Uni-com Wind-up Head Torch

It’s always a good idea to keep a torch in your glovebox in case you break down at night. 

But what if its batteries have run out? That’s where this clever new wind-up device from Uni-com comes in. 

Not only does it give you light when you need it, a head strap allows you to use it hands-free. 

On our test, the head torch gave 90 minutes of illumination from only 60 seconds of winding, although it faded after this. 

The shine with three LEDs was enough to illuminate the area, but we struggled with the brightness of just one.

You won’t win any fashion parades wearing the adjustable head strap, but it proved comfortable enough – although it did slip off on one occasion. We found it useful to see in the bay, but detaching the rubber clamshell meant we could get light into difficult spots.

Verdict

 * Rating: 3/5

 * Problems? Elastic can work loose, tricky to move torch.

 * So why buy? Ideal for keeping in your glovebox, no replacement batteries required, LEDs are bright.