You may recall my blog on the Fenix HP30R V2.0 some time back and I literally rated it as the best light source I had ever placed on my head. But it’s never enough for a headlamp just to be bright and the number of times I’ve come across the age old debate regarding supposedly brilliant twenty-quid Ebay lamps that will light up the beach versus a quality headtorch from a reputable brand. Bright is great, but if the unit is unreliable in terms of build quality, shock protection and general resistance to the harsh world of sea angling, it’s going to let you down sooner or later.
I’m still amazed that sea anglers will fish with a couple of grands worth of rods and reels on their tripod but are only willing to commit a few measly pounds to what is an important piece of safety equipment. £254.99 will bag you this new Fenix model, In fact, to those who might need to justify such a purchase to their better half, play the safety card, as ultimately, what cost do you put on your well being?
I honestly didn’t believe headlamps could get any better than the HP30R V2.0, but when this new HP35R came to my attention, I had to take a closer look. The tech-spec is incredible, but you’ll find a comprehensive unboxing and trialling video on the Veals Mail Order YouTube channel later today. In the meantime, here’s a summary of my findings.
First off, appearance. To say this headlamp is aesthetically pleasing would be an understatement. It’s of a military, maybe even space age appearance. It looks assertively rugged, robust and the lamp reflectors are highly polished and ready to dazzle. The headband is considerably wider than that found on previous Fenix models ensuring great comfort. The rotary switch as seen on the HP30R V2.0 has been upgraded and feels more pleasing between the fingers. This rotary switch works differently though, whereby the switch rotates in one direction only. One click, spotlight, second click, floodlight, third click both spot and flood combined. The level of output is controlled by a rubber button in the centre of the rotary switch.
It’s a simple concept and one that very quickly becomes second nature. The battery pack is substantial, yet not overly heavy and unlike the HP30R V2.0 is a fully sealed unit. This is rated at IP66 which means in layman’s terms, it has been constructed in such a way that it’s highly resilient to ingress of water, dirt and dust. The battery pack features a large red light that can be switched on by pressing and holding the button found on the battery pack. Press and hold once for flash and press again for a constant 20 lumen red light that is more than adequate for close up tasks such as baiting up. By simply pressing this button once though, you’ll activate the battery level indicator, as per the same function found on the HP30R V2.0. But that red light is bound to appeal to bass lure anglers who will be able to simply spin the lamp around to make use of it.
The battery pack lead can be unplugged from the unit and for those upgrading from the HP30R V2.0, it’s actually possible to use the battery pack of your existing headtorch. The battery pack itself won’t directly fit on to the HP35R headpiece, it wasn’t designed to- but a reasonable fit can be acquired all the same. For those who choose to take advantage of the battery extension lead supplied with this new model, that obviously won’t be a problem and it will be a simple case of swapping battery packs over in your pocket.
When it comes to performance in the field, it’s fair to say that this lamp is on another level.
Wow, it’s seriously bright, but what I love most about the light output is the new warm light emitted from the floodlight. It’s similar to an old school halogen bulb, but with the reliability of an LED. For those anglers who were familiar with any lamp that ran a halogen bulb, there’s something comfortingly nostalgic about this warm light, and I have to say, I love it.
You really need to check out the video to see how staggering the output is on this new model- I can’t put it in to words. I know many anglers will ask, “How much brighter do you need a lamp to be?” As I say in the video, should an accident happen and your fishing buddy ends up in the water, you’re going to appreciate every last Lumen. I’d have to conclude that this a serious upgrade on the HP30R V2.0, in practically every way possible. But don’t just take my word for it, head over to YouTube later today and see for yourself.
