But as soon as you buy a specific model and use it closely for a couple of weeks, all sorts of “jambs” and non-obvious shortcomings immediately begin to emerge.
Even the most famous manufacturers have a lot of questions. They may be fine with hand-held flashlights, but not so much in terms of headlamps.
So what should you do to ensure that you have a really good, high-quality flashlight on your head? Let's figure it out.
Metal or plastic?
A headlamp can be either plastic or metal (anodized aluminum).
Mistake #1
Plastic is definitely better because it is lighter. After all, carrying a flashlight on your head is not at all the same as carrying it in your hands.
On the one hand, it seems that plastic is a good choice due to its lighter weight and price.
This is true if you are a professional cycling, running, or you need a headlamp for short-term household work (going down to the basement or climbing into the attic a couple of times a month).
But in all other cases - hunting, fishing, long and short trips outside the city to nature - look first of all at the aluminum body.
In these situations, the disadvantages of plastic products outweigh all its advantages.
The weight of a flashlight is often overestimated. If you listen to some experts, you get the impression that healthy men suddenly became young ladies with swan necks.
Disadvantages of plastic:
Firstly, due to poor heat dissipation from the LED, its service life is reduced. Sometimes the LED simply falls off the substrate.
Secondly, you will not find truly bright and high-quality plastic lanterns.
An honest long-lasting glow mode for them is 150 lumens. The best you can count on is 300Lm.
Where they write much higher values in advertising brochures, this is just a SHORT-TERM turbo mode.
This is due precisely to the poorer heat dissipation of the plastic case.
Add here the fragility of the material. Sometimes you’re even afraid to put a flashlight in your backpack, so as not to accidentally crush it.
The loops where the strap is attached begin to crack and break over time. The plastic headband is noticeably inferior to the silicone one.
These flashlights are powered by either finger-type batteries (AA/AAA) or a built-in battery of our own production.
Very, very rarely – 18650 elements. Hence – shorter battery life.
Therefore, for long-term use of your headlamp, always choose an aluminum body.
In addition, if you look hard enough, you can find excellent miniature models in this format that you can hardly feel on your head (Acebeam H40).
Monoblock or two blocks?
Headband housings come in two types:
- in the form of a monoblock (LED + power in one housing)
- in the form of two blocks (LED separately + power supply separately (on the back of the head or a long cord in the pocket)
Which one is better? Monoblock is different from monoblock.
The one that is made in an L-shaped case is more universal. You can remove it from your forehead at any time, take it in your hand and use it as a hand-held flashlight.
Of course, there are also intricate Chinese designs in which you need to unscrew the “head” from the front of the case, and then screw it onto the rear cylindrical block for the battery.
But as you understand, this is very inconvenient.
The L-shaped one often has a magnet at the bottom. When you are repairing a car or something in the garage, this place allows you to easily attach the flashlight to any piece of hardware.
On a hike, I stuck a knife into a tree and magnetized a flashlight to it without any problems - convenient!
However, the classic T-shaped monoblock has a much shorter length and better heat dissipation.
It's easier to integrate charging into it. Don't forget that the first thing you buy is a HEADLIGHT. Therefore, classic is the best choice in this situation.
Remote block
Models with a remote block significantly reduce the weight of the structure that will hang on your forehead.
In addition, in the remote part you can place not one, but two, three or more batteries at once.
Mistake #2
Just don't think that this will increase the brightness in MAX mode.
Due to its much smaller size, a block with an LED on the forehead alone cannot cope with the increased heat generation. No matter how many batteries you connect.
In winter, it is convenient to hide the external unit in a jacket pocket, thereby increasing the operating time of the device.
Here we mean models with a long cord, and not those with batteries on the back of the head.
Unfortunately, it is in this segment (battery on the back of the head) that low-quality flashlights are most common. Especially on Ali Express.
In addition to poor lighting performance, this also applies to the assembly. First of all, the wire from the external unit fails.
The lid fastening gradually becomes loose and begins to close poorly.
Mistake #3
And in many cases (monoblocks too) you simply cannot insert unprotected 18650 batteries (without a plug).
You don't have enough length for the positive contact to reach its plate.
We bought a flashlight, inserted batteries, but it didn’t work. What to do?
You will have to place round neodymium magnets. Without this light you will not receive.
Mistake #4
To all other problems, add the voltage loss on the wire from the batteries of the external unit to the LED.
For clarity, this is the voltage that can leave the battery pack (look at the multimeter display):
And this is how it gets to its head
And these are still measurements in medium brightness mode! When the batteries are already low, every tenth of a volt counts (0.1V).
In general, the universal rule of any product applies here - the fewer components, the more reliable the device.
Good flashlight models with separate blocks are much more difficult to find (Nitecore HC70, Olight Array).
