If you spend a lot of time in open or mountainous terrain, like me, you certainly know one annoying situation. The headlamp breaks, runs out of battery, and you don't have spare batteries, or you accidentally leave it at home while packing.
For these cases, I keep a simple backup packed. An ordinary headlamp with barely 150 lumens running on a "hundred" AAA batteries. However, I got tired of this fallback. So I was looking for a backup headlamp using an 18650 battery, which offers higher output and longer runtime. In case of emergency, I could also use it in my Fenix CL26R camping lantern.
But where can you find a sufficiently powerful and durable headlamp that wouldn't ruin your budget? The answer was found at WARAGOD and it's called Isak.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” Neale Donald Walsch
The newcomer ISAK in numbers
First, let's look together at the technical side. The body is made of lightweight aluminum alloy. This is an ideal solution when you need a light yet durable light source. One of the main criteria for a proper headlamp for running, mountain hiking or military use. Speaking of the military, the Isak has no reflective elements. When switched off, it won't alert others to your position.
The headlamp's basics consist of the light itself, a plastic mount, a USB cable, and a comfortable elastic strap. You can also use the headlamp as a handheld light. It simply detaches from the mount. The light is supplied without a battery. However, you can buy a rechargeable 18650 battery for a few coins. Besides models from Fenix with USB, there are also standard 2200 mAh batteries from Borui available at the price of a regular lunch delivery. I tested the headlamp exactly with these.
- Number of modes: 7
- Output: 1000 lm
- Lights: main XM-L2; secondary 2x XPE white (Isak has an identical sibling with a red XPE light - Magnus)
- Body: aluminum alloy
- Charging: built-in USB-C
- Power supply: lithium 18650 battery
- Charging voltage: 5V/1A
- Reverse battery insertion protection: Yes
- Last mode memory: Yes
- Water resistance: IPX6 (heavy rain)
- Runtime: 2 to 20 hours depending on the battery and mode
- Weight: approx. 110g
- Size: diameter 2.5cm,
- Length 9cm
Controls and indicators
Isak is designed practically. The headlamp is controlled by a single button, which also functions as a battery status indicator. When switched on, it lights up green while the battery has more than 15% charge remaining. When it drops below this level, the button lights up red. During charging, it works the opposite way. While charging, the indicator lights up red and turns green once fully charged. The USB-C port is cleverly hidden under the thread on the switch side. It appears after a few turns of the switch cover. The Borui battery with a capacity of 2200 mAh was fully charged in 2 hours and 35 minutes.
Isak on the hunt for nocturnal predators
We traditionally have the numbers. Let's look at practice. Besides regular work, at home we also handle monitoring of nocturnal predators, specifically owls. Most locations are in hilly, forested terrain. Perfect for testing the Isak.
Considering the size of the battery, the headlamp is worn very comfortably. The strap is soft and adjusts easily. Lines the head circumferenceand does not have a second part running over the top. This variant is, for me personally, the most practical and comfortable.
ISAK headlamp modes
Isak has 7 modes. If I leave out the strobe and dimming, there are 5 modes available for actual lighting.
The main L2 light has full 100% power and a mode reduced to 40%. I use these 2 modes most often. They are designed for distance and create a wide beam of light. The light is wide enough to illuminate a mountain two-lane road from one edge to the other. At maximum power of 1000lm , it is more than sufficient. The range of the light is 180 °.
In addition to the main light, Isak has 2 secondary smaller lights with XPE type LED. Both light up in the 100% mode. The weaker mode reduces power to 15%. They do not create a classic beam for distance. They spread light nearby and to the sides. I mostly use them in the car, when rummaging in the cabin or trunk, in a tent, or when writing notes directly in the field. The lights are not blinding and you can study a map or work on details on your gear at moments when the main light would be too bright.
The last mode is the maximum 100% power of all 3 lights. It is great when you need situational awareness both at a distance and peripherally underfoot. It proved most useful on an old forest road. That's when we needed to see not only the path ahead but also underfoot. We were moving along a steep slope made of rocky debris hidden under a thick layer of leaves. To make it more entertaining, in places overgrown with small brambles that tangled around our feet.
Modes are selected with a simple click, the strobe with a quick double click. The headlamp remembers the last selected mode. Just turn it on by pressing the button for about 2 seconds.
When the battery power decreases, the indicator on the button starts glowing red. If it blinks 3 times in a row, it only starts the weakest mode on the smaller lights. The advantage is that the headlamp has a replaceable battery. Maximum power lasted about 1.5 hours. With a battery capacity of 2200 mAh. With a battery capacity of 3600 mAh, it would of course last longer.
I appreciate the USB charging hidden under the thread cover. Rubber caps, common on other models, wear out and get lost over time. This is especially a problem during heavy rain. Isak is built for such situations as well, since it has the IPX6 standard. Thanks to it, it works reliably even in heavy rain.
The newcomer ISAK did not disappoint
Whether you need a headlamp for camping, work, or tactical exercises, Isak is a great choice. It offers solid performance, durability and user-friendly solutions. All of this at an affordable price for everyone. A night in nature can be scary. At the same time, it has its own charm and offers a world that remains hidden during a bright day. Stories and adventures are within reach of a single click of the switch. Just get up from the couch, choose one of the 3 Waragod headlamps and head out into the dark. You can watch other people's experiences on TV or experience them yourself. The choice is yours.
