A quality headlamp is, without a doubt, one of the most important and useful tools in a successful hunter’s toolkit. To find success, one must be willing to work before the sun is up and after it’s down. So a headlamp one can trust is a must. It needs to have good battery life, be durable, waterproof, have a usable red light, and have a lock.
The problem is that most headlamps are not made specifically for hunters and their demands. Until now, that is. The Strike 1800 from Last Light might just be the perfect headlamp made for hunters, because it’s made by hunters. I’ve never been more excited to test out a headlamp.
In short: If you’re OK with a slight learning curve, the Strike 1800 headlamp from Last Light might just be the best headlamp for hunters sold today.
Compare the Last Light Strike 1800 with the best headlamps.
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very durable
- Lockout feature
- Rechargeable – USB-C
- Excllent red light
Cons
- One button with lots of modes can get confusing
- Heavy
- No spotlight
Last Light Strike 1800 Headlamp Review
Overview
Last Light was founded in 2020 by dedicated hunter Zak Harrison. Zak wanted to create a company that made lighting for hunters by hunters. Fast forward 6 years, and we land on the Strike 1800 headlamp, which has been making waves in the hunting industry since its release.
The aluminum Strike 1800 headlamp was built to be a rugged, reliable light source for any adventure a hunter throws at it. It comes in both red and green light configurations. The 1800 in the name stands for 1,800 lumens of powerful, highly adjustable illumination. Each Strike 1800 runs on a 3,400 mAh battery and weighs 4.3 ounces. This is a rechargeable battery via USB-C.
Along with a comfortable adjustable headband, you’ll also have the choice between red LED light (or green in the green model) and white LED light. We’ll get into that more below. To cap it all off, Last Light also includes a Lockout feature to keep your headlamp from turning on in your backpack. This is enabled by hitting the main button three times in a row.
Features
Powerful Red Light
I’ll just call it how it is. A lot of red lights just plain suck. They’re not bright enough to effectively navigate through the dark. Fortunately, Last Light and a few other brands changed all of that in the last couple of years with what I’ll confidently call “A Real Red Light.” The Strike 1800 is among the brightest and actually works to show you where you’re going past the point of your feet.
Different Lighting Options
This headlamp has a multitude of lighting options. Red light comes on first for hunting purposes, which is much appreciated. All in all, you’ve got bright red, dim red, max bright (1800), bright white, mid white, dim white, red strobe, white strobe, and alternating red/white strobe.
The majority of brightness levels are cycled through by repeatedly clicking the button. To access turbo mode (1,800 lumens), simply double-tap the button. Double-tap again to go into strobe, again for red strobe, and again for red/white strobe. Hold the button down to turn off the headlamp.
Memory
Another nifty feature of the Strike 1800 headlamp is its built-in memory. In order to turn the headlamp off, you hold down the button. Whatever light setting it’s on when you do this, is the setting that will come on the next time the Strike 1800 is powered up. So, there’s no need to cycle through light settings to reach your preferred one.
Waterproof
A headlamp getting wet on a hunt is inevitable. For that reason, Last Light also designed the Strike 1800 headlamp to be modestly waterproof. It is IP66-rated, meaning it can withstand heavy rain and precipitation, though it isn’t rated for submersion.
This is accomplished with the rugged full-aluminum body and rubberized button paired with the hidden USB-C input. This input is hidden by an end cover that is screwed in and out. Screwing it out will expose the input. Screwing it in will hide it, thus making the headlamp waterproof.
My Experience
I’m the type of person who finds something good and has a hard time breaking away from said item. I had been using the same headlamp for probably 4 years. I was content. However, when I saw the Strike 1800 being used in the field last fall, I was blown away and had to try it out for myself. So, here we are.
The first thing that stood out to me about the Strike 1800 was how well-made and durable it felt in my hands. For my entire life, I’ve always used plastic headlamps. They break for various reasons. Being an avid backcountry hunter who is no stranger to beating up gear, the construction of the Strike 1800 did not go unnoticed in the least.
I also loved the simple design that Last Light used here — it’s one button on one side with the charging port hidden on the other. The giant 3,400mAh battery is installed by simply unscrewing one side. That’s it. There are no screws, no fluff. Just a highly functional piece of gear.
In the Field
My very first trip out with the Strike 1800 was a bear hunt here in Arizona. I sat for the evening with no bear sightings, but then had a night hike back to the truck to follow. Strike 1800, engage!
Seeing how bright this headlamp was had me questioning what mode I was on. I kept thinking I was on the brightest setting, but I wasn’t. I was on the medium setting. Not even close. The light is not only bright, but it also has a wide beam, giving a view of the trail beneath my feet and the immediate surroundings.
After that, I took the Strike 1800 into the backcountry for 7 days. Each and every time I used the headlamp, it was a pleasure. Throughout that time, I didn’t notice the brightness dwindle even a little. It was a fine example of just how much the battery can handle.
Oh, and the red light? Yeah, at this point, I don’t think I can go back to anything I used before this. I have internally complained about the shoddiness of red lights on the market my entire life. The Strike 1800 is phenomenal and among the best you can get.
What’s Wrong
In my eyes, this headlamp is damn near perfect. However, it does have room for improvement. The Strike 1800 has quite a few button configurations in order to access the different lighting modes, locking feature, etc. You get used to it for sure, but it’s not exactly a small pill to swallow when you first get the headlamp. I had to look up several times how to do certain things with the headlamp via the one button it has.
Beyond that, this is a somewhat heavy headlamp. That’s largely due to its 18650 battery size, which offers excellent performance. For many, the added ounce or two compared with CRE123 or other 1,600 mAh lights is totally worth it for the added performance.
One final small nitpick is the lack of a spotlight. The floodlight is great, casting visual light to 120 yards and reflective to 340 yards. But it lacks the tight spotlight of some competitors.
Final Thoughts
The Strike 1800 headlamp is honestly a breath of fresh air in my eyes. It’s a shining example of what happens when something is purpose-built. It’s not just another headlamp. It’s a headlamp made by hunters for hunters. So, I say kudos to Last Light, and that if you don’t check this headlamp out, I really think you’re missing out.
