Customer Reviews

Rayovac SPHLTLED-B Sportsman LED Headlight

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I now own three (two are spares), and have purchased a few for friends as well. This headlamp has three light settings: red LED (which I use the most: great for behavioral observations of nocturnal animals, and preserving your night vision), white LED, and the bright Krypton bulb. It runs on three AAA batteries (NiMH rechargeables work fine!). I've used my headlamp for months of field work (I study scorpions, and work all night, so this headlamp has gotten a lot of field testing). No problems so far. It's comparable to headlamps the sporting goods stores sell for four or five times as much. While likely not waterproof, this headlamp is definitely water-resistant (ok to use in the rain). I love it, and may never need another headlamp again. Though Amazon currently sells them as a "pack of 2", they are packaged individually, and each one comes with 3 alkaline batteries.

I take my time and write an extensive review about this awesome product because everybody should be aware of it!
As a Biological Engineer I do field-research in the outback for many years, which is often conducted at night (hundreds of hours, which also includes many cave-explorations :-)
I went through many different brands of 'bulb- and LED-type headlights/headlamps in my career.

The Rayovac Sportsman LED Headlight is in my opinion the #1 of ALL existing LED-headlights on the US-market for the following reasons...

1. It has an excellent round battery loading magazine, even for night-loading/blind-loading of the 3 AAA batteries, which happened to me several times. All other headlights needed a second flashlight or other light sources to exchange batteries and find the proper polarity.
***** 5-STARS!

2. Used for hundreds & hundreds of working-hours & not one of the LED bulbs (2 red, one 'daylight-white' ever 'burned out'. I only used the upper search-light equipped with, I guess, a krypton-bulb sparingly, due to the high energy consumption. It became several times very handy for my long-distance orientation!
***** 5-STARS!

3. At night I want to see, and not to be seen!
Other brands have their LED bulbs half-moon shaped strapped around your forehead and/or the LED-bulbs are even sticking out. You look like a walking 'target' or floating UFO at night & can be seen for > one mile! :-)
I know we are supposed to live in 'civilized' times, but being shot in the head for whatever reason, is not a good place for anybody to be in. Therefore the arrangement of the LED-bulbs plays an important part in my rating system. This model has flat cover lenses over the therefore protected LED-bulbs and a 1/8" rubberized rim around the convex search-light lens, having zero visible side-light
***** 5-STARS

4. The battery-mag cover is fine-threaded & has an O-ring, which makes the headlight definitely water-resistant, if not water-proof. In my field of work it fell several times into the water, floated and it continued working like a charm.
***** 5-STARS!

5. I own at least eight (8) of the Rayovac Sportsman headlights in different vehicles and places. I worked (cave explorations) with my first bought Rayovac headlight for at least 800 hrs & still, the flexible head straps are not worn out, their rubber oxidized and brittle. One charge with rechargeable AAA batteries last me for approximately 45 hrs, giving me 20 lumens of light-power.
***** 5-STARS!

6. The price/quality ratio is outstanding, especially this offer on Amazon.com and... ***** 5-STARS!

I personally hope, that the Rayovac Company never pulls these Sportsman LED Headlights from the market!

Gordon

Living in Florida, I bought this unit as part of my hurricane season ramp-up. It's just what I wanted and needed.

I was amazed at the quality of the product; and the quality and quality of light produced in all three modes -- especially the red light. For it's size it's really bright and well concentrated.

The only "down side" is the straps: it took me a while to figure out how they are attached, etc., because there are no real instructions with this unit. However, I got past my "senior moments" and all is well.

I took one of these camping a couple weeks ago, so here is my opinion of it.
The headband and batteries were simple and easy to install, I didn't even use the instructions.

It was great for use around the campsite, for reading, and walking to the bathroom, but if you want something bright for hiking at night you'll want something more powerful as this only has 1 white LED which is only good for up close use and the regular bulb is like a focused beam on a mini Mag lite and it's only good at a distance.

The controls are easy to learn and use, but they are a little tight so it takes both hands to turn it on and off.
The headband is a little tight for me so I don't think it would be comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
It's a little heavy with the batteries right behind the light. The headlamps with the battery pack on the back of your head is probably more comfortable.

All things considered this is a great product for the price, but I'll be buying something brighter and more comfortable for hiking Half Dome at night next year.

NASA may make a better one but for the price of this one, get it if you need it! I use mine surf fishing the RI coast. It takes a beating, is waterproof (as much as anything is in saltwater) and lasts for many hours using the red or white led's. The krypton bulb uses up the battery faster but I rarely ever use it. I have been using headlamps for almost 20 years and this is the best ever (AND the lowest price!).

I have three types of headlamps and I like this one the most.

Here is why: 1) it's cheap, 2) it runs a long time on three AAA batteries, and 3) the red light is awesome.

You can use the red light and still keep your "night vision". I use it to read in bed becasue it is not as visible or distracting to others as a white light.

My only problem with it is that the knobs are a little confusing, even after two years of use. I often have to twist twice to get the right setting. And I'm usually good at that stuff!

This is a great headlamp. The standard lamp is extremely bight if you need it, the LEDs last forever and the red light is great for reading at night or times when you want to keep your eyes adjusted to the dark.

You could use it for biking, riding a Segway, hiking, camping, emergency situations and most anything else that might require a light source. Toss one in the car for emergencies and use the other for your regular activities. Great product at a great price!

I do outdoor equipment checks and repairs, and I do a lot of them at night. I have used this headlamp on the job for several years now. Wore out a couple of headbands and wore out the adjusting ratchet on the front of a couple. For doing the basics, this is a great headlamp. I need a red light so I can find things like tools and keys without losing night vision. A small white flood for reading maps and doing the job. I don't use the "spot beam" much, but sometimes just to see something "over there."

I have had a couple other cheap headlamps and this one is much better. I have never had a switch or bulb failure. I patched the worn out aiming ratchet with a piece of plastic an glue, to see how long the lamp parts would hold up, and after several more months (some of it in the rain) it still worked.

You can probably get a better headlight for a lot more money, and this one isn't for bicycling or other high speed endeavors (range is too short), but for general outdoor work or around a campsite it is great for the price. (and sure beats holding a flashlight with your mouth)

I bought this based on the excellent reviews it received from previous buyers, and I must concur. It's really a great product. The light output and battery life are very, very good.
It's true, it does take some studying to figure out how to assemble the elastic headband & insert the batteries, but it's very do-able. I would definitely recommend this headlamp.

Other reviews have said good things about this headlamp and the very good red light, long battery life, etc. One point I want to stress is that this this light does NOT have a push button or slide switch to turn it on - it has a knob that is twisted to achieve red LED, white LED or krypton bulb - and very few LED headlamps have twist switches. Why is this important? Because anything with a push or slide switch can accidently turn on when it gets thrown in with a bunch of gear, driven down bumpy roads, then tossed on your back and carried for miles. Nothing is worse than arriving in camp with a dead battery - and this light won't accidently turn on by just bumping it.

I've had one of these headlamps for years, and now am buying more for family members. The only down side is that if you use the krypton bulb, don't expect much battery life - I ONLY use that when I must see something at a fair distance away (which is almost never). I think the battery life using the krypton bulb is under 2 hours, but don't quote me on that - just suffice to say that the long life claims only apply to the LED settings.

This is a great LED lamp for the money (better value for performance than many of the expensive brands like Petzl, in my opinion), and is well worth the money.