Re: [Paddlewise] waterproof LED headlamps?

My immediate thought Keith is if you don't necessarily need it for 
on-water use then why carry it in your PFD? I have religiously carried 
torches around in my PFD as part of my general equipment for ages and 
never needed them. One now rattles around  in my day hatch. That being 
said I always carry one if paddling at dawn/dusk or at night along with 
statutory nav lights.  If it's for on-land use then I reckon pretty much 
any lightweight head torch would do. My paddling colleagues and I have 
been using el-cheapo knock-offs of big name brands found in boat shops 
and electronics stores with remarkable success.

If you want to carry it in your PFD I'd suggest using a compact AA 
battery hand torch on a lanyard for general use as they pack better and 
are less bulky. I have had mixed results with Princeton Tec torches, two 
of which have flooded during rolling even they are rated to 500ft (both 
replaced under warranty but unimpressive performance for the price). 
IMHO Pelicans are a better product. Petzel is very cagey on the 
waterproofness of their products so I'd give them a swerve. There are 
lots of good gear to be found in dive shops now as well. The size and 
quality of the seals, flexibility in ways it can be mounted and one 
handed operation are a key features to look for.

Richard
Sydney, Australia.