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One of the tested outdoor headlamps
Photo: Gerd Blank
Until recently I used flashlights mostly around the house.
For example, if a fuse has blown.
When camping, I always had a cheap funzel from the hardware store with me so that I can find my way to the toilet at night if the campsite is not lit.
But since I've been living in a camper, I've also been traveling in areas where there isn't even sparse artificial light.
As nice as it is to only have a starry sky as a light source, sometimes that's not enough.
Time to buy a new one.
So I looked at flashlights and headlights from several manufacturers.
I will illuminate the following lamps in more detail:
Maglite Mini Pro:
Small and powerful (RRP 30 euros)
Maglite ML150 LR (X):
light up like a TV cop (RRP 120 euros)
Ledlenser P7R Signature:
Bright as the sun - and almost as hot (RRP 150 euros)
Ledlenser P18R Signature:
full light power with emergency signal (RRP 250 euros)
Ledlenser MH5:
lightweight with range (RRP 40 euros)
Ledlenser H19R Signature:
Not for the weak neck (RRP 300 euros)
Petzl Swift RL:
light supply made to measure (RRP 100 euros)
Petzl Actik Core:
Flexible power supply with red light flair (RRP 60 euros)
This is how I tested the lamps:
Processing:
Are the lamp housings neatly processed and is everything tight and tight in the corresponding openings and recesses?
Handling:
How heavy and how easy are the devices?
Do you have to read the manual to switch it on?
Luminous intensity:
How bright are the lamps and what is the range
Value for money
: is
it worth buying?
Maglite Mini Pro
There is no flashlight that I use longer than the Maglite Mini. She has accompanied me on my tours for around ten years. The workmanship is excellent: the body is made of metal, the corrugated surface ensures a good grip even with sweaty fingers. The light is switched on and off with a turn of the lens attachment. I find this extremely impractical because I need two hands despite the small dimensions. For this reason I bought an end cap switch from Litexpress. This is screwed on instead of the battery cover and the lamp is then operated with the push of a thumb.
For me it is practical that I can hold the lamp in my mouth if I need both hands for a moment.
It's certainly not hygienic, but hey, I'm a camper - and I haven't been sick for many years.
The lamp fits in my trouser pocket or I wear the lightweight with a key ring and ribbon around my neck.
With fresh batteries, the light output is astonishingly good for such a small lamp.
The light is not so bright that others feel bothered by it.
I use AAA rechargeable batteries so that the batteries don't wear out as much, because the rather powerful lamp actually consumes a lot of electricity.
But even with half the power, the light is enough to find the way to the campsite toilet in the dark.
However, it is not recommended for night walks with the dog.
The Maglite Mini Pro is a beautiful flashlight that is also ideal as a gift.
After all, every camper needs light.
Maglite ML150 LR (X)
But there is also a size bigger.
The Maglite ML150 is known from many US series and movies.
It's the typical lamp used by US cops and firefighters.
In the past, I always thought it was cool when a patrol officer took the lamp stick out of its holder with one hand in order to shine it into the car during an inspection.
And now this lamp is in my camper.
Or better: depends.
The ML150 comes with a practical holder that doubles as a charging station for the battery.
A cable for the 12-volt connection is also included and the instructions also show how to connect the cable directly to the on-board battery.
Even if I would have preferred charging via USB, the standard charging cable is sufficient, because the battery supplied feels like it lasts forever.
According to the manufacturer, the Maglite provides light for up to 79 hours in eco mode.
However, the lamp then only shines with 25 lumens.
That's enough to find your way in the dark, but otherwise you don't see much.
When fully charged, the lamp reaches a good 1000 lumens, but this reduces the running time to three to four hours.
The light can be focused on a point on the socket of the LED light source, then the beam reaches a distance of up to 450 meters.
The push button on the side is not only a power button, it can also be assigned functions.
For example, you can call up a flashing light or eco mode by pressing it several times.
The light output is excellent, the beam goes far.
