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#161628 - 02/02/12 04:49 PM New variable headlamp!!
OldScout Offline
member

Registered: 03/17/03
Posts: 501
Loc: Puget Sound, Washington
"Intelligent Illumination — Look at a cliff face above a hiking trail. Your headlamp illuminates the rock with a 300+ lumen beam. Now, glance at your map; notice as the headlamp beam instantly tones down to adjust for a close view. That is the reality of the NAO from Petzl, a self-adjusting light that uses optical sensors and a tiny computer processor built-in to assess what you’re looking at, how far away it is, and then to change its output accordingly from 8 lumens to 355 lumens in a literal blink.





NAO mounted on a helmet and ready to shine its “smart” beam
We tested the NAO headlamp, which will cost a cool $175 when it comes to market later this year, in the dark woods on an XC ski outing one night after the trade show. Short story: It works. The “intelligent” beam saves on battery life by only using the needed light for any distance view, plus you won’t blast your eyes with 300-lumen bounce back if you glace from that proverbial cliff face above to a glossy map held in hand."

[sorry, the pictures didn't copy over]



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#161630 - 02/02/12 05:07 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: OldScout]
BZH Offline
member

Registered: 01/26/11
Posts: 1189
Loc: Madison, AL
how much does the thing weigh?

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#161632 - 02/02/12 05:19 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: OldScout]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
That is cool!!!

Brilliant use of technology. I want one now, but I'll have to wait til it's $19.95 laugh
_________________________
--

"You want to go where?"



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#161635 - 02/02/12 05:39 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: BZH]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
187 grams. Not light but for gen-you-wine hands-free nighttime pursuits it's pretty darn brilliant.

I have a Primus headlamp with a wrist remote, but it's not all that useful.

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick

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#161637 - 02/02/12 06:06 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: Rick_D]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
In addition to having a slight problem with both price and weight, I'd rather have a variable switch so I can control the light volume myself!
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#161644 - 02/02/12 06:53 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: OldScout]
oldranger Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
How in the world did we ever get along with lights we had to adjust by hand? or worse yet, that were nonadjustable....


Edited by oldranger (02/02/12 11:39 PM)

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#161648 - 02/02/12 08:48 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: oldranger]
Kent W Offline
member

Registered: 10/15/09
Posts: 607
Loc: IL.
I have a nice old brass Carbide lamp from my dads cavin days! Anybody here remember them besides me?

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#161651 - 02/02/12 09:13 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: Kent W]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
REI sold them (carbide headlamps) back when I first joined them (alongside wooly mammoth saddle bags). Justrite, I think. I always wanted one because they combined brass and flame.

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick

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#161659 - 02/02/12 11:39 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: Kent W]
oldranger Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
A carbide fan here. Great for caving and for night hiking; you could buy a flame protector that would keep wind from blowing it out. It was very easy to start a fire if you had a carbide lamp.

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#161685 - 02/03/12 09:07 AM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: OldScout]
Blue_Ridge_Ninja Offline
member

Registered: 09/09/11
Posts: 98
Loc: North Georgia
Neat technology, but more than I need and more than I'm willing to pay.

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#161723 - 02/03/12 10:11 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: oldranger]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
try buying carbide these days. I have my grandfathers coal mining lamp. It must be 90 years old. If you set the flame to about 3/4 inch the mosquitoes will come and singe their wings off and leave you alone. smile

This sounds like a really cool light. Even simple headlights are $30 so I'll get one when its $39.95.
Jim
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#161726 - 02/03/12 10:47 PM Re: New variable headlamp!! [Re: Jimshaw]
oldranger Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
The lack of availability is what did carbide lamps in. Too bad...I believe carbide is cow classified a hazmat.

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