When traveling light, getting multiple usages from your gear is important. The Snow Peak SnowMinor headlamp and lantern design is great for those who spend a good amount of time in tents or are active outdoors at night. An expandable white silicone rubber diffusor changes the SnowMiner’s light pattern, depending on position, and is the core of its unique design. In the headlamp position, a small plastic lens, situated in the center of the hemisphere-shaped diffusor, magnetically sticks a plastic lens to the main LED which focuses its 80 lumen output, in a usable beam, good for 30–40 meters in clear conditions.

The SnowMiner’s light output in headlamp mode is more than adequate for most duties, but we noticed the diffusor will still create peripheral nighttime glare if worn without a baseball cap. The bulb unit pivots for aiming but no matter where we put it, glare was an issue. Despite that, we liked the simple glove-friendly operation and large single on/off/mode button.

While we’ve used other headlamps with higher output in a more compact body, the SnowMiner starts to set itself apart from the competition in lantern mode. A built-in hook on the main strap allows you to hang the lantern from almost anywhere in the tent, and gives you a 180 degree spread for ambient light. The impressive spread of light is accomplished by expanding the rubber bulb into its fully extended position, gathering and diffusing the LEDs output in all directions. Besides the handy hanging hook, the beauty of this design is tents with light-colored interior panels make the most of the light cast inside. Finding or organizing items, not to mention reading, is generally much easier on the eyes when objects are evenly illuminated and hard shadows are reduced.

To extend this benefit even further, the lantern has a setting which cuts the output down to two lumens, and allows all night illumination, which won’t blind you should you need to make a hasty tent exit when nature calls. What’s more, if you’re in a campfire-free area, the strobe setting comes in handy when trying to locate your site on night walks.

While brighter and more compact headlamps exist on the market, the Snow Peak SnowMiner is truly one of the most versatile and elegantly designed units out there. Construction is top quality and if you spend a lot of time motorcycle or backpack camping, this is a very handy unit to have around. Alone or with friends and family, there’s always a demand for versatile light sources and the SnowMiner is definitely a step in the right direction. MSRP: $55.95 SnowPeak.com