Zebra Light Head/Belt/Neck lamp
There you are setting up camp when a slight
drizzle causes your flashlight to die, or worse you drop it and with a
bounce and snap it hits a rock and instantly the dark surrounds you. Or maybe
the batteries are dying and you realize that there is only 1battery left of
the last 4 pack you bought, and your lamp uses 2 or 3 batteries. This is not
the time to start thinking about what makes a good camping light, especially
as amputee or wheelchair users who needs to watch the terrain and be careful
of hazards after dark.
Quality lighting means less frustration
and greater safety in the backcountry. You don’t have to light up the
outdoors like a stadium and attract every insect for miles. But you do want
something that can run hands free, have variable levels according to task and
will not break if dropped on a rock or in the mud.
Having a
variety of ways to wear the light is very useful and of special importance
to the disabled. While many folks like to move around in the dark with a lamp
on their forehead, I find that the terrain is better shown by holding a light
lower, below waist if possible. I was shown this technique by an animal tracker/conservationist
Jonathan Hansen and immediately it was useful to me as an amputee. Mainly because
holding a light low causes shadows to form around rocks, depressions and other
hazards. But there are task when I need both hands and then I like to use a
headband or lanyard so a light that serves both functions well is valuable.
Battery
types should be seriously considered when it comes to your camp lighting. You
want a battery that is easy to find in remote areas or a standard rechargeable
that you can use in the car or with solar. AA’s & AAA’s are
a great choice. And along with battery choice think about choosing a light
with variable output, using less light for when possible increases battery
life and keeps you from blinding your campsite friends.
Another
factor of extreme importance to the disabled backcountry traveler is the durability
of your equipment. A drop in a mud puddle or an impact against your wheelchair
frame should not end your nighttime camp fun. Instead look for something that
is waterproof, impact resistant and will last for years.
The latest
lamp I am enjoying around camp is the Zebra Light H50-Q5. It is a single AA
powered LED lamp in aluminum housing with O-rings and has 3 wear options and
3 lighting levels. Having the option to run it on high (66lum) for 2hr 20 min
while I setup camp is great and knowing that on low (2.6lum) it will run for
3.5 days keeps me feeling secure I won’t have a dead lamp. Changing lighting
levels is just a matter of twisting the cap off & on again. I was able
to do this with 1 hand every time. I do wonder if after a bit of wear the light
will slip too easily in the silicon holder. Watch for a long term report over
the next year or so. I also like that it will run on rechargeable, lithium
or standard batteries, and since it only uses 1 battery at a time my cost of
use is less than a multi-battery setup.
I also like
that the headband and neck lanyard options are made with a silicon that glows
in the dark, great for finding your lamp in the middle of the night in a dark
tent when you have to “sneak out to water the trees”.
The package also includes a pocket
clip that works great for jackets, wheelchair sides, hat brims or anywhere
else you might like to clip a light for a while. I found the Zebra Light small
enough to carry in my pocket in its bare form and easy to slide into the headband
when at camp. Another benefit of the shape is that you can rest it flat or
upright on a surface to provide general lighting if needed.
The price for this model is $50 and while
there are less expensive choices by Zebra I found this to be the best setup
for my use and after working it hard in camp, in my 4wd and in my pockets I
am extremely happy. The only suggestion I would give to Zebra Light would be
a colored band that slips around the LED head to give red or blue light in
order to preserve night vision and attract fewer insects.
Click
here for ZebraLight's website for more details. |
