UCO A-120 Comfort-Fit Headlamp Review
Headlamp Woes Got You Down?
Campfire Guy here. Have you ever sung the headlamp blues? Did it squeeze your watermelon sized head and give you a headache? Were replacement batteries too expensive and hard to find? Were you 106 miles to Chicago, with a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, in the dark, wearing sunglass and lacking a good headlamp?
Enter The UCO A-120 Comfort Fit.
My mission today is to enlighten you on a unique headlamp that I’ve been very happy with, the UCO Gear A-120 Comfort-Fit Headlamp. UCO (pronounced “you co”), stands for Utility, Comfort, and Originality. Based out of Tukwila, Washington, UCO has been in business since 1971. You can see a little more about the company here. They make some other interesting stuff I can’t wait to try out.
Headlamp or Conversation Piece?
The A-120 first caught my eye on Massdrop.com with it’s unusual, eye-catching design. It doesn’t look like any headlamp I’ve ever seen, let alone, used. A perfect marriage of Steampunk, leather working, with a little scuba diving thrown in for good measure this headlamp is certainly original. After a little begging, I ended getting the lamp for Christmas.
Aside from how cool it looks (the lamp, not the guy wearing the Christmas Vacation PJs), what sold me on the UCO A-120 Comfort-Fit was the comfortable neoprene band and the ease of adjustment. My bald head rivals Mt. Baldy in size, and often headlamps are too tight, especially if I’m wearing a knit hat in colder weather. Having the (3) AAA batteries in the back balances out the lamp nicely.
Outstanding Lighting Control
Another nice feature is the light control. Instead of a hard to find button, a large “Infinity Dial” allows you to well, dial in the brightness. It also has a single, red light setting for battery conservation. No other lamp I’ve used allows this much precision.
Most headlamps have a single button that you have to cycle through to go from red, dim white and full white. I usually click past the setting I want and end up going through the cycle two or three times, sounding like a hyperactive woodpecker.
At 120 lumens, the CREE XP-E LED is bright enough to illuminate a trail, but not too bright for close tasks. The lamp mount tilts downward, allowing plenty of flexibility on where you focus the light.
Final Thoughts
I have found a few drawbacks, but no deal breakers. The A-120 is a little bulky when you have it in your pocket and the light lens scratched pretty easily with just a few uses. It does fold up somewhat but doesn’t have the compactness that traditional “batteries in the front” lamps have. Be mindful of what you pack along side this. I was pretty abusive over the course of two hunting trips and one campout. The scratches haven’t impacted the lights functionality at all. For me, the comfort and range of adjustment far outweigh the bulkiness and scratches.
If you are in the market for a new headlamp the UCO A120 Comfort Fit LED Headlamp
Pros
- Lightweight
- Very comfortable to wear
- Nice range of headband adjustment
- Fantastic Lighting Control
Cons
- A little bulky to pack
- Plastic lamp cover scratches easily
Specs From UCO on the A-120 Comfort-Fit
Battery Type (included): 3x 1.5v AAA in external pack
Bulb type: CREE XP-E LED
Highly Water Restistant: IPX4
Lamp Dimensions: 0.65″ x 2.3″ x 1.4″ (1.7 cm x 5.9 cm x 3.5 cm)
Weight: (w/ batteries): 3.7 oz. (104 g)
This post contains affiliate links which help fund my outdoor misadventures and offset operating costs. The UCO-120 was a gift from Santa Claus, so I’m not sure what his arrangement with UCO is, I’m just happy he thought of me.