Headlamps are a specialized type of flashlight that has a tie included and are attached to the head, leaving the flashlight in the center of the forehead to illuminate where the vision is directed. This is used for a variety of purposes, such as reading, digging in caves and caverns, mining, night searches and even running when the sun has set in places where there are no lanterns installed.
There are them of all types and designs, suitable for all types of people. Technology has made these lanterns incorporate special functions very useful for various tasks such as climbing mountains and walking through dense forests. These functions include a system to increase or decrease the luminosity depending on the environment up to a recharging and resting function so that the autonomy of the battery lasts for several days. The only thing to keep in mind is that the more advanced the functions, the more expensive the lamp will be.
Characteristics of the various headlamps
Headlamps have different characteristics depending on their quality and purpose. Sometimes the characteristics determine the price of the same, but there are some cases in which not, because there are headlamps with more functions than others that are only less expensive because the manufacturer brand is new or less known.
Luminosity: Luminosity is a characteristic of all types of flashlights that describes the luminous capacity of the same, which is measured in the lumen unit. Typically, headlamps emit a light of about 300 lumens, although there are so powerful that they can even reach thousands of lumens, which produces immense illumination. This also allows the lantern light to illuminate up to a much greater distance, and there are headlamps that can illuminate up to more than 100 meters.
Battery: The battery is a characteristic of the frontal torches that measures its autonomy, being that the lamps can work with normal batteries or with rechargeable batteries. As time goes by the torches are leaving behind the batteries and are integrating their own lithium-ion batteries to facilitate recharging, although battery torches have their advantages. Normally the autonomy of a battery-operated flashlight is higher than that of a rechargeable battery-operated flashlight, and they can also be used with AA or AAA rechargeable batteries, which are also very common.
Weight: Headlamps are usually light, because when placed on the head manufacturers must take into account their weight so as not to overload the neck of the person. As technology advances, more and more compact headlamps are being created, which are really light and small in size.
Resistance: Headlamps not only have shock resistance, but some also integrate other types of resistance that will serve for one climate or other situation. One of the most common resistances is the resistance to scratches and peelings, which keeps the surface of the flashlight in good condition for a longer time. Another type of resistance is splash resistance, which is classified under the IPX4 resistance code, which is very common in most decent headlamps; IPX4 resistance does not ensure that it can be submerged in water, but ensures that moisture and light drops and splashes do not damage internal components, so these types of flashlights can be exposed to light rain. While other flashlights have an IPX6 resistance, which determines some water resistance; flashlights with this type of resistance can be submerged in shallow water and resist heavy rainfall and humidity quite well, but have a depth and pressure limit, so they would not resist being under too deep water or too submerged for too long.
Factors to consider when choosing a headlamp
When choosing one or another headlamp it is not only important to look at the brand and price, but also to take into account a number of considerations for which some will be better than others.
The first thing to analyze is the task for which the flashlight will be required. It must be taken into account because if the task is high grade, such as running at night or to climb mountains and explore caves, it is best that the flashlight is of high quality, as it will require a high degree of brightness, a high resistance if it is out of adjustment and falls and a good battery autonomy. In such cases the durability of the charge should be taken into account if the battery is rechargeable, so as not to stay in the dark halfway, or if the same is batteries, know how many required to operate, so as to know the amount of spare batteries that should be available at all times.
If the flashlight is required for light tasks, such as reading when there is no electricity, it would not require a very powerful one, because excess light could cause damage by illuminating the pages of the book too much, in addition to not having to expose to dangers from outside, so a simple could be much more useful than a high-tech in such cases, and even more so if it has red light.
Another factor to take into account is the weight of the whole. There are compact headlamps designed for people who spend hours with them at the head, while others integrate so many components that can be heavier than they should be, and even heavier if the tie is thick. For night runners and walkers this can be a nuisance in the long run, as the weight of the torch will increase as the energy diminishes and end up causing discomfort in the neck or temples, or at least in the first few days. However, these heavy flashlights may be more useful for explorers and mountaineers, as they tend to be more resistant and their autonomy is usually higher.
It is also necessary to take into account the comfort of the mooring. The higher the quality of the headlamp, the higher the quality of the mooring, being made of more comfortable or delicate materials. There are moorings of very rough materials that can cause itchy skin when you start to sweat and they get soaked, so consider that this could be annoying if used for a long time. Also, since some people spend hours with the headlamp attached to their head, rough ties can cause irritation.
