A headlamp lives in most of my fly fishing packs. When I’m out for a long time or I’m far from the car, it goes in for emergencies. If I’ll be fishing into the evening, it goes in for safety and out of necessity. I usually have one in the back of the car all time time, too.
But any headlamp won’t do. Sure, whatever you grab from the Home Depot checkout line will be a lamp that straps to your head. It won’t be the best piece of gear for fishing, though.
For the purposes of safety, performance, and investment, I’ve outlined four things that I look for in a good headlamp. And it bears mentioning: you can get a good headlamp for under $50. Many at this price point will do all you need for some night fishing or general outdoors activities. With that kind of MSRP, you really can easily pick up the best for your fishing.
Here are four things your fly fishing headlamp should do:
It has to stay on your head… and you’ve got to like it.
“I’m tired of this thing sliding down my forehead… I’ll just hold it.” At this point, his headlamp was essentially a sad little square flashlight. Finding a lamp with a good strap is worth it. If you have a big head/small head/proclivity to always be hatted, you have to take that into consideration. A good headlamp is substantial enough to take some abuse, but light enough to not be a nuisance. Go and try them on. Then, once you’d bought the right model make sure it is fitted well. You’ll have to adjust it with headwear changes, as well as if the elastic begins to stretch.
You have to put on the red light.
One of the biggest errors anglers can make when fishing at night is over-relying on a headlamp. The narrow beam becomes a crutch. It is also an artificial light that only approximates the pervasive nature of sunlight. With a little patience, and confidence in your other senses, the moonlight and your eyeballs will work wonders. But consistently flipping on your headlamp to check your fly or surroundings will only dull your night vision. Having a lamp with a red filter will protect your ability to see in the dark.
It is going to get wet and you’re going to drop it.
Any old light will not work. There are bargain basement headlamps and high-end devices that are designed for purposes that don’t include being out in the elements. Sealed battery compartments and bulbs are must-haves. These features generally run hand-in-hand with the shock and crack suppression that you’ll need as you hop across rocks and drop your lamp in the shallow water. A good headlamp will bill itself as waterproof/resistant and durable.
Power: you need more power.
Batteries are an absolute pain. Researchable headlamps might not have the same lumen-pop, but the option to keep a charger plugged into the dashboard outshines that deficit. This point may very well be the most controversial, but the convenience of a quick charge that doesn’t require a baggie of AA’s is worth it. Both require you to remember something: but a cord will never go bad or get lost in your pocket.
The Spot 400-R from Black Diamond can be found on sale for around $50 and checks all the boxes above. But do your research and find one that is right for you.
Do you have a favorite headlamp for fly fishing? Let me know in the comments below?