I bought a headset lamp a few days ago while window-shopping at CompUSA. This thing was a real rip-off.

As advertised, it’s a light you put on your head. It comes with these basic parts:
- Headband
- LED Lights
- Dimmer switch (Built better than the rest of the product)
- Cheap Plastic Switch (Cheap, plastic)

It does what it advertises, and it runs on normal AAA batteries. The only problem is the Cheap Plastic Switch. It’s only a momentary switch, where it should be a toggle switch. Furthermore, it’s only connected to the rest of the system by two tiny wires that are so flimsy I could snap them simply by holding the product by the switch. The weight of the two-pound assembly would snap the wires. I know this, because I held the assembly by the switch, and the wires snapped.

More specifically, the wires disconnected from the switch at the solder points. But I lost my $10 soldering kit years ago, so I had to repair it with scotch tape. Now I need to go spend ten bucks on another soldering kit just cuz this thing’s built like a Chinese Blister Wrap opener… Which remind me, I still need to review this crappy Chinese blister Wrap opener.

You can readily identify the Cheap Plastic Switch in the lower picture; it’s the little orange thing I’ve cleverly stuck between the dimmer assembly and the headband. That’s the only way I could think of to prevent it from breaking itself. Now for the overly-simplified review sections:

Pros:
- Allows me to project light from my forehead to my project area
- The light, dimmer switch and battery assembly are well-constructed
- Dimmer switch
- Adjustable light base

Cons:
- Breaks just by being picked up the wrong way
- Cheapo momentary switch should be a toggle switch so I don’t have to keep it depressed

Overview:
With some basic, cheap repairs, this product can be easily upgraded to “Par”. It’s a useful product, but poorly implemented. For $40, it’s not worth it. I award it a score of 30% and 50 arbitrary “Cool Points”. Keep in mind that “Cool Points” are merely a figure of coolness, and do not account for functionality, reliability, or other important aspects. That’s why they’re arbitrary.