Hi BLF!
This is my video overview and written review of the Wuben H3 headlamp, the blue and black version.
I bought the Wuben H3 from Banggood. It arrived within 2 weeks after buying it (7 days shipping).
You can find more information about the H3 on the official Wuben page: Wuben H3 Ultralight Running Headlamp with Red Light | Best for Jogging
VIDEO OVERVIEW
Youâll notice some mistakes (âcoronaâ instead of âspillâ and othersâŠ). I apologize, for those mistakes! Not being native english speaker leads to some âmouth-takesâ
Still, here it is.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Body Colour: Black and Blue ( also sold White and Orange )
Body Material: Plastic (?)
Emitter: Osram P8 (Cool White) + 2 aux leds (Blue and Red)
Optic: Textured / Clear TIR
Batteries: 2 x AAA (alkaline or rechargeable)
Switch: 2 e-switches
Max runtime: 105hours (on main emitter)
Max beam distance: 50m
Max output: 120 lumens
Candela: 700cd
Waterproofness: IP65
Impact resistance: 1.5m
Low Voltage Warning: ?
Reverse Polarity Protection: ?
PACKAGE: Headlamp and Accessories
The Wuben H3 arrived inside a â3 layer packageâ: outside thereâs a plastic box, and inside a cardboard box (with some general information about the headlamp), and inside of it, the H3 and accessories, protected by another thick plastic box.
The Wuben H3 package includes: the H3 headlamp, an headband, a User Manual, 2 spare o-rings, and 2 x AAA alkaline batteries.
Wuben H3 Headlamp
Letâs take a look at the headlamp. It is made of plastic (or some fiber), but it is not a thin one, it seems robust and cabaple of handling some drops (hopefully).
In the front, there is the main emitter, covered by a textured & clear TIR optic, and the auxiliary leds. In one side there are the 2 switches (1 for the main emitter, 1 for the aux leds) and on the other side of it, the battery compartment. On the back, there is a clip that will be used along with the headband, or to clip the H3 to a flat tissue, or eventually to backpack shoulder strap.
The switch buttons have different elevations, being the W button (main emitter) more elevated than the R3 button.
In the front there are also 2 screws that can be used to access the LED and the optic, and the circuits. I didnât disassemble it (yet).
The LED is an Osram P8 LED, in Cool White. The Aux LEDs areâŠblue, and red.
The battery compartment is cover by a âdoorâ that may require some pressing to be opened. Outside there are indications about the correct polarity. Inside there are springs and contact plates, and there is also a sealing o-ring on that âdoorâ.
The main part of the H3 is attached to the clip by a rotating mechanism, that allows 360Âș rotation (lateral rotation) + 180Âș rotation of the headlamp (up-down).
About the dimensions and weight, not being a completely compact headlamp, mostly due to the rotating shaft, it is a short and lightweight headlamp.
Accessories
Regarding the accessories, the one that needs to be more emphasized is the adjustable headband, in blue, black and white, to which the headlamp can be attached. It is elastic and seems quite resistant.
Please note that while other headlamps are easily reversible, putting the buttons to one or other side, the H3, due to the clip, is done to be used mostly with the buttons in the left side. Unless you attach the light to the headband with the clip from below.
Besides this, there are the 2 spare o-ringsâŠ.
âŠand the User Manual, with information in several languages on how to operate the headlamp.
I didnât include the batteries here, you can take a look at the video.
They are 2 AAA alkaline batteries, âGreatcellâ branded, 1.5V and 1200mAh, expiring date 03-2025.
About the batteries, AAA alkaline and AAA Ni-MH are the ones recommended. Do not use 2 x 10440 batteries.
USER INTEFACE and OUTPUT/RUNTIME
This image from the User Manual helps to summarize the UI, but I will explain it below.
Also, for the relation between runtimes and output, this is the best way to see their relation/evolution.
Not knowing which batteries were used, I would risk saying 1.5V AAA alkaline batteries, not 1.2V AAA Ni-MH batteries. Also, there is no discrimination about outputs vs runtimes on alkalines or rechargeables.
User Interface
As mentioned above, there are 2 switches in the Wuben H3 headlamp: W button for the main emitter, R3 button for the aux leds.
The main emitter has the following levels/modes: Low > Medium > High + SOS + Beacon.
The aux leds have the following levels/modes: constant Red >constant Blue > blinking Red
The headlamp has memory for the last used modes (except SOS and Beacon) and for the aux leds too.
Functioning on the W button:
From OFF
1 click â turns ON
2 clicks â enters SOS
Press & hold â enters Low
From ON
1 click â turns OFF
2 clicks â enters SOS
Press & hold â advances in the sequence L > M > H > L >âŠ
From SOS
2 clicks â enters Beacon
1 click â goes back to the last use mode (L, M or H)
Functioning on the R3 button:
From OFF
1 click â turns ON
From ON
1 click â turns OFF
Press & hold â advances in the sequence: Constant Red > Constant Blue > Blinking Red >
NOTE: if the light is turned on in the Aux Leds (R3) or the main emitter (W), a click on the other button alternates between leds.
EX: Light is in LOW > Click R3 button > Enters the last used aux led/mode, and vice versa.
BEAMSHOTS
Time for some indoor beamshots, and beam profile of this headlamp.
Note that I donât have a complete notion of how the H3 illuminates outdoor, so I will try to do some photos very soon.
As for the beam profile, the TIR installed in the H3 and the LED it has below, it has a more pronounced and eventually squarish hotspot (seen at close range) but that blends well in longer range. It is mostly a floody beam, without noticeable tint shifts (which is probably due to the textured edges of the TIR optic).
As for the Aux Leds, they do not illuminate in a long range, and they are mostly flood. I would use this leds only in specific occasions or location conditions.
Last but not least, a comparison with another member of the Wuben family, the Gecko E61:
OVERALL APPRECIATION
By this time youâve noticed that the Wuben H3 is not the most powerfull headlamp. And it is not supposed to be. This is an headlamp to be used by grown-ups and by children, that provides a good range of visibility in close to medium ranges.
It is a lightweight headlamp, that doesnât seem to get hot at all. 120 lumens is not enough to make this get noticeably hot.
Using AAA batteries, itâs a good resource to take on a back-pack as back-up headlamp. Also due to this, it is a good introduction headlamp for kids, as they donât need to deal with Li-Ion batteries.
I do like the headband, the possibility to rotate it and to clip it to different places (pockets, shoulder strap, âŠ), and the possibility to enter Low from OFF. I wish the aux modes could also be used that way, to have the possibility to enter Red from OFF. Also, I would prefer that from OFF a double click entered High mode instead of SOS.
In the user manual there is no reference to Beacon mode
It seems a durable headlamp, that can take some drops and beats, but not being abused of course. Also, seen the numbers on the manual, it seems to have a good performance, which is good
I wish the LED was warmer, but knowing that it is a 3030 footprint, it can be easily replaced!
Overall appreciation is good. The pros are above the cons for sure
Thanks for looking! Leave your comments or questions :+1: