By fixing a light source to your forehead, both your hands are free to do important stuff, such as turning the meat. Maybe that’s why the headlamp is fast replacing the axe and sleeping bag as the must-have camping accessory. Here’s our pick of the best.

What do the following activities all have in common: pitching a tent, changing a flat, tending the campfire while holding a beer. Yes, they’re all likely scenarios on a 4x4 holiday. But more specifically, they all require the use of both your hands.
Not a problem if the sun is still shining, but a little more tricky if it’s dark and you have to hold a torch in one hand.

Enter the headlamp.
By fixing a light source to your forehead, both hands are now free to work. Furthermore, because the beam shines from directly above your eyes, there will always be light in the direction that you are looking.

Sold? Good.
Now select the best option for your needs.

ENERGIZER THREE LED HEADLAMP
Light up the potjie without breaking the bank

This Energizer model is the Toyota Tazz of headlamps. Not the fastest. Not the fanciest. But it’s affordable and reliable and when you buy one you know exactly what you’re getting.

So, what exactly are you getting? Well, it comes with three LEDs – two white ones and a red one – which should cover you nicely for most situations (the red beam helps preserve night vision, just like the red lamps in a submarine).

Burn time is 50 hours off three AAA batteries, which means you shouldn’t have to pack a spare set of batteries for your two-week trip to Namibia. 

Price? R120
Contact? Cape Union Mart  0860 034 000;  www.capeunionmart.co.za
Drive Out says: Great value for money.

PETZL E+LITE
Emergency light coming to the rescue

Ever left the batteries in a torch for too long, then discovered they’d leaked and the torch wasn’t working when you really needed it?

Well, Petzl has developed the little e+LITE specifically for emergencies like that, and one of its stand-out features is that you can leave it for up to ten years and it will still switch on.

Other safety-orientated applications are the two strobe modes (red or white), which can be used to alert rescuers to your whereabouts, and the supplied plastic carry case, so it’s always protected from bumps and drops (it’s also waterproof down to one metre).

Price? R299
Contact? Outdoor Warehouse  0800 003 051;  www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za
Drive Out says: Buy one and leave it in your cubbyhole.

PETZL TIKKA
Old faithful is still a good all-rounder

The Tikka put Petzl on the map, and brought headlamps to the masses. Today, it’s not the fanciest model on the market, but it’s still a steady seller because it offers proven, reliable performance.

With its three small LEDs this headlamp delivers a flood of soft light, making it ideal for around-the-camp activities such as reading in the tent or tending the braai.

Perhaps the biggest selling point is that it’s compact and light. Weighing just 78 g, including batteries (a bit more than a large Bar One), you’ll soon forgot you’ve even got one strapped to your head.

Price? R299
Contact? Trappers Trading  011 793 4502;  www.trapperstrading.co.za
Drive Out says: For most situations this is all you need.

PRINCETON TEC TACTICAL EOS
Under-cover agent for a special assignment

The fact that the Tactical Eos is also available in black, sand or camo guise, indicates its performance is more than just skin deep.

Not only is it built to handle more abuse than regular headlamps (what Princeton Tec call “military tough”), but it can be submerged to a depth of one metre for up to half an hour.

Best of all, it comes with a choice of special filters that allow you to adjust the colour of the light to suit your situation: red for preserving night vision, green for hunter safety, and blue for blood tracking …

Price? R585
Contact? Mountain Mail Order  021 683 6026;  www.mountainmailorder.co.za
Drive Out says: Chuck Norris was probably part of the design team.

BLACK DIAMOND ICON
Executive model for those on the edge

Black Diamond has a reputation for reliability and cutting edge performance.
No wonder then that climbers and mountaineers use their headlamps on the world’s great peaks.

Here on terra firma you’ll still benefit from using one.

Their flagship model, the Icon features a large, powerful three-watt LED for when you need a far-reaching spotlight beam (Black Diamond claim a throw of 80 m), surrounded by four smaller LEDs for general use.

It offers a choice of seven lighting modes, giving you unrivalled control over beam strength and power consumption to suit your specific requirements.

Price? R699
Contact? Mammoth Outdoor  021 511 6006;  www.mammothoutdoor.co.za
Drive Out says: Pricey, but if you want headlamp royalty, this is it.