Despite its size, the Maglite is not overly heavy, perfectly balanced and fits comfortably in the hand.
It is very practical that bad weather is not a problem either.
In the event of a breakdown in the rain at night, it does its job well.
Unfortunately, the Maglite is not easy to set up: you put it down, roll it away, put it down, tip it over.
But it feels good on walks to carry a heavy club in your hand.
You never know...
Ledlenser P7R Signature
Size is not everything: Ledlenser has packed a lot of light power into the small metal housing of the P7R. At full power this is up to 2000 lumens. For this purpose, the lens is designed in such a way that the light cone illuminates a wide area very well - up to a distance of 330 meters. This also attracted attention during a post-hike on the coast of Sardinia. Several times I heard fellow hikers the words "molto potent" - with the result that I had to run in front to light the way.
The power button on the side shows whether the battery still has enough power; if it is red, you should slowly look for a power source. The P7R is charged via a two-pole magnetic connection with a special USB cable. It's a shame it's not a standard cable. But then there would probably not be an IPX8 rating that marks the lamp as waterproof. The ring switch under the lamp is practical, with which additional light functions such as red light and an emergency signal can be selected.
The P7R feels great in the hand.
With a clip on the side you can fasten it in your pocket, a belt pouch and a strap are also included.
The strong light and the long battery life are great, the metal housing feels classy and robust.
However, the lamp gets quite warm when in use.
It can be quite uncomfortable with sensitive hands.
In winter the heat may not be a problem, you may also wear gloves - but in summer it is extremely uncomfortable.
But here the manufacturer wants to readjust after consultation and install a temperature control.
When that's done, I can wholeheartedly recommend the P7R.
Ledlenser P18R Signature
The P18R from Ledlenser offers even more power. Instead of one light source, three are built into the broad head of the lamp. In the photo, the part looks a bit misshapen, and the weight should not be underestimated either, P18R weighs 630 g on the kitchen scale. For comparison: the significantly larger Maglite ML150R only weighs 440 g. Nevertheless, the beefy P18R lies perfectly in the hand - provided it is big enough. The corrugated metal gives the case a good grip.
The operation is minimalist, only a push button is available. A longer press turns the lamp on and off. Functions such as eco mode, flashing light and emergency signal (SOS) are switched through one after the other by pressing. So it can happen that you push past the desired function. During the nightly hike it was so annoying that I ended up with the flashing light far too quickly if I just wanted to reduce the light intensity. And that was often necessary, because with up to 4500 lumens the lamp is almost as bright as day. When I looked at the rock formations in a huge grotto and turned the flashlight to full power, it was as if someone had switched on the cleaning light. The light beam reaches a distance of up to 720 meters - you really don't need more.
Rain does not stop the floodlights, but due to the relatively low protection class IPX4, the lamp should not fall into the water.
Of course, I tried it anyway and held the P18R briefly in a wave.
No problem, it just kept glowing.
However, there were a few issues with charging later in the camper.
The magnetic contacts were obviously irritated.
When switched on it blinked wildly - otherwise nothing happened.
After the restart (battery out and back in) everything ran like clockwork again.
A standard charging cable would have been nice, there is no bag or holder.
At least a thin ribbon is included with which you can secure the P18R on the wrist.
The light output of this lamp is very good.
However, the high weight bothers and the price is an obstacle.
Ledlenser MH5
It goes from hand to head. When camping, but also for other outdoor activities, you often have to have your hands free. I like to grill when it gets dark outside. A flashlight would make it impossible to turn the grilled food and hold a beer at the same time. So there has to be light on the head. A simple lamp is sufficient for my purposes, so I chose the relatively inexpensive MH5 from Ledlenser.