And one factor that can be taken into account is the resistances available in the headlamp. Not only must be taken into account that it is resistant to strong blows and bruises, but can also be considered to be resistant to dust, splashes and even to submerging in water. This can be an important factor for different types of people, for example, a miner or explorer should opt for a headlamp that has dust resistance, because there are too many caves and rocky trails and it could filter through the corners of the lanterns that do not have this type of protection and damage the internal components. Whereas a hiker or runner should consider that he has resistance to splashes, so that they can continue using them if the rain catches them in the middle of their journey. And people who want to use them for diving in dark lakes or deep in lagoons and rivers should opt for a flashlight with water resistance, so that they can dive with it without the pressure entering the water towards its internal components.
Headlamps for running
Headlamps for running are specialized in their luminosity capacity, autonomy, resistance and comfort, because all these are important characteristics so that people can finish their journey without the battery of the flashlight runs out, without their moorings are a nuisance when you start to sweat, without their weight is annoying as the minutes go by and, above all, its luminosity is high enough to show in the clearest way all the obstacles of the road to travel.
That’s why headlamps for running have been improved to the highest standards of design and quality, and many are the brands that compete to create the best headlamps for runners to have all the functions necessary for a satisfactory race in the middle of any type of terrain.
Although there are countless different types of headlamps for running, there are a few whose functions and value for money make them the best matches when it comes to choosing the right one.
Best headlights for running
Through the Internet you can get many of the best headlamps through online shopping platforms such as eBay and Amazon. The good thing about these platforms is that you can visualize the rating that buyers give to flashlights and the reviews they make of their experience with them, which can serve to guide buyers and allow them to rate the one that suits them best according to the opinions of others.
Thus, there are a number of flashlights that stand out from the others, because those who have bought them have given good opinions of them, and although there are always those who disagree, at least most say they are appropriate.
Led Lenser XEO19R
It integrates a special energy control system to specify the amount of energy you want to supply to the flashlight, so you can increase the intensity at will or have a stricter control over the load of it and thus increase its autonomy. In addition, its light control system allows the flashlight to control the lighting depending on the environment, which is adequate to do without the hands when you want to accommodate the light without touching any button.
It also has a system that allows air to enter the flashlight as it is running, which helps with cooling the LEDs to prevent the heat in any way affect the light or battery and, in addition, does not overheat and represents a nuisance in the head.
And for those who can not run without their smart phones, the Led Lenser integrates a function to pass charge to other devices, allowing the cell can be charged outdoors.
But so much functionality and quality come at a price, and the highest quality Lenser LEDs can cost up to about 300 dollars.
DanForce Headlamp HL690
This torch has three leds of 1080 lumens that provide a high intensity of luminescence, in addition to possessing resistance to dust and splashes. Its LED bulbs have five levels of lighting ranging from low to very high intensity, as well as a blinking mode and an ideal red light for certain situations that require a less annoying light, such as when you want to read.
On the other hand, the flashlight has a function to focus or blur the light that emanates, so you could concentrate all the light at the same point to have a better vision or increase the field of illumination and thus be able to visualize more things around.
Its price ranges from $40, so it’s a considerable price, but it’s worth it because of its high quality and durability.
Boruit RJ-5001
It is quite light and its mooring very comfortable and ergonomic, weighing less than a pound altogether, which is almost imperceptible once adjusted to the head.
Its LEDs have an intensity of up to 6000 lumens, which is quite bright and can reach a great distance. In addition, it has four lighting modes that can be adjusted in the most convenient way, including a flicker mode. And the flashlight can be adjusted 90 degrees upwards or downwards, to place it in the most suitable way depending on the size of the person and so keep it always illuminating the ground where you are going to step without having to tilt your head.
It accepts two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and comes with its own charger, so autonomy is not a problem as long as you carry a spare battery.
Its price varies depending on the platform in which it is acquired, being able to be between 25 and 60 dollars.
Recommendations for prolonging durability and service life
Headlamps, no matter how expensive they are and no matter how good their quality, do not last forever. While their useful life may benefit from their quality and strength, how they are treated also plays an important role in determining whether they can last for a long time.
Overexposure to hazards is one of the quickest ways to shorten the lifetime of headlamps. Headlamps have limits in terms of shock resistance and the depth to which they can be submerged (if they are water resistant). Sometimes people tend to take this resistance too much to heart and dive into swimming pools and beaches with flashlights on, or do not treat them with due care and drop them too much. Although they can be very resistant in these aspects, with time the parts that protect them wear out, so they resist less and less blows and less and less water pressure; therefore it is advisable not to put them too much to the test and only to put them to the dangers of the elements when necessary.
As for their battery, people usually charge electronic equipment every time they get a chance, which can be a mistake. The rechargeable batteries in the headlamps are losing capacity as they are given charge, so it is advisable to charge only when they are reaching low energy levels, so it could extend their life.
As last recommendation, the dust and the weather are not friends of any electronic equipment, even those who have resistance to dust, so it is advisable to keep them somewhere closed and with good temperature every time they are not being used. This may not increase their useful life greatly, but in the long run any extra time will be appreciated.