This really is the headlamp we have been waiting for. It boast 330 Lumans, can run for 3.5 hours on high, or 40 hours on low. It cost only $49, is USB rechargeable, and has many lighting options including red flood for night expeditions.
BioLite HeadLamp 330 Review
BioLite launched a kickstarted back in September 2018. The lights are now readily available for purchase. BioLite sent us a light to test and provide our unbiased feedback.
The first, most notable, and possibly best feature of the light is the extremly low profile light. No more flopping around which makes this an excellent option for adventuring in the evening. Trail runners will love this headlamp that shifts the weight of the battery to the rear of the head strap and more evenly balances is when running. Runners will also like the SlimFit fabric that runs across the front of the headlamp, it’s soft and acts as a sweatband when worn against the forehead.
BioLite Headlamp Impressions
It’s hard to believe that such a compact and well packed light can boast run times of three and a half hours on high, and up to forty hours on low. I’ve used the headlamp a number of times around the house, on a recent camping trip to Sedona, and dawn patrolling in the Utah mountains.
The light is perfect for use around the house when re-lighting a pilot light in the water heater. While 330 Lumans can be a bit much when working on something close up, you can hold down the power button on the top of the light to infinatly dim or brighten the light.
BioLite Headlamp Modes
There are six modes for the headlamp. A red flood mode that is great for saving your adjusted eyes during the night. Bright flood mode for covering a large area, perfect for trail running. A white spot light that is great for close up working. There is also the diming function where you hold the power button and the light cycles through what feels like infinite levels of brightness. Lastly, there is a strobe function and a lock out function to prevent the light from turing on in a pack.
BioLite Headlamp Features
The light has a USB 900 mAh Lithium Ion rechargable battery. It is IPx 4 rated to be weather resistant, (Not waterproof) and weighs just 2.44 oz (69.17 g). There is a four light led that indicates the charge level of the headlamp when turned on or off.
Cons of the BioLite Headlamp
A few things we didn’t like about the new headlamp from BioLite is that its so small it can be hard to press the button with gloves on during a dawn patrol early in the morning. Additionally, the light functions can get confusing. Trying to remember if I’m suppose to double click, or hold it down to switch from one light to another had us guessing each time we tried to switch. It seems like every headlamp manufacture dose this a little different, so trying to remember usually took some time.
Conclusion
It may be to soon to say, but after years of using over 20 headlamps, this has to be one of the better and favorites I have used. The run times are excellent, I can leave it in my truck and top off the charge with a car USB charger. It’s a great value at $50, considering you wont be shelling out for rechargeable or alkaline AAA or AA batteries. I’ll have to see how it holds up over the years, but as for now this will be the first headlamp I grab when camping, dawn patrolling, night hiking, or just working on something around the house.
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