A good headlamp is essential gear for outdoor recreation. Not only do you need one for camping, but you should always have a lamp in your pack for emergencies. A headlamp could mean the difference between being lost overnight, or finding your way back to base. I’ve been using the new Ledlenser MH6 headlamp since it was released earlier this spring and so far I’m very impressed with it.
The Ledlenser MH6 features:
- 200 Lumens of brightness
- 20 Hour Battery Life
- 120 Meter Range
- Water Resistant
- Rechargeable
- Weight – 93 grams
An old, dim headlamp won’t do much for you except illuminate your sad can of beans when you’re cooking after dark on the camp stove. But what makes the MH6 so awesome is how freaking bright it is. At 200 lumens, I literally blind my camp mates when I turn it on. Seriously, I have to be careful not to look up when my headlamp is turned on, or else risk a serious berating from a friend who is suddenly seeing afterimages of my sun-like beam.
To avoid this scenario, I keep the MH6 on its lowest level for close-up handiwork, like cooking or reading in my tent, and only up the brightness for midnight trips to the bathroom bush or night hiking. Heck, this thing is so bright, I bet I can get away with using it for after-dark mountain biking when paired with a handlebar bike light.
I am also impressed with how light weight the thing is. At a mere 9 grams, I hardly notice I’m wearing it on my head. While it’s not the lightest headlamp on the market, Ledlenser says it is the lightest one they make. Considering the hardware that 200 lumens requires, this must be some sort of feat of engineering.
Controls are easy to use, even with light gloves on. A simple switch at the top allows you to turn it on, and switch between modes that include bright, dim, and emergency flashing. It also has a transport protector that prevents the light from switching on unintentionally, like in your backpack.
Other features I like include a warning for when your battery level is getting low, and a USB style recharging system. The latter is awesome because I hate carrying around extra batteries, and usually have a solar charger or even a Goal Zero Yeti 400 nearby to charge up all my devices. Plus, I now recharge my headlamp every time I get home from a trip, so I know I have a full charge next time I head out, as opposed to wondering if my standard AAA battery headlamp will last me through a night.
The Good: Very bright, light weight, rechargeable.
The Bad: I wish the battery life was longer. This makes the headlamp less useful on long backpacking trips where there is no opportunity to recharge.
Final Word: The Ledlenser MH6 is a serious step-up from headlamps of old. The rechargeable battery system, light weight and 200 lumens that make you bellow “let there be light!” every time you turn it on, will make you an outdoor god that blinds everyone in a 120 meter radius.
The Ledlenser MH6 will be available in the U.S. in a few weeks. We will let you know when it comes out so you can purchase your own.