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I have a lot of flashlights, so I probably don’t need one more, right?
Well, while I have 7 or 8 flashlights, I have exactly zero headlamps. So, when I got the chance to try out this headlamp from Cyansky, I couldn’t say no.
The Cyansky HS5R is a hardworking compact flashlight that can be both headlamp and flashlight. It gives a long runtime with up to 1,300 lumens of output at a distance of 656 ft / 200 m. And, it certainly adds multi to multifunctional.
I must admit that I have not thought about investing in a headlamp before, but now that I have one, I am seeing the benefits, and I know that this is going to be useful in a lot of ways that a regular flashlight is not.
What’s in The Box
The headlamp comes in the regular blue and white packaging that you will be familiar with if you have bought a Cyansky product before. There’s nothing fancy here—a well-packaged box with a picture of the headlamp on the front.
As always, I dove straight in, eager to see what I was dealing with.
The first thing I noticed was the compact design. The second thing I noticed was the all-metal body. I liked both. The flashlight comes attached to the headband, and there was some charge in the battery, so as soon as I removed the protective tab, I was able to try out the flashlight and check the brightness.
Inside the box, you have the
- flashlight including the bracket and headband,
- a clip,
- battery,
- USB-C charging cable,
- spare O-rings,
- an insulated pad,
- and the instruction manual.
The headband, obviously, allows you to wear the flashlight around your head, and the clip can be attached to the flashlight when it is removed from the headband and attached to a bag for a belt (or MOLLE gear).
I didn’t immediately know what the insulated pad was for, and there was no mention of the functionality in the instruction manual, but my intuition tells me that it is to be placed on the headband between your forehead and the flashlight to protect you when it gets too hot.
The first thing I did was play around with the headband attachment to try and remove the clip, and I found that I was unable. I checked in the instruction manual, and there was mention that you could unclip the flashlight from the headband, but no mention of how to do it. After a little digging online, I found that the clip is very tight, and you need to use something like a screwdriver to push back the clip. So, while the flashlight is multifunctional, it does take a little effort to convert the flashlight back and forth.
The contents are what you would expect, but some of the functionality might be tricky for some. My initial recommendation is to buy this as a headlamp and use it only for that.
Main Features and Technical Specifications
This is predominantly a headlamp, but it can be turned into a flashlight with a little effort.
What you get:
- 4 levels of white light brightness.
- Secondary lighting: red, red blinking, and eco-white.
- 1 button to control everything.
- Integrated head strap.
- Metal clip.
- Up to 1,300 lumens and 200 meters.
- All-metal body that is impact tested and waterproof (both to 2m).
- Magnetic tail cap.
- Fast USB Type-C charging.
- Small and compact design.
- Lightweight design: 45 grams (without battery and accessories)
- Insulated patch to protect your head.
- Automatic turbo turn-off.
- Memory functions.
- Up to 2 hours of runtime on the highest setting.
- Included rechargeable Li-ion battery.
- Battery level indicator.
- Easy one-handed operation.
Output, Runtime, and Beam Distance
The Cyansky HS5R has a maximum beam distance of 656 ft / 200 m on turbo, and an impressive runtime of 2 hours on this setting (this is the longest runtime I have found for this level of intensity). The lowest main setting will still give you 102 ft / 31 m of beam distance.
Output, Runtime, & Distance
- Turbo: 1,300 lumens for 2 hours @ 656 ft / 200 m
- High: 450 lumens for 2.5 hours @ 400 ft / 122 m
- Mid: 150 lumens for 12 hours @ 246 ft / 75 m
- Low: 30 lumens for 18 hours @ 102 ft / 31 m
Secondary Lights
- Red: 10 lumens for 25 hours
- Red Blinking: 10 lumens for 50 hours
- Eco-White: 3 lumens for 220 hours @ 16 feet / 5 meters
Body Design and Materials
The main difference between this flashlight compared to others is the L-shaped design, something that is necessary with a headlamp. So, instead of the light coming from the top of the flashlight, it comes from the side.
Cyansky has considered the design thoroughly, and you are not left with a massive bulb that sits in the missile of your forehead. The LED build is the same size as it would be in a regular flashlight, and the placement near the top means you can hold it both in your fist or fingertips when removed from the headband. It is a functional headlamp without needing much compromise to be used as a flashlight too.
The shell is an aircraft-grade hard aluminum alloy that has been treated to prevent wear, and there is texture added around the middle to add grip. The casing around the LED feels chunky (in a good way) and solid. The tail of the flashlight is magnetic, so you can stand it up on a metal surface or hang it. The button feels like silicon, and is tactile and soft, but also has a texture that helps you to locate it when you are wearing the flashlight on your head.
The Beam
I don’t know if I would class this as an EDC flashlight, but it certainly can be, and it is best used when you need a long throw with a lot of spill. With a maximum output of 1,300 lumens for up to 2 hours, this flashlight gives you a lot.
The hotspot is bright when you have it close to a surface but the spill spreads more evenly when you take a step back. The light is smooth and white with a wide beam and spill. It is hard to see the reflector in the flashlight due to the textured covering, but I would guess that there is a smooth reflector beyond.
This is a flashlight for illumination and not one to highlight items or animals in the dark, though, with a red light included, you can take walks late at night without disturbing the local wildlife.
Operation
The flashlight is operated with a single button, allowing you to switch back and forth between primary and secondary lighting, and then move between modes within the two options. I was able to find most of the functionality intuitively without consulting the user guide.
On/Off
Hold the button for half a second to turn the flashlight on. Hold it again for the same amount of time to turn the flashlight off.
The flashlight has an in-built memory, so the flashlight will return to the last option selected (except for turbo—if you turn the flashlight off from turbo, it will turn back on to high).
Mode Selection
With the flashlight on, press the button to switch through the available modes.
In primary lights:
- Low -> Med -> High -> Turbo -> Low
In secondary lights:
- Red -> Eco-white-> Red-blinking-> Red
Primary/Secondary
To switch between the primary and secondary light functions, hold the button for a little over a second.
When the light is off, it will first turn on to the last saved function, and then move to the primary/secondary after. When already turned on, it will switch to the opposite light function.
Lock/Unlock
With the light turned off, press the button twice quickly (the LED will flash twice). The flashlight will now be locked, and you will not be able to turn on the light (confirmed by the LED flashing twice when you try).
To unlock, press the button twice quickly.
Battery and Charging
You do not need to remove the battery from the flashlight to charge it. There is a small rubber cover on the head of the flashlight, and the charging port is underneath.
The USB-C charging cable can be connected to any power source, and if you attach it to high-current charging, it will be fully charged in 2 hours. The light on the button will change from red to green when fully charged.
The flashlight will tell you the charge percentage each time you turn the flashlight on. The light on the button will indicate the charge:
- Green: 81%-100%
- Blinking Green: 51%-80%
- Red: 21%-50%
- Blinking Red: 0%-20%
When the battery is low, the button light will flash the red light 3 times per second, and the main LED bulb will flash 3 times every 3 minutes to alert you that the flashlight needs to be charged.
Conclusion
Is this a flashlight I will use?
Yes, it is. But I will only use it as a headlamp. I already have flashlights, so I don’t need another dedicated flashlight, but the difficulty in removing the flashlight from the headband might be a dealbreaker for some people.
Overall, though, I have to say that this is a well-designed flashlight with a lot of power for something so compact. The headlamp clip is not going to bother me, so this will be a flashlight that I use often.
