The Torch Hat

Last weekend I bought a 4-LED head-mounted lamp, which my 3 year old son now refers to as "daddy's torch hat". The marketing for such things seems to be aimed at ninjas who explore caves, but I just wanted to use it to read in bed -- Mrs Deuce is particularly sensitive to light when she sleeps -- so I bought the cheapest model.


It's basically a few AAA batteries and a row of LEDs mounted on an elastic headband, with another elastic strap that goes front-to-back over the top of your head. And Oh. My. God, I just can't express how spectacularly useful it is to have a torch strapped right between your eyes. Everywhere you look is brightly illuminated, with no shadows! And both your hands are free! I had it on last night when I went looking for my needlenose pliers, and I could see deep into every random nook and cranny I searched in. I didn't find my pliers, but now I know where lots of other things are!

So I can totally recommend buying a hat torch. For inside use, you want a broad beam variety -- be careful of the tight beam ones though, they're for weirdos who, like, do stuff outside. Freaks!