Customer Reviews

Fenix HL21 Headlamp, Black, Small

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Until the HL21, I felt like I had to compromise between units that are too heavy and units that didn't have adequate battery life. Headlamps using coin cells or AAA batteries were light, but didn't have the staying power. The HL21 hits the spot and is great for backpacking trips. Around camp its lowest light level setting is just about right. On the trail, its higher settings are high enough. The adjustable angle allows it to still work well when used on top of a baseball cap. I also like its flip up diffuser which allows you to switch between a focused spot and broader even light pattern. The On/Off/Level switch is like the tail switch on a hand-held flashlight, so is large and quick to find. Being waterproof is a good thing too. I have a fairly large collection of flashlights and the HL21 is the first headlamp I have liked well enough to make me think about leaving the hand-held units behind.

I decided that I really needed a headlamp after camping many times using a typical flashlight pinched between my neck and shoulder to get around in the dark. And the Fenix HL21 is what I chose to get.

Here's the breakdown as to why:

Pros:
- Four modes of operation (90 lumens, 43 lumens, 3 lumens, and SOS)
- Uses only "ONE" AA battery and yet it has impressive run times [2 hrs, 3 min (high); 5 hrs, 43 min (mid); 53 hrs (low)]; at the same time, this reduces the weight and the bulkyness of other high powered headlamps
- Head strap is very easy to adjust and stays snug once set; also easy to take off and wash if necessary
- Very easy to follow instructions
- Comes with a diffuser that you can snap on and keep on (the diffuser lens can also be flipped up if you want a beam of light)
- Comfortable fit
- Waterproof up to 2 meters
- Comes with a spare o-ring if old one needs to be replaced
- Uses LED (way more impact/shock resistant than conventional bulbs)
- And finally... "Look Ma, no hands!" Once you have this on your head, you are pretty much handsfree to do as you please (until you need to either adjust the brightness or turn it off)

Cons:
- None

Recommendation(s)/Suggestion(s):
- This light does only use one LED bulb; therefore, I think it would be best to always have a backup light source just in case. The last thing you want is to be in the dark.

Overall, sure it's made in China, but not everything from China can or should be labeled as poor quality. I think Fenix makes a wonderful line of illuminating products and provides us customers with the best value and great alternatives to super, high-end lighting options such as SureFire. I highly, highly recommend this product because it's full of pros and absolutely no foreseeable cons.

Thank you for reading this review. Cheers!

Great headlamp at a great price. Feels well made, awesome light output for only one 1 AA battery with great run time to match. Included diffuser works nicely to create a flood light. But the diffuser isn't without it's cons. One being that the diffuser doesn't fit snug on the front of lens so it tends to move around. And the bottom of the diffuser when lit tends to reflex a little light towards your eyes (how bad depends of the angle you're using the headlamp at). Other than that, this light just rocks!

This is the best headlamp I've owned so far. It's only got 3 brightness settings, and no unnecessary annoying blinking settings. The lowest is great for close in. The brighter settings are awesomely bright for a headlamp. But this light is not the quality aluminum body like Fenix's other flashlight. It's made of a cheap plastic so you have to be careful with it. The first one I ordered arrived broken. Of course Amazon took care of me and refunded my money and I ordered another.

The best headlamp I own. The Petzel and Princeton Tec are good...but now are relegated to being back ups.
Pros: Uses ONE AA battery.
Pros: The AA battery SCREWS in...so you don't have to fumble and manipulate the case of the other two brands to make it work with three AAA batteries.
Pros: AA batteries are over the place.
Pros: Nice up and down range on the snap swivel on the front so you can position it to point HIGH...or low down in front of you to attach flies to your fishing line at night.
Pros: Bright. Very bright for such a small product. Bright like a handheld so it throws a beam...with enough diffusion to be able to walk in the woods at night.

Cons: None that I could yet find. I will order another. If they fail to work...I'll let you know.

This is the second Fenix HL21 Headlamp I've purchased. I gave the other one away to my Uncle Marc who deserved a great headlamp. It's lightweight, has an intense beam, and is waterproof. The fact that it runs on one AA battery is awesome! You can carry a spare AA battery in your pocket and have lots of run-time if you need it. Plus, you don't need to go to a jewelry shop to find some funky specialized battery.
The on/off button is large and easy to find when it's on your head. The adjustment for intensity takes some getting used to, but isn't difficult once you get the hang of it. It comes with a light diffuser, but I just tossed mine on the equipment shelf. I did a lot of research and comparisons on lightweight headlamps and this one wins in my book! I try to only buy rugged equipment that will last for years and this seems to fit the bill. Only time will tell with regards to durability. For now, I'm feeling "lightheaded" and happy.

I wanted a lite hands free worklight for personal use, having good experience with Fenix I bought this one. I received it quickly from Amazon. Put in the battery, turned it on, etc

The first time adjusting the light up and down one side of the plastic "C" brackets broke. There are 2 "C" brackets that hold the light by the battery holder. I was not rough with it. I looked over the design carefully and decided not to get a replacement as I thought it would break again sooner or later.

Thank you Amazon for your return policy.. That and good prices keeps me coming back.

This happened about 6mo.s ago. I am surprised I'm the only one that has had this problem since then...

I have several models of Fenix flashlights and I am very happy with all of them. Quality is great. This one is the exception.

Note:Ships from and sold by Amazon.com ($34.95)

I ordered this headlamp to help me when working in tight areas or when I need two hands in a dim area. I was initially disappointed with the instruction sheet as it was very tiny print on dark, low resolution photos, but when I visited the Fenix website I was able to determine how to use the headlamp correctly.

First, holding the button down will shift the lamp through three levels of brightness and double clicking it will put it into "SOS" mode.

Second, I wasn't sure which way to attach the strap to get it to keep from slipping. A photo on the Fenix website helped but the one on this page in 2011 was misleading. The elastic band has two hard plastic ends that allow adjusting the snugness. The plastic buckle that terminates one end of the elastic and which also holds the loop from the other side of the elastic needs to be oriented inside so that the knurled edge faces your head, for me the knurls touch my head above and behind my right ear. The slight pressure keeps the band snug.

Unfortunately you have to adjust the band each time you put it on as there is no way to "lock" it to one length. I may try a paper clip or bit of electrical tape around it, behind the buckle, to keep it in place. On the other hand, the elastic will expand to fit any head I've ever seen. I wear a size 8 hat and there is plenty of elastic left over when I wear it, you could wear it ON a hat. I just tested it on my winter fedora and it fits over it with no trouble.

The diffuser and the ability to tilt the lamp are great. I'm very happy with it and have been using it with a rechargeable AA battery and it is quite bright, it hurts my eyes to look directly at the lamp on the high setting. If the instruction sheet were useful and legible and if the strap could be locked into place I'd give them five stars, and since I can't give them 4.5, I'll put a four.

I love this little headlamp. It is super small and light, using just one AA battery, but it kicks out a ton of light. Because of its diminutive size and weight it is super comfortable to wear.

Build quality is great and I love having the peace of mind that comes with the ipx-8 rating. Just knowing it can run submerged means I can use it with confidence in the rain, on the beach, and in the ocean.

The beam with the diffuser removed has great throw and can light up objects at great distances. With the diffuser on the light pattern is extremely smooth and even making for near perfect light when being used close up. The diffuser can be left on the light and flipped up and down. I find myself using it down 80% of the time and just flipping it up if I have to look at something far away.

Battery life is pretty good as well. Obviously it won't last as long as something with say 4 AA batteries but for a single AA putting out as much light as this lamp does I'm amazed at how long it lasts. I usually use the medium output which lasts somewhere over four hours.

If you need a red light I suppose you could put a piece of red plastic in front of the diffuser lens but I haven't tried this. I would probably look elsewhere if red light is an important feature to you.

All in all I could not be happier with this light. I'd much rather pay a few extra dollars and get something I know I can rely on than buy from the dollar bin and wonder if my light will work when I'm out camping. To me the value on this light strikes the perfect balance of quality vs cost.

Love this headlamp. This thing is light and low hassle... and BRIGHT. I can't stand the heavier units, but wanted something that would be bright enough. If you're like me, your search is over. Be kind to people around you, and don't blast them with this or they'll be seeing spots for weeks.

Also love the quick tension strap. Wouldn't change a thing.