I bought three of these with the intention of giving them out as presents. I ended up keeping one and giving away the other two. It's the handiest little tool I own!
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br /I have used it while grilling outdoors at night, for extra light to help reorganize the wiring behind my entertainment center, for sweating fittings onto my water heater in the attic, you name it. You just can't beat the compact design.
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br /The tension on the retractable headband is just right - tight enough to keep it on even when active, but not so tight that it hurts even when wearing it for long periods of time.
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br /The size and weight is so minimal when retracted that you can just put it in your pocket and forget it's there. Sure, people will make fun of you when you wear it, but you'll have both hands free to attend to your task.
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br /This light makes a great gift, because most people don't realize they need this until they use it. However, if you do buy one as a gift, get two. Trust me, you'll use it.

This thing is so small and light you can have one with you for any outdoor activity where you could get caught in the dark if things don't go perfectly.

It works on your bare head, though not as well as one with straps, but it also works over helmets and hats, and it fits in any pocket.

coolest strap system I've seen. fits easily in your pocket.
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br /at first I didn't think the angle was adjustable - but you effectively can by moving it up and down on your forehead.
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br /also - it can sit flat on the floor / ground with the light at a 45 degree angle. useful for a small area light.
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br /the light is bright and highly defused. favors lighting up a large area close to you as opposed to spotting at a distance.
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br /previously owned a princeton aurora - which was good, but I like this one a lot better.
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I have already bought 6 of them for myself, friends and family. It is the most convenient, effective light for any kind of outdoors stuff. My brother gave me the best feedback. Climbing in the Karakoram Mountains above 20,000 ft altitude, he found the Zipka worked like charm in the coldest weather, for 18 nights with only one change of 3 small AAA batteries. It even worked for lighting the trail ahead when they would start marching at 3 am, and it worked at night when he was preparing meals and writing his notes. In contrast, all the big fancy headlights he has tried, either were too heavy (wt is a killer in the high mountain treks and most of them are atleast 3-4 times as heavy as one zipka), or required 5 or 6 times 4 AA battery pack changes (which requires you carry that much extra weight) or couldn't stand the cold. Zipka (because its batteries are close to your forehead and keeps warm - our own assessment) didn't go dead on him like other batteries did.
br / All the high altitude guides were eager to have the zipka as they found it amazing. Zipka is the best gift for them.
br / I have two, with one permanently in my shell jacket sleeve pocket and one in my car.
br /It should be awarded an OSCAR of lights.

I love this headlamp, but as with one other reveiwer, after a few months of flawless use, it started shutting off on me in the middle of active use. This can be quite dangerous depending on what you are using it for. At the very least it is aggrivating. It is usually difficult to get it to come back on without adjusting the batteries in various ways. I like the headlamp itself so much that I have continued to use it even with this large fault, but I am becoming less tolerant and am likely to purchase a new head lamp soon, but will not buy this one again unless this issue is resolved with the product.

The day after this little jewel came, I had to repair the drain stop in the quest bath. I, as always, could not seem to get the flash lite in the right position to see up behind the sink. Then I thought of my new little lite. I put it on my forhead and kaboom, it lit up the area that I wanted to see like daylight. I also found it very handy handy when I'm doing work on my lathe or mill. The light goes right where I'm looking and you don't even know it's there. One of the few products that I have purchased in recent years that really exceeded my expectations.

I purchased the light for a very reasonable price ($29?) and free shipping! The light works GREAT. It is much brighter than the original one that had only 3 bulbs. I like the less restrictive elastic cord and zinger over the more cumbersome bands. A great item at a GREAT price.