The best headlamps from AliExpress
In terms of the number of goods sold and purchased in Russia, Aliexpress is twice as ahead of its closest competitors. Along with a comfortable, safe service, the online store is famous for its wide assortment, offering customers products that previously could only be purchased in narrow-profile retail outlets. To complete our rating, we have compiled the top headlamps from AliExpress that are most often of interest to potential buyers.
Trilife BL090/BL254/BL407
In terms of brightness, the Trilife BL090/BL254/BL407 headlamp is not inferior to car headlights and is one of the most powerful in its class. It is equipped with three or five LED spotlights, activated and changing the intensity of the glow using a regular or touch switch. In the latter version, a wave of your hand is enough to control the lamp. A focused beam allows you to identify objects at a distance of several hundred meters.
The functionality of the LED flashlight has been expanded to include strobe modes and an alarm/warning signal. To charge a pair of 18650 batteries, you can use a network adapter, the vehicle's on-board network, or devices equipped with USB ports.
Advantages:
- Possibility of configuration at the user's discretion;
- Extended range of brightness adjustments;
- Adjustable beam focusing;
- Comfortable plastic headband;
- Mechanically resistant housing made of durable aluminum alloy;
- Protection from negative environmental factors;
- Versatility of battery charging.
Flaws:
- Not detected.
According to our analysis, the Trilife BL090/BL254/BL407 headlamp has no shortcomings. The model copes well with household and professional tasks and does not raise any complaints regarding build quality, reliability and durability. Rare negative reviews concern the insufficient strength of the plastic suitcase, which sometimes does not withstand the rigors of long-distance shipment, which does not in any way affect the functionality of the flashlight.
Sofirn SP40
A model that evokes delight with a simple, at the same time ingenious solution - installing an ordinary flashlight on the headboard with a holder. A bright headlamp with a battery is not limited in scope, it is equally effective at home, at work and outdoors. Reliably protected from mechanical stress, dust, moisture, and temperature changes.
When fully equipped, the weight of the structure does not exceed 120 g, which, along with a comfortable plastic headboard, ensures the comfort of long-term wearing. The Cree XPL 1200 lm LED is powered by a 18650 lithium-ion battery, charged from a household outlet or via USB. The device provides 5 operating modes with the last one memorized.
Advantages:
- Universal application;
- Built-in magnet for fixing on metal surfaces;
- Durable 6061 grade aerospace aluminum alloy body;
- High water resistance – IPX7;
- Battery overheating protection – ATR technology;
- Battery charge level indicator;
- Single button control.
Flaws:
- Not detected.
Despite its outward primitiveness, the Chinese flashlight is superior in reliability and practicality to many expensive models from well-known manufacturers. High reliability, build quality, protection from shock and moisture classify the device as “indestructible”, which increases its attractiveness as a fishing, hunting and tourist device.
Shustar T-045
A powerful headlamp model available in four configurations. Equipped with 5–8 LED spotlights, with a total power of three to five thousand lumens. The battery compartment located in the back of the head balances the plastic headband and makes it comfortable to wear for a long time.
Lithium batteries are used as power sources, charged via an AC adapter, from a car cigarette lighter or devices equipped with a USB port. When fully charged, it stays lit for 7-9 hours. The impact-resistant housing prevents the penetration of moisture and dirt, allowing the device to be used in any weather conditions.
Advantages:
- High intensity adjustable luminous flux;
- Illumination range up to 500 m;
- Universal battery charging;
- Upgraded 2nd generation LEDs – T6;
- Lightness – from 118 to 150 g;
- Brake light on the back of the battery compartment;
- Plastic storage case.
Flaws:
- Not detected.
In its maximum configuration, the model looks somewhat massive, but does not restrict movements or cause discomfort. The functionality of the lighting device can be judged by the fact that Shustar T-045 is popular with miners and speleologists.
Brightness
Mistake #5
It is this parameter that is emphasized first when choosing.
The maximum brightness of a typical classic headlamp with one battery is 18650 - 1000 Lumens. This mode will be enough for any needs, both amateur and professional.
At the same time, these same 1000 Lumens will shine for only a couple of minutes. All due to increased heat generation.
After this, due to the heating of the case, the thermal cutoff should work. There are truths and exceptions, for example Armytek Wizard Pro (holds 900 lm) or Acebeam H30 (quietly holds 1000 lm without resetting the brightness).
Which is not at all surprising given their size.
If you have a cheap Chinese flashlight, then most likely there is no thermal cutoff in it at all. The LED will begin to degrade due to overheating.
Therefore, you need to focus not on 1000Lm, but on the brightness value in continuous mode - 400-500Lm.
In 90% of cases, you don’t need anything more from a flashlight on your forehead.
Don’t believe about the characteristics of 1000-2000Lm and so on. Most often, you are blatantly deceived.
It is possible to achieve such light, but for this you need to place a real chandelier on your forehead
