A headlamp can be your best friend when the chips are down and the lights are out in the field or at home.
I found this little jewel at COSTCO in Sequim, next to the Duracell Batteries, and sporting the Duracell brand. It uses 3 “AAA” batteries, either the standard alkaline or NiMH rechargables. It has 4 beam settings: (1.) dual spot/flood beam (500 lumens/2 hrs), (2.) low spot beam (50 lumens / 12 hrs), (3.) high flood beam, and (4.) night vision red beam.
What sets this headlamp apart from others is the quality of the high flood beam. To test it, I turned out the lights in my ham shack and sat in the normal operating position. The intensity was appropriate and comfortable, illuminating my entire field of vision. Due to the beam’s even distribution, I could look around, down at the desk or up at the clocks with the same ease as if the studio was fully illuminated. There was no need to consciously direct the beam. It would be easy to forget that I was using a headlamp–the light distribution was that good.
Though the light can be found on Costco’s website, it is only available through their warehouse stores. At under 20 bucks for 3 headlamps including batteries, this stocking stuffer could be a useful addition to any ham’s go kit.
73 everyone, Roger, KL7HI
(Link to Costco website: https://www.costco.com/duracell-500-lumen-led-headlamp-3-pack.product.100526264.html
