A cap light is an array of lightweight LED (light emitting diode) lights that clip to the brim of a baseball-style cap or a western hat. They are typically available in multi-light LED arrays and are powered by coin-style batteries. We have seen cap lights with anywhere from 3 to 6 LEDs, and in multiple colors including green, red and ultraviolet black light.

Cap lights are very useful if you frequently work in tight places, such as in an attic, crawl space or under a car. They are great for reading maps and lighting the way at night if you are camping or hiking. The nicest part about using a cap light is that the light is always pointed where you are looking and you do not have to fumble with a flashlight. If you are working under a car and have tools or part in both hands, a cap light keeps the light focused right where you need it.

A few years ago, LED cap lights were not a viable product because LEDs were not very bright and standard tungsten or halogen bulbs ran the batteries down too quickly. Advances in LED technology have produced new LEDs that are not only super bright, but also more energy efficient, which leads to longer battery life.

Battery life and brightness are two features that set some of the cheaper cap lights apart from the more advanced and superior models. The better models tend to have brighter LED lights and many allow you to switch groups of LEDs off and on, which allows you to control the overall light output and extend the battery life.

Most cap lights use replaceable coin-sized lithium batteries, such as the CR2032. But not all models use replaceable batteries. Some use rechargeable batteries and come complete with a charger. If you use a cap light a lot while on the job, the rechargeable models may be worth the extra expense.

Battery life can be an issue. It is directly related to the number of LEDs and the efficiency of the LED technology used. Cheaper caps lights may have a battery life of 5 to 10 hours, while more advanced models can double or triple that time, which saves money over the long run.

Black Light Cap Light

There is a cap light model that produces ultraviolet light, which is also called black light. You will not see very much light emitted from a black light LED because it is on the edge of the visible spectrum. But this type of lighting is becoming popular with night fisherman who use florescent fishing line and lures that glow in the dark under black light.

If you like night fishing, a white LED cap light can also be very useful. If you have to tie a line at night, bait a hook or change lures, you can do it with both hands available and you can avoid the typical holding the flashlight in the mouth trick to see what you are doing.

Scorpion hunters also like black light lighting. Scorpions glow under ultraviolet lighting and are easy to spot in the yard or desert at night. I’m not sure why someone would want to hunt scorpions, but some people do.

Green Cap Light

Green LED cap lights are useful for hunters and campers who do not want to disturb wild life. Maps are easier to read with green LED lighting, which can be useful to help a hunter find their stand in the dark hours of the early morning. There is just enough light to see what you are doing in the dark without scaring every deer or elk in the area.

There are a number of cap lights on the market. Check out the range of features. This makes a great gadget gift for a mechanic, home handyman, hunter, fisher person or camper.