Read the other hunting request on this page and my requirements are a little different. Been on this site before and appreciate the support.
After much reading, I had thought the Fenix HL55 was going to meet my needs. Problem comes when purchasing the light. I am not too keen on purchasing a light I can't see first or one that can't be easily returned if it does not meet the needs it is purchased for.. I called Fenix and was told who in my area has the light in question. I visited every retailer suggested and not one had it. I called back to Fenix and asked for the distributor who has my geographic area. I called the distributor in Colorado and they couldn't offer anything new. No one in MN seems to carry the headlamp.
When I called Fenix I enquired about what makes their light "natural". Was it a lower color temp, a higher CRI. No one could answer the question, just said it was natural. Being in the LED business, what some call natural others call cool, what some call daylight others call something else. There is no industry standard other than a specific color temperature or CRI value.
I want to order the lamp but every place I can order it from says if the packaging is damaged I either can't return or I will be charged a 25% restocking fee. I have seen the package, and it appears to me that it can't be opened without damaging the package. Guess that creates a dilemma.
Didn't mean to make this a Fenix rant - I just thought this was going to be the right light for me. Anyway.
I do quite a bit of small stream floating in the early morning hours. I have a nice handheld spotlight and now need a nice headlamp. What I have not liked about my prior low cost headlamps and my spotlights is the low CRI or high color temperature of the LED's used. They wash out the greens and water. When floating, I need to see what the water is doing and see any low overhanging foliage. I also need to see about 30 - 50 yards (more would be better) in front of me clearly. My old headlamp doesn't cut it and using a spot light takes one hand away from paddling.
I bought at the local Walmart a Coast HL7 without knowing anything about it. Nice light and the ability to change from spot to flood was pretty cool. Couple things about this lamp that didn't work for me - I found it not bright enough and the LED color temperature was quite high washing out the colors I need to see (also hunt in snow quite a bit and high CT does not work well for me).
So I seek guidance. How can I see an HL55 in action, or purchase one with the ability to return it if is not what I hoped it would be, or what is another recommendation for my application?
Thanks in advance for the suggestions.
Mark
After much reading, I had thought the Fenix HL55 was going to meet my needs. Problem comes when purchasing the light. I am not too keen on purchasing a light I can't see first or one that can't be easily returned if it does not meet the needs it is purchased for.. I called Fenix and was told who in my area has the light in question. I visited every retailer suggested and not one had it. I called back to Fenix and asked for the distributor who has my geographic area. I called the distributor in Colorado and they couldn't offer anything new. No one in MN seems to carry the headlamp.
When I called Fenix I enquired about what makes their light "natural". Was it a lower color temp, a higher CRI. No one could answer the question, just said it was natural. Being in the LED business, what some call natural others call cool, what some call daylight others call something else. There is no industry standard other than a specific color temperature or CRI value.
I want to order the lamp but every place I can order it from says if the packaging is damaged I either can't return or I will be charged a 25% restocking fee. I have seen the package, and it appears to me that it can't be opened without damaging the package. Guess that creates a dilemma.
Didn't mean to make this a Fenix rant - I just thought this was going to be the right light for me. Anyway.
I do quite a bit of small stream floating in the early morning hours. I have a nice handheld spotlight and now need a nice headlamp. What I have not liked about my prior low cost headlamps and my spotlights is the low CRI or high color temperature of the LED's used. They wash out the greens and water. When floating, I need to see what the water is doing and see any low overhanging foliage. I also need to see about 30 - 50 yards (more would be better) in front of me clearly. My old headlamp doesn't cut it and using a spot light takes one hand away from paddling.
I bought at the local Walmart a Coast HL7 without knowing anything about it. Nice light and the ability to change from spot to flood was pretty cool. Couple things about this lamp that didn't work for me - I found it not bright enough and the LED color temperature was quite high washing out the colors I need to see (also hunt in snow quite a bit and high CT does not work well for me).
So I seek guidance. How can I see an HL55 in action, or purchase one with the ability to return it if is not what I hoped it would be, or what is another recommendation for my application?
Thanks in advance for the suggestions.
Mark
Last edited:
