E-Mail 'Gear Review: Coast FL19 Headlamp, by The Novice' To A Friend

32 Comments

1. For the last couple of years I have been using the Harbor Freight Quantum LED headlamp and I find that it is very durable. It runs on 3 AAA batteries, it has a high, low and strobe setting. It doesn’t have a red light, but it does have an adjustable lens. You can adjust it from flood to spot or anywhere in-between.
   It is often on sale for $10.

2. Your water rating has me cracking up

   1. It gave me a good chuckle as well

   2. I, too, enjoyed your water rating.

      Also, your gracious last paragraph: “Coast was kind enough to provide me with a unit for testing. I tried not to allow their kindness to influence my evaluation of the FL19. I believe that I have provided an objective and accurate review of the product.”

      Humility of this sort engenders trust in my heart.

      Carry on

      1. Matt, common Man, and Once a Marine, Thanks for the encouraging words.

3. I have always found Coast to be a reliable and economical replacement for the top tier (flash light brand here). I have carried a Coast HX7 daily for the last decade. Small, focusable and 345 LM with a 14600 lithium battery.

4. A person needs a headlamp to use, as it leaves both hands free while working. … Changing a tire at night is a lot easier with a headlamp-on, than trying to work and hold or position a regular flashlight. … Working inside or out, doing ~household chores is easier too with a headlamp at night. When times are good there are still power outages.

   With “Put the USA back in the Stone Age” ~Joe in charge, we can expect more electrical system/grid problems. Stone Age ~Joe will have a taxpayer funded electric generator for power. … He’ll need electrical light, and Beijing Joe might even have to telephone some of his cronies.

   For years I carried a small Maglite to use like a cigar for work, and a 3-D cell Maglite incase of dog or cranky-customer problems. … A headlamp that leaves your hands free is the best light overall, when working.

   1. Hi GGHD, Yes, headlamps are very useful tools. I recommend that everyone have at least one.

5. Princeton Tec has USA made headlamps. Probably costs a bit more than the Communist China Coast ones.

   1. Hi JJ, Great tip. Pelican headlamps are USA made as well.

   2. I had two Costco-purchased Coast headlamps fail (I bought four) and have gone to Princeton Tec because I realized they were made in the USA. They are good units but a little spendy.

      If you live in a cold climate, I recommend evaluating how easy or difficult it would be to change batteries in cold weather. My older Princeton Tec battery covers are very balky when fingers are fumbling cold.

6. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coast-FL19-330-Lumens-Dual-Color-LED-Headlamp-21586/311180892

   Also has them in various Lumen output.

7. The best price I have found is at Lowe’s: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Coast-330-Lumen-LED-Headlamp-Battery-Included/1000478491

8. Wait a minute, are you saying there are women who can’t use a pink Swiss army knife???

   1. I was thinking that some of the ladies might prefer a different color. Of course everyone needs a Swiss army knife.

      1. As long as it is pink

      2. I dont like the pink one but I do find that my pink tools are less likely to be borrowed by my husband and they are very easy to spot.

9. I carry a small but very powerful LED flashlight for my evening walk after finding my self surrounded by three skunks one evening a couple years ago. At first I thought they were our Bombay cats, but they are all black and there was enough moonlight that I could see white on these “cats” bodies.

   Haven’t seen a skunk since then, but often see deer, raccoons, possums, rabbits, etc.

   1. I didn’t know that Pelosi, Schumer and AOC lived outside of D.C.

10. Years ago, I acquired a nice little white/red led headlamp. I used it to tend pots at camp in the early morning and evening meals, and when I needed some up close light. By today’s standards it was not a bright light, providing enough lumens to tend the pots at arm’s length and light well worn paths to the privy. It used two AA batteries kept in a separate case on the band at the back of my head. Not at all inconvenient. I still have that light. It was great for when I would take our great dane for walks around the neighborhood at 4:00 am when neither of us could sleep another minute. There’s not always a street light shining near enough to keep us comfortable. That little light was just right for her.

    Nowadays, I have several headlamps that are far brighter. Like my flashlights, I have tried to get ones that either run on Lithium rechargeable CR123s or 18650s, because they far outlast the AA or AAA Nimh rechargeables, both in terms of charge and overall life expectancy. A <50 lumen LED running on an 18650 seems to last a year or more on one charge with nominal use.

    20 years ago, shortly after Nichia LEDs were becoming reasonably available, I started converting D-cell flashlights from incandescent/xenon to LED arrays, with some success. I was able to sell a few, but really they weren't worth the effort. Shortly thereafter, everyone was selling them, and I quit messing with them like that.

11. God bless missionaries! The greatest need for them is right here in the USA for the re-conversion of the vast majority who now ridicule God.

12. Fl19 may be a great lamp……..but honestly the China imports for 7 to 10 dollars are better. Sorry on my budget the price and quality are pointing to the import ones. Hate to but China production…but hate even worse buying something that’s rated as great for two to three times the price and most likely China made also.

13. Best use I have found for cap light is bringing in firewood, and such. A lot of everyday tasks take two hands or in the case of firewood, two arms. Once you get used to using a cap light, you will not go back to only a flashlight. Still prefer strong flashlight for security checks, strange noises and such, but having 2 hands free is addicting. Find I don’t need a lot of light for anything but walking, most uses a long run time at a lower level is better. Light is handiest at less than 6 feet for most uses I have and x hundred lumens is just over kill.

    Have a 15 watt solar cell in window with a battery charger, keeps the light going for me all the time with rechargeable batteries now, years ago some lights would work with rechargables and some wouldn’t.

14. It is a crying shame that our children were never raised as we were, on a large daily dose of independence, nationalism, and the ten commandments. We only have ourselves to blame. God bless.

15. I came across “Goforwild” headlamps a while back. They’re bright enough to burn the fur off a rabbit at a hundred feet, and are USB RECHARGEABLE, so no batteries to change. OK, OK; so I ordered them from “The Beast,” but at $26.00 for a 2-pak, my prepper heart couldn’t resist!

16. Headlamps are a great addition to vehicle emergency bags and toolkits. I store mine with the batteries out due to ruptured batteries destroying stuff after months of storage.

17. Headlamps can almost guarantee a bug dinner. I wear my lamp on my arm laced to a bow arm guard. No bugs, hands free, light focused where I’m working. Due to the adjustable head on the lamp, I can dog walk with my arms down at my side.

18. I never gave any thought to putting them in our cars or our bug out bags, which are stuffed Ruth “stuff”. Great article, thanks for submitting.

    God Bless you all.

19. I keep a headlamp hanging on the handle of the closet door in my hallway for a quick grab-and-go in case of any nighttime emergency event. You don’t want to be digging through drawers looking for it if needed quickly. I always have shoes ready by my bed, too… do you think it’s too much? LOL, preaching to the choir.

20. Looks like you are a grade 9 of 10 prepper. If you were a 10, you would wear the light to bed. Turned on.

21. Ha ha, TominAlaska!
    When I travel for business or pleasure, I always wear a headlamp around my neck when I go to sleep. It’s not at all uncomfortable, and I’m sure to have a light in the night if needed, no matter what!

22. Harry, always use my head lamp going into the woods to reach the deer stand and need it to field dress the deer if darkness is comming on.

Comments are closed.