Nite Ize Inova STS Headlamp

Among the range of ridiculously cool products at Nite Ize is one of the best headlamps on the market: the Inova STS Headlamp, released at the beginning of 2014.

Many things set this headlamp apart from others. For starters, it’s waterproof up to one meter and it is impact resistant, so you can feel free to be hard on this product. The lamp is also lightweight, so you won’t have to worry if you’re counting ounces.

The LED lights are exceptionally bright, with the high setting maxing out at 142 lumens and the low setting at a still useful 3 lumens. There is also a flashing setting, great for urban cyclists and runners who want to be seen by cars. The light shines in two colors: red, to increase night vision, and white.

One of the stand-out aspects of the headlamp is its “swipe to shine” interface. Rather than fumbling to press a button, you simply swipe the top of the lamp to turn it on — just like you would a smartphone. Astoundingly, the lamp also has dimming and lock-out ability. It’s a brilliant development, though it takes some getting used to; with practice, you’ll soon figure out you don’t need to apply a ton of pressure to turn on the lamp. In fact, if you do press hard at all, the lamp does not respond.

This may be the most complex headlamp you’ll ever own, but it’s worth the investment. Learn more at niteize.com.