You’re No Invisible Pedestrian While Wearing This Headgear

i wouldn't use that except in a very, very dark cave. people will shoot you just for wearing it.

80 bones? How is this any different than a regular $30 LED headset? a reinforced strap? Does the strap over the top of the head really make a difference?

BeefSupreme

@BeefSupreme: probly the 80 bucks pays for the charger, adapter european adapters, and the rear LED flasher. my little sis runs early morning in the dark, and i got her one of those clip on blinkers and self-adhesive reflective tape. #1 you'd think it would be waayy more important to be seen than to see, #2 unless you are running way out in the country (or fall into a cave by accident) there's normally plenty of ambient light anyway, and #3 this headset does have the advantage of giving muggers plenty of time to hide in the bushes and get their coshes ready.

I've always wanted to look like a jerk while running, thanks to this, I can.

@j b cougar: To invent cave running, I think you actually have to go out and do it. Otherwise it's like those "concept" gadgets, which in my book are not much better than the flying cars with lasers that I used to draw in the fourth grade. So off you go. Time to spelunkathon.

And remember; video or it didn't happen.

The part I like is that there is "something", either a reflector or some additional light source, on the back of it so that not only can you see ahead, others can see you from behind. Here in the northern climes, the daylight hours can be pretty short for a working person, and if you want to get out, you have to have light to see and be seen.

I'm always entertained when a device that people have owned and used for ages is shown off as new. Sure, most people use it in caves, but its the exact same freaking thing.

citizensmith

@BeefSupreme: I laugh when I see $150 "tactical" flashlights, but I'd drop $80 on a BD headlamp any day. BD is in a handful of companies, like Petzl and Arcteryx, that make real deal equipment for extraordinary pursuits. BD makes gear for climbers, and--without ever having touched this piece--I can tell you t is probably incredibly overengineered to work in a downpour or 40 below zero, probably has switches rated for hundreds of thousands of uses, and is not made in the kinds of commercial quantities the regular $30 headset is. I'll guess that it is made to be light enough that you have no excuse not to carry it, so when you are topping out in deep black 'cos your partner took too long leading the fifth pitch, you actually have it with you, instead of leaving in the truck. And it will work, because it has too. That is why someone will pay $80 for a BD headlamp--because BD's designers are people who actually climb and have spent a lot of time thinking about what a climber wants. Every time I slot a nut, jab in a camalot, clip a hotwire, stand on a talon, or rap off using an ATC, I am literally trusting my life to BD. So, yeah, I'll pay more than the average joe for their gear.

AmphetamineCrown

Cave running already exists, ask the guides next time you go spelunking how fast they can get through the cave.

@BeefSupreme: Heck if I know. I got a really great one with the strap over the head which has like five different levels/settings for the front white leds and three different settings for the rear red leds. Twenty bucks on woot.

I suspect that it's the rechargeable battery system that ups the cost. Well, that and the brand name and the idea that it's specially made for running (ha).

@EarlIshaboo: Obvious troll is obvious.

Lizard_King

If you're sprinting in correct form, your head hardly moves. :) The thing on the back I'm guessing is a power pack.

kentsmithnz

@AmphetamineCrown: As a climber as well I totally agree about buying more expensive gear reputable companies, vs. say russian ice screws instead of Petzl's, etc... But a headlamp isn't life-critical like the biners, ATCs etc that you mention are. And I wouldn't *necessarily* pay by default for an expensive specialized headlight just 'cause it's BD;) I've had several (4) of my BD headlamps (Spaceshot II twice, Spot twice) fail over the last six or so years with various symptoms, and while I trust their climbing hardware firmly, their lights leave a bit to be desired... But luckily their customer service is still #1 and they'll send a new one out pronto; doesn't help though when it breaks in the field.

Tric

@Curves: maybe a red blinky light on the back? bikes have those i know

Me and my fellow scouts in Boy Scouts Troop 14 invented cave running in the mid 80's in an old quartz mine on the Havasu reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The problem was that we only had on us a flashlight for every couple of guys and I ran faster than my partner and after I woke up I never did it again.

Brian Richards

So... really? Headlamps are new to Gizmodo? In other news, ET for Atari 2600 flops...

nbolmer

@Curves: You could buy a Petzl Tikka XP (~$50)
[www.petzl.com]

AND a Petzl e+LITE (for rear facing signal)(~$25)

[www.petzl.com]

for a few bucks less than the expected price of this item. And you wouldn't be stuck with the integrated rechargeable batt...

And to editorialize somewhat, I have a Tikka XP and have used it extensively for several years, it has survived numerous instances where I thought for sure I had killed it (full submersion, extreme shocks, battery leaks, etc.).

If you are looking for an LED headlamp, I would seriously recommend Petzl as the first to look at, and if you don't find exactly what you are looking for in their product line I would also recommend Princeton Tec.

And finally, to REALLY editorialize, I am of the opinion that pretty much everything Black Diamond makes is over-priced...

@AmphetamineCrown: Not disagreeing with you generally, but BD is typically the priciest option among the hardcore adventure gear makers, and at least in my experience their products sometimes offer little advantage over other products that are less expensive (while being of similar quality).