Today we will take a look at a headlamp from my favorite brand FENIX. Products from this brand are, for me, characterized by high quality of workmanship and materials used. A rule with this manufacturer is truthful product information and reliability of the products. If you are looking for a headlamp, I would say in as low a price category as possible, and you are also not looking for a fully professional tool, the FENIX HM23 headlamp is truly a good choice.
I would specify its use as not professional in the sense of, for example, rescue units, i.e. not for everyday use, but rather for leisure use for your hobbies, e.g. for fishing or as a headlamp for cyclists or runners. This product is characterized, as is customary with FENIX products, by high quality of materials used and workmanship, which is evidenced by the durability of the product. When choosing your headlamp, you have several options. You can go to world-famous Chinese supermarkets, where you will find „super“ products for a few dollars, or you decide to invest a bit and buy a real product, not just a toy that ends up in the trash bin after a few uses anyway.
First impressions, packaging and controls
The FENIX HM23 headlamp is a headlamp suitable for hiking, running or other outdoor activities. Its use is very simple and there is practically nothing here that can go wrong. But let's start from the beginning. The headlamp is delivered in a small box, which contains the light together with the strap, an AA type power source (i.e. non-rechargeable), a warranty card, instructions for use, and of course also a spare O-ring.
After unpacking, assembling and learning how to handle this headlamp takes a few minutes. You insert the power source into the light, and you do not have to worry about inserting the battery the wrong way, since the light has protection against reverse battery insertion. After inserting it, all that remains is to adjust the strap to the size you require, and you can start using it. The control of the headlamp is simple, done using a single button on the side of the headlamp. Holding the button for approximately 1.5 seconds turns the light on. After switching on, the light always turns on in the lowest, i.e. 4 lumen, mode. You have three power modes available, namely 4 lumens, 70 lumens and 240 lumens, which represents the maximum output of the light.
To switch between modes, simply press the button and the power increases. Here it is important to realize that the light is powered by an alkaline AA battery, which is included in the package. In the weakest lighting mode, the light lasts up to 100 hours, in the second, stronger mode it is 16 hours, and in the strongest mode it is 8 hours. The beam distance of the light is 9.5 meters, 34 meters, and in the strongest mode up to 63 meters.
Performance in practice
I took the light several times on a night walk through the forest and realized that for walking on a path or hiking trail, the weakest lighting mode is completely sufficient. If I wanted to light up more or increase the output, I simply did so, but I always subsequently reduced it and used only the weakest mode. The Cree LED diode has a neutral white light and offers up to 50,000 hours of lifespan, which is excellent durability for this price category. Thanks to the touch-adjustable, very pleasant strap, the light is comfortable, easily adjustable, and at the same time sufficiently elastic to ensure good hold on your head or cap. The light itself is made of aircraft-grade hardened aluminum, which is very sturdy, so you do not have to worry about the light falling to the ground. The manufacturer states impact resistance from a height of up to 2 meters and water resistance up to a depth of 2 meters.
You therefore need not worry about rain and can confidently use it in bad weather as well. The metal body of the light is placed in a rubber holder, through which the strap runs. In this holder, you can adjust the angle of illumination of the headlamp as needed. The light will stay on your head even during demanding movement or running, without tending to change its angle setting or fall off your head. For many, a seeming disadvantage may be the power source, which is not rechargeable. However, it should be noted that if you want to wear the light regularly, for example for hiking or as part of your EDC gear, all you need is to buy one pack of Energizer L91 Ultimate Lithium, which gives you up to 4 batteries for around 9 euros. The battery included in the pack plus the additional 4 batteries will provide you with up to 500 hours of light, which is a huge amount. So, we have now solved all the issues of selection, technical aspects, and problems.
Final assessment
All in all, a light with excellent parameters at this price level, suitable for all leisure activities, simple, durable, well-made, and providing everything you would expect from a headlamp. I can warmly recommend this headlamp to all active people who are not deterred from activities by darkness and night. Now all that's left is to decide, buy, and enjoy everything you love and enjoy, day and night.
