SAt some point in the last 20 years, outdoors people realized that when they didn’t have to hold one hand in each other, activities in the shadowy became easier.
Relatively basic in design, the reflectors offer great convenience. Their positioning ensures that wherever you turn your head, the lighting follows them seamlessly. Multiple settings provide exactly the lightweight you need. Plus, they are miniature enough to fit into most pockets and compartments.
Headlights haven’t changed much. But their two main components – the power supply and the lightweight source – have kept up with technological advances to meet a variety of needs.
Power
Like other battery-powered tools, headlamps are now available with rechargeable batteries. But they are not the weaklings of yesteryear. Modern batteries can last at least as long as their disposable counterparts, although headlamp models with them tend to be more high-priced.
This Radiant RH1 Powerswitch by Nite Ize is a good rechargeable headlamp. It can actually run on the included battery or three AAA batteries. It puts out a maximum of 600 lumens and charges in just three and a half hours. It costs a reasonable $40.
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MPOWERD, known for its popular solar-powered Luci lanterns, recently launched Luci Beam 2 in 1 Solar Headlamp and FlashlightLike many other models, it can be charged via USB cable.
The standout feature is that it can also be charged using the sun itself, meaning you never have to plug it in. The headpiece attaches via a magnetic connection to the solar panel/torch body while charging via the sun. It has one flashing and three steady white beams, and one flashing and two steady red beams. The maximum battery life is 30 hours for the torch and 24 hours for the headlamp.
Source of lightweight
First-generation floodlights were relatively sluggish to catch on, and the outdoor market had relatively few options at the turn of the last century. Like their portable counterparts at the time, they used incandescent bulbs. They don’t anymore.
Today’s headlights apply LEDs, which apply less energy. They last much longer (ideally never burning out) and can come in a variety of colors.
Another advantage of LED technology is the incredible range of lighting it can achieve. Headlamps that fall into the “budget-friendly” category—$50 or less—typically have multiple brightness settings that range from single-digit lumens (lm) to around 500 lm.
One example is the recent Coast RL10whose high-intensity lightweight output reaches 560 lumens and lasts for two hours. On the low setting, it is supposed to run for 14 hours on three AAA alkaline batteries. The retail price is about $30.
If you’re willing to spend a little more money, brighter lights are available. For about $70, the battery NEBO Transcend 1500 it peaks at 750 lumens at the top end and maintains that for four hours. It also has a “Turbo” mode that temporarily boosts it to 1,500 lumens—perhaps useful for things like spotting an unlit boat ramp from a distance or investigating a gigantic spread of decoys. It automatically reverts to normal after 30 seconds to prevent the unit from overheating. The lightweight can also be detached from the head strap and magnetically mounted in tight spaces.
In addition to white lightweight, most headlights today have at least one other colored LED. The most popular is red. Most manufacturers claim that it has little effect on night vision. Others claim that it is also less perceptible to animals such as deer and much less attractive to nocturnal insects.
The next most common LED color is green, which is also supposed to protect night vision, although not to the same extent. However, it can offer better contrast when viewing things like maps.
A select few headlights have blue LEDs that supposedly support detect blood. When included, the blue ones are usually part of a red-green-blue package, as in Princeton Tec Snap RGB. In addition to red, green and blue lights, the Snap RGB has high, low and flashing white beams. The lightweight unit can be detached from the headband to clip or mount elsewhere. It’s available in black or camouflage for about $50.
So many options
With a dizzying array of options available, choosing a headlamp can be a daunting task. However, just a few factors will support narrow down the selection considerably.
Deciding whether charging is a good option can support you eliminate half of your options.
Price may also be a factor. For those who plan on using them for basic functions, i.e. overnight trips from the tent to the outhouse, making sure they don’t trip on the way to the hunting stand, etc., there’s no reason to spend more than about $40. And with holiday sales coming up, there will be deals.
Since it’s gift-buying season, those looking for a useful gift for outdoor enthusiasts have a lot to consider when it comes to headlamps. In addition to the models mentioned earlier, here are a few other ideas.
This Fenix HM50R V2.0 is an updated version of the best-selling model. It puts out up to 700 lumens, and Fenix says it will operate normally in temperatures between -35 and -45 degrees Celsius. That means it should be reliable for activities like winter camping, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. The gigantic switch on the side is supposed to be easier to apply with gloved hands. It will retail for about $60.
This Petzl Bindi is as miniature and lightweight as it gets. Weighing just over an ounce, this battery-powered dynamo can lightweight your way for up to 50 hours.
Ledlenser HF8 signature has everything you’ll likely need and more. In addition to red/green/blue LEDs, a powerful battery and up to 2,000 lumens, it also has flashing, strobe and SOS beam functions. “Adaptive Light Beam” technology automatically adjusts the lightweight output to conditions. At over $150, it’s a more high-priced option, but it’s also the Cadillac of headlights.
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