I’ve written in the past about having a variety of flashlights and when I came across this headlamp, I had to give it a try. I actually stumbled upon it from a spammy ad for a similar product; given that there were a number of products that looked identical, I decided to purchase the cheapest with the idea that they all came from the same factory and I was probably correct.
Lately I’ve been walking the dog when it is dark (I’ve run out of time during the day and the dog needs a walk), so I was interested in what would make it easier to see at night. I found that other headlamps were uncomfortable and were very directional with a very narrow beam. While some people swear by headlamps for camping and other activities, I’ve avoided them as much as possible as I found a flashlight to be easier to light my way.
This headlamp differs from other headlamps in that the main light is a strip of LEDs across the front and weighs significantly less than other lights. I’ve used it on a few walks and was amazed at how bright it was and how much it lit the path. There is a gimmicky feature on it that lets you wave your hand on the side of the light to turn it on and off (kind of like wax on/wax off). Turns out it is actually useful! My walk isn’t in the complete dark, so I was easily able to turn the light off when not needed. However, the sensor is quite sensitive so if you’re using it in an enclosed space, it will likely turn on and off as you move.
I haven’t had a chance to see how long it lasts, so I can’t confirm the runtime. It does charge pretty quickly over USB-C. Well, sort of. I was intrigued about USB-C charging so I connected a USB-C to USB-C cable to 2 different chargers and it didn’t charge. The headlamp uses a USB-C connector, but doesn’t actually use USB-C (it comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging). That’s a bit disappointing as I have to bring a different cable if I go camping.
Pros
- Light weight
- Wide beam
Cons
- Doesn’t use real USB-C charging
- Hand waving sensor is gimmicky
Summary
This inexpensive headlamp is well worth the $10 I paid for it. While I hope that it lasts, I have no idea the longevity of it. I’m excited to take it on my next camping trip. While I would have designed it differently by removing the side sensor, putting the battery in the back and getting rid of the light on the side, it is good enough for my needs.
Thanks for the review of a tool that can be helpful to many of us non-techy people.
This product seems that it may be useful in emergency situations such as power outages.
Keep up the good work.