This is a great little light. It's so small, light, and convenient I even find myself using it in stituations where I'd thought about using a flashlight in the past but didn't want to bother. Here are a few examples of when I've used it:
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br /- I've used it when I'm working in the attic so I don't have to lug a flashlight with me while I'm crawling around. (I have a very low attic. You either crawl or walk like a duck when you're up there, so carrying things is very inconvenient.) There are three brightness settings, and I found that even the dimmest was sufficient for use in the attic at night, with the only other light source being a bulb at the other end of the house, and its light is blocked by ventilation ducts where I was working.
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br /- I've used it when fiddling around the back side of my audio system so I can see the connectors on the backs of components. It's pretty dark back there between the shelves.
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br /- It's handy when you need to peer into a small opening and want the light shining along the same line as your line of sight. It's so small you can actually hold it between your eyes for the most direct light possible. (Try it the next time you want to look in your kid's ear. ;-)
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br /- It's great for cleaning. I found when using it to do some other things, like making changes to my audio system, that I could see dust and dirt that I normally couldn't see, so after I was done with the original job I used it to help me do some thorough cleaning. You'd be surprised how much dirt hides in the shadows.
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br /- As a handheld flashlight. With the "headband" retracted, the whole thing is no bigger than a very small flashlight and it's easy to hold.
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br /This thing is useful pretty much any place there isn't a lot of light and your eyes are open. ;-)
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br /My only real complaints:
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br /- The beam is angled down. Either the makers expect you to be looking down with your eyes all the time or it's apparently designed to be worn at the top of your forehead. In the middle of my forehead, where I'd prefer to wear it, the light point downs about 45 degrees. To get the beam to go out closer to my normal line of sight I have to wear it up at my hairline, which feels a bit odd. The Tikka Plus has a tilt feature, but I haven't tried it so I can't comment on how useful that would be. The tradeoff there, of course, is that you give up the retractable cord for a full fledged headband.
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br /- I think it's overpriced. $39.95 just seems like a lot for what's here, even though it's nice. I'm thinking it should be $20 tops given that you can buy a 9-LED flashlight with an aluminum housing for $5: Super-Bright 9 LED Heavy-Duty Compact Aluminum Flashlight - Jet Black.
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br /Oh, and although I ordered this item, the one that came was black and red, not black and yellow.

Works great, seems very a handy item for a lighting problem.

I got this headlamp as a birthday present and it's really quite nice for doing fine detail work where I need extra light. However, sometimes the 4 lights show up as 4 bright spots on the work if the work surface is shiny. It would be nice if the face was a diffuser instead of a clear plastic for my use. However, looking at the price, I would never have bought it for myself. It makes a great gift for someone who needs to do close up work like model building, etc.

When my Petzl Tikka with a full headband got sucked up into the void that is my closet, right before a 2 week camping trip, I raced out and bought a retractable Zipka headlamp and haven't looked back. My boyfriend immediately adopted the old one when we got back.
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br /Five years later, I added the Zipka Plus to my collection because I like having a red lens sometimes. It's not hard to take the lens off but I switch between the two often.
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br /For camping I like the red lens because you keep your night-vision and it's less obtrusive. I keep it on my wrist when not in use. At home I use the Zipka Plus with a clear lens for reading in bed and anything else one might need a flashlight for. Living in Hurricane country we use our headlamps far more often then we'd like to but it also makes it a much more valuable Christmas present!
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br /You can purchase an extra set of lens filters, it comes in a pack of three, red, green and clear or you can do what I did and just take a red Sharpie to it. The effect is exactly the same. Test out the color change on a piece of plastic wrap first just in case you don't like it. FYI Alcohol and a little baking soda can take the ink off of most plastics if you want to change it back.
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br /Some models have issues with flickering or shutting off. I had this happen with my Tikka after about 4 years of heavy use (5 to 10 hours a week). I changed the batteries which aleviated the problem for a while but I found that I kept changing batteries before the light was dimming, then I used a contact cleaner/lube, problem solved!
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br /I would definately recommend this product, you can't beat the price and versatility.

