A good headlamp is an absolute must on any camping trip. There are just too many camp tasks after dark to not bring one. Flashlights are good, but headlamps are better. Specifically, rechargeable headlamps. I had a chance to use the Coast FL75R rechargeable headlamp in a variety of conditions for a week in Oregon. I rode fat bikes on the coast, climbed through dense mossy forests, and walked several miles underground. The verdict? I loved it, and I’ll tell you why.
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The first thing that stands out about the Coast FL75R is simply its size. For a 530 lumen headlamp, it’s a lot smaller than you’d think. It weighs only 3.2 ounces and is visible for 511 feet on high. The pure beam focus is easy to use, and when widened out it seems to illuminate the entire forest in front of you. It makes night hikes rather enjoyable. You’ll get over 2 hours of use on high and 11 hours on low. It also has red lights, which are a must for me. You can maintain your night vision and not annoy fellow campers late at night.
My favorite thing about a rechargeable headlamp, however, is that I know that I’m heading into a situation with every single lumen. On the way to our underground adventure, I simply plugged it into the dash until it was fully charged. The last thing I wanted to do was head underground for a few hours with batteries that were on their last leg. Charging the Coast FL75R gave me the same feeling as putting fresh batteries in. I knew I’d be getting the best performance from the gear. There are a lot of headlamps out there with around 300 lumens that are about $100. In my opinion, 530 lumens for $110 is a good value. Factor in the small size, and I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed.
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