Short Description:

The Gemini headlamp is made by Black Diamond and is available for purchase from e-Headlamps.com.

Like several of the new headlamps from Black Diamond, this headlamp utilizes both LEDs and an incandescent bulb in one bezel to provide two levels of light output. LEDs are best utilized for close-up work such as camp chores, while the incandescent bulb can be focused to a tighter beam for walking trails and spotting objects at a distance. There are three different incandescent bulbs that can be used with this headlamp. It comes with a "long life" bulb in the bezel and a "bright" bulb in the battery box. A "superbright" bulb can be purchased separately. The bulbs have different color bases (blue, yellow, red) to indicate their intensity. Increased intensity comes at a cost of reduced battery life.

The entire headlamp is held on the head using a three point elastic support system with the battery box placed at the back of the head and the bezel up front. A cable runs around the user's right side to connect the two. The switch is located underneath the bezel and allows for selection of the LED or incandescent bulb by clicking in series. The bezel is tilt adjustable for close work. The battery box has a rubber cover which rests against the head of the user and creates a somewhat water-resistant seal. The bezel is sealed with rubber grommets and O-rings.

Included in the package are the 3 AA batteries needed to power the lamp.

Detailed Information:

The Black Diamond Gemini is a good all-purpose headlamp. It has many of the features that both the professional and casual user would look for.

The body of the headlamp is divided into two main parts: the bezel and the battery box. The bezel is made of translucent greenish-blue plastic with a rubber focusing ring surrounding the lens. On the top right side of the bezel the cable connecting the bezel to the battery box exits the bezel through a rubber grommet and wraps around the user's right side, connected to the strap by two clips. The grommet prevents wear on the cable and also provides a water-resistant seal. The bezel is attached to a plastic forehead plate by a large slotted bolt which will accept a small coin or screwdriver for adjusting the tension of the tilting action. The bezel can be tilted 90 degrees from straight out to straight down. On the back of the plate is a rubber disk which serves as a cushion. The strap runs between the cushion and the head of the user.

Pivot point tension bolt

Inside the bezel you will find the LEDs and the incandescent bulb. The reflector is textured to prevent the appearance of artifacts such as dark splotches in the beam when the light is focused.

Runtime and range vary depending upon which incandescent bulb is placed in the lamp.

The two LEDs give a 10 meter range and 500 hours advertised runtime. There is no regulation circuitry in the headlamp, so output diminishes over time.

To change the incandescent bulb, you simply unscrew the bezel to expose the lamp. To focus the bulb, twist the rubber focus ring to achieve the desired beam. The LEDs never need to be changed. The headlamp comes fitted with a "long life" bulb. A spare "bright" bulb is supposed to be included stored in the battery box, but based on the color coding on their website, it appears that a "superbright" bulb may have come in the battery box instead.

The switch is underneath the bezel and is pleasantly comfortable to operate with the thumb when grasping the bezel. First click turns the LEDs on, second click is off, third click turns the incandescent bulb on, and the fourth click turns it off again.

The straps are elastic and are fully adjustable. The strap attachment points on the bezel and battery box are slotted so that the straps can be removed for cleaning or replacement.

The battery box in the back is formed from two pieces - a hard plastic outer section which holds the batteries and spare bulb, and a rubber cover which seals the battery compartment and has 6 protrusions that press against the user's head to provide stability. To open the battery box it is necessary to loosen the straps. One then simply peels the inner rubber cover off of the outer plastic box and flips it out of the way. After changing the batteries, fit the rubber cover back onto the plastic box and press on it all the way around its edge to ensure a tight seal. The headlamp will accept lithium AA 1.5 volt batteries for better cold weather performance.

The light takes 3 AA batteries which are held in the battery box vertically. Batteries are included.

What I Liked:

I liked the fact that the headlamp is water resistant, has both LED and incandescent in one light, and has multiple incandescent bulb options depending upon your needs. It feels well balanced on the head and is quite comfortable. The switch on the bottom of the bezel is very easy to operate. Adjusting the tension on the tilt mechanism is very easy.

What I Didn't Like:

Changing the batteries is easy, but you need to loosen the straps to open the battery box - this can throw the straps out of adjustment a bit and they need to be readjusted a little to make the headlamp comfortable again.

Other Things I Noticed:

The focus mechanism for the incandescent bulb is not smooth and has very little range, but I don't think you'll need to do a lot of focusing since you have the LEDs for close up work anyway. I would prefer if you could turn the LEDs and incandescent on separately so that you didn't have to cycle through one setting to get to the other, but this is a minor inconvenience.

Conclusions:

A good headlamp for general purpose use, camping, hiking, and other outdoor sports. If you're considering the Black Diamond Gemini and can afford it, you may want to look at the Black Diamond Supernova. The regulated output may be worth the extra money for the convenience of having constant output from the bulbs and the option of dimming the light in either LED or incandescent mode.

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