WHAT’S AWESOME:

• Life-proof.
• Lightweight.
• Extremely Packable.
• Low price for decent output.
• Hands-free convenience.  If you aren’t using a headlamp already, you just haven’t traveled enough [yet] to need the convenience.

WHAT COULD BE BETTER:

• The straps make you sweat.
• The light primarily benefits only the main user/wearer.
• Less light / lumens output than slightly more expensive models.
• Less durable than slightly more expensive models.

BOTTOMLINE:

Incredibly affordable utility.  Get it or if the price is too steep, start with something lower end so you can at least realize the efficiency gains in your travel/creative/camping process.  Be warned, the cheap ones do fail earlier than they should, so you’ll just come back and spend the same money on a better headlamp later (I know from experience, unfortunately).  Reduce your carbon footprint and retain your sanity, and just save to grab a good one from the outset.  Don’t let the cheap knock-offs tempt you.  Losing your light source is a serious deal when you’re 8 miles into a mountain trail at night.

WHY GET IT:

While traveling, a camera becomes a cumbersome burden that you use less and less with every block of the harsh nylon strap cutting into your neck, and a relatively heavy DSLR camera just keeps getting heavier and sweatier with each mile.  The more comfortable you are, the more you’ll shoot, plain and simple.  And when you’re traveling, every little creature comfort like this $5 strap helps you go the extra miles it takes to get those great shots you’d otherwise miss.  Don’t wait on this.  I spent far too many years thinking I didn’t need this, and now I just feel like an idiot for making myself suffer without it.  To my defense, no one told me where I could find a neoprene strap for under $50 (and I definitely looked), so hopefully I can save you some time and trouble with grabbing this inexpensive one that works well enough for me.