Any Tips for Me on Buying a Headlamp for Snow Blowing and Snow Shoveling?

[SubLGT]

Looking for some words of wisdom from those of you who have used a LED headlamp while snow blowing and shoveling. I am guessing that I want a headlamp with a neutral white or warm white LED, 300-400 lumen max, a single 18650 battery, and a flood beam with no center hot spot. Am I on the right track? A 2.5 hour runtime on high should be enough for me.

 

[NoNotAgain]

I've got a Led Lenser H5 and H7 headlamp and found both un-useable while snow blowing at the flood pattern due to snow blindness. They worked better as a spot light.

Disclaimer, my Ariens snow blower has a built in headlamp that's focused about 20 feet in front of the unit. Once the wind kicks up, all you see is a white cloud. I use the light more so to be seen than to see. I also use a bike tail light flasher for the same reason.

For hand shoveling, the flood pattern works fine.

The Nitecore HC50 and HC90 both are rated for 2 plus hours around 400 lumens, though I don't own either light.

 

[reppans]

I shovel snow at night.... I know I'm the low lumen/night vision nut around here, but 3 lms is more than enough for me, and I've been known to do it on a good moonlight mode. Focusing a bit further out with a snowblower might require 10-20 lms for me. The white reflective surface of snow makes a little light go a long way - I would find 100+ lumens blinding in the snow.

I just use my EDC flashlight in a Malkoff headband, but usually just clip and roll my light into my jacket collar under my ear.

 

[SubLGT]

Both of you make a good point about not needing a lot of lumens in snow. I should probably be fine with a headlamp powered by a single or double AA. A warm yellow LED might, I am guessing, have less annoying backscatter if the wind kicks up the snow. And a pure flood beam may not be essential.

 

[Taz80]

Instead of using a headlamp for snowblowing you could get a bike mount and put it on the handles. You get less backscatter that way.

 

[Bob Damon]

The Fenix HP15 is a throwy light, rated at 500 lumens with a 172 meter throw. 500 is Turbo, High is 275 lumens. It also has a sliding diffuser lens, check out some reviews.

 

[markr6]

Instead of using a headlamp for snowblowing you could get a bike mount and put it on the handles. You get less backscatter that way.

Yeah, any breeze and snow that blows back basically blinds you. My H600w worked great last winter as long as it wasn't the light fluffy stuff blowing in my face. And by the way I hope we get absolutely BURIED in snow this year