Monday, September 11, 2017

Emergency Preparedness: Headlamp Review

Headlamps for emergency lighting
Recent events have caused many of us to think about emergency preparedness. Hurricane Harvey only recently exited Texas and Hurricane Irma is in Florida as I am typing this. There are almost too many wildfires in the western United States to count -forcing people to evacuate their homes. Whether we are talking about emergencies as devastating as these or emergencies as small as a flat tire on the side of a dark highway, we need to be prepared. There is a list of things that need to be included in our preparations, but today I want to talk about headlamps. I believe that headlamps are a required item when talking about safety and being prepared.


What is a Headlamp?


Headlamps are battery operated, hands-free "flashlights" that attach to your head by an elasticized headband. 

Why is a headlamp important when we all probably own flashlights or candles?  I too own an assortment of candles, flashlights, and lanterns (gas, battery, and solar operated). So why do I highly recommend purchasing an additional item for emergency lighting? 


Headlamps are important and unique for the following reasons:


  • hands-free 
  • flame-free
  • safe
  • battery operated with a long battery life
  • AAA batteries are easy to keep on hand
  • headlamps are small enough to have with you everywhere 
I depend on my headlamps when I am camping at The Shack. I carry one with me in the Jeep, in the event of a break-down on the side of the road. The headlamp attaches to my head and I can use both hands for whatever I need to do. Imagine changing a tire in the dark, while trying to hold a conventional flashlight. Now imagine changing a tire in the dark, while a beam of light automatically shines on whatever you are facing. 

I love candles and always have a large selection on hand. But there are times I do not want to risk an open flame.  

Lanterns are great for lighting large areas, such as rooms, but more difficult for any activity that requires light focused on a specific area or activity. My lanterns also seem to burn through fuel or batteries very quickly.

Ladies, for many of us, headlamps initially feel silly. But if you are stranded in the dark and want to use your hands, if you need an inexpensive and reliable lighting source, or if you find yourself outside in the dark, you will very quickly become accustomed to the feeling of having a light strapped to your head. 

I have had really good luck with the Energizer brand of headlamps. The elastic band is adjustable for my big head. It is also more durable than the bands on other headlamps I've purchased. The plastic pieces on my Energizer are durable. I have broken the piece that attaches the light to the headband on an off-brand of headlamp.

I have had this Energizer headlamp for two years or so. I've changed the batteries once. And I use it for every trip up to the Shack as a primary lighting source as well as for short periods of loss of electricity in my apartment. I highly recommend that we all have immediate access to a headlamp as a part of our emergency preparedness.

Related Emergency Preparedness Reviews:


Heather shares the importance of Emergency Survival Kits (aka Bug Out Bags). In the event that you should not shelter in place, it is important to have your emergency items packed and ready to go in an instant. Heather lists the contents of a good bug out bag.

Cynthia Sylvestermouse reviews an emergency power failure light that doubles as emergency lighting that turns on automatically as soon as the power turns off and a nightlight every other evening.

Barbara Radisavljevic reviews a battery operated LED light source that she uses: the MalloMe LED lantern. She liked her lantern so much that she was sorry she hadn't bought more. Read why she recommends that particular LED lantern.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


8 comments:

  1. I can't even count how many times I have dropped my flashlight. Not to mention the hundreds of times I have desperately tried to hold a flashlight under my arm or in my mouth so I would have use of both hands. I would much prefer a light on my head than a flashlight in my mouth. Great review and most excellent suggestion.

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  2. I use this very headlamp every single day. Living off-grid as I do, I like to conserve energy. I wear this headlamp to bed for reading after dark. I also use this light when I am camping or backpacking. It comes in handy when walking a dog in the evening. Your hands are free for holding the leash. And, as you mentioned, it's an important tool to keep in your vehicle. I've owned other headlamps, but this one is my favorite. Thanks for sharing your experience with it.

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  3. Very good idea to have a headlamp! Thanks for the review and I will have to add it to my Emergency Bug Out Bag list. And thank you so much for mentioning my page.

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  4. My husband had a similar light years ago, but we seem to have lost it during one of our moves. Time to get another one -- or two. One never knows when when one will need light while using one's hands for something else. My husband used his when he worked on cars. I've often wished I had one. I just never got around to replacing that one we lost.

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  5. I have often thought that I need a headlamp, but I still don't have one, I will have to check out this one before our cyclone season.

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  6. Definitely a handy item for any emergency kit. Well done review, Dawn Rae.

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  7. these are very handy to have - my husband uses this all the time when he's performing tasks that require extra lighting

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  8. Great review Dawn. I think these are a great item to have on hand. In our neighborhood we have a lot of people walking and jogging early in the morning. I see that many of them use this headlamp so they are easy to spot by cars. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

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