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Detailed
Information:
Unlike the movie of the same name, the Matrix 2 doesn't
suck. (Yea, yea, I know... I should stick to being a
flashlight critic, but I really hated that movie...).
It's not a powerhouse, but it is a simple, straightforward,
reliable headlamp. Add to that the fact that you never
need to carry a spare bulb with you since it uses a
Luxeon I LED instead of an incandescent bulb. The original
Matrix used three 5mm LEDs that produced adequate light
for camp side chores. This headlamp is sure to find
greater utility due to its brighter output.
The body of the light is made of a tough polymer and
the bezel is protected by a rubber shroud to give it
a good degree of durability. The battery compartment
door pops into place and is attached to the body by
a plastic strap to prevent it from being lost or dropped
when a battery change is necessary. The headlamp moves
smoothly forward on the forehead plate hinge which can
be tightened if necessary with a Phillips screwdriver.
The bezel is typical of many PT headlamps. Removing
the lens reveals a reflector assembly that houses the
PR base bulb. Pulling the back off of the reflector
assembly reveals a spring and the PR based Luxeon I
side emitting LED. This particular LED sends most of
its light out to the side, allowing the reflector to
do its job and reflect the light forward. In the rare
event you should accidentally destroy the headlamp,
you can remove the bulb and place it in any 2 cell flashlight
that takes a PR based bulb.
To turn the headlamp on or off, simply twist the bezel.
That's it. The bezel and battery compartment are sealed
with o-rings giving the headlamp an advertised 100 meter
depth rating. That means it will not only withstand
rain and a dunk in a stream, but it can withstand the
rigors of diving as well.
For batteries, the headlamp takes two standard alkaline
AA cells. Information is not given about the compatibility
of lithium or rechargeable AA batteries. I can tell
you that if lithium batteries were used I would expect
much longer runtime and greater brightness, but the
literature included with the headlamp does not indicate
if this will void the warranty on the light.
Runtime Plot:
Yes, I misspelled "Matrix"...
oops...
Runtime
completed withRayovac brand batteries. More information
on runtime plots is available HERE.
To change the batteries, pivot the headlamp forward,
lift the tab in the rear and the battery cover pops
off. Drop out the old batteries and drop in new cells,
paying attention to the polarity indicated on the sticker
inside the body of the light. Snap the compartment door
back in place when complete. Battery life is advertised
at 8-10 hours. Throughout the life of the batteries
the light will diminish, but it will stay pure white
unlike an incandescent bulb which will turn more and
more yellow.
Included with the headlamp is a nice fleece bag with
a drawstring and spring cord-lock for storage of the
headlamp.
What I Liked: Waterproof, Tough/impact
resistant, Easy battery change, Comfortable on the head.
Easy to operate. Never need to carry a spare bulb.
What I Didn't Like: Not as bright
as I would like, but that's to be expected running on
only 2 AA cells. Meter readings do indicate that it
puts out about double the overall light of a 2 AA MiniMag.
Other Things I Noticed: The beam
center has a little bit of a funny starburst shaped
pattern, but I've seen this with other side emitter
LEDs. The pattern is not distracting in practical use.
Conclusions: A very reliable, simple,
straightforward headlamp for which you never have to
buy (or carry) a replacement bulb.
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