Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

After spending three years above the Arctic Circle I came to really depend on Headlamps. Whenever a new headlamp comes out I have to buy it despite the cost or need. I am always looking for the next brightest light. I am usually dissapointed by the underperformance of the light and no longer believe the claims that the manufacturers make or the reviews of the magazines (I guess they have their agendas). After reading one review I went out and bought a $235.00 Black Diamond Search and Rescue Headlamp and was really dissapointed in its lack of brightness. I learned to longer trust the reviewers in magazines after that one. Enough about that, now I will talk about the Mammut. There are two reasons why I gave this lamp a 4 instead of a 5. The first reason is due to the fact that when I purchsed the lamp and removed it from its package I had noticed that the housing was cracked the whole way through. This lamp is very light but not nearly as durable in my opinion as Petzyl or Black Diamond. The second negative is when you have the strobe light on there is a subtle flicker in the main bulb. The flicker is very faint but there none the less. This occurred in both my current light and the one that I sent back. So after all these negatives why then did I give it four stars? This one is simple; This is by far the brightest headlamp that I have owned to date and believe me when I tell you that I have so many headlamps that I am too embarrassed to say. This light casts a square tight beam that outperformed my $235 Black Diamond and my previous favorite the Petzyl Myo XP. This light also is very frgual with repesct to batteries. It goes on and on for days of continouos use. Another benefit is that the battery pack detaches from the headband so you can put it inside your jacket for cold weather use (batteries seem to underperform in minus 50 degree weather). Despite a few short comings if you want an extremely bright headlamp then this is your light.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

First, the guy who rates this 1 star certainly found a lemon in the heystack. I've used this headlamp for almost a year now for all activities listed above and find it simply blows any other headlamp I've ever used away - period. Mountaineering has changed forever with the visual distance this headlamp gives me. I lit up an Ice Fall on Rainier and made everyone on the glacier turn around to see what was making the light. Is that an Airplane or something??? The "flood" light with only two bulbs offered more light than most 4-bulb lamps my climbing partners used. Night Cycling with this is increadable (note - 105 meters spot and rear blinking maker lights) and lets talk about the river trip on the Colorado that had everyone clamering for this light to see how much (and how far) they could see. The rotating housing to protect the lense is briliant, the rear blinkning lights can be seen for miles and double as a battery indicator. Mammut (Swiss) quality at only [$] with 150-180 hours of battery life, 3 AA batteries, what more could you ask for ask for?

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

Reviewer from Chicago must have gotten lemon. Found light very bright and easy to find trail changes with spotlight and floodlight on. Secure switches while packed make sure light stays off in pack. Of my 4 headlamps, this will now be my first choice to pack.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

I've only used this thing once so far, but it delivers. Took it canoeing down the Delaware River last week, had to set up our camp in the dark. I quickly became the unofficial camp spotlight, providing light to the rest of my camp-mates. Accidentally blinded more than a few of them :)

We also had to scavenge for firewood in the surrounding woods. While I can't vouch for it's max range in this environment, the floodlight evenly (and adequately) illuminates your entire field of vision, while the spotlight turns whatever you're looking at into a sunburst (if you have it on). I could easily see through the trees for some distance.

There are also many brightness levels and modes. There are 2 levels of "floodlight" which illuminates your entire field of vision, and a spotlight which is the advertised "tight square beam". Although I can't vouch for it's advertised range first-hand, from what I've seen I have no doubt it delivers. You can have the floodlight and spotlight on individually, or both at once. However, in the latter case the floodlight is always at maximum. Not a problem or complaint, just FYI.

I also found it to be extremely comfortable and of high build quality. Haven't beaten the.. "snot" out of it yet, but it feels solid and the switchlock mechanism works. In reality this "mechanism" is simply rotating the lamp itself downward about 150 degrees, protecting the lens within the plastic frame and making it much harder for the buttons to be pushed accidentally. However, the buttons do require a decent (not unreasonable) amount of force to be activated in the first place, so I seriously doubt accidental turn-ons will be a problem regardless of position.

Only minor complaint is a very faint flicker when the flashing rear red lights/battery indicators are on (flicker is synchronized with the flashing). This is hardly noticeable however, and doesn't diminish it's usefulness in the least. Since 5 stars is "perfect", I must give it 4 due to this, but it is as minor as imperfections get.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

I cannot help but chuckle when I read headlamp reviews. Reviewer A will swear by headlamp 1 and swear against headlamp 2. Reviewer B will claim exactly the opposite...into the chaos Backpacker magazine granted an award to this headlamp.

So in the midst of all of this, I will throw in my two bits.

My previous experience is with the following:
Brunton L3 3-watt
Several 2 or 3 LED Petzels

I was looking for the following:
- the brightest headlamp on the market
- a roomy headband
- long battery life
- reliability (for solo excursions)

After reading reviews, I took a chance on this headlamp. I am not disappointed. For those with knowledge of the Brunton L3, this headlamp is significantly brighter and (in my opinion) more comfortable to wear (although it does not come with the waistpack option).

The Mammut has a distinctly square light output. You may like that or not. I am neutral on this front. The lower LED settings are quite comfortable for reading a book in the tent after dark. I don't use the rear blinking red LEDs.

After a recent solo / winter / night backpacking trip, I can confidently and unreservedly promote this headlamp as a must-have for those that venture out alone.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

Yes, I said it was bright and dim. I will explain.

