April 01, 2022 5 min read
When you're on a long trip, and it's getting kinda dark, the last thing you want is for your headlamp to die on you. This is why more and more people are turning to headlamps that are rechargeable.
We totally get that some people may have concerns about it if they are yet to use a rechargeable headlamp, but with the right know-how and equipment, you can use rechargeable headlamps without having to worry about the battery suddenly giving out unexpectedly.
In this article we're going to cover everything you need to know about using a rechargeable headlamp and tell you about our EVERBEAM H6 PRO HEADLAMP, which is a rechargeable headlamp, with our best 1200 MAH battery, and our EVERBEAM H6 SWITCH HEADLAMP, which lets you switch between the rechargeable and 3 AAA batteries.
Please feel free to scroll ahead to any section that catches your attention.
Let's kick this off with an example. Our EVERBEAM H6 PRO HEADLAMP comes with a top quality built-in 1200 mAH rechargeable battery, and it can really last.
It comes with a USB charging lead that you can plug directly into a suitable socket or laptop to charge. And it will take multiple charges, unlike some batteries that aren't designed for a lot of use.
Getting the most out of the battery is easy when you know how. For example, you need to make sure that you don't overcharge it. And in real terms, what this means is that you should unplug it once it's received a full charge, since leaving it plugged in when it's already charged can damage the battery in the long term.
And, apologies for stating the obvious here, but you should only ever use the settings you need, that way you don't drain the battery unnecessarily. This is important because different settings have different impacts on the battery life.
For example, if you set it to red light only, you will get a whopping 30 hours of run time, which means you could use it for over 3 nights, keeping the light on and night and switching it off when you get daylight.
The red light function is great because using red light can help to preserve your night vision. Though you don't necessarily need to keep the light on through the night, so long as you have it when you're on the move.
And when the red light is not quite bright enough for you, or if you need to see the color of anything in front of you, you can switch it to white light, and the battery will last up to a whopping 10 hours on a low white brightness on a full charge.
If however you need to focus on a map when you are in the dark, you also have the option to switch to high brightness, and when you do, it can run for up to 2.5 hours on a full charge.
So the key to making the most of a rechargeable headlamp is to use it discerningly.
(You'll also find that the light output from the lamp is very strong. It's great for illuminating large areas, such as forests, caves, or even tunnels. For more on this, simply click on “Check Price” to be taken to the product page.)
However, we totally get that even this length of run time may not be quite enough for everybody, which leads us nicely onto our next section.
The EVERBEAM H6 SWITCH HEADLAMP also comes complete with a top quality built-in 1200 mAH rechargeable battery. But the key difference here is that this battery is removable, and can be replaced by 3 AAA batteries.
This way, if you were unlucky enough to drain the rechargeable battery while you are on a trip, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to continue without light – you can simply remove the rechargeable battery, replace it with 3 AAAs, and you're good to go all over again.
It's the perfect solution when you're camping in the wilderness or off-grid and can't get to a traditional power source.
You could even decide to use rechargeable AAA batteries if you are concerned about conserving energy. Or you could invest in a solar-powered power bank.
Anyway, back to the EVERBEAM H6 SWITCH. It features special constant-current technology, which is there to help provide a longer battery life.
What's more, it also features a battery power-level indicator, which lights up to let you know when the built-in battery is running out of charge. That way, you can act quickly to ensure that you're never out of light for longer than you need to be.
And, as with the EVERBEAM H6 PRO, you can be selective about how you use the headlamp in order to maximize its total running time. If you're careful to only use the minimum setting you need, you can really preserve the battery power.
If you keep the EVERBEAM H6 SWITCH on the red light setting (which is great for preserving your night vision) then the headlamp can last up to a whopping 45 hours on a full charge.
But if you need to be able to see in color, you can just switch to the white low mode. The battery will last up to a whopping 24 hours in this mode on a full charge.
Or if you need to examine something up close, you can switch it to white light high, where it can last up to 3 hours, which is more than long enough to check a map, or find something in your bag, or take a trip to the John.
So, here's what to look out for in a rechargeable headlamp.
We would recommend that you look for a headlamp with a good battery capacity, that will last for at least 2 hours on high mode, and at least 40 hours on low mode. In terms of battery power, a 1200 mAH rechargeable battery should be enough to cover it.
If you've been paying attention, you'll have learned that lower light settings can help to prolong the battery's run time.
A battery level indicator can be really handy for letting you know when the battery needs a recharge.
So, as we have described, rechargeable headlamps really are as good as, if not better than, regular headlamps. They can provide all the light you need with minimal impact on the environment. And you don't have to carry around any spare batteries, so long as you have access to the grid or to a portable power bank.
What's more, you can make the most of each battery charge, simply by being careful about how you use the headlamp, by only using it when necessary, and using the minimum light setting for whatever it is you're doing. And you'd also do well to remember never to overcharge the battery, and always unplug the lead once you have reached a full charge.