Underwater Kinetics Vizion
3AAA Headlamp
A Test Series by: Peter Spiller
Tester Information:
Name: |
Peter Spiller |
Backpacking Background: I
have been camping and hiking avidly since
childhood. In the last several years my passion for
backpacking and
kayaking has grown. I am a Chapter Outing Leader for the
Sierra Club,
I have trained in Wilderness First Aid, and am a staff member for a
Wilderness-Basics course. I enjoy solo backpacking and group
trips. I
have an adaptable style that is fueled by my interest in backpacking
gear. I pack as light as possible when the situation
dictates, but I
am not against hauling creature comforts. I average 1-hike a week, and
1-backpack a month year-round. |
Age: |
38 |
Gender: |
Male |
Height: |
6 ft 0 in (1.83m) |
Weight: |
190 lb (86 kg) |
Email address: |
phspiller@cox.net |
City, State, Country: |
La Mesa, CA U.S. |
Personal Website: |
www.outsidesd.com |
Product
Information:
Manufacturer: |
Underwater Kinetics |
|
Manufacturer's Website: |
http://www.uwkinetics.com/ |
Model: |
Vizion 3AAA eLED Headlamp |
Color: |
Olive Drab |
Weight
(manufacturer's): |
3.8 oz (108 g) |
Weight
(as delivered): |
4.5 oz (128 g) |
Illumination: |
Brightness:
29 lumen |
Projection:
138 ft (42 m) |
Burn Time: 120 hr |
Model Year: |
2008 |
MSRP: |
$31.95 |
Manufacturer's Description: |
From
Website: Waterproof All weather LED Headlight |
Initial
Report:
July 19, 2008
Product Description
The
Underwater Kinetics Vizion 3AAA eLED Headlamp (also known as the
headlamp) is a light emitting diode (LED) headlamp powered by 3 AAA
sized batteries and a single LED lamp. The LED is contained
in a plastic cylindrical
shell with soft rubber knurled caps on the each end. There is
an
oval shaped opening in the center of the cylinder that allows an inner
sleeve of transparent plastic to show, and the LED unit contained
inside this sleeve shines through the transparent
plastic.
Opposite the oval opening is a molded plastic clip that holds the
elastic headband and positions the lighting unit on my
forehead.
The light is turned on and off by pushing the end of the soft rubber
cap on my left side. The light alternates between high, off and low
with each push of the button. Rotating this same cap rotates the inner
transparent plastic sleeve changing the lighting from a spot beam to a
diffused beam to a red diffused beam. Rotating my right soft
rubber cap adjusts the angle of the light vertically.
Accessing
the lighting unit and the batteries is accomplished by pulling the
rubber cap on my right side until the seal on the two plastic sleeves
is broken, and the light and battery unit slides out. The
unit is designed with a unique feature in which sliding out the
transparent inner sleeve and sliding the unit back together minus the
outer sleeve and headband allow it to function as a camp
lantern. The
ends of the rubber caps are flat, so the unit can sit upright.
The
headlamp I chose is the Olive Drab color. The plastic shell
is
green; the rubber end caps are black, and the elastic headband is a
green and tan camouflage pattern with the UK logo embroidered on the
headband near the light. The light is also available in
several
other different colors.
Initial Impressions
The headlamp
that was shipped to me is the same as appears on the website, and is
just a little larger than I expected from viewing it online.
The
methods for adjusting the angle of the light and changing the lens are
labeled on the unit and intuitive to use. While the method of
turning the unit on and off is not labeled, it only took me a few
moments to figure it out. What is not apparent is the
procedure
for changing the light from high to low, and it was not until I read
the included directions did I learn how it functioned.
The diameter of the headband is adjusted by a plastic slide near the
back of
the band, and moved easily to accommodate my head. The back
and
the headlamp felt very comfortable, and stays in place very well during
my limited first use. The controls on the headlamp are easy
to
access while on my head, and are easy to use and adjust.