I have many headlamps, princton tec aurora, petzl tikka plus, princton tec corona, princton tec apex, princton tec quad, petzel myo, and some I can't remember. I'm a headlamp addict and this was supposed to cure my addiction.

I gave my apex away as a present for someone and instead of simply getting another one I decided on the mammut. I had read reviews about how awesomely bright it was and a few concerns about sturdiness. It was kind of pricey but I found one on sale and rolled the dice.

Well I got it today. It's true, the spotlight beam is very bright but its rather narrow. The flood beams are amazingly dull, esp when compared to my other headlamps. The beam is very even though. The lamphead rotates backwards to protect it which is kind of cool and it does not reflect in my glasses, that's a big problem with me.

I use my headlamps for hiking, hunting, but mostly around the house. It would be hard to follow a blood trail with this because the flood settings are so dim and the spotlight is so narrow and bright. Also, the setting where the spot and flood are both on at the same time is pretty useless as the floods are much dimmer than the spot so you really can't tell they are on. Not what I was expecting. My apex is like strapping the sun on my head. I rarely use the spot but when I do it's broad and useful.

There are some blinkie lights built into the battery pack which is pretty cool, people behind you can see you. I havn't tried it yet but I am certain this light is bright enough to ride a bicycle at night with. Whatever. I didn't get it to ride a bike with.

I was concerned with I opened the package that the lamp would irritate my head because there is no real backing behind the light. I was surprized that it was very comfortable.

All in all though, it seems to very limited in what it is best at. Unlike my apex, it can be dimmed enough to read by. If I want to do that I will take one of my headlamps without a battery pack on the back, and in fact I do most of my reading in bed with a petzel tikka plus. It is very bright on spotlight but the beam is so narrow it's like looking through a tiny tunnel. It would be very difficult to trail a deer for instance, because the floods are so dim (2 dim settings) and the bright beam so narrow. That's why I said it would be good for car camping. It's not versitle enough to serve as a single all purpose headlamp. If you are going light you will want something smaller, if you are hunting or on a day excursion you will want something more versitle.

I guess if I had never tried any other headlamp I may like it more but I have. It doesn't even compare to my apex and I can't understand how backpacker magazine gave it the kudos that it did. My quad blows it away in the flood department and it doesn't have a battery pack in the back. Heck, my tikka plus blows it away and is more adjustable.

I would have given it even less stars but I got it on sale, making the purchase a little less painful, and I have read of others finding it useful. The rear blinkies are pretty cool. And the battery pack can be taken off and put in a pocket if you are alpine hiking. If the floods were brighter it would make up for the overall shortcomings.

I wish I would have gotten another apex. :( Thank goodness I have many headlamps to choose from, I will be choosing this one the least.

I forgot to mention how cheaply it seems to be made. That can be an illusion though, time will tell. It will probably last me a long time because I will reach for something else first. I am going to search for an apex on sale right after I post this. And I am going to take backpacker magazine recommendations with a grain of salt.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

I have tried almost every headlamp on the market. This one by far is the brightest. I put it on my road bike helmet on a night ride and it reached out farther than my 15 watt niterider dig evol (not as wide of a beem though). Versitile with 2 power settings on the low powered flood beam, and a very powerful narrow square shaped high beam. When both flood and high beem are used the coverage isn't bad--just uses up the battery quicker. When used with a fixed high wattage handle bar light, makes a great secondary head spot light for night rideing at a fraction of the cost of a bike light.

Also used it on a back country ski trip at night and it lit up the world.

The unit is comfortable and well balanced and adjustable. The red leds are nice if you are night running, bikeing, or whatever. I have used it a dozen times, and plan on taking in to Rainier and Hood this spring.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

I bought the Black Diamond for me and this for my wife because she didn't like the idea of a third strap over the head, which is an optional strap if you want it to secure it better. I used the Black Diamond for a while waiting for the Mammut to arrive. I immediately went out and tried this while shoveling and hated it. It is about the same brightness as the BD Icon on main beam, but has no surrounding light, giving you the feeling of being in a small tunnel.

The BD Icon's main beam, besides for being adjustable to three levels on each light setting, has a small halo around the main beam giving you enough light to see where you are walking.

On the Mammut's lower levels, (the dimmer LED's on the side), it barely put out any light on either setting.

I did like the feature on the Mammut of the red blinking lights on the back, which would come in useful during certain activities. The BD Icon doesn't have this feature.

If I had received this light first, I would not have disliked it so much, but head to head, no pun intended, it didn't compare to the Black Diamond Icon at all.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

only a 1 watt light? forget that...I bought this to try it out and the light was nearly half as bright as my BD Icon (3-watt bulb), which costs much less than this..

why in the world would you spend the extra $$ on somethign that is not as bright?

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp:

I have used this headlamp for almost a year now and still love it. I have used it from overnight backpacking, car camping to around the house. I found it to be a bit of overkill if I'm going for a day hike or a clear weather overnight trip. It does weigh a bit more then a 3 bulb LED but it out performs almost all other LED headlamps.

I really like the spot light, it shines as far as claimed and the high/low settings are nicely balanced. Although I've never used this for biking I could see how this would be an excellent choice, with the rear red flashing LED's and the effect spotlight.

The battery life is absolutely amazing. I used this all spring and summer and finally replaced the batteries not because they went dead but I figured there was no way they could still be good but they were. I just didn't want them to die when I needed them most. This was even after I had accidentally left it on in my pack for 24 hours several times.