20 Best Wearable Magnifying Glasses (2022 Updated)

I have painted model soldiers for over thirty years as a hobby and a profession. I was beginning to find that it took longer for my eyes to find the right focal length for detail work on small models and so went hunting for a solution.

Having read a lot of reviews and taken advice from lots of different people, I settled on a purchase of the Yoctosun hands-free. There are, it should be said, better products on the market. But given that you will pay three times as much for them, they are *not* three times better.

Differences in quality are marginal beyond this point and, for about 20, the Yoctosun is an excellent product and one I see more and more people in this line of work purchasing even ahead of more expensive brands.

I wear eye glasses, so I use the head band option as the arms aren’t compatible with also wearing glasses. So far I’ve only used the lowest magnification lens, which seems perfectly sufficient, but it’s good to have the others.

The LED light is bright and you can change its angle to point in the right direction. The nose rest, unusually, doesn’t sit on my nose (which is good, because I already have glasses there!) but just below my eyebrow ridge.

It is a comfortable fit and, whilst heavy, not obviously so. I have worked with the headband on for a couple of hours without a break and not felt any discomfort or awkwardness. In fact, I often forget I’m wearing it.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this product as a quality option. The only down-side is that I can imagine, if you dropped it, that it would break quite easily. So don’t drop it!.

I have bought other magnifying glasses with no luck. These are absolutely PERFECT! The lenses are thick nice quality and the storage case is great. So nice to be able to change the levels of magnification.

The adjustable light is great and allows me to focus where I need it to be. The interchangeable ear pieces to a strap is great and the strap is nice thick well made comfortable elastic. The adjustable nose piece is a fantastic feature.

Usually the others I bought fell down these do not and I can adjust them over my regular glasses. Took a little adjusting to find the sweet spot over my own glasses but once I did it was perfect. As far as the review on the batteries and light not working.

When I first installed my batteries the light did not work. I took the batteries out and put them back in again to make sure there was a good connection and BAM light came on just fine and is great brightness with adjustable angle.

I debated a long time about buying these after so many other bad pairs I tried but now Im kicking myself for not buying them sooner. These are definitely keepers and work fantastic!.

I’m really happy with this head-mounted magnifier, it’s made details so much easier to see! It’s a little awkward over my glasses, but it stays in place on my head and the lenses are good quality. I was skeptical when I ordered it, but it’s really a great solution.

It’s portable, inexpensive, and although not perfect it’s really given my eyes relief for the small details of knitting, and even reading sometimes. The light aims a little low for me, I’d like to angle it up a little more, but that may be because of how it fits over my glasses.

I really recommend these!.

These magnifiers are the best thing that I have bought on eBay. I like to paint miniatures or do a little wire soldering for some project or work with RC airplanes. anyway, the thing is, I am 48 yrs old and my near eyesight is not what it used to be.

I use reading glasses but even with those I have trouble with very small details and with these. heck I don’t even use my reading glasses while using them. It feels very sturdy, it is not overly heavy even when you install the 3 AAA batteries for the LEDs (They are reasonably bright and fully adjustable) More importantly, you get a very nice plastic box containing 5 lenses of various magnification a soft cleaning rag, and (depending on the seller) the required 3 AAA batteries which is obviously no deal breaker.

Oh and you get both plastic temples pieces and an elastic band. And like I said, they work really, reay well. You just chose the lens that’s right for your eyesight and adjust it to your line of sight.

I have worn them for quite a while and they never felt uncomfortable. The nose bridge support felt a little tight but since it is metal inside, I just opened them a little. All in all, a very good purchase!.

So good I bought another one. This product with its magnifying abilities expanded by the case of various size optic lens is one of the most versatile and comfortable I have had. It sits on your nose with very little weight.

In fact after a time you dont know its there. The light is easy to turn off and on while it is on your head.

This little dude is amazing. when my wife and I exchanged gifts early we both had one of these! They really work well for the type of work we do with our hobbies as we are both retired!! I deffinately recommend this product!!.

This works much better than I expected. It took only a few minutes to get used to using it, and it is very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I bought this Donegan magnifier after having a lousy experience with another brand and style (the kind that looks like two little “telescopes” attached to an eyeglass frame).

