ENERGIZER PIVOTING LED HEADLIGHT
TWO WHITE LED’S AND ONE RED
Yesterday I was at Home Depot buying some electronic switches when I spotted an Energizer Pivoting LED headlight. What attracted my attention was that it uses two white LED’s and one red. As I use a red light sometimes when I am at camp and I don’t want to shine a bright headlight in people’s faces, it struck me as a good idea.
As the price for the head lamp was only $12.99, the light followed me home when I left the store.
The light runs with three AAA batteries that are included. A bright red sticker claimed it to run 50 hours, but we all know that the lights can still show some light, but if it is useable or not is debatable. Some say as long you can see a keyhole- for my use I have to see a trail. Some LED lights will work for only for 8 to ten hours at the most. I am not going to do a run test on this light, it is not worth it.
Loading the batteries into the battery compartment allowed me to see the cheap construction and the flimsy contact points, nothing similar to a well-made Tikka or an Aurora. The switch is a sliding one with three positions, center for off, to the left for the red LED and to the right for the two white LED’s. The switch also feels cheap, with a lot of play and a not-too-positive contact.
The beam was narrow and with a huge circle of black shadows all around the perimeter. The light is enough to hike only a well-marked trail. The red light was also narrow, irregular in shape and with weird spots of lights going out to the sides, and the light intensity was poor.
Obviously a light with that poor flood coverage is not suitable for washing dishes or setting a tent at night.
For a serious hiker this is not a good light; it’s better to spend the money in a quality light sold by REI or some other good outdoor outlet.
But if you want more information on lights that Energizer make, the web site address is
www.energizer.com
For children getting their first headlight to play inside the tent or going to the “loo” at night it is okay. This is where this light is going; my young nephew is interested in camping and will appreciate the gesture.
Cheers.
Watchmaker