Headlamps
Product 2020
Woman, Man
We stretched the test further than ever with this Ledlenser NEO 10R headlamp. This headlamp is equipped with the IP54 norm that states light water resistance, not too deep in water, so we had the idea of testing when taking photos in the swimming section of the Evergreen Endurance extreme triathlon in Chamonix.
Let’s be honest, the Ledlenser NEO 10R isn’t meant to be used for such a long or extreme time in the water. You can see on these photos how the lighting faired in the water.
After the photoshoot, the headlamp showed signs of weakness by working randomly (the lamp turned off). Indeed the water had penetrated via the USB charging port.
Ledlenser, being such good sports, sent us another lamp. We tested it over a long period of time, even in the rain. Exposed to running water it showed no signs of weakness.
We love this Lamp for several reasons. The first reason is due to its battery that is lodged on the back of the head. We know that some runners don’t like this set-up (it adds a few grams with the support and its cable), and yet it is very ergonomic (following the shape of your head) and removes any extra weight on your forehead, an area exposed to head movements when running.
Head adjustment is easy to handle even with gloves on. You can’t feel the weight of the lamp on your forehead. There’s a little anti-slip piece of foam which is useful. The battery support is shaped so it sits comfortably on your head without the need for foam backing, and no pressure points are felt. We didn’t test the Ledlenser Neo10R on an ultra, you would need to check it the comfort over a longer period of time.
We didn’t like the connection: the cable attachment that opens when rotated. The little notch is fragile and not easy to align, and even more difficult when you do it in the dark. The tubular battery’s housing is practical to use, you can change the battery quickly and it stays in place once clipped in. This Li-ion battery is easy to find in shops if you need to replace it.
You can attach the lamp onto a harness, but we didn’t test it. We preferred keeping it on our heads to follow where we were looking.
The Ledlenser Neo10R’s autonomy is noted as 120 hours, which seems over estimated. We really appreciated the 600lm solo beam which perfectly defines the path’s details of stony ground. The edge of the beam is well defined so the edges aren’t more or less lit up like some headlamps do and you can be sidetracked with.
The other point we particularly liked was how easy it is to use. It’s simple: you have three power levels by clicking on the top of the lamp. When you turn the lamps crown you can adjust the size of the beam.
The Ledlenser Neo10R is a tough, simple and powerful headlamp. The battery at the back of the head spreads the weight. Designed for ultras and long excursions and weighs 177g.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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