Olight H05S Active 2xAAA Lightweight Headlamp REVIEW

Hello
Olight H05S is a new light weight and compact headlamp designed for ease of use and portability,without loading the user too much when carrying and using it.
H05 is available in two main versions-H05 and H05S Active. The first is available in different colors of the body. The second is available in black color as this version has the unique feature to respond on waving hand.
The light can be turned On/Off by simply waving your hand-finding and pressing a switch is not required.
Just wave your hand in front of the headlamp and its sensor will activate the light.
Read more in my review below.
The tested H05S was provided by Olight for test&review purpose.

Specifications from the included Instruction sheet

The H05S comes in the already standard for Olight transparent plastic box.
Two Lithium primary AAA batteries with the Olight brand are included in the set-the headlamp is ready to use right after unpacking it. No need to prepare additional AAA batteries when purchasing it for short camping or when it is for gift.
The User guide sheet is well explained and contains all important information about headlamp specifications and operation.

The wave function works similarly to the proximity sensors on the smartphones.
There is a IR emitter which light when reflected from objects at about 15-20cm are received from another electronic component which on its side activates the main XM-L2 LED circuit.
This way of activation give us the option to conveniently hands-free activate the light in some cases with no  need to find and press the switch.

My impressions after testing the Wave function for some time are good.
There are some specific things that I should mention.
The headlamp reacts not only on a hand,but on every other object no matter its direction of movement.
It reacts even on if you stay very close to a wall.Another possible limited use of the Wave feature could be when walking through wooded terrain.Every close branch can deactivate the light in a very uncomfortable moment.Accidental movement of the hand will turn the light off too. 
Interesting to note is that the IR sensor reacts on a TV remote control(at close distance),as well.
Placing the headlamp on a table with the beam horizontally to the surface sometimes turns the light off/on unexpectedly.
In this cases it is better to keep the wave option deactivated.

Cree XM-L2 LED.
Close up of the TIR lens.  The reflector is con-caved. There is no additional glass lens to protect the exposed front surface of the reflector.
Comparing the H05S to the popular Olight S1,we are noticing that both reflectors look identical.
However,as we can see from the beamshots below,both beams are different.

The housing is entirely made of plastic. Most of the surface has matte finish,as some of the zones are smooth,semi-clear to allow good light transmission for the IR sensor.

The button is placed on the top of the headlamp. It is large on size and easy to find/operate.
The switch is a momentary switch-does not lock down when pressed. 
It has a short way when pressing,with loud clear click sound.

The vertical angle of the headlamp to its holder can be adjusted on four defined steps.
This is enough in most cases,but the H05S definitely could benefit from more flexibility.

Olight H05S runs on two batteries size AAA.
Alkaline,Lithium or rechargeable NiMH can be used.

With the headlamp already loaded with batteries,we find an interesting feature which should help use when replacing the batteries in the compartment. The plus shaped channels marking the positive contact points are back illuminated with red light. This will be in help when we have to replace the batteries in the darkness and hesitate about the right direction for inserting them.As we can notice from the picture below,both plus and minus metal contact points have almost identical form.No spring on the minus contact. So,the illuminated pluses are probably more of a requirement than an extra feature.
The pluses seem to have an additional small battery or capacitor that keeps them glowing for quite a long time.
The housing is sealed with a black rubber gasket-it is hard to identify it on the pictures but it is there and the H05S seems well water sealed.

User Interface

The H05S has three modes of the white light and two of the RED light.
High-Mid-Low-Off  in this sequence.
As you already may noticed,there is no direct Off option. All modes have to be cycled in order to turn the light Off. Yet the modes are just three,which means if you use the light on High mode,you will activate it with one click and will deactivate it with additional 3 clicks. So,two extra clicks compared to the more common  instant On/Off interface.
Direct access to Low mode is not possible.

The red LEDs works constantly or flashing.
Can be activated by two quick clicks from On position(with the white light activated).
The headlamp will start on RED light until another two clicks,which will return it to the white light modes.
Red light mode sequence On-Flashing-Off.

