Steve Bunn
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Portugués - in planning for 2024
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
However, if a heat wave occurs and he decides to start walking earlier in the morning to beat the heat, then a headlight will be much appreciated.At the end of May it will be daylight by 7am. You will not need a head torch for walking
Very true, but many little tiendas carry them on the camino path. Could be a "wait and see" item.However, if a heat wave occurs and he decides to start walking earlier in the morning to beat the heat, then a headlight will be much appreciated.
Before I left NZ for my first Camino I had planned to leave around 7am each day. Promptly revised that once I got there and discovered the heat. Then I was glad of my torch as I walked early to get some kms in before the day heated up.I'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
It's possible to bring a headlight for the purpose of using it for an early start without using it inside the albergue and annoying others.I've walked 6 caminos and never needed a head torch once, in spite of plenty of pre-dawn starts.
But I've lost count of the number of times I've been bothered by someone else using a torch in a dark albergue dorm room.
Leave it home, please.
Us Oregonians do think alike. I was going to mention that hahahaHowever, if a heat wave occurs and he decides to start walking earlier in the morning to beat the heat, then a headlight will be much appreciated.
I think you are lucky and maybe have younger eyes haha. I have started many mornings when it is pitch black out and always use my head lamp on the camino. Don't want to miss an arrow but more importantly for me I don't want to step in small potholes (or anything similar) or trip over or twist an ankle on roots or stones on the path. I always try to have everything in my pack so all I need to put back in my pack is my sleeping bag, toothbrush, ear plugs and water bottle.. Lately and in the future I walk starting in late October. This year I may even start in December. I have all my winter clothes out on top of my pack and ready to put on. For light I use my cell phone and have it facing down to the floor and at half power. I don't think I disturb anyone. I only lift it up to check on top of and under my bed to see if I left anything. I think it can be done quietly. Any repacking or general screw up where I need to do some further packing or arranging can be done out of the sleeping areas if necessary. But you are 1000% correct I have been bothered many times by people rustling, packing, lighting the room like it is a night baseball game and not even whispering but talking. Usually my ear plugs block the noise but sometimes they are not needed, but those lights can't be blocked for me. No I won't wear eye shades.I've walked 6 caminos and never needed a head torch once, in spite of plenty of pre-dawn starts.
But I've lost count of the number of times I've been bothered by someone else using a torch in a dark albergue dorm room.
Leave it home, please.
We hiked each of our four CF beginning in Sept. Unless breakfast was included in the room price (private rooms last two caminos), we began walking at 7 am when it was still dark. We would not consider a camino without a head torch. There were several occasions in which we encountered other pilgrims hiking in total and complete darkness. One time I stated "Peligro, necessite un luz". This was hiking up a steep trail with a narrow path and steep dropoff only a few feet away. The pilgrim said he didn't need a light. Another time as we were hiking out of Triacastela early morning, there was a pilgrim standing by the trailhead, without a light. Cindi and I began our climb, and the pilgrim immediately hovered just behind Cindi, almost tripping her. We finally reached the top and stopped. He walked past us without saying a word! He was unsafe for himself and us. Next time we'll just stop and let the person pass. A headtorch is small and doesn't way much. Well worth bringing along. Bob
If it has a red led, can be useful for moving around albergue before lights on as you get ready to leave. Definitely won't need it for walking early morning at end of mayI'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
It is true that if your normal patterns are to walk after the sun rises, in high season,with comfortable temperatures, the likelihood is you will not use it. However,if you are traveling when you could face extreme heat or off season,when the sunrises later, you will see many pilgrims using them.More Stuff.
I have been camino-ing since the stone age and somehow have survived all that time without ever putting on a head torch. For a while I had a collection of head torches in a drawer that pilgrims left behind, because they found they didn't need them, either.
For all those purposes, I use a tiny LED - the kind that can go on a keychain. They even come with both red and white light. They are more than adequate for finding stuff in the dark, either in an albergue or on the way.I consider it a safety essential.