Quality Assessment
The
Vizion 3AAA eLED headlamp appears to be well constructed and well
designed. The rubber caps seem to seal the internal
components
from the elements and I plan to subject the headlamp to wet
environments to test this feature. In the event that
the
internal components get wet, the instructions indicate that I should
remove the batteries, rinse the components in clear water, and let them
dry before operating the light again.
The headlamp
appears to be constructed ruggedly. The compact design
sheaths all
of the sensitive components inside two layers of plastic, and does not
seem to have parts that can be broken off easily.
Test Plan
The
Vizion headlamp will be my primary source of illumination during my
outdoor adventures for the four-month testing period. The
unit
will get extensive use during backpacking, car-camping, hiking and
kayaking. This extensive use will test the ruggedness of the
unit as well as the battery life.
Underwater Kinetics touts the headlamp as being
waterproof up to 33 ft (10 M). The design looks to support
this
claim. While I probably will not take the headlamp to these
depths, I look forward to testing the waterproof features
while
launching my kayak through the Pacific Ocean surf in the dark.
Field Report
September 24, 2008
Test locations and conditions
I have used the Underwater Kinetics Vizion 3AAA headlamp for 3 days and nights while
camping. The headlamp has also accompanied me during two day-outings on
my Kayak.
Three Sisters Falls- San
Diego County, California
I used the headlamp while hiking and setting up camp during
an overnight backpacking trip to Three Sisters Falls. The
weather was warm and dry during the day, cooling slightly in the
evening. We awoke to a warm fog bank in the morning, bringing
a lot of moisture in the air.
Julian Starfest, Julian,
California
I have used the headlamp on two evenings while camping in Julian
California as part of the annual starfest. The weather was
mild with clear skies and no precipitation.
La Jolla, California 2 day paddles on a Kayak
I have carried the headlamp in my life preserver on two separate
day-paddles out of La Jolla, California. I have not as of yet
needed
to use the headlamp while paddling. Both the trips were on
clear days with a mild on-shore breeze, picking up in the afternoon,
making the water slightly choppy.
The Headlamp has been a constant companion in the center console of my
pickup truck. It has been used on at least a dozen different
occasions, from climbing under a trailer in the evening, to
an evening-long power outage.
Field Performance
My first opportunity to try out the Underwater Kinetics Vizion AAA
Headlamp was not in the field, but in my own home. We
experienced an 8-hour long power outage the first week after the
headlamp was delivered. I was able to use the light all
evening from brushing my teeth, to reading in bed. I kept it
on my head, and was comfortable turning it on and off via the large
button. It provided more than enough light to do anything
needed at close range. It was nice to be able to adjust the
intensity of the beam using the high/low setting built into the power
button. It is a mildly inconvenient to have to cycle through
the high setting to get to the low setting. I had this headlamp on my
head for about four hours, and I found that it was very
comfortable. I was concerned as the headlamp housing was a
little larger than I initially expected, but the wide soft headband
secured this lamp to my head well.
My first backcountry experience with the headlamp was hiking into the
Three Sisters Falls area east of San Diego. We left the
trailhead as the sun was beginning to set behind the mountains, and we
were only about 3/4 of the way to our planned campsite before we needed
to drop our packs to don our headlamps. The headlamp
generated adequate light for hiking the relatively flat trail to our
proposed campsite. It was only when we tried to venture beyond
this area, that the trail began to get very treacherous. As no
one had a headlamp that could illuminate the trail safely, we made the
call to retreat back to the original proposed campsite..
I used the headlamp to set up camp and it provided more than enough
light to assemble my bivy shelter and sleeping system in the
dark. I used the diffused lens while setting up, and noticed
that if I adjusted the angle of the light, it caused the lens selector
to also move, partially exposing the red lens setting. In
order to keep this from happening, I needed to hold the rubber cap that
changed the lenses while adjusting the angle of light by twisting the cap
opposite to keep this from happening. This only happened when
using the diffused lens setting.
I then removed the inner shell from the outer shell, and used the
lantern configuration to cook dinner. I was impressed with
how the lantern module stood up, and provided a welcome respite from
having to have the headlamp strapped to my head at all times. At one
point I reassembled the lantern to help light the way while attending
to nature's call. When I returned, instead of disassembling
the unit to create the lantern configuration, I simply set it on its
side with the outer shell and headband attached, and it still worked
adequately as a camp lantern.
