Warm white for my review Armytek WIZARD

BORN TO EXCEED is the slogan of the Canadian company for optoelectronics: Armytek.
Whether and to what extent this slogan corresponds to reality, I have noticed in the past few weeks:

Here is my review:

The Company:
Armytek is a manufacturer based in Canada and provider of front / flashlights primarily for the BOS area (emergency service).
But with the lights Wizard, Wizard Pro and Tiara, the manufacturer also a few hot iron for TrailRunner, runner, triathlete and biker in fire.
(Of course, the target audience of these lamps also be extended to outdoor enthusiasts, climbers, hunters, etc.).

Un-boxing:

From price performance reasons, I have decided for the normal Wizard. This has an MSRP of around 80 and also impresses with its exceptional performance

(See Review: [...]).

1200 lumens for this price are already a house number, the Wizard thus playing in the League of headlamps class a la Lupine Piko and others.
It comes in a simple cardboard box, this includes not only the finely crafted lamp and a stainless steel clip two O-rings (seals) a headband, 2xCR123A batteries and a German manual.
All you need is thus on board.

Processing:

The WIZARD is processed very good for this price, it offers a matt high-quality finish, the lamp body is made of an anodized aluminum alloy, which makes a very strong impression.
Even the greased thread can be turned very sick and close. The Wizard is one of the few lamps on the market, which is also waterproof to 10 m! (IP68!)
Particularly noteworthy is the coated with a honeycomb diffuser lens, which is to produce a particularly beautiful, wide light.

Armytek granted an additional 10-year manufacturer's warranty exemplary!

Operation:

The handling of the wizard is very simple:

Clicking - lamp on, press and hold: the lamp switches cyclically in the lighting levels two and three high, then back to the initial stage one.
A quick double reaches the maximum brightness level of 1200 lumens (Warm White: 1120 lumens). Renewed double and you're back at the switching stages 1-3.
A long press in the OFF state and you reach the Firefly lighting level, in this case a burn time of up to 18 days is achieved, ideal as an emergency lamp for outdoor specialist or camper.

Further Functions:

The Wizard has a memory function and therefore always switches to the last used light mode.
If the battery voltage shows the lamp with three flashes to, at almost no charge is regulated down to 25%.
Temperature Management: With more than 70 degrees, the 5X LED flashes at about 75 degrees is regulated at level III, when it reaches the critical 80 degrees is regulated on the Firefly mode (I must still try)
A complete turn can be ensured by a quarter turn of Tailcap!

Power supply:
The Wizard, as well as the Pro can be powered with batteries 2xCR123A, and 2x RCR123er batteries and in particular with 1x18650er batteries.

The latter are especially suitable because of their high capacity and low cost.
(Of particular interest therefore also for multi-day Ultras !!)
Particularly recommended are the Greens here 18650 B battery of Panasonic with a capacity of 3400 mAh, or labeled by Armytek red battery (protected), also with 3400 mA hours.
These provide the data sheet maturities in the switching stages one to a maximum of 18 days (Firefly, 2,7lm) 30h (47 lm), 7 h (230lm), 3H (465lm) and 1.5 hours (at 1200/1120 lumens).

(The lumen values ​​for the neutral white wizard are slightly higher)

The burn time is relative even quite long, especially with a total weight of only 127 g!

Even the battery replacement work relatively easy, because the lamp against the end, you can simply unscrew the tailcap, change the previously gripped second battery and the screw cap again, without losing time great.

Fit and seat:

The included headband with overhead belt can be adjusted very well and does not slip after also during exercise. Through the seat forward the Armytek on paper her seems a little top-heavy, but what I did not come true in test mode!
The low weight of lamp head including battery with just 100 g wobbles or rocks the lamp when properly adjusted in any way.
It should be noted that you have to wear a Lupine Piko Neo or even with the smallest battery, after all, well 120g of weight at the back (in addition to 50-70g of lamp head forward). Again, it is possible indeed to achieve a comfortable fit.

However, one should be careful not too tight to close the overhead band, but rather to adjust the headband tighter and pull the bulb to just above the ears down. In particular, I recommend to wear a buff, then the comfort is really very good and I have forgotten the Wizard after a few minutes.

Differences from other lamps with less weight at the front were to be seen at best in direct comparison, during operation, while the pursuit of sporting activities
This is not noticed.

Battery life and water resistance.

These two aspects I shall consider in more detail the long-term test, especially as the battery life is particularly interesting at minus degrees and any tightness deficits also show up as a rule only after weeks or months.
In principle, I can the maturities specified by the manufacturer previously confirmed (see Pic)

Brightness:

Here the WIZ price / performance / quality relation in a league of its own!
No me bekannte- quality headlamp under 100 can match even remotely.
Even to 250/300 the Wizard can keep -absolute betrachtet-:
It lights up the trail wonderfully wide, without recognizable spot certainly also thanks to the very good lens Diffusors- with smooth transition into the spill!

