Olympia EX550 Headlamp

With 550-lumen max output, this new offering from Olympia meant no surprises in Chile’s Lake District.  Between jungle-like forests and nearly limitless volcanic plains, the headlamp’s five lighting modes suited changing conditions.  A corrosion-proof aluminum body satisfied testers in fog, rain and mist, as did the IPX-7 waterproof rating for temporary submersion to 1m.  Critical was the power lockout function to preserve batteries during intercontinental travel and in-country transit.  While the lighting head tipped to the heavy side, EX550’s balance was solid; an infinitely adjustable, rubberized tilt system avoided ratchet breakage common to other options.  At under $70, Olympia musters solid value.  Testers recommend a beefier headband on future iterations, as the top strap is required to prevent shifting.