Methodology
How we test headlamps
Before we stand behind a light, we put it through the checks that actually matter on a trail, under a car, or during a blackout — not spec-sheet theater.
Our criteria
- Sensor reliability. Does the wave sensor toggle cleanly with a bare hand and with gloves, without false triggers while you work close-up?
- Beam usefulness. Does the center beam reach far enough to walk and run safely, and do the side LEDs give a usable wide spread up close?
- Comfort & fit. Does it stay put on a run without bounce, and does the head tilt to aim where you look?
- Charging & runtime. Does it charge over standard USB, show a clear red/green indicator, and hold a sensible run (around 4–6 hours per charge by mode)?
- Weather resistance. Does the IPX4 rating hold up to rain, sweat and splashes in real use?
- Honest limits. We state clearly what a budget light can and cannot do — including that some buyers want more output on the widest setting.
What we won’t do
We won’t quote a huge lumen number a lamp can only hold for minutes, and we won’t hide that a small share of buyers want more brightness on the widest mode. Instead we back every order with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so the risk is on us, not you.