This was a pretty good product, although I had a few problems with it.įirst off, it drained batteries like nobody’s business. I don't have to remember to remove a battery from it to prevent it from accidentally turning on when not needed and running down the batteries.
I appreciate the fact the Spot has multiple modes for brightness. But, I would guess that the possibility exists that rechargeable batteries may not produce the brightness of alkalines, and might be the reason that my red LED's are not as bright as I believe they should be. I have used both NiMH rechargeable and alkaline batteries with no noticeable loss of brightness. However, if I were participating in an activity that consumes distance faster than walking, such as bicycling at night, I would have no qualms about using this headlamp. The distance the high setting illuminates objects is far more than adequate for what I do. I have a less expensive but heavier model from EverReady that has red LEDs that far outperform the brightness of the red LED's on the Spot.īeyond that, I could not be more pleased. It was not until I used it while camping that I realized the red LED output was far from satisfactory. I had expected more considering the white LED output is phenomenal. I was very disappointed at the low brightness level. I backpack and camp with my scout troop, and this product does everything I want with the exception of the output from the Red LED's. In light of that.pun intended, I am very pleased overall with this headlamp. The lumen levels for each LED type are lower than the currently selling version, but are more than required. Used judiciously, it more than suits my needs as an avid 4-season backpacker.ĬAVEAT: The Spot that I have is the model sold prior to the model currently on the market. Is it an appropriate household/backyard headlamp? No, it's an overkill. In conclusion, I'm pleased with the battery life for the 2016 Spot.īottom line: Is this a search-and-rescue light? No. A manufacturer's claims for battery life are based on controlled conditions. I keep headlamp batteries warm in a pocket in cold weather until needed and out of the unit in warm temperatures. Other factors include the type of battery, whether they are stored in the unit or kept separate until needed, and actual age of the battery. Unlike alkaline dry cells there are few, yet subtle, warnings in the stage near "death." Many people underestimate the cumulative time the headlamp: uses a set of batteries, spends at various degrees of lamp output, and is on at various temperatures. The transition from brightest to dimmest output and back to brightest is relatively seamless and easy to master.īattery life: reviews on websites range from castigation to holy praise. Switching between spot, broad, and red illumination isn't difficult just learn the sequences. I tested this model under a steady drizzle one night and didn't encounter any problem. I've never owned a waterproof headlamp, so I always protected them under the bill of a rain hat or rain jacket hood (never had a problem). The new model is more water resistant than older ones. The new maximum output of 200 lumens at 80 m is a nice, but usually unnecessary, feature. Spending time at home mastering and memorizing the features and their control is a no-brainer. The 2016 version performed very well while cooking dinner in the dark and other activities such as cleanup, hanging food sacks in bear country, reading, and not blinding my partner in the tent on a recent 5-night trip. I am not a headlamp gear freak, but it was time for an upgrade.