If you are here looking for a tech heavy review of headlamps and comparison of lumens and the like-just leave now because you’ll be disappointed.

Over the years Brandon and I have collected several headlamps. We’ve used them for so many purposes in all different places for countless adventures. Never once have I said to myself “I wish I had more lumens”.

The Bindi headlamp from Petzl is a rechargeable, lightweight headlamp that I steered away from for years. Thinking, “I can’t recharge it in the backcountry” and “With a different headlamp I can always bring backup batteries”…lots of good points there.

In the moments that I need to travel on a mountain, through glaciated terrain, in the dark-know that I will use a headlamp with brand spanking new batteries, and also carry a back up. That’s maybe 10% of our recreation as it turns out.

The rest of the time I need a headlight at camp, for going to the bathroom, tossing in my bag just in case, for fixing that hard to reach spot, for that run that’s at any time that’s convent in the winter when its just always dark….

What I found was that while my other burlier headlamps work great, I was also running through batteries and didn’t need their bulk.

In terms of recharging, I seem to always have the ability and never actually need to. You might have noticed-we bring a GoPro on a lot of our adventures, I always have a way to recharge that. So if needed, I can recharge my headlamp on a backcountry trip. But on a 5 night, 6 day backcountry trip last year-I didn’t even need to.

The Bindi has three light settings, according to the manufacturer the battery will last 2 hours on high (with reserve lighting) or 50 hours in the lowest setting! I’ve never actually needed it on the brightest setting. Its also small and lightweight. I’ve hated running in the dark before-bruising my nose every time my lamp inevitably falls down. This I don’t even notice.

It also means I bring it everywhere. I mean everywhere. I toss it in every day bag, every overnight bag, every backcountry pack…it’s my backup if I need one, or the main show if I don’t. I keep it charged and at the ready and it has gotten more use than any of my other headlamps for that reason alone.

It may seem strange, but my favorite feature? Have you ever packed a radio (turned off) only to hear static coming from your pack and a dead battery once you got to camp? Or packed a headlamp only to see a faint glow coming from your pack lid and a dead battery sign before it even gets dark? This headlamp flips upside down and locks into position, blocking the ‘on’ button-preventing it from turning on and wasting precious battery when its tucked away. I love that feature.

Also handy is the reflective straps-super easy to adjust, the great colors they come in, the ease of use (I’ve used a LOT-this is simple) and still the features we’ve grown to expect in a headlamp like a red-light, and red flash. The price tag is also pretty easy on the eyes!

So if you’re looking for a new headlamp or waiting for a sign to buy your first one, take a peak at the Bindi….let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading folks-I hope you stay warm and find some time to get out and enjoy your Days Off!