Appreciation post: my $12 headlamp from the hardware store outlasted my $70 one on a trip to Yosemite

Nathan Garcia · 2026-10-16T06:30:03.44412+00:00

Three years ago I grabbed a cheap headlamp on a whim at a hardware store in Fresno before a trip to Yosemite, mostly because I forgot my nice one at home. That thing has been through rain, dropped in creeks, and crammed in my pack for dozens of trips since, while my fancy $70 one died on the second outing. Last weekend I finally tested them side by side on a night hike and the $12 light ran 9 hours on the same batteries. I dont get how the cheap one keeps going when the expensive one quit. Anyone else have a budget piece of gear that just refuses to die?

🐿️Pinecone Attack

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Appreciation post: my $12 headlamp from the hardware store outlasted my $70 one on a trip to Yosemite | Camping Gear Reviews - Pinecone Attack