To activate/deactivate Wave mode-press and hold the switch for about two seconds.
In Wave mode,all lighting modes are memorized by the driver and the light can be turned On on the last used mode.

My lumen measurements:
High 180Lm
Mid 44Lm
Low 12Lm

High mode is quite bright for a 2xAAA light. 180Lm should be sufficient for close to medium distance lighting.
Mid mode output is well selected.
Low mode however is not lower enough than the Mid mode and in practice leaves a desire for a much lower mode. 3 or even 5 lumen mode would be much more useful especially for close use in the darkness. 
The light from the red LEDs is very low and I see them useful mostly for signalling or using at very close distance with fully adjusted to the darkness eyes.

Check out my quick demo video to see the wave function in work:


Below is the usual run/time graph which is giving us illustrative look of the driver performance-how it does regulate the output.
As we can see from the graph Olight H05S is programmed to decrease the brightness gradually 10 minutes after activation.After this state the light is constant for about 110 minutes.
Batteries used for the test-Duracell Duralock 750mAh.

The H05S features low voltage warning-flashing when the voltage is low.
In my tests I did not detected low voltage protection,as the driver works at very low voltage,which is undesirable when working on NiMH batteries. To protect the NiMH from over-discharging,stop the light once the low voltage warning kicks in. In this state the voltage of each battery is about 1.08V and quickly drops lower.

Headband width 2.5cm.
Good quality. Can be adjusted for different heads.

The beam from the TIR reflector is similar to the S1's beam,but has different proportions.
The hotspot is smaller with the spill reaching larger area.
Depending on the user preferences,the beam will meet most requirements for a headlamp,but in my opinion not all. I personally would like to have a larger spill with less pronounced hot-spot.

The light from the Cree XM-L2 LED used here is cool white,with no noticeable greenish or bluish tint.

Olight H05S Active Beam profile.
White wall

A profile image of the red light in the dark.
In reality,the red light is much less bright than the lowest white mode,so I had to take the picture with a longer exposure time.

All modes
Low-Mid-High and comparison with Olight S1.
1/20сек,White wall
Olight S1 is not on its highest mode.

My impressions of the headlamp are only good,so far. I did not find any problems with the build quality or electronics operation,so far.
Thanks to its light-weight body and working on small batteries(especially with the included lightweight Lithium batteries),the headlamp is very comfortable to wear on the head and use. should be suitable also for running in the dark.
As I already pointed above,my preferences are for more diffused beam and switch operation similar to the baton series flashlights.

Thanks for reading!
Thanks to Olight and Olight BG for providing the H05S for test and review!

Olight H05s Active Demo video

Read my full review here-olight-h05s-active-2xaaa-lightweight

Olight H05s Active-lightweight headlamp,Cree XM-L2 LED,powered by two AAA batteries.

Nitecore HC30 1x18650 battery,Cree XM-L2 LED, REVIEW

Nitecore released many new models this year and is not yet finished with the good news.

 Two new headlamps are coming to diversify the choice in this segment,which was started with the HC50 and HC90. 

The new models are HC30 powered by single 18650 battery and HA20 powered by two AA batteries.

As a Li-Ion battery fan,I am reviewing for you the HC30.I like more versatile flashlights,which can be used in different ways-as a headlamp,or a pocket flashlight.

The HC30 is powered by single 18650 battery,or two CR123A. The switch is on the top end of the body,above the reflector. The reflector is in right angle position to the battery tube.  

 Nitecore HC30.

Cree XM-L2 LED-Cool white(on my sample)

1x18650 or 2xCR123A batteries

98mm (3.86") Length

Weight 86gr. with a 18650 battery

Technical data from the manual.

 

The switch does not protrude over its retaining ring,but is still accessible without problems.
Impressive deep cooling fins.The LED seems mounted directly to the base of the fins. Great heat transfer design!

Electronic head switch. Not protruding. Good feel,audible click sound.