I see pilgrims using headlights. I don't use them. Never have. I think sometimes they give pilgrims a false sense of security. I see pilgrims with their little lights on, walking in the pre-dawn mist along the berm of the twisty, hilly N-120 highway in their dark clothing. They are almost invisible. They can see OK, so they assume they can be seen as well. It can be terrifying to drive in the early morning from Moratinos to Carrion, where the Camino trail runs a couple of meters parallel to the road, but the pilgrims are not walking on the trail. They are walking along the edge of the road. Because the trail is uneven, and in the dark THEY CAN'T SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING. Real smart.It is true that if your normal patterns are to walk after the sun rises, in high season,with comfortable temperatures, the likelihood is you will not use it. However,if you are traveling when you could face extreme heat or off season,when the sunrises later, you will see many pilgrims using them.
And while on the subject of walking in the dark early morning hours please put on the rubber ends of your trekking poles so the clacking of poles doesn't rob the town residents of their sleep.
While rustling plastic bags next to their ears.From some of the responses it appears there must be a gang that uses headlamps to interrogate sleeping pilgrims
Noooo. Light enough.I'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
I remember walking out of Najera, and looking back which I seldom did. There was a whole line of winking lights from headlamps as far as I could see.It is true that if your normal patterns are to walk after the sun rises, in high season,with comfortable temperatures, the likelihood is you will not use it. However,if you are traveling when you could face extreme heat or off season,when the sunrises later, you will see many pilgrims using them.
Mine is adjustable for angle so doesn't shine in other peoples eyes anyway!¬No.
It will be plenty of light at 07:00. For getting to the bathromm in the night, the the light from the display of your phone is sufficient.
Nothing worse than being woken up by somebodies head torch...
I brought one and used it mostly for getting up at night for restroom. Came in very handy. Make sure to get one with red light feature.I'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
i carry both. For the hand held torch just a little led with a single AAA battery.Consider a small flashlight, preferably one with a narrow beam to reduce one's chances of incurring the wrath of others when in close quarters, as is too easily done with a headlamp or broad source phone light.
I prefer lights with selectable brightness levels and have settled upon a narrow beam version of the "Zebra" brand light that uses a single AA cell. Zebra's brightness levels range from just sufficient for close work with dark adapted eyes to bright enough to spot a wilderness trail at 50 paces - one just holds down the button switch to cycle from dim to bright, releasing at the desired level. The individual levels are customizable, if one wants. Zebras come in axial and side beam versions and include a head strap for when one wants to be hands-off.
Lighter weight and nearly as convenient are single AAA cell lights with 3 fixed levels, there are many of these on-line for ~ $10-15. Look for one with a narrow beam.
Both types can be "locked off" by a slightly loosening their caps, to prevent draining the cells with inadvertent turn-ons.
it's also handy to carry a few "pinch lights" attached to jacket zipper tabs.
Headlamp cons:
1. Their illumination doesn't reveal depth well - because the light source and one's eyes are in close proximity, one doesn't see the shadows behind rocks and roots waiting to trip you, or the curb you're about to step off. In contrast, a light held at waist level or to the side does much better.
2. With a light on one's head, it's too easy to give others an eye-full.
Regarding the camino walking itself, if you're a late starter, it will be light all day. If you're like me, up at 5am, ready to hit the road no later than 6am, I use a headlamp. My wife uses a small flashlight with a strong beam. Either is fine. In an albergue, if you are a typical male who must make a visit during the night, the red light on the headlamp will guide you there and back without disturbing those who are sawing zzzzz's.I'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
Ok wait. But there are all the straps and stuff. Sometimes a handheld “flashlight” is convenient. Sometimes putting the light on your head is also more convenient.There is no rule that you must put the headlamp on your head when using it. It can be held in your hand like any other small light.
