Headlamp LED is simply a flashlight that you do not have to hold in your hands. The headlamp is attached to a headband, which allows the user to wear it on the head. Basically, it is a hands-free lighting. These headlamps are quite convenient, and they have many uses. The advance technology of the LED, which is used in these head flashlights, makes them perfectly suitable for all types of outdoor and indoor activities.
LED headlamps have come a long way since they were first introduced by French gear maker Petzl in 1972. The first headlamp was designed for outdoor activities. Over the years, these gears have become a must have for those who love outdoor activities. Moreover, over the years, these lamps have shrunk in size and weight and have added numerous features.
Uses LED Technology
Today, most of the headlamps use LED (light emitting diodes). LED is far superior to our traditional bulb. In a traditional bulb, light is created by heating the filament, which is enclosed in a vacuum glass. This is highly inefficient, because a lot of extra heat is generated in the process. This is why the filaments of standard bulb burn out so frequently and easily.
Since heat is needed to generate light in a standard bulb, flashlights that use bulbs use more battery power. That is why they have a short battery life.
A LED headlamp, on the other hand, uses LED. In a LED, light is generated via the movement of electrons. There are two types of semiconductor materials in a LED. The first type of material is abundant in free electrons, while the other type does not have any free electrons. When power is supplied to a headlamp LED, the free electrons move to the material that lacks electrons.
When these electrons move, they release photon, a particle that emits light. And this is how light is generated in a LED. This process does not emit unnecessary heat and thus does not use extra battery power. Moreover, they last longer.
Now we understand why the use of LED technology in headlamps makes them superior to flashlights that use bulbs.
Uses Of Headlamps
A LED head lamp has a variety of uses. They are quite handy for camping, hiking, fishing, cycling, running, cave exploration, and for other emergency purposes. For example, if you love jogging or cycling at night time, just imagine how useful a headlamp would be. You will have constant light in front of you, and you do not have to hold it in your hand. Your hands will be free to ride your bicycle.
Those who love outdoor activities, such as camping and hiking, must have these LED headlamps. With these gears, you will never be caught in the dark.
They can also be used indoors. For instance, when cleaning the attic, which is usually dark. Headlamps leave both your hands free to do the work and provide bright light. Just imagine holding a flashlight in one hand and moving boxes with another. It is simply not possible.
A LED head lamp is a great device to have when you have to get beneath your four-wheeler to fix something. Without the need to constantly focus or adjust the light with your hands, you can easily focus on fixing your vehicle.
There is no doubt that a LED headlamp is a device one must have. However, the question is how one should go about shopping for a headlamp. In other words, what are the features that one should look for when buying the best LED headlamp.
Features To Look For When Buying A Headlamp
When buying a headlamp, you should look for lumens, battery life, and beam distance. Lumens refer to the quantity of light that is emitted in all directions by headlamp or flashlight. Basically, the higher the lumens, the brighter the light emitted.
However, it is not just the lumens that you should be looking for. You should also take into consideration how the headlamp focuses and directs the light. For example, if the headlamp that you are buying has a translucent casing, some lumens will certainly escape through its casing. In other words, it will give as bright a light as it mentions.
Besides lumens, you will have to consider the beam distance when buying a headlamp. Beam distance simply explains how far the light will go. This is a feature that is especially important for those who are going to use the headlamp for outdoor activities.
Other Features That You May Consider:
• Modes: Some models offer three modes, which is simply the level of brightness.
• The zoom feature allows the user to focus on an extra intense beam of light for 10-20 seconds.
• Some LED headlamps are equipped with red light mode. The pupils of your eyes will not shrink when using the red light mode, thus it is great for viewing the sky at night.
• Some models offer adjustable beam width, while others offer fixed beam width. Wide beams do not focus on light at a long distance, thus making them a great device for reading purposes and camp tasks. The spot or narrow beam throws light at a long distance, thus making them viable for distance viewing.
• Water resistance features allow the headlamps to withstand rain and snow.
• Tilt feature allows user to adjust the light up and down.
• Some models are equipped with external battery packs. The batteries are located on the rear of the headband.
More Features
These are just some of the features that you can look for in a headlamp. However, with technology advancement, there is a plethora of choices for consumers. For example, those who love night time hiking or running can opt for night vision headlamp, which uses red light that allows the user to see even in dark.
Many features have been added today to make the headlamps more convenient and useful. For example, headlamps today come with a battery life of more than 150 hours. The voltage regulation is another feature found in today’s headlamps. Voltage regulation allows user to have a constant level of light.
Some models of headlamp LED are equipped with retractable cord rather than an elastic headband. A retractable cord not only is comfortable to wear, but also allows the user to attach the headlamp to a pole or wrist.
Some headlamps offer both wide and fixed beam. In other words, you can use the same headlamp for reading or finding your way in a dark wooded area.
With so many features, one might think that these gears will be expensive. Headlamps come with a variety of features and are available at a wide price range. The price can start from $30 and go above $100. Depending on the features you require, you can easily find an affordable LED headlamp.