Great user interface with direct access to Highest mode. Normally starts on the lowest mode.

Modes:

Ultralow=1 lumen

Low=75 Lumens

Mid=210 lumens

High=400 lumens

Turbo=1000 lumens

Peak beam intensity=6600cd

 The switch is an electronically working,which means it has short move with no locked/unlocked position.

The headlamp does have minimum dimensions and weight.

The battery tube is thin and lightweight. The HC30 is impressing with its compactness and low weight from the first time you get it.

The switch is quite big for comfortable pressing it and locating it,too.It produces easy to hear click sound.Not too stiff,not too loose for pressing.

If you afraid of accidental activation of the light,locking out the tail cap is recommended when carrying the headlamp in a backpack,or a pocket.

Of course,you don't want a very stiff hard to press switch when wearing the headlamp on your head,as this will cause troubles when trying to operate the user interface.

My first impressions were: Lightweight,Compact,Comfortable switch,Beam cooler white than expected(also compared to the HC50),Long throw profile of the beam, I like the user interface.
First measurements:
~ 49µA Standby current draw. Tailcap lock out is possible,thanks to the anodized tail threads.

 Nitecore HC30 comes also with a pocket clip.A great option for pocket carrying the headlamp as a regular EDC flashlight,without the headband.

 Perfectly anodized aluminum alloy body.Relatively matte black finish.Excellent knurling,as usual for Nitecore.
Overall great care to detail.

 Tailcap removed. No strong magnet,as seen in other similar flashlights with a similar cap design.
Rectangular cut threads.Anodized-allow physical lock out.

Protected batteries fit with no problems.
Physical reverse polarity protection for improper battery installation.
Even the RP protection I am able to use flat top Keeppower batteries in my HC30 sample. 

This is the HC30's pocket clip(left) compared to the Skilhunt DS10 pocket clip. Very similar form. The loop for strap attaching is not on the proper place and limits the space where a thick belt should fit.

User Interface
Short press starts the light always on UltraLow mode.
Press and hold for a second to activate the last used mode.
Press and hold for more than 1 second to activate Turbo,directly from Off.

Press and hold while On to turn it Off.
Short press will change the mode.

The UI is really well though out,without "exotic" features.
It does not require much to get used to and is easy to operate.
I don't like the difference in switching the light On/Off as this require some more effort(thinking) when doing one of them. I like it more simple-just the same briefly press to turn On/Off.

For one cycling through the modes will be more important,for others turning the light Off quicky with one brief press. Different prefferences.

 I found the UI logic and meeting the requirements for using the HC30 as a headlamp.

The headband seems quite sturdy.Good thickness and probably enough length for every head size. The holder part is similar to the HC50's relatively soft silicone holder.Maybe not so good in terms of stability,but quite comfortable for the forehead.
The elastic holder eliminates the need of a mechanical components for adjusting the angle of the beam. The two loops do this job well. The "flashlight" stays tight enough in the holder.Accidentally rotating it is hardly possible.

Headband connectors are made of plastic.

Soft rubber headlamp holder.

The headlamp can be inserted in the holder in two directions,allowing operation with the more comfortable hand. 

The HC30 stays quite well on my head,even wearing a winter hat.

Cool white Cree XM-L2 LED.Deep,aluminum reflector with smooth reflective coating.

Very clean glass lens with anti-reflective coating for high light transmittance.

The beam shape is on the throwy side.Some will appreciate that,other not at all. The difference with the wide angle beam of the HC50 is significant.

Personally,I would like to have a diffuser cap for the HC30 for more floody beam. This depend on the way the headlamp will be used.At what distance and environment.
Deep aluminum reflector with smooth reflective surface.

The light from the Cree XM-L2 mounted in the HC30 is cool white. No greenish,or bluish tint in regular use. Clearly defined hotspot. There are artifacts and different tint zones in the hotspot,but should not be visible in regular use.