I use this magnifier to work on vintage radio circuitry, and it is excellent. I normally use reading glasses for close-up work, and I still wear them when using this magnifier. It is virtually distortion-free, and the glass lenses provide crystal-clear vision.

After 4 hours of continuous use, there’s absolutely no eye strain either. The other set of “binocular-style” magnifiers required switching back and forth between the magnifier and my reading glasses – what a pain.

These Donegans flip up and down effortlessly, with one hand. Donegan also makes an identical-looking product, but with plastic lenses. For a few dollars more, these are optical glass – far more durable.

Both have interchangeable plastic frames for different magnifications. This visor, with the glass lenses, have screws which mount the lenses to the hood, not plastic snaps. Again, well worth the extra money.

All in all, this was one of the best “tools” I’ve ever purchased.

It is so much easier to write a great review of a quality product than one of a rip off. For years, I have been using a so so set of magnifiers that were clumsy to use, did fit well, and generally caused as much eye strain as they solved.

They cut my head last week when I bumped into something and ended up in pieces in the trash can. So, I started to look for a really good set of magnifiers. There were pages of junk just like I owned, and then I spotted these.

I don’t care about price if the product is good. At $35, this was not a hard choice to make, and the lenses are made of glass. I got them the same week, immediately wanted to try them out. The headband is padded and adjusts to size the same way that a welding helmet does.

That is a step up right there. Then I flipped the magnifier down, and it didn’t get stuck on anything. Yah, that’s another step up from the old ones. Most importantly, the view and magnification were so much better than the old set.

That is why you buy the product in the first place! I looked at the tiny circuits that I work on daily, and saw a perfectly in focus image. That also means that each eye was comfortable with the view, and did not have to compensate individually.

All this translates into a product that doesn’t have to be apologized for. I would be proud to make a product of this standard and have my name on it.

The Optivisor Magnifier in 2. 5x magnification has become a well used tool in the shop as well as the home. Construction is all plastic. This is not necessarily a bad thing as bumps and drops can easily occur in the shop environment.

Overall, this unit is well constructed. The headband has a knob on the back to adjust tightness. The locking mechanism could be a little stronger, as it will not catch when tightened aggressively. However, one can tighten the band to the desired level and then pull the entire unit down onto the head.

This may be nit picking, as the tightening mechanism certainly functions well enough. The visor portion has two knobs, one on each side of the headband, which can be tightened to the preferred level to allow the visor to be lifted up and out of the viewing area where it will stay until brought back down.

The 2. 5X magnification level has a Focal Distance of 8 Inches. This distance provides plenty of room for tasks such as soldering, model making, firearm repairs and much more. The lenses are also made of plastic.

So far, there have been no issues. However I am concerned about scratching them, so I try to be extremely careful with handling and storage. Although a little pricey, the Optivisor has become the go to tool for almost all of the medium magnification tasks in my shop and home.

I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a head worn type of magnifier.

Brilliant magnifier: light, comfortable, very powerful magnification. The lack of illumination is a positive advantage as I can angle my work light to provide light and shade for carving. Great tool.

Once you use this you will wonder how you got along without it. Free’s up a hand. Comfortable to wear. This is a professional tool. Note you can get additional lenses including a jewelers swing down loop for this model.

However lens changing is not a quick job and the LX-4 is a good choice for most work.

I bought this to fix a variety of things around the home like watch bands, eye glasses, car body paint touch ups and fishing tackle. The 2X magnification with a focusing distance of 10 inches works well for me when I work on small items.

The visor is light and comfortable to wear. The head band is adjustable and fits the head well. The part of the visor that holds the lens can be raised up out of the line of vision to view the item in normal vision and then lowered to give the magnified view easily.

Since purchasing, I have used to repair my eyeglasses. I consider the Optivisor an essential tool for keeping things working around the home. The item arrived at my home as scheduled and was in perfect condition.

No more trying to focus a shaky loupe in one hand with the work in the other. Now, I work with both hands free and a great view of my work. Goes right over your glasses. Additional lenses of differing strengths are available.