Despite the small dimensions, some interesting details are built in. The flexible headband sits very comfortably on the light body in connection with a cushion, the printed pattern and the lettering reflect light. The light unit is easy to remove and, thanks to the metal clip, can also be attached elsewhere. The battery can be removed so that a normal AA battery can be used in an emergency. Two light levels can be set with the power button. After all, up to 400 lumens and a range of up to 180 meters are possible. However, I miss a red light: When camping, you sometimes spend time with other campers. And then you shouldn't look in their direction with the bright headlamp.
With this lamp, too, Ledlenser uses a two-pole magnetic cable for charging.
However, it is incomprehensible that the connection differs from the other models listed here.
It is a shame that a uniform standard has not even been introduced in our own range.
Ledlenser
H19R Signature
The H19R is the luxury model from Ledlenser.
More functions can hardly be integrated into one lamp.
The light intensity is up to 4000 lumens, which means that the immediate surroundings are illuminated almost as bright as day.
The two built-in lamps can be controlled separately from each other in three brightness levels.
While one serves as a point light, the other fills the space as much as possible.
It is controlled either on the lamp or via a remote control that can be worn like a bracelet.
If you prefer to use your smartphone for this, you can do that too.
Thanks to IP68, the lamp is waterproof and dust and dirt do not disturb.
You could probably do smaller dives with her on your head.
Or you can clip the H19R to your bike or helmet, the necessary adapters are included.
The battery should last up to 30 hours, but that only works in the weakest mode. The battery is definitely sufficient for a long hike. The typical Ledlenser magnetic connection is used for charging. Despite the size and the relatively heavy battery attached to the rear, the H19R is quite easy to carry for a while. After a while, however, it becomes uncomfortable and the holder leaves marks on the forehead.
For me this lamp is completely oversized.
The price already indicates that it is actually a lamp for the professional sector.
But if you go shopping in your Ferrari, you might also buy something like that.
Anyone who regularly fishes at night, hikes in the forest or engages in extreme sports that require light is unlikely to find anything better.
The luxury lamp almost replaces the sunlight - and unfortunately it also gets almost as hot.
There is even a corresponding warning on the metal housing.
Thanks to the design of the bracket, that didn't bother me on the forehead, but when you operate the light switch, you keep getting to the housing with your fingers.
Those who frequently change the light intensity are better served with the remote control.
Petzl Swift RL
Petzl mainly offers climbing equipment - and that includes headlamps. The Swift RL is the provider's flagship. With 900 lumens, the lamp is very bright. The built-in sensor, which measures the ambient light and adjusts the lamps accordingly, is very practical. The headband can be easily adjusted to match the respective head, the lamp head is padded. Nevertheless, the rectangular box is pressing something on the forehead.
The 100 gram lamp is operated via a push button.
A long press turns them on and off.
If it is on, the second light source is activated with the button and switched through the various light levels.
This is a bit stiff, but works well and intuitively overall.
On the last lap along an unlit street, I had a perfect view.
However, the lamp dazzles oncoming people.
And there is no red light so that you can talk to each other in a slightly illuminated group.
The battery lasts for several hours at full capacity, does not automatically switch off the lamp towards the end, but simply reduces the light intensity.
The battery is recharged using a standard USB cable.
Petzl Actik Core
The Actik Core is the last headlamp, but it is not a tail light. Although: It also has a red lantern. And that is a great advantage if you want to prevent dazzling others in a group. The lamp is relatively simple and the housing feels inferior. It is reminiscent of a bicycle taillight and doesn't look like something you want to wear on your head. But that does the lamp injustice, because it does its job well. Its 450 lumens are enough to find equipment while camping or to fire up the grill. When walking the dog, the light is enough to illuminate the path well.
At the push of a button, you can switch between the light modes to set the light cone wide or narrow, and the red light is also activated in this way.
The battery is not particularly powerful, but it is sufficient for a barbecue evening or a hike.
I really like the fact that you can charge the supplied battery with a standard USB cable or use standard AAA batteries instead.
You can find them at every petrol station and can thus provide more light at short notice if necessary.
The Actik Core is certainly not love at first sight.
But I grow a little fond of it over time.