5 meters, 1/6sec

5 meters, 1/50sec

Run time graph showing the performance on Turbo and High mode.
High mode as expected pretty well regulated.
Turbo mode typical for a single Li-Ion battery flashlight at this output.
The output should be more constant,if using two CR123A batteries.I can't test it,as I don't use CR123A batteries,at all and prefer using just one battery in small flashlights. 
The output is very low at the end,of course easily noticeable that the battery is empty,but if we leave the flashlight unattended,then damaging an unprotected battery is quite possible.

The HC30 shows over 1000 lumens on Turbo mode,at the start in my test.
I can't guarantee full accuracy of my measurements.
Most important is the graph form,showing the performance in the time.

There was no thermal regulation activated in my test,as seen in the Nitecore HC50 review.
The HC30 gets hot after few minutes on Turbo mode. There should be a thermal regulating to adjust the output keeping the temperature in optimal range,but as I already noted,I did not manage to activate it.

According to Nitecore,the HC30 does not feature Low voltage protection,but I still tested it.
To test the driver for low voltage protection,I left the HC30 turned on,as long as possible.To be honest,I really was hoping for a LV protection in this headlamp.There was no such.
The HC30 stayed for some time on a very low output until the battery protection triggered.
I would not recommend to leave the HC30 unattended when using with an unprotected battery.
It is best to use a quality protected battery from Nitecore,or other trusted brand.

 Nitecore HC30 performed quite well in my usage,so far. Good performance as a headlamp.Good performance as a pocket-able flashlight. Well designed. I don't find anything more to want in terms of build quality. What I would change,if it depended on me-a shallower reflector for even wider beam with a less pronounced hotspot(I am a fan of the HC50's beam). This is of course my personal preference,which will differ from the preferences on other people with different requirements
I would like also a warmer light from the LED,which will improve color rendition,making close up work much more pleasant.I am sure many people will agree with me on this point.

In terms of output and regulation,the HC30 also does a good job.The max output is quite enough for almost any situation requiring quality illumination. Good amount of brightness modes,well spaced.The presence of a nice UltraLow mode is a big plus. The UI is great.Direct access to UltraLow and Turbo is really an option nice to have. As in most late Nitecore flashlights,the Stanby current draw is on the high side. It's not that high to bother you,but is definitely something to keep in mind,when leaving the headlamp unused for long periods of time,especially with already used battery.  Using protected 18650 batteries is highly recommended and will add also a low voltage protection for the every day use of the flashlight.
Nitecore recommends using its protected batteries in the HC30 for maximum compatibility-in size and protection.
I like the form factor-versatile and functional.
The headlamp is comfortable on the head,thanks to its lightweight body.
I enjoyed using it in the test period. The switch and user interface work flawless,quickly and without any skipping,or wrong activations.
The HC30 is a good offer in the multi-purpose head lights class.

Thanks to Nitecore for providing the HC30 for test and review!

Thanks for reading!
I hope my review was helpful for you.
If it was,you can help the blog continue and improve by donation.Check out my Contact&Support page.

MecArmy IllumineX-1 Titanium (10180 battery) Review

Hello
This is the first time,I am reviewing something so small. The object of my review is the new unique,ultra-small flashlight MecArmy IllumineX in its Titanium version. Many of you are already familiar with the design of the flashlight. It is powered by a small 10180 battery,which means,it is 10mm diameter and 18mm long. It has the same diameter as an AAA battery and less than half the length!
But this was not enough for the designers and they have built a charging circuit,which allows the user to charge the battery directly in the flashlight. For a charging power supply is chosen the most common type of source. The IllumineX is equipped with a MicroUSB port and can be charged almost everywhere and every time you want. Almost every new electronic device come with a Micro USB cable,so you can charge the IllumineX with the same cable from a computer USB port,5V wall adapter,or mobile power bank.
The IllumineX is available also in Stainless steel,Copper and Brass versions.

As usual,I made my best to take interesting pictures. Some outdoor,some great macro pictures.
It's hard to tell the size looking at the pictures. On the pictures,the IllumineX looks much bigger than it is in reality,so check out the size specifications first.