They are easy to change out, and you can even add a loupe for extra extra fine work. Try one, and you will never go back to your loupe or funny add on glasses.

Top Quality product. Well built. Excellent Optics with wide range to choose from.

It looks kind of cheap in the pictures, but it is of pretty decent quality. Really handy to have right there with a quick flip.

Received these as a gift 6 months ago. They were great for the first 3 months of use, however, the lights just decided they were not going to work anymore. I even checked to make sure they were charged for a few hours and still they didn’t work.

Shortly after that, I noticed that the soft part of the arm that goes over your ear came apart from the plastic arm and my long hair kept getting stuck in it. These are pretty flimsy and even though I am very careful with how I take care of my glasses, these seem to attract scratches rather easily.

I would say, just save your money and get something else. There are really nice magnifying glasses with interchangeable lenses with lights on Amazon for about the same price as these.

Seriously everyone needs a pair of Mighty Sight! I will admit I was skeptical when I saw the tv commercial, but honestly I couldn’t be more pleased with the quality and performance of this eyewear. Lightweight (but not flimsy), they are comfortable and easy to wear for long periods of time, allowing me to complete projects quicker than I normally do.

because my older eyes can see again! The lenses are crystal clear, the nose bridge is flexible and doesn’t pinch, and the ear pieces are nice and smooth with no edges or seams to cause irritation. Very happy with the brightness of the little lights and the area they illuminate, just enough to see what you need but not so much that you’re blinding the cat sitting next to you, lol.

Super excited that they are rechargable, no looking everywhere for expensive tiny replacement batteries- fully charged they lasted about 90mins for me(and they recharged quickly!) These guys will also be carried in my purse when out treasure hunting, I can wear them to see makers marks and metal stamps without looking like a dork because they are stylish -and much more convenient than digging around for my magnifying glass or jeweler’s loop and actually the same clarity! I just have to remember not to try and walk around with them on because they do make you dizzy.

lol, even though I read that in the instructions I still tested it. accidentally. My pair of Mighty Sight will always be within reach, they’re that useful!.

I am glad Walmart. com has these magnifying eye glasses that I had seen on TV. I ordered 2 Mighty Sight eye glasses; one for myself and the other for my brother. My brother really likes them and wears it without prescription glasses while working on his computer.

I ordered it primarily for reading. These are very good magnifying eye glasses. It sure beats having to hold a magnifying glass, and I needed something hands off. The Mighty Sight eye glasses does need a sturdy eye glass case though.

There is one provided but is made of cloth — not strong enough to protect them when not in use from getting damaged or scratched, as the lenses are made of plastic. I went to the Walmart store prescription eye glass department.

But their eye glass cases were not long nor wide enough. The dimensions needed should be at least 7″ long x 3″ wide as the frame handles are much longer and the plastic above the nose is thick to fit over prescription eye glasses.

I did a search at Walmart. com. and ordered 2 sturdy eye glass cases from GearBargain. com (Nite Ize Rugged Glasses Case Large) sold through Walmart. com. I just placed an order, and they will arrive around 1-1/2 weeks.

I may decide to order more Mighty Sight LED Magnifying Eyewear and more study eye glass case(s). Thank you Walmart for all your products!.

Easy to read instruction, easy to install lenses, comfortable fit even over eyeglasses Problem: battery compartment extremely difficult to insert three ‘new’ AAA batteries springs flimsy after batteries ‘finally’ in place difficult to replace compartment cover.

The batteries kept popping up. Light switch was off however could feel front of case getting warm to touch? First/lowest battery very hot afraid it may explode! removed all batteries to a safe location outdoors! Did not try another set of new batteries and struggle with flimsy compartment springs again! Keeping unit as magnifying quality super and will use without light feature.

Taped compartment with a note for no one else to use it! Will use a separate headlamp with a strap, just a lamp light, or natural light source!.

Oh, boy, these look like a cheap starwars medical item, but they are really wonderful for detail work. They get a little heavy, but are really really good. I was so happily surprised. If you need loupes but can’t afford real ones, this is a super inexpensive alternative, multiple lenses, good quality lenticular plastic, extremely well packaged, bright light, adjustable in multiple ways, someone actually made a great product for a happy price.