As a police officer for the past 20 years I have learned the importance of of having the right type of illumination. I bought this lamp after one night last week changing my tire in my personal car in 20 degree weather and at 200 am. My surefire light, which I carry in my glove compartment burned out after a little while. That is when I made my decision to search on Amazon for an adequate headlamp w/LED's so I can get some hours out of the batteries.
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br /The next day I ordered this light. I cannot tell you enough how great this light is. Doing work in my back yard at night for the past week I have shined this light for at least 40 hrs., on my head using the retractable cord, and it is still so bright. It is so small and compact yet place it on a table in the dark and it lights up the whole room. I wear it on my wrist, on my head (even with the ballcap on it is awesome). My friends are getting tired of me telling them how great this light is. I have ordered 5 more (2 I have placed in each of my car's glove compartments and the others will be gifts).
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br /Do yourself or your loved ones a favor-buy this light, it will astound you at how many times you will use it!
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br /Thanks PETZL and thanks Amazon for the BEST PRICE ANYWHERE!!

I looked at a lot of headlamps before I bought this. My brother already had one and so I was trying to compare other headlamps with it. There is no comparison. This has four different settings and the headband is retractable so it easily fits in your pocket....unlike all other headlamps that are bulky with a fat headband.

Great light source, tiny, and versatile. I love the retractable 'strap.' When I don't have it on my head, I wear it around my wrist to keep it handy. Sleeping in a tent at night, I find it really handy to wear around my wrist so you aren't fumbling for a light in the dark.
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br /Battery life seems excellent as well. No complaints, except it's so small and unobtrusive that it's easy to lose in a crowded pack.
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br /I also travel on business with it. Great to have in your bag in case power goes out, or you're trying to read on a dark plane and the overhead light is mispositioned or broken.

This headlamp is one of the most useful things I own for the money. I use it around the house and out. At home, it is a hands free flash light that points at whatever you are doing. The battery lasts for approx. 100+ hours depending on the setting. It is also one of the lightest headlamps. Also the headband is a thin cord and it retracts into the little pod disc which is a great design. There are lights that are brighter but they are heavier and may have more cords. The beauty of this model is it's light and the minimal design.
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br /You can also use this when walking in the dark or doing task outdoors that require both of your hands. I do not use my regular flashlight anymore.
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br /Another great feature is the button electronic design. If you press the button quickly in sequence, it goes from low, med, high, flashing and off. However, if you leave the light on one setting for more than a few seconds, the next time you press the button, the light turns off. That is so you do not have to go through all the options before the light turns off. What a smart design!
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br /Petzl Zipka Plus with 4-LED Headlamp, Black and Yellow #E48PBY

Our family does a lot of camping and hiking. This headlamp is the best we've found for exploring caves, setting up camp at midnight, etc. The LEDs are bright and provide a good source of light. Unlike other headlamps, this one takes inexpensive alkaline batteries, instead of expensive (and often hard-to-find) button-type batteries.

I purchased this light for my husband - he likes to do a lot of handy work, at night... anyway, I wasn't sure of the quality or size of the lamp, but thanks to all the great reviewers, I decided to go with this model. I was very impressed, as was my husband (and surprised). This is a great little lamp, has bright light (3 levels) and even a flashing mode. It's compact and very comfy to wear. If you're looking for a small portable yet efficient lighting, this is it.
br /*although for some reason it took about 2 weeks to receive...?

I had a several headlamps before. The Petzl E48P is the best one yet. It is very lightweight and has a bright light, and also has a medium and low setting for saving the battery. I use it for camping and backpacking.

