petzl e lite

Very light weight, bright enough for trail hiking at night, easy to find batteries (nowadays), battery life is long enough for a week out, red bulb for viewing stars/wildlife. If you are the type to always carry backup batteries, you won't even notice them in your pack because they are tiny. Same battery as your pinch light perhaps.

Cred: 498

Review by DottieB on Jul. 06, 2011

Great for ultralight camping. Love all the light modes. Only headlamp this light with a red LED function. 10 spare batteries can be stored in minimum space. Can be set on a flat surface and tilted for other uses. I use it in combination with a pak-lite ultra.

Not the greatest run-time, but not the worst. I wouldn't use it for search and rescue, but I have no problem hiking at night with it.

There arent many ultralight units of this quality with this many light mode options out there.

Cred: 27

Review by jamaica on Oct. 29, 2007

This light is simply amazing. It is super light and very versitle with excellent features such as high and low settings, strobe, and a red light so you can read while your tent partner can sleep without a blinding light in the eyes. It also lasts a very long time on one set of batteries. I was able to hike the entire Colorado trail without ever changing the batteries. The high beam is very bright for the size of the light, I've actually used the e-lite as a backup caving headlamp a couple time and it worked like a charm.

Cred: 264

Review by MontanaMike on Jan. 21, 2011

Claims to be an emergency backup headlamp, but I found myself using it as my primary. Super light weight, plenty of light for night hikes. Packs away safe and small. Can easily carry spare batteries without noticing they are there.

The headband is fraying, probably because it isn't intended to be used as a primary unit, just a backup.

Not sure of any other emergency headlamps out there.

Cred: 1916

Review by anthonymancuso on Jan. 29, 2013

Considering it's purpose this is the best there is. There are brighter, more durable, headlamps out there that are HEAVIER. This is the smallest, lightest light available. If you're into adventure racing or ultralight trekking, there's no other alternative. Water resistant. Multiple lighting modes.

Could be brighter.

Mammut S Lite

Cred: 476

Review by fb_722631787 on Feb. 06, 2008

WICKED light. Very useful when you use all the battery life out of your main light.

Not bright enough for me for a main light.

Cred: 32

Review by osu_cowboy on Nov. 19, 2008

This light is perfect for what is created for. I just bought this lamp and keep it in my pack to use when my main light dies. For the size the light has tons of power and the multiple settings makes it useful in a variety of situations. For the price and size I certainly recommend it.

None that I have experienced yet.

Cred: 21

Review by KMBOregon on Feb. 18, 2011

So light and small, I love the 360 degree swivel so you can point it anywhere.

It is so light it jiggles a bit. Not that great for night hiking/ mountaineering, compared to a bigger LED light.

I use this for backpacking and light trips. In winter when there's more Time every day that I have to use a headlamp, i'd upgrade to a beefier Petzl LED.

Cred: 2643

Review by ndonaldj on Apr. 10, 2012

Good little emergency light. I wouldn't want to rely on it if I was in actual need of a headlamp.

Tiny

Cred: 83

Review by fb_5800777 on Jan. 20, 2008

compact, modes, versatility

unusual battery that is expensive and not sold at just any convenience store

Cred: 825

Review by 15dbarber on Aug. 21, 2012

Very Light and Bright

Not very good for night hikes

Cred: 205

Review by simont on Jul. 05, 2008

Tiny, light, pretty bright

Cred: 60

Review by superguide on Feb. 19, 2009

Bright.