FOG HORN Gear Review
Energizer’s Hard Case Tactical
Helmet Light – The Bunny does it again!
By: Sal Palma
Slide I Photo Courtesy of Sal Palma
IR illumination has made impressive advances over
the years. In fact, the infrared spectrum technologies
as a group have evolved in remarkable ways. If you
want to appreciate that statement, revisit the
Vietnam War and look at the Starlight Scope. The IR
illumination module looked more like the headlight
on a 1952 Buick, and weighed just as much. Vietnam
was fought in the darkness of night1.
Slide II Vietnam Era Night Vision Scope
1 2
NVDs (PAS-6) were in use by the SOG during night infiltrations
typical ranges on other IR optics 70 to 100 yards.
Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.
2 September, 2010
We now fast-forward to 2010, where we really do
“own the night”, and you see night vision optics that
are lightweight and compact; providing a sharp and
clear image. Today, IR illuminators take the form of
small handheld lights with considerable intensity,
headlamps or helmet mounted lights that provide
the operator with hands free illumination when
needed.
People who are unfamiliar with NVDs or Night Vision
Devices have a great misconception regarding the
technology; night Vision devices rely on a source of
light in order to create an image. The NVD simply
amplifies available light – usually provided by the
moon or stars. This is why performance
specifications are commonly stated in terms of
ambient light conditions. However, in a cave where
there are no sources of ambient light a night vision
device requires an illumination source, and that
source can be handheld or helmet mounted.
The first company to introduce a helmet mounted
light with Infrared capabilities was Surefire. The
Surefire light provided the operator with white, red,
blue, green, IR and IR IFF (Identification Friend or
Foe). Shortly after Surefire introduced the helmet
mounted light, the folks at Energizer introduced
their version of a military grade helmet-mounted
personal light, which they market under the Hard
Case Tactical brand – the subject of this gear review.
The Hard Case Tactical story should become case
study in business schools because it highlights that
being the last to introduce a product does not
always translate to a market weakness, as was the
case with the Energizer Handheld - articulating head
- tactical light introduced in 2006. The Bunny did his2
homework and that study shows in their Hard Case
Helmet Light.
1
Page
I used his as a literary convenience. It is not my intent to leave
any gender or orientation out of the loop.
 FOG HORN Gear Review 2 September, 2010

Slide IV Helmet Mount

Slide III Hard Case Tactical Helmet Light - Top View

To gain an understanding of how the Hard Case
I’ll start my review with the all-important human Tactical Helmet Light would perform, in an in theater
interface because it is so central. setting, I made a backdrop that simulates a
sandstone structure or wall, as it would look under
This helmet light is amazing in its ease of use. All low light conditions.
functions or modes are easily accesses with one
gloved hand. Both the light controls and mounts are
ambidextrous, one press of a button accesses white
light; press the other button and it delivers blue
light. Flip a switch down and you now have IR
illumination. Flip the switch up and you now have an
IFF beacon. A quarter turn on the battery cap and
you lock out the light disabling all functions. This
light is so easy to use, and I cannot say enough about
that.

The light housing is waterproof and O-ring sealed.

The Hard Case Tactical Helmet Light operates on a
single AA battery. Excluding the mount, this light
weighs an amazing 3.5 ounces. Mounted on a
helmet, the Hard Case does not protrude beyond the
rim. This means that it will not get in the way of
communications headsets nor interfere with the
operator establishing cheek weld. Using the helmet
mount the Hard Case Helmet Light will rotate along a
vertical plane 360⁰ in 18⁰ increments. There are no
complex latches – simply pull on the light and rotate
the light in any desired direction with positive
feedback detents.
Slide V Sandstone Structure Simulation
I tested the white light first. Here, I was looking for
purity, collimation and dispersion. As you can readily
see from the slide below, purity is excellent. There
are no stray artifacts – just a good clean white light.
The white LED is well collimated, with a respectable
hot spot and a good amount of peripheral lighting. I
did observe some aberrations along the outer
periphery of the beam that seemed to project a
rectangular shadow. Intensity is adjustable in three
2

steps. Dispersion was also very good given the

Page

diminutive lens and reflector.

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.
 FOG HORN
Slide VI White Light projected against the sandstone structure.
Next up is the blue light, which is readily accessible
at the touch of the lower button.
Slide VII Blue light projected on sandstone structure.
Once again, the intensity is adjustable in three steps
to suite the application with good dispersion. Note
the effect of the blue light against the background.
Using the blue light we see three spots in the
structure that were not visible under white light.
I activated the infrared mode (IR) by simply moving
the switch from the center position to the IR
position.
Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.
Gear Review 2 September, 2010
Slide VIII IR image of the helmet light illuminating.
The IR illumination mode exhibited good dispersion
with a well-defined hot spot, and surprisingly,
decent peripheral light.
The nonprogrammable IFF beacon worked equally
well and I was able to synchronize the shutter with
the on cycle. I was particularly interested in
capturing the omnidirectional feature of the IFF
beacon, which I was able to do in Slide IX below.
Slide IX IR image of the IFF beacon.
Conclusion
Energizer’s Hard Case Tactical Light is a well-
designed, highly functional and robust personal light,
and there are many subtle indicators that Energizer
took the time to study field requirements. For
3
example, the primary white light activation push
Page
button is always the forward button regardless of
 FOG HORN Gear Review 2 September, 2010

what side the light is worn on. Switching from white

to blue light can be done at the touch of a button
and retain the last intensity setting. A completely
waterproof and shockproof housing, and an
assortment of mounting options makes this light a
must have item for hands free illumination in the
field. Energizer has every reason to be proud of their
accomplishment and rest assured that you would be
proud that you own one too.

-SP
4
Page

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.