I love the strap mechanism. It's nice to not worry about sweaty, bulky headbands. I initially worried about the spring mechanism wearing out, but I've owned a similar model, the E44P, for 3 or 4 years with no problems. I'm upgrading from the E44P because this model improves on 1) 4 vs. 3 LEDs, 2) 4 power modes instead of 1, and 3) water resistance.
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br /This model's lowest brightness setting is about as bright as my old E44P and at the highest brightness setting, brighter than any headlamp I've seen in this price range. The water resistance is basically just splash resistance, but at least it's something. On the older model, the sliding switch was an open door for moisture. This model, the E48P, has a push-button switch that is much more resistant to moisture. The seal with the battery door, however, is not going to keep water out if you're in a consistent downpour. A rubber gasket would have been nice.
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br /I love this headlamp. I loved the older model, too. It's just that this is model is a great improvement in many ways. Oh, it also has a larger lip under the lamps which helps a little bit in keeping potential light spill out of your eyes. Great for the workshop (I use it when soldering or fixing PCs) and great for camping (it's nice to have both hands free, especially if you have kids). A real outdoorsman will probably want something a bit more robust (and expensive). Another nice touch is the availability of replacement lenses, including a 3-pack of colored lenses. I don't know what you'd use any color except red for, but it was nice to have available. I had to replace the lens after an air vent and various debris came crashing down on my head. Nothing broke (on me or the lamp), but the lens popped off and I never found it in all the mess.

I bought this headlamp as a "gift" for my wife, but end up using it just as much as her that I will probably find some reason to get myself the same gift! My main reason for buying this was that my wife likes to read in bed at night, and many of her options for light would bother my sleep. Using the Zipka Plus around the her wrist has solved this problem entirely. She is able to control the amount of light, and keep it focused on her book without getting in my way. I've borrowed it several times already - for hunting, where I'd normally have a handheld flashlight; for sweating some pipes in the basement, where I would fumble with a portable fluorescent lamp; and behind the tv when hooking up our new dvd player. I'm sure we'll find many more uses for this very versatile little product that packs a big punch!

I was a little hesitant to buy this because I didn't really know what I was getting from the picture. It looked large and I couldn't figure out what the thing on the back was. But for $25 (gold box deal) I thought what the heck, I needed a light for wagon walks with my family and for little jobs around the house. This thing is quite small (fits inside the palm of my closed hand, the thing on the back pulls out to strap on to your head, or arm, or stationary object. The LEDs leave spots in my eyes when I look at them, but aren't as bright as I thought they would be in the dark open air. Bright enough to take a walk or to plug in an extension cord outside, but not enough power to use in a search party (I don't do that sort of thing, but if I did) or across a meadow looking for your dog. I think it's a great little light though. Wouldn't buy again unless it was on sale because you can always find something like this for under $40 if you shop around.

Very happy that I got the goldbox deal on this for $25 (it would not be worth the full price $40, for myself anyway)- its compact and bright, was worried about the flimsiness of the strap (its such a thin little string cord) and the mechanism to keep it tight, but haven't had any problems yet, and haven't read about any. Nice to have for walks in the evening, and to read at night - the 3 diff. brightness levels are great for adjusting to whatever activity you are doing. Will bring it with me travelling.

-- Soaked my backpack for wash without realising headlamp was still inside. No problems and the Zipka Plus still functioning perfectly. The only downside since my first use is inability to tilt the light angle. Otherwise, I would recommend it for anyone who can live without this tilt feature.

Small, Bright... It fits in your pocket, and can be easily used wearing gloves, and in confined spaces. I use it all the time, and will probably buy a couple more to keep in the car and at home.

What a great light. Lightweight...yet bright and long-lasting. Pefect light for running...neighbors tell me they see me coming from a mile away. No complaints!

This has got to be THE best headlamp on the market today. I have many different headlamps but never use them now that I have the Zipka. So light, you don't even notice you're wearing it but very bright on it's high setting. Plus, you can attach it anywhere. Extreamly useful. Trust me, you'll love this light.

I love the Petzl for reading at night, doing home repairs and even grilling at night. Great product, powerful light.

I know this isn't what it's meant for but This little light is the perfect thing to have on hand when the power goes out especially if you're nervous of the dark. You can see enough to walk around the house and do stuff and it's also bright enough that you can read with it (wonderful when you want to read in bed without waking your partner by turning on your bedside lamp).

