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My headlamp killed my neck, died at the worst moments, and ate $240 worth of batteries - This is how I finish projects twice as fast - without pain or spending hundreds

By Marcus T.

Last Updated 4 days ago

I used to dread when my wife asked me to fix something after work.

Don't get me wrong, I actually love fixing things around the house.

It's just that working in the dark always ended the same way: sore necks, batteries dying mid-project, or dark spots everywhere.

I figured that was just how it had to be.

Until the cashier at the gas station saw my bloody hands...

Title

1: Blood on my hands in complete darkness

There I stood in the darkness, with blood all over my hands.

My wife had once again asked me to fix the broken garage door. I had been dreading it for a while now.

This time of year, it was always dark after work.

But as someone my family trusts to fix things, I couldn't just say no.

After just 20 minutes, I had blood on my hands, and my headlamp had started to give me neck strain.

Like someone had attached a brick to my head.

Not to mention that it slipped away from my head every 10 seconds.

But what other option did I have if I wanted to work hands-free?

Wedging a flashlight between my neck and shoulder while trying to work…?

Or worse, holding it with my teeth while I tasted that dirt and grease?

That wasn't an option, but the narrow light of my headlamp had caused me enough pain now.

It was time for something to change...

2: I spent hundreds every year on batteries...

The hours went by, and I was still not finished. Even my wrist started hurting as I alternated with my flashlight to see in the narrowest spaces.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse than this, it went completely black...

Great, I thought... I just put new batteries in this thing last week.

I rushed to the closest gas station, and when the cashier scanned up my pack of AAA batteries, $19.47, I did the math. $20 every month meant hundreds every year.

"That goddam headlamp," - I said out loud.

The cashier must have heard, because suddenly he pulled out his phone. "You should look into something rechargeable. I use this headlamp," He said.

It looked like the smallest headlamp I'd ever seen. "That thing?" I said, getting angry. "How's something that tiny going to light up a work area?"

Not to mention that most rechargeable lights die after just a few hours of usage.

"NO THANKS," - I said. But it still sparked something in me...

2: I spent hundreds every year on batteries...

3: I found the highest rated headlamp by mechanics

When I got home, it was so frustrating to see the work half-done.

I was unable to finish it because of the huge cut on my hand. All because I hadn't seen that sharp edge on the garage door.

That night was restless, and I thought about what the cashier had said. I opened my phone and started going through some forums.

After a while, I found the highest-rated headlamp in a mechanics forum. It looked similar to what the cashier had shown me, so I decided to take my chances.

To make sure that the cashier hadn't fooled me, I also bought a cheap copy on Amazon. I figured 19 dollars would be worth it just to compare the features.

My hand felt a little bit better, so I decided to test both the headlamps after work. But when I strapped it on, something felt seriously wrong.

And it really made me spark the question:

4: Was it still just a cheap copy?

The real test came when I decided to use it for something serious.

Rewiring the electrical outlet in my kitchen. First, I decided to test the lighting differences between the headlamps.

Both had the wide 230-degree beam. Which meant I didn't have to twist my neck into awkward positions.

But I knew even cheap copies could look good the first day, so the real test was not done yet...

One had 1000 lumens of light strength, and the other had around 500 lumens. I didn't think it would be a big difference, but it was huge...

The 1000lm lights lit up the whole space, whereas the 500lm still left some spots dark.

It gave me a clue on which one I liked the most, but a couple of hours into my next project, I felt something strange on my head...

4: Was it still just a cheap copy?

5: I could adjust it to fit all situations

I have a big head, so something must have happened while wearing the cheap variant.

At first I couldn't believe it... The band had snapped, and it was actually as bad as the reviews said. Not to mention how hot it had become while using it.

Regardless, I kept working with the 1000-lumen one, and for the first time, I could actually see what I was doing. Plus, the headband felt very strong and comfortable on my head.

It had 10 light modes. So I used the brightest one for the high precision tasks, and the red light for everyday activities.

To make the final decision on which one was best, I let them both run in the strongest mode. The 1000-lumen mode lasted twice as long as the 500-lumen mode on the cheap variant.

And when I tested the other modes, the stronger variant lasted me DAYS without needing to charge it. Unlike the cheap one that died after just a couple of hours...

The biggest surprise was the motion sensor. Just by waving, I could turn it on while keeping my dirty hands completely away from the headlamp. It even worked great with gloves on.

Knowing this, I knew what I had to do...

5: I could adjust it to fit all situations

6: I got the 1000 lumen variant for all the guys at work

It started when I brought it to work. Every time I put it down, someone would grab it.

Knowing this was going to keep happening, I bought one of the 1000-lumen headlamps for every guy on my crew. And I threw away the cheap copy.

"How can you spend this much? These must have cost you a minimum $150 each?" - The guys at work said.

I just shook my head and answered, "No, no, this costs less than we spend on batteries in a month."

And after testing them out at work, the whole crew noticed the difference. Our necks don't hurt after long projects, and we started getting twice the work done in half the time.

And at home, I had much more energy and time for other things now. Whenever my wife asked me to fix something at home, I did it straight away.

So with all these features in mind, was it worth it?

6: I got the 1000 lumen variant for all the guys at work

FINAL VERDICT: They tested them for 30 days for free

A few of the guys at work were skeptical because similar headlamps have been circulating on Amazon. But when I heard that, I just told them about the 30-day test period.

Everyone was more than satisfied, but if they, for any reason, didn't like them, I could have just returned them for every penny.

It's the best way for them to see that this headlamp is unlike the others, without taking any risks.

Because trust me, my worst nightmare would be to keep on injuring myself because of poor light, or waiting until my neck was destroyed before taking action.

Now, I can spend hours working without being frustrated about good lighting and neck pain.

You can spend hundreds on professional headlamps, but in my opinion, this is the better everyday option.

50% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!

This limited-time deal is in high demand and stock keeps selling out.

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Sell-out Risk: High

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I reached out to Fjällbris, and they set aside a limited number of discounts for our readers - Only if you use the link below.

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Questions from the readers

What if it stops working or breaks?

Fjällbris has a 365-day warranty, so if anything goes wrong in the first year, they’ll replace it, no questions asked.

That gave me peace of mind when I ordered it. But to be honest, this thing feels really durable. So this one doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere.

Is it waterproof?

Yes, it's IPX4 rated waterproof. I've worn mine in the rain while fixing outdoor electrical boxes, and it keeps working perfectly.

One of the guys on my crew actually dropped his in a puddle last week, still works like new.

How long does the battery actually last? And how long does it take to charge?

I regularly get 8+ hours of continuous use on the strongest mode, so for most projects, that's more than a full day's work.

The battery has 4000mAh, so for the weaker light modes, it can last up to 35 hours.

And charging is fast, usually full in about 2 hours with USB-C.

Does the motion sensor work when your hands are dirty?

Absolutely. Works great even when my hands are covered in grease, oil, or dirt. No more trying to find tiny buttons with messy fingers.

Does it really eliminate neck strain?

Completely. The lightweight design means I can wear it for 8+ hour days without any discomfort. I can't even feel it when wearing it. My old heavy headlamp used to give me terrible neck pain.

How is this different from those cheap Facebook/Amazon headlamps?

Night and day difference. Those typically have maybe 5 basic light modes and weak output.

This has 1000 lumens of natural light with 230° coverage – it's like having proper shop lighting on your head.

How much money does the rechargeable battery actually save?

I was spending $20+ every few weeks on AAA batteries. That's easily $300+ per year. This pays for itself in just a few months of not buying disposable batteries.

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