My second trip with the headlamp was to the Julian Starfest, in which
several hundred star enthusiast, (including rank amateurs such as
myself) gathered together to look up and appreciate the stars that
grace our night sky. There was a moratorium on using white
lights during the evenings. Fortunately I had the Vizion AAA
headlamp with a red lens. One of the nicest features of this headlamp
is that the different lenses are built into the headlamp itself, and
there is no need to keep track of separate lens pieces. While
the red lens does cut down on the amount of light emanating from the
headlamp, it has adequate light for close work. I did notice
that white light does shine through the edges of the lens and seams
where the rubber caps
meet the plastic lamp housing. The opening where the light shines
through is an oval shape, and the red lens in square, leaving
gaps in the oval edges where the red lens does not cover.
As of this time, I have not had the opportunity to really test the
headlamp in really wet conditions, nor have I submersed it, but I have
carried the unit in my PDF while paddling my kayak in the Pacific
Ocean. It has not left my pocket, but it has come back damp
with salt water. I have treated the headlamp just as I do
with all of my equipment and rinsed it off with a light spray of fresh
water, and let it air dry. This has not affected the unit,
and I have not found any moisture inside after these uses.
I estimate I have had the lamp burning for somewhere between 8-10
hours. I usually use the low setting, but have used the high
setting for at least a couple of hours. At this point I still
am using the original set of batteries that came with the unit and they
appear to still be going strong. I pulled the headlamp out of my
vehicle to photograph it after writing the previous statement,
and I noticed that it was on. I had previously used the
headlamp 48-hours before, and am not sure if that is when it
was left on.The good part is the batteries are still functioning
but noticeably dimmer. The bad is I do not know how it was turned on. I
will keep a close eye to see if this occurs again and report during
long-term testing.Quality
This headlamp has been used in the field for several days and nights,
and has been carried in the center console of my vehicle and used
regularly during all of the 2-month testing period. The
headlamp as of this point still appears, and functions as well as it
did the first day it arrived. There has been no degradation
of the unit. Other than the few minor problems I have had
since the beginning (described above) this headlamp has functioned
admirably. It has been impervious to the small amount of
moisture it has been subject to, and has handled the dusty trails with
ease.
Further Testing
During long term testing, I will be exposing the headlamp to wetter conditions than those I have experienced during the late
summer. I will be using the headlamp to guide me through a
couple of pre-dawn kayak launches through the surf and precipitation
will begin to fall with more regularity in San Diego County.
I will continue to use the Vizion AAA headlamp as my primary
illumination for all of my outdoor activities.
Summary
Two months of testing have proven this headlamp to be
well-made and reliable. The brightness and battery life
have been adequate and I have not had any major malfunctions with the
unit. It is one of the more comfortable headlamps I have
owned and it is easy to operate. While the lamp is not bright enough to
use on difficult trails in the dark, I have found it to be fine for the
majority of situations I have encountered. I have been very happy with
the Underwater Kinetics Vizion AAA headlamp and look forward to
testing it through the long-term testing period.
Long Term ReportDecember 3, 2008
The Underwater Kinetics Vizion Headlamp has been my primary headlamp
for an additional two overnight camping trips, a pre-dawn kayak launch
through the surf, numerous day hikes, and countless domestic uses
around the house and while traveling in the car. In total I have used
UK Vizion headlamp for a total of 5 days of camping during the test
period.