I purchased this for my nighttime cycling commute and have been very pleased. With the retractable cord I can wear the light around my helmet, attach it to my bicycle, or wear it around my arm to face forwards or backwards. When on it's brightest setting, the entire width of a city block is illuminated, and the blinking setting is still very bright. The button is wide and makes for easy on and off, good for entering in and out of buildings on my urban bikerides. I highly suggest the Zipka Plus!

I've owned a Zipka for the past 4 years and it's been great! A real help on camping trips and for those times when I need to work on something in the dark and have my hands free. All the wear and tear is starting to show so I thought I would buy another and retire my original to the glove compartment of my car for emergencies....
br /Saw the new Zipka and thought I would give it a shot... While time will tell if it has the long term performance of my original I have to say it's got several features that are pretty nice over the original.... The fourth LED produces a markedly greater light output and is a welcome addition and the greatest improvement in an already great design... The switch now gives you the ability to select 3 levels of brightness (nice!) and a blinking option. The blinking selection is useless for me and annoying but is the only thing about the new design that doesn't add value for me...

I bought two of these jewels based on all the 5-star reviews. WOW! THANKS to all who wrote them. I'm ordering more.

The best thing about this is the lack of a band makes it a lot less cumbersome for travel, in a pocket, or even storage in a drawer. No other lamps but the zipka are so compact which makes you want to use more than something that take 4 X the space. The duration of the light is good. Although the switch is a little sticky and I wish they had one with 4 LED's and the option of a halogen bulb or something really bright when you need more juice. That's nit picking as this is much better than the other headlamps and WAY superior to conventional flashlights. Awesome size shape, stamina, function.

I love this headlamp. It's so lightweight, you barely even notice it on your head. It is bright enough for camping, and around the house use, wherever you might normally use a flashlight. It is not bright enough for cycling, or searching long distances. It creates a nice cone of light for close to medium range viewing. My only complaint is that it's so small and compact, I sometimes lose it in my gear bag ;-)

I carry my Zipka Pus in my jacket pocket 24/7. It's compact light and has an extremely bright light.

This light is small, probably smaller than you think, and very powerful. I have two of them and the optional colored lense kit to use for running. One is my headlight, the other is my tail light with the red lense in flashing mode. My wife says she can see me coming and going from a mile away - I actually prefer night running to day running because of this setup.

I received my first zipka as a gift and I have given these out as gifts to many of my frieds who all raved about it as much as I have.

This is the best flashlight I've ever had. I was skeptical at first from the other reviews that a flashlight can be so great. I decided to try it, and if I didn't like it, I could always send it back. I'm glad I took the chance.
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br /I've had many other flashlights, even the rechargable kind. None come close to this product. Tonight, I had to find my cat out in the dark. It came in very handy. I just put it around my wrist, and the light was very, very bright. The light also covered a wide area. It wasn't like a regular flashlight with a small circle of light on the ground. I finally found my cat in the basement, where I have no lights. The flashlight illuminated the entire area. None of my flashlights have ever done that. Furthermore, this light left me hands free to let the kitty out of the basement. I didn't have to carry around a bulky flashlight.
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br /If you're on the fence about buying this product, don't be. It's a little pricy, but you won't regret owning such a very useful product. You'll never go back to a regular flashlight again.

I bought this light for my husband and we were both impressed with how bright it is. It comes with a thin strap , it will fit on your wrist, around your ankle , on your head, like a coal miner, on our dog's collar.
br /We have used this almost every day since it came in the mail.
br /I'm going to order another one for myself. Great for in a woman's purse or her car . Thumbs Up on this Item !!!

excellent quality and compatitive price. Postal box too big which incurred higher postage charges.

This is the best flashlight ever made. Unbelievable small, handsfree and the light is shining wherever you are looking. The light is bright and batteries last a long time. The headstrap is comfortable, easy to use. The headlamp does not feel robust, it is easy to imagine it being broken. I bought for my wife to run with, she loved hers so much I had to get one for myself.

