Black Diamond Icon Headlamp

[Buff]

Quick review:

Besides the colour (sharki green) the unit looks fairly sleek. I removed all the straps and ziptied the unit to my helmet (photo to follow). It runs 4 normal LED, 2 on each side of a single 3W LED and has 6 settings, 3 to dim the LEDS and 3 to DIM the 3W. <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Battery life (3AA?s) is claimed at 70hrs on bright for the 3W and it casts an 80m spotlight beam (never bothered measuring it but it?s far). A rechargeable battery kit is also available for it ($30).

 

Does it work:

As an off-the-shelf head light unit (excluding the ridiculously priced bike lights that can be helmet mounted), it?s got to be one of the best I?ve ever seen as far as brightness goes (the 3W spot). The 4 LEDS are pretty useless for biking but will work just fine for hiking (they compare to the Petzel Tikka). The drawback of the 3W is that it casts a rather focussed beam so your peripheral vision isn?t very good. Make no mistake, it gives you enough light to see the trail clearly but you?re definitely going to need bike mounted light if you?re planning on honking it.

On normal gravel road the medium dim setting (3W) is more than adequate and you can cruise comfortably at around 25km/h.

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Price: R515

Available: Cape Storm

 

[CaptainDura]

If you mount this light to your handlebar and use all the lights including the led's, do you think that the peripheral vision would increase?

Especially close to your front wheel to see those darn rocks during switchbacks ?

 

 

[Buff]

No, I don't think it will make a huge difference, the smaller LED's just aren't potent enough.