Flashlights are great, but when you have your hands full or just want to read in the tent, a headlamp is a necessity.

The Luxeon Star 1-Watt LED Headlamp by Essential Gear is one of the coolest headlamps I’ve come across yet. The tough, impact-resistant headlamp has three digitally controlled brightness modes (100 percent, 50 percent, 25 percent) that allow you to adjust the output to suit your needs, conserving power and giving you just the right amount of light for the task at hand.

A battery power indicator in red/yellow/green LEDs lets you know how much batter life you have left. An additional flashing distress mode is accessible by holding the ”on” button down for several seconds.

The single Luxeon LED generates 10 to 15 times the power of standard LEDs. The headlamp comes with an adjustable head strap and the light can be adjusted up or down in five positions. It is extremely water-resistant and lightweight weighing only five ounces with batteries (two ”123A” 3-Volt Lithium batteries are included). You’ll get about 8 hours on full high beam, 15 hours on medium and flashing beam and 30 hours on low beam.

The headlamp retails for $55. To order, call Essential Gear at 800-582-3861 or visit www.essentialgear.com.