Best headlamp ever?

[Scott McKee]

I've been searching for the perfect headlamp for as long as I've been fishing at night.  I've had the super cheapies from dollar and hardware stores to super expensive Petzyl and Black Diamond lamps. 

I've found the cheapies are just that and the pricier models work reasonably well.  All of the lamps I've owned have one thing in common I can't stand.  They are all activated by a button or dial.  One of the Petzyl lamps I recently purchased requires you to click the button twice to get to the high powered setting.  Nope, sucks.  One of my Black Diamond's button is harder to press than the off button of a TV remote during a Three Stooges marathon.  Nope, sucks. 

When my hands get cold they don't work well.  When there's a fish on in the dark I don't want to fumble with finding the button on my headlamp.  I want to fight the fish or reel my bait in as fast as I can and grab the net.  Buttons suck.  I needed something better.

I recently purchased three of the headlamps pictured below.

Finally a headlamp that's motion activated!  These babies just arrived.  Know I haven't put them through the grind other than wearing one to take the girls out (the lamp excels at finding poop to pick up in the rain,) so I have no idea how durable they will be.  They seem solid enough, though.  Here's a few of the features which have me believing I've purchased the best headlamp ever.

• No more fumbling with buttons! Wave your hand withing five inches or so of the sensor and BOOM the light goes on!
• The strip LED light doesn't have a parabolic reflector, so it doesn't blind me while I'm using it.  The strip light also provides uniform light.  No more dark spots.
• The strap is comfortable and it fits my giant grape.
• The unit is rechargeable via a USB cord, which is included.  A green light let's you know when the unit is fully charged.
• It's light, really light.  I hardly know I'm wearing it.
• The lamp can be activated by waving your hand or by button. To activate the sensor just click the button adjacent to the power button.
• The packaging says the LED light is 350 lumens, but it seems brighter than that.
• Have you ever caught a huge fish at night only for the image to be ruined because you left your headlamp on?  No problem with this baby.  Pull your hand holding the fish near the unit or have your partner swipe their hand and POOF... light off.
• It has a strobe function which will be great for Bruce and my disco dancing troll offs. Don't ask, but we listen to a lot of the Bee Gees on board, which is completely untrue... or is it?

The only drawback to the lamp is the conventional bulb in the control box seems to be practically useless.  I doubt I'll use the conventional light at all since the sensor only turns on the LED light.

Provided this lamp doesn't break in a stiff breeze or a full charge lasts less time than it takes me to reel in a dink, I think I've found the best headlamp in the world.  If you're like me and get frustrated quickly by actions and movements easy enough for a child to master, pick one or two or three up for yourself.

Wearing this lamp I feel like Ralph Macchio, "light on, light off." I'm not going to start painting fences or waxing cars in the dark and I don't think I'll win the Under-18 All-Valley Karate Tournament wearing this lamp, chiefly because I know nothing about Martial arts plus the fact that I'm 54, but Cobra Kai better watch their @ss.

[Frank Stachowiak]

Your product reviews are the bomb! (I think that means GREAT) You have to figure out how to get these reviews on line and become an influencer.  Maybe become a dealer rep. Post pictures of you wearing gloves, hats, etc.  Avoid long underwear.

[Scott McKee]

After fishing with my new head lamp I have found a few problems.

1. You can't wear a hood while wearing the headlamp. The proximity and unavoidable movement of the hood near the sensor causes the light to turn on and off.

2. Your brother may make fun of you while you're wearing the headlamp stating, "you only bought that thing because it makes you look like the guy from Star Trek."

Other than that, this baby is a world champ.