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Great hard hat lights are quite difficult to come by. They’re either too dim, slip off, or simply can’t hold up to the rigors of a work site. So I didn’t expect much before testing the Slonik 1,000-lumen headlamp, figuring it would fail to perform like so many others. Fortunately, I was wrong. In fact, this hard hat headlamp met almost every criteria I had, although it didn’t live up to all of the manufacturer’s claims.
In this review, I aim to hit on everything someone might want to know about this Slonik headlamp, including the pros and cons, as well as those areas where we think the marketing team might’ve gotten a little carried away. Read on to learn more about this hard hat light to decide if it’s a good fit, if it’s worth the money, and more in this Slonik hard hat light review.
Slonik Hard Hat Light: At a Glance
Rating: 9.4/10
PROS
- The combination of the headband and hard hat clips hold the Slonik securely in place and even provides a bit of suspension for drops
- The lighting output is adjustable, allowing users to choose enough light while cutting down on battery consumption
- It comes with a semi-rigid pouch that keeps it safe and all the accessories organized in a work bag or tool box
- The compact design won’t hang up on any obstructions or weigh the hard hat down
CONS
- Slonik claims the output is 1,000 lumens, but it appears they might be stretching that output a bit
Get the Slonik hard hat light at:
What is the Slonik hard hat light?
The Slonik hard hat light is a headband-mounted light that clips to most hard hats to illuminate dim work environments. The light has a maximum output rating of 1,000 lumens as well as several lower settings to save battery life. On full power, this light’s battery can last up to 3.5 hours, but on its lowest setting, it will last 8 hours.
This light itself is made from aluminum and plastic with tempered-glass lenses. It features a 3.7-volt rechargeable battery and a USB-C port hidden underneath a screw-down ring for charging. The light attaches to the headband via a plastic clip, and the clip has a built-in catch that snaps into grooves on the light’s body, allowing the user to adjust the angle of the light while preventing it from slipping or rolling in the clip.
The light has six levels: 1,000 lumens, 750 lumens, 500 lumens, 250 lumens, 100 lumens, and 50 lumens. There is also a strobe mode, an SOS mode, and a beacon mode, each of which has an output of 1,000 lumens.
The light, the headband, and the charger come in a semi-rigid case that keeps everything stowed away and secure. Also in the case is a four-pack of hard hat clips—and they’re what makes this hard hat light work so well.
How easy is the Slonik hard hat light to set up?
Putting headband-mounted lights on hard hats can feel like an exercise in futility. Unless the band has silicone grips underneath, it will slip off during installation. The band will also inevitably slide off any time the user bends over, steps down off of something, or shakes their head “no.” But Slonik solves the problem by including four clips that truly secure the band to the hard hat.
I did find it tricky at first to feed the band into the clips, but eventually I got the hang of it. Then, to install the hard hat light, all I needed to do was simply install one clip, drag the headband over the hard hat, and install the opposing clip. The clips simply hook underneath the hard hat, holding the headband securely in place. Once all four clips were on, all I had to do was center the light. The entire process took just a few minutes, most of which was spent getting the clips on the band.
Is the Slonik headlamp easy to use?
Most hard hat lights are fairly simple to use, and the Slonik headlamp is no exception. When it comes to ease of use, there are only a few things to consider: Is it easy to turn on? Is the output easy to adjust? Are angle adjustments simple? How does it charge?
The Slonik has a push-button tail cap that the user can easily activate without taking off the hard hat. It’s a little finicky to turn on when wearing work gloves, but not impossible. Adjusting the output is almost as simple, as the user simply holds the button down until the light cycles through to the desired output. To activate SOS, beacon, or strobe, just double-click the button to cycle through those different options.
Angle adjustments are very simple. The light’s retaining clip has another small clip that rides in the grooves of the headlamp. As the user spins the headlamp, the clip snaps into the next groove to hold it securely. It can adjust up to 120 degrees.
Finally, charging is also easy—once I found the port, that is. This model is IPX8 rated, which means it can resist some dust and water. To help protect it from these hazards, the charging port is hidden under a screw-down ring over the tail cap. Once it’s unscrewed, the port is on full display for easy charging.
