What indicators should we pay attention to when choosing outdoor headlamp?

What are outdoor headlights?

A headlamp, as the name suggests, is a lamp worn on the head and is a lighting tool that frees hands. Headlamp is an indispensable equipment in outdoor activities, such as hiking at night, camping at night, although some people say that the effect of the flashlight and the headlamp is about the same, but the new headlamp using energy-saving technology, such as LED cold light technology, and high-grade headlamp lamp cup material innovation, are not comparable to the civilian price of the flashlight, so that the headlamp can replace the flashlight, A flashlight is no substitute for a headlamp.

The role of the headlamp

When we walk at night, if we hold a flashlight, one hand will not be free, so that we can’t deal with the unexpected situation in time. So. A good headlamp is what we should have when we walk at night. By the same token, when we camp at night, wearing a headlamp frees up our hands to do more.

Classification of outdoor headlights

From the market of headlights to classification, we can be divided into: small headlights, multi-purpose headlights, special purpose headlights three categories.

Small headlamp: generally refers to small, extremely light headlamp, these headlamps are easy to place in the backpack, pockets and other places, easy to take. These headlamps are mainly used for night lighting and are very convenient for moving around at night.

Multi-purpose headlamp: generally refers to the lighting time is longer than small headlamp, lighting distance is far, but relatively heavier than small headlamp, has one or several light sources, has a certain waterproof performance, suitable for a variety of environment of the headlamp. This headlamp has the best ratio in terms of size, weight and strength. Its wide range of application is not other headlamps can be replaced.

Special purpose headlamp: generally refers to the headlamp used in special environment. This headlamp is the highest in the headlamp products, whether from its own intensity, lighting distance and use time. This design concept also makes this type of headlamp more suitable for use in the relatively harsh conditions of the natural environment (such as: cave exploration, exploration, rescue and other activities).

In addition, we divide headlamps into three categories based on brightness intensity, which is measured in lumens.

Standard headlamp (brightness < 30 lumens)

This kind of headlamp is simple in design, versatile and easy to use.

High power headlamp (30 lumens < Brightness < 50 lumens)

These headlamps provide powerful illumination and can be adjusted in a variety of modes: brightness, distance, illumination time, beam direction, etc.

Highlighter type headlamp (50 lumens < Brightness < 100 lumens)

This type of headlamp can provide super brightness illumination, not only has extremely strong versatility but also has a variety of adjustment modes: brightness, distance, illumination time, beam direction, etc.

What indicators should we pay attention to when choosing outdoor headlamp?

1, waterproof, outdoor camping and hiking or other night operations will inevitably encounter rainy days, so the headlamp must have waterproof, otherwise a rain or water will cause a short circuit caused by light and dark, causing safety hazards in the dark. Then in the purchase of headlamp must see whether there is a waterproof mark, and must be greater than IXP3 waterproof grade, the larger the number of waterproof performance is better (waterproof grade is no longer repeated here).

2, fall resistance, a good performance of the headlamp must have fall resistance (impact resistance), the general test method is 2 meters high free fall without how to damage, in outdoor sports may also slip because of loose wear and other reasons, if the fall caused by shell cracking, battery loss or internal circuit failure, Even in the dark looking for the battery is a very terrible thing, so this headlamp is certainly not safe, so in the purchase also to see whether there is a anti fall mark, or ask the owner of the headlamp anti fall.

3, cold resistance, mainly for northern areas and outdoor activities in high altitude areas, especially the split battery box headlamp, if the use of inferior PVC wire headlamp, then it is likely to cause the cold wire skin hard and brittle, thereby causing the break of the internal core, I remember that the last time I watched CCTV torch climb Mount Everest, there was also a fault that the camera wire cracked due to extremely low temperature. Therefore, if you want to use the external headlamp at low temperature, you must pay more attention to the cold resistance design of the product.

