots and trekking poles in loose volcanic sand at night, a second climber just ahead lit by the wearer's headlamp.
05:30 to 06:00Low light
At the summitCold wind while you wait for sunrise. Use the low setting, and switch off when you do not need it.
Two trekkers sitting at the summit before sunrise in hoods, a dim headlamp lighting a steel cup in their gloved hands.
SunriseHeadlamp off
First lightSwitch off when you can see the ground. Sunrise is about 06:10 to 06:30 from May to September (calculated), so you reach the summit in the dark and wait.
Two trekkers at the summit at first sun, headlamps pushed up on their beanies and switched off, looking over the crater and lake.
07:00 to 16:00Headlamp off
Down in daylightBack at camp in 1.5 to 2 hours for breakfast, then down to Sembalun by about 16:00. Keep the headlamp at the top of your bag for a late finish.

How much runtime does your headlamp need?

About 5.5 hours of walking light and 2.75 hours of low light.

The walking light is 3.5 hours for the climb plus 2 hours spare for a slow night. The low light covers the evening at camp, an overnight toilet trip, the wake-up, the wait at the summit and half an hour spare. The spare hours are our allowance, not an operator figure.

our 8.25 h allowance
What you need
Low light Walking Walking spare
HA29 UHE headlamp
HA29 UHE headlamp, one battery, middle setting
HLB2500 spare battery
With the spare battery: another 8h45

One battery gives about 8h45 on the middle setting, measured at 26°C. That covers the 5.5 hours of walking light on its own. The light gets dimmer as the battery drains and the summit is cold, so the spare is there for a slow night and for the last stretch. Plan as if you cannot charge at camp.

How far ahead you need to see

A headlamp-lit view up a loose sandy ridge path at night, pole tips in the sand, the light fading along the path. 0.3 to 1 m: your hands, bag and boots 1 to 5 m: your feet and pole tips on loose sand 5 to 15 m: where the path goes next

Illustration, not a measured beam pattern.

What those distances look like

  • 1 m: about an arm's length
  • 5 m: about one car length
  • 15 m: about the height of a 5 storey HDB block

The 82 m range on the middle setting is where the beam fades to moonlight level. You see sand and rock clearly for a fraction of that, and on this slope the near part of the beam is what matters. Start in neutral white.

If the battery runs down, or the lamp fails

Battery runs down

Swap in the charged spare battery (HLB2500).

Lamp fails, drops or gets lost

A second light with its own battery: the operator's loan headlamp, or a small headlamp you already own. A spare battery cannot fix a lamp that is broken or gone.

Gloved hands swapping a battery pack onto the back of a headlamp at night.

Practical checklist

  • Charge both batteries before you fly.
  • Lock the headlamp in your bag so it cannot switch on: hold both buttons for 2 seconds.
  • Keep the spare battery in a pocket you can reach with gloves on.
  • Practise the battery swap in the dark.
  • Check the strap holds over a warm hat.
  • Check the charge before you sleep: with the lamp off, press the MODE button once. 4 lights is 75 to 100%.
  • The case in the box takes 3 AAA batteries in an emergency.

The kit we'd pack

HA29 UHE headlamp
Main headlamp
HA29 UHE headlamp
S$119
  • Middle setting: 300 lumens, about 8h45 on the included battery
  • Waterproof, even if dropped in water (IPX8), with the included battery fitted
  • 112 g with battery, bracket and headband
  • Red light for camp
View product →
HLB2500 spare battery
Spare battery
HLB2500 spare battery
S$39
  • Another 8h45 on the middle setting
  • Slots straight into the lamp, which stays waterproof (IPX8)
  • Keeps at least 80% of its capacity at -40°C
  • Charges by USB-C in about 2h20
View product →
Headlamp and spare battery S$158
NU25 MCT UL backup headlamp
Backup light
A second light with its own battery

The headlamp your operator lends, or one you already own. A small headlamp such as the NU25 MCT UL gives about 5 hours on its middle setting, enough for the climb itself. From S$79. View product →

Already own a headlamp? Check it against this list.

  • Runs about 5.5 hours on a setting you can walk by, or takes a spare battery.
  • Has a low or red setting for camp.
  • The strap holds over a warm hat.
  • You can work the buttons with gloves on, in the dark.
  • You have a second light.

Other headlamps that also work

UT27 MCT headlamp + spare HLB1500 battery
Lighter, same idea
UT27 MCT headlamp + spare HLB1500 battery
  • 74 g with its battery. The spare battery (HLB1500) is S$19.
  • 280 lumens for about 6h30 on the middle setting, per battery.
S$128
View headlamp → View battery →
HA27 UHE headlamp + spare HLB1500 battery
Lower cost
HA27 UHE headlamp + spare HLB1500 battery
  • 100 g with its battery. Takes the same spare battery (HLB1500).
  • 280 lumens for about 7 hours on the middle setting, per battery.
S$98
View headlamp → View battery →
NU45 headlamp
Longest on one charge
NU45 headlamp
  • 126 g. The battery is built in, so you cannot swap it.
  • 300 lumens for about 17 hours on the middle setting.
S$139
View headlamp →

Runtimes measured at 26°C on the setting and battery listed. You still need a second light with any of these.