Field Locations:
Indian Hill- Anza-Borrego Desert, California –Overnight October 2008
Elevation: 2000 ft (610 m) High Temperature: 73 C (23 C) Low Temperature: 50 F (10 C)
Precipitation:
(while no precipitation was recorded the strong winds were blowing
moisture onto us from the storms in the mountains. We were hiking
in full sunlight, while being lightly rained upon. . La Jolla Cove- La Jolla, California – Day Paddle October 2008
Elevation:0 ft (0 m) High Temperature: 96 F (36 C) Low Temperature: 50 F (10 C)
Arroyo Tapiado- Anza Borrego Desert, California- Overnight November 2008
Elevation: 900 ft (274 m) High Temperature: 72 C (22 C) Low Temperature: 44 F (6 C)
Field Performance:
I
managed to sneak in a kayak-fishing trip in early October in which I
needed to launch through the gentle waves on the shores of La Jolla
California in the pre-dawn darkness. The first thing I reached
for was my Vizion headlamp, trusting that the waterproof shell would
not let me down. I used the headlamp to light my way through the waves,
and to signal other boaters that I was on the water until daylight
encroached on the darkness. While the headlamp was not submerged,
it did see significant moisture, from the sea and the air, and did not
once fail. A light spray of fresh water when I returned home
rinsed off all of the salt residue and it looked as good as new after
drying.
The first camping trip where I used the Vizion headlamp
during the long-term testing period, was a short overnight trip to the
Anza Borrego Desert. While it was not actually raining in the desert,
there was a major storm dropping precipitation in San Diego, and the
winds were blowing residual moisture over the mountains and onto us as
we camped and hiked. The Vizion headlamp shrugged off this
moisture without a blip.
The second overnight to Arroyo Tapiado
tested the headlamp in a unique way. This dry wash located in the
Southern Anza-Borrego is dotted with mud caves, and the Vizion headlamp
served as my primary illumination while I was spelunking. Some of
these caves are quite long and quite dark, and any failure of lighting
could have disastrous consequences. I did carry a backup headlamp, as
anyone in these caves should, but I did not need it as the Vizion
Headlamp worked perfectly. The angle adjustment and the slider
that changes the lenses were both making a mild grinding noise after
this trip. I took apart the headlamp, and cleaned out the fine
grit embedded in the case of the headlamp from banging my head on the
walls of dark caves. Upon reassembly, the headlamp adjusted
smoothly and quietly.
My children often reach for the headlamp
over the others I own, because it fits them comfortably despite it
being bulkier than some other models. The wide headband, and the
easy adjustments make this a favorite.
I
have come to the conclusion during the long-term test phase that the
angle of adjustment on this headlamp is too short. I cannot adjust
it down far enough to effectively light my hands while doing close
work. I have to adjust it down and then crane my neck to get the
light to shine on my hands.
I needed to replace the batteries
during field-testing, and have not needed to during long-term
testing. The primary reason I believe is due to the headlamp
inadvertently being turned on when it was in the center console of my
truck. I have not experienced the headlamp turning on without my
pushing the button and I can safely assume it was either a freak
occurrence, or my ineptitude in turning it off before stowing it
away. The light appears as bright as when I first put in fresh
batteries and I have used the headlamp at least as much as I did during
field-testing.
Summary
The
Underwater Kinetics Vizion AAA Headlamp has continued to perform
exceptionally during the 2-month long term testing period.
I have had the headlamp in a variety of challenging situations,
including a pre-dawn kayak launch through the surf and a day of
spelunking. The headlamp has provided adequate lighting for most
situations while maintaining a comfortable fit on my head whether I am
wearing additional headwear or not. The headlamp does not appear
to have any damage or wear, and I speculate that it will continue
functioning for a long time to come. I will continue to use the
Vizion Headlamp as my primary headlamp, as it works well for me.
Pros
- Comfortable while wearing on my head
- Easy to operate
- The headlamp configures as a self
standing lantern
- The different lens setting are built
into the unit, and not separate pieces
Cons
- The edges and seams are not light tight, and
bleed white light while using the red lens
- The rotating adjustment gets caught on
the lens adjuster, and changes the lens to partially red inadvertently
- The angle of adjustment is too short, making it hard to use the lamp while working with your hands.
This
ends my report on the Vizion 3AAA eLED Headlamp. Thank
You Underwater Kinetics and BackPackGearTest.org for the opportunity
to test this fine headlamp.
Read more reviews of Underwater Kinetics gear
Read more gear reviews by Peter Spiller
|