Here are the main specifications of the flashlight.

Here you can see it in my hand(quite slim).

User Interface
The IllumineX has two lighting modes,High(130Lm) and Low(8Lm).
Operating the flashlight is possible by twisting the head. Lightly tightening activates the Low mode.
Tightening further(fully) activates High mode.
The flashlight is so small,it is impossible to twist it with one hand,without some training and skillful hands .

The MecArmy IllumineX flashlights are equipped with Cree XP-G2 LED.
The light from the LED is reflected by a TIR optic.
This type of reflector is used,because of its short depth.It also eliminates the need of a glass lens.
After using the IllumineX for some time,my impressions of the beam are only good.
Nice nearly neutral white beam. Smoothly blending from hotspot to spill. Quite floody beam,which is very pleasing for EDC use.
Great choice for LED and optic,resulting in a great beam.

The LED on my sample is not centered quite well,but this does not bother me,because the beam is still good,without any visible defect.

Yes,the off center LED is visible on the picture below,but this is only on a picture.In real world use it is not noticeable.
The cameras usually make the beam look more contrasty than it is.

I measured 120 lumens on High mode and 12 lumens on Low mode.

1 meter, 1/20sec

The Titanium version comes in three different finishes.
Brushed,Sand blasted and Blued.
My flashlight has the brushed finish.

There are very thin lines,clearly visible on the macro pictures.
The lines work as a nice anti-slip feature,improving the grip.

Some very,very close up pictures.
You can see the machine work quality.

This is the packaging.

The IlluineX comes with two really small spare O-rings,a metal split ring and a nice bead chain.

Comparing with Fenix E99Ti(AAA),ThruNite"Ti"(AAA) and CQG Bullet(16340).

Here is a size comparison picture with some various keys.

The flashlight can be disassembled on three main parts.
It's great to see-the threads at both ends are square cut.This makes screwing/unscrewing action more smooth,and easier.

Here is a view of the back of the head. There is a metallic membrane,which does the switching to the High mode.
(Most SMD push button "electronic" switches have a similar membrane inside and the way of working is the same as this here).

Let's see how the charging feature works.
Most of the electronics-brightness regulating and battery charging is gathered in the top part of the body.
You can see the MicroUSB charging port,after unscrewing the head.
Then just connect a Micro USB cable and the flashlight starts charging the battery.

Red indicator light while charging. Green light,when the charging process is finished.
Fully charging the supplied 10180 battery,takes less than an hour.

The 10180 size batteries are not so widely distributed. This is why all of this small flashlights come with a 10180 battery in the set,ready for use.

There is a spring at the head,for good contact with the battery and to prevent battery rattling.

The MecArmy IllumineX-1 is a great little flashlight. Comfortable for different ways of carrying-on the neck,on the keyring,on the belt...
The beam is excellent and I have nothing to complain about it. I like the warmer white light,how flood is,the brightness is respectable.
I found the Low mode suitable for almost any occasion and the High mode needed just for rare special cases.
Some people may find the Low mode way too bright,but using the flashlight as a single mode light,makes sens of the brightness and saves us uncomfortable twisting until we choose the needed mode(as it will be if the light has 3,or more modes).
My run time test shows about 4,2 hours on Low mode,which is less than the manufacturer stated 6 hours.
I did not tested the High mode yet,but expect less than the stated 30 min.
The brightness depends on the voltage and is slightly decreasing with discharging the battery.The light is not constant at any voltage.
I did not see a low voltage protection,but the light gets very dim at the end telling us that it is a time for charging.

Activating the light with one hand is not an easy task,but this is the price for having a miniature flashlight,that can be carried as a necklace.
Build quality is on the desired high level. The charging function works well.
My impressions of the flashlight are only good,so far. A very useful light for EDC use.
I really like the idea for a really small flashlight,which can be charged easily. I also like the use of Li-Ion batteries,as they are much lighter than the NiMH batteries.

Thanks for reading!

The IllumineX-1 Ti was provided by MecArmy for test and review.