Hat Light, Headlamp Combo Offers Ultimate Versatility: Coast WPH10R Review

If you regularly wear a baseball cap in the outdoors, you know the problem: Brims block the light from headlamps, making it tough to see directly in front of you while walking on a trail. The usual solution is to turn the hat backward or remove the cap when donning a headlamp.

But Coast just offered a new alternative, and I’m pretty stoked about it. The WPH10R headlamp doubles as a clip-on hat light. Yes, I know hat lights aren’t exactly new, but hear me out. This new light checks a whole lot of boxes at a very reasonable price of $40.

In short: The Coast WPH10R ($40) lights up the night with up to 1,000 lumens of white light in turbo mode or a medium 100-lumen output for up to 9 hours. It has a remarkably powerful red light that offers good visibility out to at least 20 m. But what sets it apart is its dual-mounting options. It quickly clips on and off mounts for a headlamp or hat light, allowing users to wear it on an included headlamp band or on any brimmed hat with the included adapter. The only downside is the risk of losing small parts, such as the hat clip.

Compare the WPH10R with those on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Headlamps.

Coast WPH10R Review

The WPH10R sells as a package that includes a small, stout light with a clip on one side, a headlamp strap, and a plastic hat clip. The light module clips easily onto a plastic portion of the headlamp strap or the hat clip. So you can exchange it from a headlamp to a hat in seconds.

The plastic clip is very tenacious, so once I put it on a hat, I would consider leaving it there, and just exchanging the light module itself.

Beyond that clever design, it has a very nice light beam that illuminates a bright center spot with good surrounding spill. The red light has two modes: a low-power mode useful for close range, like reading in bed, and a more powerful mode great for hiking at night while maintaining night vision.

Coast WPH10R Testing

It was very dark as I stepped outside the 10th Mountain Hut near Leadville, Colo. It was almost time for bed, and I needed to make my way to the outhouse. I reached up to the brim of my hat — which I’d been loath to remove because of my wild hair after 2 days of backcountry skiing — and clicked on the red light of the Coast WPH10R.

A sharp circle of red light illuminated the decking path out to the outhouse. I looked toward the top of Homestake Peak, where stars shimmered in the clear winter night sky. My night vision remained acute thanks to the red lighting, a major benefit for slow-paced nighttime trail navigation.

Later, as I crawled into bed, the red light didn’t bother my partner. I clicked it off and laid my hat next to my bunk, light still attached and ready for any late-night outings that might occur.

So far, the WPH10R has proven an ideal companion for a backcountry ski trip. And I already expect to use it many times in the coming months of camping, backpacking, hunting, and more.

The Hat Light Evolved

Beyond the fact that the WPH10R offers a lot of power and a great red light at a really good price, I am most intrigued by its utility as a hat light.

Brimmed hats are wildly popular in the outdoors. Clip-on hat lights are nothing new, with many pen lights and small flashlights offering a reversible clip to attach them to a hat. But the WPH10R is the first light I’ve tested that’s designed from the ground up to clip onto both a hat and a headlamp band.

It’s also the only clip-on hat light I’ve tested that has a (great) red light.

As a result, I expect that the WPH10R will become a go-to for hiking, backpacking, and hunting. When in camp or on the trail, I personally don’t take my hat off much, if at all. Even at night, it keeps my unruly hair covered and offers protection from rain or snow.

Now, instead of adding a strap over the top of my hat at night, I can quickly unclip the light from the headband (what I’d call headlamp mode) and clip it onto my hat’s brim.

In many situations, such as backpacking or hunting, I suspect I’ll even leave the headlamp strap at home and just use the hat mount. It’s comfortable, reliable, and light.

Magnetic Attachment, Replaceable Battery

For some, the strong magnetic attachment point and replaceable battery will be just as exciting as the hat attachment. The WPH10R has a powerful magnet on one end. It adheres to any metal surface.

For mechanics, it’s a super-useful feature that lets you work hands-free with the light mounted inside a vehicle’s engine compartment or on the body.

Next, the replaceable battery is a nice bonus. While the light ships with a nice rechargeable Zithion-X 18350 battery, you can also buy a second (or more) rechargeable battery. Carry as many as you need as backups and never run out of light in the field. Then, just plug them into the USB-C charger when you’re back in camp or at home.

One Possible Problem

The WPH10R offers a lot to love. But one serious con is the likelihood of losing small parts. The hat clip, in particular, could be easy to misplace. And by adding the multiple uses, it gives users the potential to leave parts in a pack, attached to a hat, or under a car seat.

For those prone to misplacing gear, it’s a worthwhile consideration.

Who Should Buy the Coast WPH10R Light

The Coast WPH10R headlamp might be the most universally useful lighting tool on the market today. It is powerful enough for almost any recreational use, has an excellent red light to maintain night vision, and offers a headlamp, hat clip, and hand use with a bonus magnetic attachment point. It has a good runtime and interchangeable, rechargeable batteries.

At just $40, the WPH10R is a heck of a deal. Anyone who needs a headlamp and always wears a hat will appreciate the clip-on feature. Just don’t lose the clip, and this little light will blaze your trail with comfort and brightness.