|
| Home | Guest - Not logged in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
» Register
» Login
Gear Reviews
Documents
Tools
» Contact
|
Reviews > Lighting > Headlamps - LED > Black Diamond Spot > Bill Jeffrey > Field ReportBlack Diamond Spot LED Headlamp - Field Reportby Bill "AsABat" JeffreyEmail: wjj2001 "at" yahoo "dot" com January 10, 2006 Tester Personal Biographical Information Bill Jeffrey
I have over 30 years backpacking experience, starting with Scouting as a youth. I am currently the High Adventure Leader for a Scout Troop. I try to get out once or twice a month, plus at least one week-long trek each year. My trips are of two types. First, I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in sections, and generally use a lightweight approach on these typically solo trips. Other trips with family involve more traditional backpacking equipment. Terrain varies from sea level to 14,000 feet (4,300 m), desert to mountain, and trail to cross country, occasionally including snow travel. This is the second of three reports of the Black Diamond Spot based on field use over a two-month period. My first report described the headlamp in more detail. Product Description:
Field Test: The Spot has been on every trip I have taken since I received it, plus seen countless use around the house. Field use has included several trips in the chaparral and foothills of Southern California, elevations from 400 to 1,300 feet (100 to 400 m) and temperatures down to 35 degrees F (2 C) and fair weather. It has also seen a trip to the Anza Borrego Desert, elevations to 2,800 feet (900 m), temperatures again down to 35 degrees F (2 C), with strong winds gusting to 40 miles per hour (60 km/h). Overall, I am very impressed with this headlamp. I expect to use it a long time, unless Black Diamond finds a way to somehow make one even better. Brightness: I found that the functional range of light produced by the headlamp meets the distances claimed by Black Diamond. I sometimes forget this is "just" an LED and not a standard old-fashioned flashlight. On my last backpack in the open desert, under a sky filled with stars but no moon, I paced off the distance to a small bush and found that, with new batteries, the HyperBright beam reached the claimed 40 meters (131 ft) with a nicely focused beam. The three smaller LEDs also reached the claimed 15 meters ( 49 ft), with a much more diffused beam. I found the HyperBright LED much better for walking away from camp, and was able to cut the power to the middle setting when on a defined trail. I preferred the highest power on other terrain. As the battery starts to deplete, the light output seemed to fade slightly, but not so much to be noticeable except when I realized the light used to be brighter than it was. The three smaller LEDs worked very well around camp. They provided just enough light for cooking and cleaning without creating glare. In a two-man tent, the lowest setting provided soft light for settling in. On the windiest night, when I had to turn in at dark, I spent four hours reading by the lowest power light. It lit the book pages evenly without a hot bright spot in the middle. Battery life: On my first trip with the Spot, on a church retreat, we had the need to illuminate a point all night. I wrapped the headband around a post and turned the HyperBright LED on full power at 10:00 p.m. Although I had already used the headlamp for several hours, at 6:00 the next morning the light output still appeared to be full power. Given Black Diamond's definition of "functional burn time," I find their claimed battery life at full power is reasonable. As I mentioned, the light output does drop slightly over time, so I have time to change the battery under my terms. This is good, as the batteries are not easily changed without some light, at least a single LED light. To do so in the dark would require more practice than I want to invest. The battery compartment is opened by rotating the lamp housing on its swivel past the 90 degree position so a raised bump in the housing pushes the battery door open. While I felt I might break something in doing so, of course I never did. The three AAA batteries are inserted side by side with battery position labeled in the case. Fit: The headband is very comfortable to wear and holds the lamp steady. It stretches enough to fit over a mid-weight balaclava without adjustment. I can lie on my back and read using the light without feeling a hard object, like a battery case, pressing against the back of my head. Ease of Use: I have found the headlamp easy to use. A push button on top of the lamp turns it on and selects the mode and brightness. To switch from the 1-watt to the three smaller LEDs, simply turn the lamp off and then back on again. By pressing the switch just halfway when the lamp is on in either mode, the brightness can be adjusted from high to middle to low to strobe mode. At first I found myself apparently double-clicking the switch and ending up in mid-brightness mode, but have appear to have somehow broken that habit. The ratchet holds the lamp at the angle I select. I do find that I cannot tilt the lamp below a 45 degree angle while wearing eyeglasses without getting some glare on my glasses when using the 3 smaller LEDs. I also find using this headlamp a little bothersome when wearing a hat with a brim. If the headlamp is worn under the brim, I get reflection off the brim. If worn above the brim, over the hat, I have a large dark shadow (mine) where my feet are walking. I suspect that since the lens is not recessed this is more noticable. Please note that my eyes are less tolerant of bright light than most people. Durability: So far, the Spot has come to no harm. In spite of being carelessly shoved into my pocket, the headband shows no wear. I do notice some fine scratches on the lens, perhaps more noticeable because the lens is not recessed, or perhaps a recessed lens would receive fewer scratches. The lens also has some small pits, possibly a result of being sandblasted by the desert winds. None of these affect the function or use of the light. Packability: With just a single headband, the Spot packs up small, about the volume of a wallet. It fits easily into my pants pocket for easy access when the sun goes down. I do take care to put metallic objects in one pocket and softer items, including the headlamp, in the other to minimize scratches. Friendliness: It is easy to adjust the angle of this light to avoid glare in the eyes of my fellow hikers. THe sharp look of the Spot has also received several unsolicited comments. Next: The Spot will be used on all my overnight trips during the test period, as well as night hikes, evening geocache runs, and the occasional trip to the back forty. Planned trips include several more to the Anza-Borrego Desert. Elevation sea level to 5,000 feet (1,500 feet). Temperatures from 32 to 85 degrees F (0 to 30 C), wind very likely, rain possible. I also have a trip planned to the Eastern Sierra Nevada next month which will include snowshoeing to elevations as high as 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). Temperatures 15 to 70 degrees F (-10 to +20 C) with a possibility of rain and snow. Besides ratifying my findings so far, I want to further test the following:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
