Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp - 2011 Closeout

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp - 2011 Closeout:

I spend a lot of time cross-country skiing, skijoring, ice skating and walking in the dark during our long winters. I'd been waiting for an affordable bright LED lamp to come along so I could upgrade from a Myo 3 LED low beam/tungsten high beam combi that wasn't quite bright enough at the high end, especially if the batteries weren't nearly new. I tried a BD Icon but found its high beam too laser-like to be useful -- no peripheral vision, and I had to keep my head still and cocked at just the right angle to put the light where I needed it. Not confidence-inspiring at skijoring speeds. I had an excuse to return it when the switch started behaving erratically.

Enter the Lucido, for which I had high hopes, given the even brighter high beam and the ability to light up all the LEDs at once to fix the peripheral vision thing. The good: I went the whole first winter on the original batteries; peripheral vision with the high beam is helped a tiny bit with the low beams on too; clever lens protection. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for. The on/off buttons are essentially flush with the body of the light -- I can't begin to find or operate them with gloves on. The light at the 2 low beam settings is like a spotlight, round and with a hard edge between light and dark. It's annoying compared to the Myo's low beam that fades out gradually, unnoticed somewhere on the periphery of my field of view. The high beam is quite bright but even more concentrated -- tunnel vision in a longer, squarer tunnel. I find it hard to use and don't actually turn it on much. This isn't a headlamp for moving with any speed: the middle setting is only about right for walking, and the much brighter high beam's too narrow and jittery. Not sure why I'd ever use the flashing red taillights, especially since they cause the main light to flicker in unison.

I'd love to see an LED lamp with 2 or 3 useful brightness settings (I got no use for flashing), a beam thats adustable or broad enough to let me move confidently at a decent clip, a switch that can be easily operated without taking mittens off at 20 below (like the Myo's twist bezel), and doesn't cost $400. Sadly, this one ain't it.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp - 2011 Closeout:

Among dual range (spot+flood) headlamps this is a reasonable choice. Flood LEDs cover the working/walking range evenly with practically no spill, in two luminance levels. Spot stabs out in a highly focused intense beam for maximum distance, as it should. Its weirdly square shape doesn't detract from its route-finding sign-reading capability. In both cases lenses make efficient use of what light there is.

All LEDs can burn simultaneously. This is less useful than it seems because they're superimposed. One is only useful at your feet, the other only useful far away, so using both means large lamp or head movements rather than eye motions, and of course a brilliant spot in the center of a gentle glow isn't the best application of either. Red flashing LEDs on the battery pack, facing to the rear, are insufficient as bicycle taillights, though they're better than nothing and may be quite helpful leading cave, night hike or small boat trips. There is no other strobe (which by itself rules it out as my backwoods lamp).

The spot is too narrow and blinding, the flood too weak and diffuse for use on a bike. Walking speed illumination is different from decent riding lights; TX1 is good for the former, no good for the latter. Again, better than nothing, but only slightly.

A clever trick is rotating the lamp head into its mount, protecting lenses from scratches and switches from accidents. That said, as with all headlamps with external power, this should be stored and carried in a box, not loose in a pocket or pack. Wires can only take so much flexing.

My only caveat is slightly flimsy construction. Not worryingly flimsy but not reassuringly robust. I haven't broken anything so can't speak from experience but I'll say without qualification that my Princeton Tech Apex is in every way stronger. Its light is also brighter, more versatile, lasts longer and is easier on the eyes. It's also slightly more expensive and heavier because it takes 4 cells instead of 3, but it comes with a top strap, heat sink, effective battery gauge and vault-like battery compartment. Its power is regulated (meaning light is usefully bright until power is completely depleted); it works well with lithium (which erases the weight penalty and cold disfunction); it's submersible (not rain-resistant, submersible). Lucido TX1 has none of those features. For casual use close to home it seems excellent but when the chips are down there's no question which you'd rather have on your head and at full MSRP there's no question which is the bargain. At REI-Outlet closeout price, though, with alkaline cells, Lucido TX1 will do an impressive job.

Where I live headlamps are a practical necessity for even mundane chores; sunset right now is 16:15. Less-than-lethal conditions benefit from a good LED lamp, too, so that's not faint praise.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp - 2011 Closeout:

I was looking for a BRIGHT light and let me say this fits the bill perfect. I have yet to drain the batteries so I can't comment on that but it seems to hold charge well. It is comfortable on your head and does not feel too bulky.

I'd say its worth the extra weight.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp - 2011 Closeout:

Holy bright lights. This thing is like a tractor beam at night from a spaceship. I am thoroughly impressed with the range on the flood light. It blows any LED handheld flashlight out of the water and you can still use both hands! The red led lights in the back are perfect for people following you and also to gauge your battery life. I would like to see a setting where the blinking battery back will stay solid red so you can flip it around and hang from your neck and have ambient red light to save your night vision. Not a huge deal nor a deal breaker, but I think it would be a great idea.

Comments about Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp - 2011 Closeout:

WHEN THE RED LIGHTS BLINKING, FRONT ONES BLINKING TOO. ?