What the mountain looks like

A line of orange tents on the narrow camp ridge at Pelawangan Sembalun in daylight, mist below and the crater wall behind.
Tents on the camp ridge at Pelawangan Sembalun, in daylight. Photo: Yon Ilahi, Pelawangan Sembalun, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and recompressed.
Climbers in warm clothing standing on the rocky summit ridge of Mount Rinjani at sunrise, with cloud far below and a rock pinnacle in the foreground.
Climbers on the summit of Rinjani at sunrise, 2008. Photo: Petter Lindgren, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized.

We have no licensed photo of the climb in the dark.

Read firsthand accounts

These are personal accounts of the trek, not endorsements of any product. None of these travellers is known to have used Nitecore gear.

Questions

Does the operator lend a headlamp?

Rinjani Dawn Adventures lists headlamps among its free loan items. It does not say which model, what battery, whether it comes charged or whether there is a spare. Ask before you book.

Should I still bring my own headlamp?

If you can, yes. The operator's own packing guide tells trekkers to bring a reliable head torch with spare batteries, and other operators' packing lists say the same. A headlamp of your own is also the second light if the loan headlamp fails.

Can I use my phone torch?

No. The operator says a phone flashlight is not enough, and your hands are on your trekking poles.

Can I charge at camp?

Other Rinjani operators say there is nowhere to charge on the mountain. Charge both batteries before you fly.

Will one battery last the whole trek?

One battery gives about 8h45 on the middle setting. Our allowance is 5.5 hours of walking light and 2.75 hours of low light. The light gets dimmer as the battery drains, so the spare is for a slow night and for the last stretch.

How cold is it at the summit?

Operators give about 0 to 6°C at the summit before sunrise. The operator says it is very cold before sunrise, windy, and close to freezing with wind chill. Warm layers, gloves and a hat are on the operator's loan list on request.

Is Rinjani open now?

Rinjani National Park suspended online booking from 1 September 2026. Indonesian press reports that booking resumed on 3 October. Confirm your date, route and ticket with your operator and the park before you book.

I am also climbing Kinabalu, which headlamp?

The same kit: the HA29 UHE headlamp on its middle setting and a spare battery (HLB2500). See our Kinabalu headlamp guide.

Questions about your own gear? Contact the team.

Sources and credits

  1. Rinjani Dawn Adventures, 2 Day / 1 Night Mt Rinjani Summit Trek, captured 30 Sep 2026. rinjanidawnadventures.com
  2. Rinjani Dawn Adventures, Mount Rinjani packing guide 2026. rinjanidawnadventures.com
  3. Rinjani Dawn Adventures, Mount Rinjani trek prices 2026, free loan items. rinjanidawnadventures.com
  4. Rinjani National Park, limited opening, 1 Sep 2026. rinjaninationalpark.id
  5. Antara, Senaru route reopened, 3 Oct 2026. antaranews.com
  6. Tempo English, trails reopen 28 March 2026, 25 Feb 2026. en.tempo.co
  7. Rinjani National Park, Torean closed, 23 Sep 2026. rinjaninationalpark.id
  8. Rinjani National Park, fire and closures, 28 Sep 2026. rinjaninationalpark.id
  9. Nitecore, HA29 UHE manual. nitecore.com
  10. Nitecore, UT27 MCT manual. nitecore.com
  11. Nitecore, HA27 UHE manual. nitecore.com
  12. Nitecore, NU45 manual. nitecore.com
  13. Nitecore, NU25 MCT UL manual. nitecore.com
  14. Nitecore Singapore, HA29 UHE product page, prices checked 5 Oct 2026. nitecore.sg
  15. Nitecore Singapore, HLB2500 product page. nitecore.sg
  16. Nitecore Singapore, UT27 MCT product page. nitecore.sg
  17. Nitecore Singapore, HA27 UHE product page. nitecore.sg
  18. Nitecore Singapore, NU45 product page. nitecore.sg
  19. Nitecore Singapore, NU25 MCT UL product page. nitecore.sg
  20. Nitecore Singapore, HLB1500 product page. nitecore.sg
  21. Nitecore Singapore, Kinabalu headlamp guide, for readers doing both trips. nitecore.sg
  22. Tristan Balme, Mount Rinjani hike. tristanbalme.com
  23. Holden, One Flight Out, Mission Rinjani 2023, day 3. oneflightout.com
  24. Lotte Brenart, Yoga Vida, Expedition Rinjani. yogavidablog.com
  25. Michael Tyler, Rinjani 3 day trek from Senaru. michaeltyler.co.uk
  26. Wikimedia Commons, Pelawangan Sembalun, Yon Ilahi, CC BY-SA 4.0. commons.wikimedia.org
  27. Wikimedia Commons, Rinjani Summit Sunrise, Petter Lindgren, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized. commons.wikimedia.org
  28. Sentinel-2A L2A scene S2A_50LMR_20260925_0_L2A. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2026). earth-search.aws.element84.com
  29. Route data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0, through the operator's published gate, camp and summit points. opendatacommons.org
  30. SRTM 30 m elevation service, used to sample heights along the mapped line. api.opentopodata.org

This is a buying guide for headlamps, not trekking or safety advice. On the mountain, follow your guide and your tour operator on route, timing and safety, and check current notices from Rinjani National Park for your date.

Scene illustrations on this page were created for this guide and do not show a specific trek.

Last reviewed 5 October 2026.