Agree. That was sort of my point. Having a headlamp does not mean that you must wave it around on your head in an albergue!Ok wait. But there are all the straps and stuff. Sometimes a handheld “flashlight” is convenient. Sometimes putting the light on your head is also more convenient.
My wife swears by her little flashlight and considers using a headlamp a male thing. She's right, of course.Ok wait. But there are all the straps and stuff. Sometimes a handheld “flashlight” is convenient. Sometimes putting the light on your head is also more convenient.
Agreed. I left out the lithium thing but it does surely cut weight down. In my experience a hand held flashlight will last an entire Camino with a single lithium AAA battery. I’d use that on the flashlight. On my headlamp, however, love to recharge.Some people have mentioned rechargable batteries. I don't know much about these yet but there are rechargeable AA lithium batteries (and maybe AAA batteries too) that use USB cables for charging. Lithium batteries are lightweight and you are likely already carrying a USB charger so you may want to look into this product. Here's a suggested search term:
rechargeable usb aa lithium battery
And if like me you use walking poles a head lamp is very convenient.Agree. That was sort of my point. Having a headlamp does not mean that you must wave it around on your head in an albergue!
My head torch is very lightweight, and the new batteries I put in just before the Camino lasted me the whole time.I carry a basic one charged by two AAA batteries and I carry a spare set. I keep it all in a ziplock bag in an outer pocket of my pack. Very lightweight and while I don't use everyday on the Camino it does come in handy sometimes and I end up using it enough times to justify carrying it. I recommend having one.
I'm sure mine would too, but I just carry an extra set of batteries for the hell of it. Two AAAs are nothing and I'm not a gram counter when I walk the Camino. I start off with two big bars of soap and a full sized tube of toothpaste. Just don't feel like looking for more too soon, lol. Besides, they're consumables. A bit slower in disappearing than say a bag of peanuts or biscuits, but still disappear.My head torch is very lightweight, and the new batteries I put in just before the Camino lasted me the whole time.
No...I'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
I have used a headlamp on other long hikes (Appalachian Trail, Via Francigena) but didn’t on the Norte-Primitivo and didn’t miss it at all. For me, it’s just another piece of unnecessary, redundant gear. Used my phone light a few times. Walking this year, but again without my headlamp.I'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
Decathalon sell these very cheapI do recommend a "frog light" [that's a brand, but you can get any one that you like] for the back of your pack when it's foggy. Your local outfitter will sell them -- and they are only a few dollars (starting about $5 I think)... a small red lamp that secures with a silicone loop.
I *always* turn mine on in fog. You might be surprised by how many foggy mornings there are! (Quite beautiful too!)
Please do yourself and other pilgrims a great favor by taking a head torch with dimmable red and white lights, which can be had from $15-30 and weighs 1 to 3 ounces. Don't think you can pack up in the dark efficiently using one hand while the other holds mobile phone. I have been awakened many more times by the brilliant mobile phone light waiving around while the pilgrim makes all kinds of racket and takes twice as much time as necessary to get out of the albergue. I have done 7 Caminos and absolutely try to avoid walking in the dark, but inevitably, there are those mornings/night in the dark, and its much better not to be encumbered holding mobile in one hand using trekking poles. I have one head torch which takes 2 AAA batteries, taken on 5 caminos, it lasted about a year (multiple travels in Europe and USA) on each set of batteries. I took a 2 oz USB rechargeable on last Camino. Too much extra weight some say?? My pack without food and water is 10 lbs. I have done Caminos in April, May, June, July, September and October using that gear.I'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
Hello Steve, you won't need a head lamp if you start hiking around 7 a.m. Zip. However, I'm glad I took a head lamp as I realized the wonderful dimension of hiking earlier in the morning - uncrowded and under tranquil, star lit heavens. Where there is a ying , there is a yang. RoverI'm starting my Camino Frances on 22 May and was wondering if I will need a head torch, I plan to start walking around 7:00am each day?
Thanks - Steve
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?