The explorer is a mid-level headlamp with a reasonable 60 lumen output offering visibility up to 35m – good enough for walking on a defined route, but not so great if you have to search for a far-off marker or landmark.

It’s robust and reasonably compact with a recessed power button to reduce the chance of accidentally turning it on. Running on just one AA battery, it comes in at a barely-registered weight of 47g.

Lighting options are good, with a high power LED offering two settings plus strobe, a red night-vision preserving LED and an orange LED for map-reading and which also preserves night vision.

With a comprehensive IPX7 waterproof rating, it will handle the wettest conditions – even a swim in a stream.

The strap is a wide horizontal head band, with some silicon on the inside to help it stay in place.

It’s light, compact and suited to most tramping situations.

Just be sure to pack a spare battery or two, for the headlamp is let down by its run-time; around 10 hours on low power and just three hours on high power.

– Wayne Clark