A headlamp to me is something that not only allows hands free use but is also the backup to your primary light, edc or duty lights. Whether you are at home, work, camping, hunting, handling emergencies, night hiking or in a disaster scenario, its a fallback option.
Secondly one of the most important functions ( to me) of such a light is the ability to provide the minimum useful light for the longest period. That is enough light to move at normal speeds across unknown ground, ID obstacles at this speed and negotiate and perform tasks indoors for as long as possible, particularly if re-supply of power is not available. Another word for it is minimal operational emergency lighting.
One thing that sort of dissappoints me with a lot of the powerful headlamps is them missing this critical power level. Often they now jump from moonlight 1 lumen( which is a more specialised application and not always useful for most of what I describe) directly to a 25, 50 or 70 lumen power level..
While this still provides many hours use, its dissappointing that far lesser lights, such as the little fenix HL-23 and a range of budget lights which have a 3, 5 or 8 lumen mode are at a better level for longest useful minimal runtimes.I stock lights for cyclones( hurricanes) and floods and while in the 1st world you don't expect to go weeks without power, its still comforting to know you have light sources that can last many days. I know most people do not consider disaster or emergency scenarios as a purchase reason, however I am sort of surprised the 'moonlight functions' or 'firefly functions' became such a marketing necessity. We added strobes, beacons, low voltage indicators for safety, but are killing off the operational emergency lighting level...
The ultralow functions do have some legitimate uses but I think its also numbers marketing too- manufactures want to be able to say they have the most lumens AND "975 hours run time" on the packaging now or the item will not sell.
Secondly one of the most important functions ( to me) of such a light is the ability to provide the minimum useful light for the longest period. That is enough light to move at normal speeds across unknown ground, ID obstacles at this speed and negotiate and perform tasks indoors for as long as possible, particularly if re-supply of power is not available. Another word for it is minimal operational emergency lighting.
One thing that sort of dissappoints me with a lot of the powerful headlamps is them missing this critical power level. Often they now jump from moonlight 1 lumen( which is a more specialised application and not always useful for most of what I describe) directly to a 25, 50 or 70 lumen power level..
While this still provides many hours use, its dissappointing that far lesser lights, such as the little fenix HL-23 and a range of budget lights which have a 3, 5 or 8 lumen mode are at a better level for longest useful minimal runtimes.I stock lights for cyclones( hurricanes) and floods and while in the 1st world you don't expect to go weeks without power, its still comforting to know you have light sources that can last many days. I know most people do not consider disaster or emergency scenarios as a purchase reason, however I am sort of surprised the 'moonlight functions' or 'firefly functions' became such a marketing necessity. We added strobes, beacons, low voltage indicators for safety, but are killing off the operational emergency lighting level...
The ultralow functions do have some legitimate uses but I think its also numbers marketing too- manufactures want to be able to say they have the most lumens AND "975 hours run time" on the packaging now or the item will not sell.
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