after some research my search profile has changed significantly, and I would like to start a new thread.
I am looking for a mule headlamp with high CRI, a Li-Ion battery, and preferably an open OS. I need it for electronics work and repairs (soldering, networking), working under the vehicle (in a pit), and general work inside and around the expedition vehicle.
Are there no more models? I have the feeling that mules lead a kind of niche existence. I don’t understand why. Sure, they’re not great as beacons, but I can’t be the only one who solders, tightens screws and lays cables in the dark, right?
Important: If a non-mule comes to mind that can be converted, please suggest it!
@TARTARACERBERUS thanks for your links. The last 2 are way to big plus they’re not really headlights, but I like the first one you suggested. This is not a mule though, right? Is the beam close to that of a mule, or why did you recommend it?
@Quadrupel I read in a few posts, that using a mule can have its downsides. Even, if it sits directly on your head. I already started to think about looking into other types as well, non-mule, but super-floody…
Forget about the label of mule. Armytek claims 120° for all of their 18650 headlights including the nichia. There is no identifiable hotspot. I’m pretty sure that is wider than almost all other headlights. They claim 150° on the max but those are not high Cri. Less for the max LR.
A 120 degree TIR, as you suggested, should be much better than a mule for OP’s stated purpose.
Although human vision is said to span more than 180 degrees, the only area you can see with clarity spans a tiny angle, and even peripheral vision becomes very limited in usefulness beyond 45 degrees from the center.
I briefly built a mule headlamp and quickly switched to a diffuse reflector design (similar to a TIR in beam profile). The modified beam has a radial angle around 40 degrees with a very dim spill beyond that point, and I find that it covers everything I can see. Compared to 40 degrees, a 90-degree mule requires more than 4x the power to achieve the same level of illumination, since most of the output goes beyond what the eye can see. The light gets hot very fast despite a low level of illumination.
Also, TIR-based beams have a smooth drop-off and dim spill that extends to 180 degrees; a floody TIR is essentially just a mule in terms of beam profile, but with more light concentrated close to the central area where it matters the most. I do see the merit of mules in extremely up-close work, but being on a headlamp already introduces enough distance to the illuminated object that this advantage becomes irrelevant, and intensity+battery life become more important.
Unless the OP has already tried a mule headlamp and is dead-set on it, I would strongly recommend a wide-angle TIR instead to extend the runtime by 4x (or equivalently improve central intensity by 4x).
Armytek technically claims 70° hotspot/ 120° spill. There is no visible hotspot once you get beyond arms length. It is a wider spill than any other headlight I have. And that is one of the things that I really like about all of the wizard series. The ones with less spill that I have are okay for certain tasks but I always notice the difference and I don’t really like it.
thank you for your feedback! Unfortunately I can’t spare any time to do flashlight-research these days - as much as I want to. It’s been busy the last couple of months. But this will change eventually, and when time comes I’ll take your input into consideration. I already bookmarked your replies.
Back when time still allowed it, I ordered a FFL NOV-Mu V2S, but again haven’t had the time to play with it
