Guide: Choose the right headlamp for skiing & snowboarding

HEADLAMP GUIDE

Skiing & Snowboarding

Choose the right headlamp for Skiing

How much light you need for skiing depends on the terrain and your speed. When ski touring uphill at a slower pace, you need less brightness than when skiing downhill at high speed.

Tips when choosing a headlamp for skiing

BRIGHTNESS

For ski touring, the brightness you need depends on the terrain. Uphill, 1200 lumen (or even less) is usually enough, while descents in technical terrain require 2000–3000 lumen. For alpine skiing and snowboarding at higher speeds and on steeper slopes, 3000 lumen is recommended – or 10,000 lumen to truly turn night into day.

BURN TIME & WEIGHT

Pick a small and light battery (S) for short ski tours to avoid unnecessary weight, and a larger one (M) for longer days. For skiing and snowboarding, a larger battery (M) is recommended since higher brightness combined with cold conditions drains the battery faster.

SAVE BATTERY

Cold weather reduces battery performance. Keep the battery warm in a pocket. When ski touring, dim the light on ascents or easier sections to make it last longer.