4, light source, the brightness of any lighting product mainly depends on the light source, which is commonly known as the light bulb, the general outdoor headlamp in the most common light source is LED or xenon bulb, the main advantage of LED is energy saving and longevity, and the disadvantage is low brightness penetration. The main advantages of xenon bulbs are long range and strong penetration, while the disadvantages are relative power consumption and short bulb life. With the rapid development of science and technology, LED technology is becoming more and more mature, and high-power LED has gradually become the mainstream. The color temperature is close to that of xenon bulb 4000K-4500K, but the cost is relatively high.

5, circuit design, unilateral evaluation of a lamp brightness or endurance is meaningless, the same bulb the same current size theoretically brightness is the same, unless there is a problem with the light cup or lens design, determine whether a headlamp energy saving mainly depends on the circuit design, efficient circuit design reduces power consumption, In other words, the same battery with the same brightness can be lit for longer.

6, materials and workmanship, a high-quality headlamp must choose high-quality materials, the current high-grade headlamp mostly use PC/ABS as the shell, the main advantage is strong impact resistance, 0.8MM thickness of the wall thickness of its strength can exceed 1.5MM thickness of inferior plastic materials. This greatly reduces the weight of the headlamp itself, and most mobile phone cases are made of this material. In addition to the selection of headband, high-quality headband elasticity is good, feel comfortable, sweat absorption and breathable, even if worn for a long time do not feel dizzy uncomfortable, now on the market brand headlamp headband read trademark jacquard, most of these headband selection is exquisite, and no trademark jacquard is mostly nylon material, feel hard, poor elasticity, long wear easy dizziness, generally speaking. Most of the exquisite headlamps will also pay attention to the selection of materials, so the purchase of headlamps should also look at the workmanship. Is it convenient to install batteries?

7, structure design, choose the headlamp in addition to pay attention to the above elements but also to see whether the structure is reasonable and reliable, wear on the head up and down to adjust the lighting Angle is flexible and reliable, whether the power switch is convenient to operate and when put into the backpack will not inadvertently open, Had a friend hiking together, to the night to use the headlamp from the backpack when it was found that the headlamp is open, the original design of his switch in the egg like the most tip, so placed in the backpack when it is easy because of the shaking of the backpack in the process of movement and no intention to open, and so on to use the night when the battery has been found to spend most of the battery. This is also very important to note.

What do you pay attention to when using headlights outdoors?

1. Headlamps or flashlights are very important equipment, but the batteries must be taken out when not in use to avoid corrosion.

2, a few head lamps waterproof or even waterproof, if you think waterproof is very important to buy such waterproof bulbs but it is best to rain proof, because in the field weather is not their own can manipulate;

3, the lamp holder needs to have a comfortable cushion, some are like a pen hanging in the ear;

4, the lamp holder switch must be durable, do not appear in the backpack will open a waste of energy or some conditions, the lamp holder switch design is best a groove, if you think the process will be a problem with the best cloth close, take out the bulb or take out the battery;

5. Bulbs do not last long, so it is best to carry a spare bulb with you. Bulbs such as halogen krypton argon will generate heat and be brighter than vacuumbulb, although they will be higher in use and shorten battery life. Most bulbs will mark the amperage at the bottom, while the typical battery life is 4 amperes/hour. It is equal to 8 hours of 0.5 amp light bulb.

6, when buying the best in the dark place to try the light, the light should be white, spotlight is better, or can adjust the kind of spotlight.

7, a method of testing LED: generally installed three batteries, first installed two batteries, the third section with a key short uniform lasting (compared to the headlamp without booster circuit), and lighting time is relatively long (brand [AA] battery about 30 hours), as a camp lamp (refers to in the tent) is ideal; The drawback of the headlamp with booster circuit is that it has poor waterproof performance (most of them are not waterproof).

8, if it is night mountaineering, it is best to use the bulb of the kind of headlamp main light source is ideal, because its light effective distance is at least 10 meters (2 batteries 5), and there are 6~7 hours of normal brightness, and most of them can be rain proof, and bring two spare batteries a night do not have to worry about (don’t forget to bring a spare flashlight, When changing a battery).