So I just got this light thinking it was exactly what I was looking for, NOPE!
Cons:
Hard plastic headband/light holder, digs into head.
HUGE NAGGING FLAW—-> Switch is non-tactile, short very STIFF throw,no audible click, must hold finger exactly in center in rubber cover to activate, cannot activate with gloves on. I HATE THE SWITCH, SO MUCH SO I WANT TO RETURN THE LIGHT!!!
Magnetic charger is weak enough that it pops off while in car, ok for stationary home use, just dont bump it!
HUGE NAGGING FLAW—-> To get to red you have to long depress the horrible switch. The light will cycle through memory stored LAST USED mode (which always seems to be turbo) so that you get a 1 second blast of TURBO then it cycles to red. What IDIOT thought having TURBO WHITE coming on destroying your night vision before activating red that you want to preserve night vision was a good idea?
Hello, THANK YOU very much for this insightful critique! I was just posting about this light (and any other lessor priced alternative?); after reading/seeing many reviews, I thought that THIS WAS IT! The light I've been looking for since a - STORM 350 headlamp + Maglight LED thrower... ALL IN ONE, with superior quality?! ARGH... Thank you again for stopping me from succumbing towards a $90 mistake!
People should be praising you for this kind of exposure. I was literally thinking of making a (poor, in ignorance) financial/application decision on this one... That button issue IS a RED-FLAG: It's the PRIMARY function of the device. Defunct SWITCH = LESS access to device function! TIME is critical with being able to TURN ON and cycle device's intended function(s)! E.g. I could crash into a tree going 20mph down a forest trail = DOOM - if the switch does not work as I have practiced to activate it... Great job!
_Poor magnetic (aka, non-dual neodymium mags) connections?! Geesh, smh - WHO is designing these intuitive, yet flawed features? THEN someone in management signs off on it; DID they actually test this out in multi-usage environments (as advertised!) vs competition to confirm it is "more efficient in mechanical actuation/application, 'better' etc.?" Doubtful... that's telling from an engineering/design/management standpoint for an easily lost, $90 "flashlight!?"
Are there any other (cheaper) alternatives? I've just recently found out about the HM61R (really wanted the exotic "Amber" version, scroll down the page):
“Hard plastic headband/light holder, digs into head”
It’s true. I wear a bandana underneath. I am bald, so I am used to doing so to wear this helmet or that. I am not sure I expected to be able to wear it for long without anything on underneath, so I am not quite as disappointed as you. They could do better!
“HUGE NAGGING FLAW—-> Switch is non-tactile, short very STIFF throw,no audible click, must hold finger exactly in center in rubber cover to activate, cannot activate with gloves on. I HATE THE SWITCH, SO MUCH SO I WANT TO RETURN THE LIGHT!!!”
I don’t experience the problem. Just to check, I pulled out my heaviest pair of gloves motorcycle gloves and had no real problem with the switch. That said, I can palm a basketball. It clicks, but it’s not much of a click compared to most.
“HUGE NAGGING FLAW—-> To get to red you have to long depress the horrible switch. The light will cycle through memory stored LAST USED mode (which always seems to be turbo) so that you get a 1 second blast of TURBO then it cycles to red. What IDIOT thought having TURBO WHITE coming on destroying your night vision before activating red that you want to preserve night vision was a good idea?”
This is true, but it hasn’t bothered me. I dont do a lot of switching between white and red. If I am going to use red, I make sure to leave white in moon mode so that when long pressing through white I dont get blasted. They blew it by not having a go straight-to-red mode. I’d have rather had that than double click to lockout. In fact, I’d rather have a double click to red and a triple click to lockout than cycling through white. It’s a strange choice. None the less, cycling through moon is acceptable for me. Once the sun goes down, the light always gets turned off in moon.
On the bright side, I have just finished using this for about 10 hours of up-close work, and I rather like it.
That button issue IS a RED-FLAG: It's the PRIMARY function of the device. Defunct SWITCH = LESS access to device function! TIME is critical with being able to TURN ON and cycle device's intended function(s)! E.g. I could crash into a tree going 20mph down a forest trail = DOOM - if the switch does not work as I have practiced to activate it... Great job!