Red light headlamp review: hands-free light for stargazing
Where does it rank on our leaderboard
| Rank | Accessory | Stars for Your Buck | Recorded UK price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GEMINI EAF | 100 out of 100 | £42 |
| 2 | Generic Dew Heater | 93 out of 100 | £9 |
| 12 | Celestron 8-24mm Eyepiece | 82 out of 100 | £99 |
| 17 | Red light headlamp | 77 out of 100 | £6 |
| 21 | 365 Telescope Cover | 74 out of 100 | £209 |
| 33 | ZWO EAF | 51 out of 100 | £199 |
| 38 | Celestron 3x Barlow | 45 out of 100 | £145 |
| 45 | SKY ROVER 2x54 Binoculars | 28 out of 100 | £139 |
| 46 | 365 Solar Telescope Cover | 5 out of 100 | £73 |
Contents
- 01 Where does it rank on our leaderboard
- 02 Specifications and features
- 03 In use
- 04 In my words
- 05 Watch it in my video
- 06 Should you buy it?
- 07 Questions and more about this review
In 30 seconds
Stars for Your Buck 77/100
Reviewed 13 Dec 2023 Updated 25 Sep 2026
- Rank
- #17 of 46 accessories
- Verdict
- Damon recommends
Written by Damon Scotting 2 min read
Buy it if
- You set up, focus and pack away in the dark and want both hands free.
- You want to see your kit without undoing your eyes' dark adaptation.
Skip it if
- You only image remotely and never work at the telescope in the dark.
- You already own a red torch you are happy to hold.
“The red light doesn't affect your night vision as much, which means you can enjoy stargazing still, but also be able to see your surroundings.”
Specifications and features
| Red light headlamp reviewed #17 of 46 | |
|---|---|
| Recorded UK price | £6 |
| Unit in my video | EverBrite headlamp |
| Light | White main light, red side lights |
| Fitting | Elastic head strap |
| Lamp in the buy link | BORUiT 3W, red and white light, 4 modes, AAA batteries (not included) |
In use
The EverBrite headlamp
Switching it on
Red light on
At the telescope
Lit beside the mount
Worn at the telescope
In my words
“It might sound extremely simple, but one of my favourite accessories is this, a headlamp.”
From my nine-accessories video
“The fact that it's a red headlamp means it's better suited for stargazing, because the cones and rods in your eyes are less perceptive to red light.”
From my nine-accessories video
“The fact that it's mounted on top of your head, even though it does leave a nice lovely mark, makes it so much easier.”
From my nine-accessories video
Watch it in my video
The 9 COOLEST Accessories for ASTRONOMY! · published 13 December 2023 · 17:00 · Watch on YouTube · 19,597 views, 974 likes on 2 Oct 2026
Jump to
- 4:14 The red-light headlamp
- 4:36 Why red light suits stargazing
- 4:49 Bright light and dark adaptation
- 5:02 Worn on the head
- 5:16 Why it made my list
- 5:29 The headlamp close up
Transcript of the video 278 words · 6 chapters · searchable
Press a time stamp to play from there.
4:13 The opening
4:13 Right, now to follow up a cool and quirky accessory with one that you probably are much more familiar with.
4:14 The red-light headlamp
4:19 It might sound extremely simple, but one of my favourite accessories is this, a headlamp. 4:25 More specifically, a red-light headlamp, because it just makes all of this experience so much easier. 4:30 And I know what you're thinking straight away: like, yeah, boring, okay, we get it, it's a light, helps you see.
4:36 Why red light suits stargazing
4:36 But more importantly, the fact that it's a red headlamp means it's better suited for stargazing, because the cones and rods in your eyes are less perceptive to red light. 4:45 So you'll spend a lot of time outside waiting for your eyes to adjust to a dark environment.
4:49 Bright light and dark adaptation
4:49 If you immediately come across a bright light, it's going to affect your vision and take even more time for you to readjust to the dark environment. 4:56 But the red light doesn't affect your night vision as much, which means you can enjoy stargazing still, but also be able to see your surroundings.
5:02 Worn on the head
5:02 And the fact that it's mounted on top of your head, even though it does leave a nice lovely mark, makes it so much easier. 5:09 You could also have it chest mounted, I suppose, but it's just easier when you're up and close with stuff to be able to move your head and see where you're looking.
5:16 Why it made my list
5:16 Yeah, I am aware this is going to sound extremely simple, the fact that I'm saying my favourite accessory is a light. 5:22 But when I was making a list, I was just thinking of which items make my life the easiest, and this is certainly one of them.
Should you buy it?
77/100 Stars for Your Buck
Pros
- Red light lets you see your kit and surroundings with less harm to your night vision.
- Worn on the head, it leaves both hands free and lights wherever you look.
- The EverBrite in my video also has a white main light for jobs away from the eyepiece.
- A simple accessory that makes a whole night at the telescope easier.
Cons
- The strap leaves a mark on your forehead after a long session.
- Red light reduces the loss of dark adaptation rather than removing it.
- The lamp I link runs on AAA batteries, which are not included.
When I was making a list, I was just thinking of which items make my life the easiest, and this is certainly one of them.
Three alternatives I have reviewed
- Rechargeable hand warmers A pair of warmers that double as power banks 80/100 £12 Read the review
- Green laser pen A green pointer for showing people the sky 76/100 £10 Read the review
- Smartphone eyepiece mount Holds a phone steady over the eyepiece 77/100 £55 Read the review
Questions and more about this review
Reviewed by
Damon Scotting
The Telescope Man Verified
BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology, Loughborough University PGCE / QTS, University of Nottingham
About Damon About Damon Damon Scotting is The Telescope Man. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology from Loughborough University and a PGCE with QTS from the University of Nottingham, and taught physics in secondary schools before becoming an astronomy creator. He is a contributing writer for BBC Sky at Night Magazine and the author of 42 Wonders of Our Night Sky, and his photograph of the galaxy M100 with the dwarf planet Ceres was Highly Commended in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 competition run by Royal Observatory Greenwich. He has appeared on the BBC's Blue Peter. More than 750,000 people follow his astronomy channels on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and he has reviewed more than 140 telescopes, mounts, cameras, filters and accessories hands-on for this site. More about Damon · How I test · Damon's book
I review all kinds of gear: most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way. How this site is funded
Five questions, answered
Questions about the Red light headlamp
Reviewed 13 December 2023 ·Updated 25 September 2026
I review all kinds of gear. Most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way: no company sees or approves a review before it is published. Shop links marked Ad are affiliate links: I earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. How this site is funded
- Why use red light rather than white at the telescope? The cones and rods in your eyes are less perceptive to red light. A bright white light sets your dark adaptation back, while a red light lets you see your kit and your surroundings and carry on observing. Watch it in my video ↓
- Is the headlamp in the link the one in my video? No. The lamp in my video is an EverBrite with a white main light and red side lights. The link goes to a BORUiT 3W headlamp with red and white light that runs on AAA batteries. The verdict, the readers and the sellers ↓
- Why a headlamp instead of a hand torch? Because it sits on your head, the light follows where you look when you are up close to the telescope, and both hands stay free. In use ↓
- How much does it cost? The prices I recorded: £6 at AliExpress (Global), listed. A record, not a live price The verdict, the readers and the sellers ↓
- What have I not tested on the red light headlamp? I have not timed its battery life.