A Headlamp Made of Wood: Eukarya Origin Review

Headlamps are a necessity for any nighttime outdoor pursuit. And this one from Eukarya not only provides light but also sustainability and style.

In the outdoor industry, companies are constantly striving to make gear lighter than ever before. But Eukarya had a different approach: to make its new product as sustainable as possible. And that meant building a headlamp out of wood.

Eukarya Origin Headlamp Review

Eukarya kickstarted its wooden headlamp project a year ago, and now it’s finally on the market. Eukarya’s Origin Headlamp ($130) is composed of renewable zebra or cherry wood, recycled aluminum, and recycled plastic. It’s also rechargeable, so it eliminates the need for batteries.

This is one of the most stylish headlamps I’ve ever seen. Before testing, I had concerns that the headlamp was designed with looks over function in mind, but that was not the case. It works great, and the headlamp piece isn’t noticeably heavier than others on the market.

One of the coolest features of the Origin headlamp is the tilt adjustment — it doesn’t click. This may sound trivial, but it has always bothered me that other headlamps’ positioning brackets are rigid and not fluid.

The Origin’s tilt is silent and provides a 50-degree range of positioning. Despite the “click-less” tilt, the unit doesn’t bounce around or lose position during activity (I both hiked and snowshoed with this headlamp).

Headlamps: Quick Comparisons

This headlamp shares a lot of (what I consider) standard features of others on the market: a 300-lumen beam, adjustability, and multiple light settings. That’s impressive considering the natural materials and circuit board construction.

Comparing its features to those of two popular headlamp options, the Eukarya Origin definitely has some perks.

Even with wood and metal materials, this headlamp still weighs only 2.99 ounces. And it’s rechargeable. But it will cost you a bit more at $130. (For reference, other rechargeable headlamps can cost between $60 and $120.)

The price tag on the Origin is definitely on the high end. And for that price, it would be nice to get at least a red LED to protect your night vision while out stargazing.

But if you’re looking to upgrade your headlamp to a unique, long-term piece, consider this one. Given the sustainability story and solid performance, it’s a fun, useful headlamp that will be sure to strike up conversations.

The only drawback I could think of after using this headlamp for a couple of days is that there’s no power lock on the light button, meaning that if it’s loose in your pack it could turn on and run out its battery.

Also, while the power button has a good seal, the Origin is not meant to be waterproof. (Although it did work fine after I subjected it to a day of snowy winter weather.)

Eukarya Origin Headlamp Conclusions

Overall, I really enjoyed using this headlamp. It functioned well, the strap was comfortable and easily adjustable, and it looked sweet. Even though it was dark, I still got questions on the trail about the unique wood construction.

“Yes, it’s made of wood,” I’d reply. “Sure, that’s a little weird.”

But at the end of the day, putting all the aesthetic features aside, the Eukarya Origin works well. And that’s what matters most to me.