I liked this product so much that I've purchased three others to give as gifts; the recipients love them too.
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br /The zipka feature allows for varied uses, either as a headlamp, on one's wrist, or connected to a post I suppose. It's also great as a handheld and offers different levels of light. I've used this for to light my walking path at night in the outdoors, as well as to look for items in dark little crevices indoors (behind a computer or dresser, for example).
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br /I carry mine in my coat pocket at all times... unless I'm using it.

Actually, I ordered, and recieved the Petzl Tac Tikka Plus 4, black, model #E49P, which is basically the same except for the added red lens. Perfect little work light. The three different illumination settings, plus the red lens pull down, make this an ideal tool for any situation.

This thing is bright and a great buy...Only downside is that it needs 3 batteries.... Other then that, it rocks...

I have owned this headlamp for years, and I rave about it all the time. I live in Hawaii and camp/hike alot. It is very bright, and so compact. the batteries last forever... I even helped to evacuate a beach at night when 200 people couldn't see to climb down a cliff, I stood at the top and lit the path for everyone with this handy little light. I carry it with me EVERYWHERE. One thing I really like is when the batteries do start to wear down, its a slow fade, you wont be left in the dark, you will have lots of time to know to change the batteries. Just remember when you take it off your head, hold the strap at the back of your head, or your hair will get tangled in it. LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!

I bought this for my wife as a christmas present. She's hooked on The Amazing Race and figured if the contestants have one, she wanted one as well! When I shopped for one, a woman told me about the Zipka plus. She kept it in her purse and used it constantly.
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br /The unit was as good as was described. light, compact, and convenient. I found myself borrowing hers so much I had to get one for myself, hence this review.
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br /I am a freelance programmer by profession, and find myself often digging around under desks and inside computers. This has made my life so much easier. I always have it with me, and put it on whenever I need, no matter how silly I may look to others. I also just used in during re-wiring a doorbell in an old house--a dirty, miserable job. But I couldn't have seen in the dark recesses in the back of a basement closet without it. A flashlight was just too cumbersome.
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br /You'll find yourself using it in ways you never imagined, and never realized how much you need it until you have it!

I've bought this headlamp three years ago and it is always with me.
br /I use two sets of rechargeable batteries and never run out of power.
br /It is really truth, you will use this little treasure much more,than you could expect, as light source while doing something, and the beam is following your yes, keeping both your hands free. It can provide you enough light when you are reading, working, walking outside (or inside)in the darkness.
br /We had blackout for 24 hours just two days ago and headlamp was working continuously for more than three hours and I didn't see any difference in brightness. It's four LEDs provide more light than some other flashlights with 19-21 LEDs. It is expensive, but it worth it.I am surprise, that someone is complaining on quality of this product.
br /I didn't have ANY problems since I'd bought it in the beginning of 2005
br /at Amazon.com

This head lamp is amazing for the size. It really doesn't have powerful lighting, but you can see the trail (or street for that matter) ahead of you as you hike along. The LED lights last so long that you don't have to change your batteries for a long long time.
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br /When I camp, I like small and light and this fits the bill!

I love this headlamp. It is bright, the battery lasts forever and it is so light that I can barely feel it on my head. I also like that I can attach the headlamp almost anywhere (e.g. ceiling of the tent, wrist, water bottle), using the wire strap. I bought one for my dad and he also loves it.
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br /The only "problem" with the headlamp is that it is so small that it is easy to loose.

The zipka headlamps are great. I carry mine every where i go. It fits in my pocket and its really bright.

I bought this because it was a gold box deal of the day. I didn't really have a pre-determined use for it. Once I received it, I thought of many things I could use this for. It is very light, shines very bright, comfortable to wear, and is very compact to store. This is a top quality product that you can use for many applications around the house.