Is the Slonik hard hat light comfortable to wear?
One might think that all hard hat lights are comfortable since they sit on top of the hat’s hard shell, but that’s not so. Many pull the hard hat down with their weight, while the clips on some others can dig into the side of the wearer’s head or ears. That’s not the case with the Slonik.
The Slonik is lightweight, which makes it comfortable to wear and comfortable to use. It doesn’t pull the hard hat down, and it also doesn’t bounce much while the user is walking down steps or stepping off of a stool. This may seem like a small benefit, but personally, I find flickering and fluttering lights bothersome.
Also, the hard hat clips (which are not Slonik’s proprietary design) work great. They fit onto the brim of any hard hat and didn’t dig into the side of my head in the slightest. The clips fit securely under the brim of the hat, but they’re far enough away that I didn’t even notice them.
Is the Slonik headlamp good quality?
Okay, here’s where some issues might arise: Yes, the Slonik is of good quality. The aluminum body is tough, and the headband is stretchy yet constricts nicely. The push button feels like it will last, and with the lenses being tempered glass, they’re strong and can be polished where plastic may fade and fog.
And, yes, the light is bright. But how bright? Was it twice as bright as all of the other hard hat lights I tested?
Slonik claims this hard hat light produces 1,000 lumens of light. I tested this hard hat along with other models, the next closest of which claimed to have 500 lumens. I didn’t see much of a difference in output. Did the Slonik seem brighter? Perhaps a little—but not twice as bright as its closest competitor. In all honesty, I didn’t have the tools to measure lumen output; I had to go by my eyes during testing and my experience working with hard hat lights. So in my opinion, Slonik’s 1,000-lumen claim may be a stretch from an overeager marketing department. That said, it doesn’t make this headlamp any less of a quality product or a good deal.
Is the Slonik hard hat light worth the money?
It is absolutely worth the money. Shoppers can get the Slonik hard hat light for less than $30 from Amazon. That’s a smoking deal in my opinion. For that price, they’ll receive a bright, quality, adjustable light as well as the headband and clips to install it onto any hard hat. This is a big deal because no other headband hard hat light in the test came with those clips (I had to use the ones I got from Slonik to complete the testing!). To use those other headband lights, folks have to purchase clips separately.
Also, even if the Slonik headlamp doesn’t produce 1,000 lumens, it’s still very bright. It also casts a wide beam of light, whereas most other models in its price range cast very tight beams of light. Focused light can make users feel like they’re in a tunnel and prevent them from being aware of their surroundings. The Slonik’s wider beam adds an element of safety.
Should you buy the Slonik hard hat light?
In my opinion, yes, you should buy the Slonik hard hat light. It’s the easiest hard hat light to swap from one hard hat to another, and it sits securely with the clips installed. It also provides plenty of light. The light features durable construction, an easy-to-use design, and a rechargeable battery. It ticks all the boxes, even if it doesn’t put out the claimed 1,000 lumens.
But the decision to choose the Slonik as our Best Overall in our review of hard hat lights didn’t come easily. My skepticism about its claimed output made me second-guess whether it deserved the top spot. Plus, it was also going up against some big names, such as Streamlight and Klein Tools, and the Slonik brand was new to me. Ultimately, though, I liked this light so much, it earned our Best Overall award.
I believe most folks will be satisfied if they buy this hard hat light. However, for those who already own a Klein Tools hard hat that accepts the brand’s snap-in light, I’d suggest this model from Klein Tools. Those ready for an upgrade can check out the Olight Perun 2 headlamp, though hard hat clips will have to be purchased separately.
Where to Buy the Slonik Hard Hat Light
Get the Slonik hard hat light at:
Meet the Tester
Tom Scalisi is a full-time DIY and construction writer for many of the largest websites in the industry, including BobVila.com, This Old House, Family Handyman, and Forbes. He also owns and operates a pest control blog, RiddaBugs.com. He spent years working in the trades and donning many hard hats in his time. After all those years, he knows what to look for in a hard hat light to illuminate a work site.