13 Common and Not So Common Uses for a Headlamp

Uses for your new headlamp are limited only by your imagination. If you asked any child what they would use a headlamp for, you might get an answer something like this “I’d use a headlamp to sneak into the kitchen cabinets at night and find the cookies.” Seriously speaking, headlamps are handy devices. Here are a few uses we came up with:

1. Camping – Campground areas can be dangerous places at night. Not only are the surroundings unfamiliar, but there are tent spikes and logs to trip over, wild animals prowling, or a campfire that may not have gone all the way out. This might not otherwise be a problem but we are often forced to visit the bathroom in the middle of the night or to retrieve something that we left in the car. If you use a headlamp, you won’t risk life and limb when mother-nature is calling. Not only that, but you can use a headlamp to read a few pages in a book, or look at a map to plan out your path for the next days hike, before you fall asleep.
2. Caving – Caves are filled with dangers galore. Not only are they dark, damp places but critters live there and usually can’t be seen until it is too late. If you wear a headlamp, you can avoid confrontations with bats, scorpions, snakes and other animals indigenous to caves. You can also see where you are going and avoid slippery rock. In the rare instance of a cave-in or your getting lost, you will have an easier time finding your way out with a headlamp than just trying to feel your way around.
3. Working On A Motorcycle – This sounds strange, but it is an excellent idea. Most men or women who have to work on their motorcycles end up doing it after dark, (since most people work 9-5). Having a hands-free spotlight that goes right to that area you are working on is indispensable, even in the daylight.
4. Working On A Car – This is probably the best idea there ever was. When the hood on a car is open, it shields the light. If you are underneath the car, there is no light present. It just makes sense to wear a headlamp so you can avoid having your spouse or child stand there with a flashlight for hours while you work on a car repair. To get a better look at something all you have to do is move your head to the area that needs to be looked at.
5. Home Repairs - Home repairs and tasks seems to come at you by the droves. There is the leaky faucet, the plugged up sink drain, the furnace that’s making that strange noise in the basement, the cable that needs to be run in the crawl space under your home, or the yard sale junk that needs to be sorted through in the storage building. Anything you do at home can always use more light to make the job easier. What better way to do this than going hands-free with a headlamp?
6. Reading in Bed – Most married couples differ in schedules and lifestyles. Some like to go to bed early, some like to go to bed late. Some turn-in and fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow. Others may need quite a bit of reading before they get sleepy. The problem comes in when you converge on the same space and one wants to sleep while the other doesn’t. With a headlamp, the problem is solved. The lights are out, except for a tiny beam illuminating the pages of a book you are heavily engrossed in. Your partner is sleeping peacefully while you still can enjoy reading your book!
7. Wearing On Your Bike Helmet – Most die-hard biking enthusiasts enjoy not just riding down their paved roads, but going into the woods. This won’t be a problem or a worry if you have your helmet with a headlamp attached. Simply switch it on, and you can navigate the forest with no problem. You will not end up in quicksand or running over a snake you could not see previously. You will not end up smacking into a tree and messing up your bike, not to mention making a trip to the hospital.
8. Fishing – This may seem like a strange idea at first, but when you think about it, it only makes sense. Most expert fishermen go fishing early in the morning before it is light outside. They know that this is the period of time when fish bite. The only problem is it is still dark outside. If you have a headlamp, you can see your way around and see how to bait a hook. You can find your way into your boat without falling over the edge which is easy to do when you are half-asleep anyway. A headlamp will also come in handy for peering down into the water which may be murky and otherwise difficult to see through should an emergency occur and someone, or something, falls into the water.
9. Trail Running – To go for a trail run, you will need clear vision ahead of you to see where there might be trees, animals, and even other people in your way. You may also need to see behind you if you get the sense someone is chasing you. You will need to see areas of debris that may cause you to trip and fall. You will also want to see cliffs, preferably before you run over the edge. Headlamps just make sense to help you light your way.
10. Sailing – Headlamps might seem like senseless equipment to have when you are sailing on a sunny day, but in less than ideal conditions, they will be a life saver. In a heavy pounding storm, headlamps can flash an emergency signal of distress so another boat can see you. Your headlamp will also be a lifesaver if you have to perform any kind of repair after dark or find your way back to the shore without smashing into the dock.
11. Hide-And-Go-Seek – The game most children love to play is even more fun when played at night. Running around in pitch black surroundings can be fun but scary too. Make your kids favorite game a little bit safer by fitting them with headlamps. It will make it easier for them to run and hide out in the yard without worrying about running into lawn equipment or tripping over sprinkler heads. When they find their hiding place, they can click off their light to avoid detection. It will also make it easier for the person doing the finding.
12. Grilling – You are no doubt shaking your head wondering what possible reason we could offer to use a headlamp while grilling. If you are anything like us, you like to grill your dinner when the weather permits, and if you are unfortunate enough to NOT have a light on your porch or deck, a headlamp is an excellent option. On a grill most of the surfaces are extremely hot and will melt a flashlight, leaving you to either have an assistant to hold it, hold it in your teeth, or trying to flip a burger while holding the lid up with same hand you are holding the flashlight with. Bottom line, a headlamp may look geeky, but for grilling it is safe and effective.
13. Cleaning House – Cobwebs. Need we say more? Seeing in the corners of a room is easy with a headlamp. If you think your home is clean, use a headlamp and see how much extra dirt you can find. It is also useful for cleaning in closets, behind furniture and under beds where it is difficult to see.

Yes, there are endless uses for your headlamp. If you buy one, no doubt you’ll find many more than we have listed here, and you will find that your world is a much safer, happier & brighter place.