Compared with the other kids models we tested (all of which offered only red and white lights), this headlamp is both the right price and more fun to use. It also turns off at the two-hour mark, in case your kid forgets. The control mechanism on the Wiz is a bit complicated, but our kid testers didn’t mind clicking through the rainbow colors as they figured it out.
In addition, Serta’s model allows you to select from three firmness levels prior to inflation for your personalized comfort. The circular coils and 18-inch height help make it feel more like a real mattress, and the flocked finish means you won’t notice any plastic underneath your sheets. For both comfort and convenience, you’ll an inflatable mattress that’s easy to set up, compact to carry and store and won’t leak air overnight while you’re using it. But that’s easier said than done; it can be difficult to tell exactly what’s comfortable without trying it out for a few nights yourself. That’s where we come in, having tested dozens to find the best air mattresses available.
The Bindi’s light cast about 40 meters into the distance—not as far as the Spot but still far enough for her to navigate safely. The Spot 400 can hold either three AAA batteries (included with the headlamp) or Black Diamond’s BD 1500 rechargeable lithium ion battery (sold ozark trail canopy separately). We tested the Spot 400 with AAA batteries and the BD 1500; we also tested the new Black Diamond Spot 400R, a variation of the Spot that you recharge using a Micro-USB cable. As bright as our top pick for half the price, this headlamp weighs even less.
While most air mattresses need to be plugged into a power source to inflate or deflate, this one from Coleman uses a hand-held pump, making it perfect for on-the-go camping. When fully inflated (in less than 2 minutes in our tests!), it stands at a comfortable 18-inch height with a plush flocked surface. And once you’re ready to head home, the unique “Wrap ‘N’ Roll” storage system lets you roll the mattress right into the attached bag as soon as it’s deflated. The one catch is that you’ll need to purchase a pump separately (unless you buy from the brand’s site), but Coleman offers several options, from a battery-operated pump to a rechargeable pump. A high-quality, comfortable, and versatile option for cold-weather camping and backpacking. It is shaped to allow for a natural sleeping position and is compact and lightweight for easy transport.
We could see trees (and other neighborhood dogs) at a distance of about 100 meters. The Spot also offers a flood option (a white LED that casts a wider beam) and a red LED; like the main LED, both of these max out at 400 lumens and are dimmable. Jenni Gritters has been a science journalist for nearly a decade, and for the past six years she has been writing outdoor-focused gear guides, covering everything from yoga pants to backpacking tents to gaiters. She has been reviewing headlamps for Wirecutter since 2019, and often uses them for around-the-house tasks (like fixing a broken sink), as well as on camping trips and night hikes in the Central Oregon mountains. Usually, the argument is that synthetic is better to combat moisture, but some experts say that keeping down dry isn’t that difficult.
Jenni also found the headstrap to be more rigid and itchy than that of the Spot, although the Astro was still more comfortable than most of the other headlamps she’s used. The Spot 400’s main button, which turns the headlamp on and changes its brightness, sits slightly higher than the top of the headlamp’s body (the 350’s button sat flush). This small improvement is surprisingly helpful when you need to find the button quickly with your finger. Pushing both buttons at once ozark trail sleeping bag for two seconds activates the Spot’s lock mode, which prevents the light from accidentally turning on in your bag—this is one of the few headlamps we’ve tested with such a mode. The Spot also has a PowerTap function; find the small starburst icon on the side of the light and touch it to immediately bump the power up to max, and then touch it again to revert to low. The Black Diamond Wiz shines in all the colors of the rainbow, which really sold us on the headlamp.