Therefore, somewhat similar to the Silva lamps (Trail Speed ​​Elite 250!) That radiate beautiful wide. The Lupine Piko other hand, is rather spotig and makes many things just by their sheer Lumen Power Bet (1200 lumens, max.) But it also costs 300-350!
In a direct comparison of the Wizard Warm White for Piko but you can also realize that the two lights in the same league! They make really good light, thus ensuring particularly in the technical terrain for a significant increase in safety!
Therefore A big compliment to Armytek!

Such a (light) power for so little money - TOP!

What is better: always Depends! It remains that on the one hand, the warmer light of the Wizard-warm white version is very easy on the eyes.
Almost all other providers have only slightly into the bluish cold, shimmering LED light, which shines subjectively harder (at Armytek is the neutral white variant).

Running a wide illumination is definitely beneficial. However, this always goes a bit at the expense of range: Here the spot important Piko can score which I think in particular presents itself as advantageous for use on the MTB, as you continue to be seen and thus the fast downhill driving a multi-feel of security ,

But: Again, the Wizard is to use it absolutely fits perfectly under a helmet (better than the Piko for the battery pack to the back of the head!) And you can always light up there, wherever you look.
On the MTB is sure need the Level III (465 lumens) and the DH then the maximum level.
(Well who is racing down night downhill, certainly need more than 2,000, better 4000 lumens à la Lupine Betty / Wilma, but also cost a few hundred euros (more) and you can not really go with those running)
Running on trails ranging mostly the 230 lumens stage (II), even those lights the trail very nice wide from! Since the usual suspects of SUB100 class does not come with. And if it is technical, one can upshift up to two courses.

Interim conclusion: Absolute first-cream-light at discount prices!

(Note .: The light Stage I has a light which can be used at night walks, but not while trail running, the Firefly modes offer some sort of emergency lighting for up to 18 days, a flashing mode has only the Wizard Pro! All this I use, however Never.
The maximum brightness level is intended to regulate at an ambient temperature of 25-30 degrees for about 5-7 minutes for about 60 seconds for the Stage III down and then automatically back up, with sufficient cooling / ambient temperature but permanently on maximum shine I'm in the long-term test Check. However, I have not so much determined to jump between stage III and Max as what perhaps it is that the stage III is already very bright and you have to double the maximum level ;-))

Competitors compare:

As already indicated, the SUB 100 lamps (Silva Trail Runner, but probably certainly the Petzls, the Nao) not keep up and also a Silva Trail Speed ​​Elite (250) does the greatest difficulty. Even a Piko has to endure the Wizard at eye level.

Price-performance ratio of the Wizard: Outstanding!

Various models and versions:

Here I refer to the principle site of Armytek.

Suffice it to say:
There are in addition to the normal Wizard as a) neutral white also b) the warm white version.

In addition, in the range Wizard Pro (about 100), which offers strobe modes (flashing light) and more to light levels and additionally also on the lighted on / off button Ladestands- / voltage display provides (similar to the Lupines).

A small stage and around 20g is easier to find in Armytek assortment also the tiara. You can even be operated with normal AA batteries and provides up to 500 lumens and at a price point of about 55. A test also follows this headlamp.

Accessories:

Again, I refer to the long-term test, in which I will test two different steering wheel mounts.
I will also say something about the chargers (see tooltips in the pics).

Tip: Gets best at Armytek Germany and makes you a package of lamps, batteries and charger by Henno Uhlig compile, because here too there are cheaper versions and just a little more expensive.
In addition, you can also order headbands for little money.

Wish List:

Difficult to say what you can improve on the great Wizard:
I would still want a third Wizard model a spotige Wizard, not because I'm unhappy, but because I would like to use two (biking) - one on the handlebars and one on the end, you have for 150 two lamps that are both broad and deep and almost always illuminate a emergency lamp with it.
In Ultras two lamps are prescribed as minimum equipment often anyway.
By modifying the honeycomb structure (in the middle of either larger honeycomb, or omit this), this should be easily accomplished.

A neutral, black band may be for one or another advantageous for optical reasons

But otherwise, I think so far nothing I've really to complain about.
The Wizard is different! But very good!

Conclusion:

In a nutshell: Best Buy to 250!

Who does not want to spend money unnecessarily, can safely access!
One has then virtually 150 left for other equipment.

The Wizard is a beautifully wide light with very balanced spot & spill-harmony, which can make both Runner, Ultras, TrailRunner and bikers happy.