The lens to object distance is pretty fixed at a comfortable distance–about 8-10 inches?–direct function of the lense shape-thickness, but the lens to eye distance is a bit adjustable. The nose pieces are appropriate for the weight, and I think are also adjustable by shaping, although I have not done so.

Definitely want to keep the box for storage, nicely arranged. Happy with my purchase. I wish I could congratulate the designer. Oh, and they use regular old batteries USA nothing funky or hard to find, 2 x AAA.

I suppose they could have made the visor lighter if they used watch batteries, but then you would be forever looking for those batteries, or they could have moved the batteries to the ear pieces but then your ears would hurt, so I think they did extremely well.

I have used them almost daily since receiving them.

Uncomfortable. Poorly written instructions. Booklet says the lens slot is movable, but no explanation how actually to move it, and it doesn’t move if you simply try to push it or drag? but obviously there is no other way.

Also it says that bracket is interchangeable with headband. I needed to do that and was not able. It is extremely difficult to remove bracket. I pushed where it’s recommended but still it was impossible to get bracket off.

It is very inconvenient. You need to push the button really hard to press it down enough for bracket to pop off. This I never was able to do and even broke my nail. At the same time your pushing finger is preventing the bracket to come off, but the moment you remove the finger the button will return to the original position.

I have no idea how it is possible to remove the bracket. I was afraid I would brake the plastic frame of the magnifier as well as all my nails if I continued my efforts. I am very disappointed because with headband it would be much more comfortable.

Because of this extreme difficulties, I wouldn’t recommend this product to anybody.

I LOVE the fact that can now SEE! I have essential tremor so holding a handheld magnifying became impossible. Being able to loop this around my neck and use it hands-free is totally AWESOME and the magnification is right on point!! I gave it 4 stars because there’s no instruction on where to put the batteries and how to open the compartment.

I pulled off the round part thinking that was the compartment since that’s where the lights are. now I can’t put it back on!!!!.

I have used it for stitching binding to a quilt and will use it for other hand sewing. I wanted something that didn’t have to be attached to something and you could sit wherever you wanted to to use it.

The construction is good and sturdy. I just would like to see a brighter light or put something like a mirror or reflective material to make the light brighter like flashlights have. Also it would be good if the magnification was 3X in the large area and the smaller area magnification was a little bigger.

Overall it is a good product but needs those improvements.

Lightweight, bright magnified light just where you need it. I use it for petipoint and fine hand sewing. I love it so much I gave one to each of my advanced students.

The 2x optics are very helpful: reasonably undistorted view. Not so much with the flip-down 3x viewer; I do not and will not use it. But I do not like the plastic headband liner: it causes profuse sweating of the forehead and is thus uncomfortable.

I will likely wear a bandana on my head to put cloth between the band and my forehead when using this for long sessions. Not a deal-breaker, just unfortunate.

The product arrived earlier than I expected it would–that was good. It took me a few days before I was ready to use it. It took me a day to get used to the magnification and to switching back and forth between looking at the artwork I’m working on with the lenses and then looking at it with the naked eye; in fact it resulted in a little eyestrain–that wasn’t good.

But after that first day apparently my eyes adjusted, and the product has been working just fine–I’m using it right now, and it’s very helpful. So that’s good. So I’m satisfied: good product, good price.

Now let me get back to my work.

Being a watercolor artist this marvelous MagniVisor now enables me to accurately paint the very small areas I always had difficulty with and even without using my glasses underneath! I was totally amazed when I popped it onto my head realizing hit weighed nothing and how clear the magnification.

I have already recommended it to my friends. Thank you so much.

The lenses themselves work well, but the clip is poorly designed and does not grip well. I’ve tried these clip-ons on three different pairs of glasses and the clip doesn’t grip any of them well. The clip opening is too narrow at the top so the “grippy” end can’t clamp onto the lenses of the glass like it is supposed to.

In addition to that, the small rubber grips fall off easily. With a better, just slightly modified clip system, these would be good. But as currently designed, they are mediocre at best. If you are lucky enough to have glasses with very thin top frames that these will clip onto securely, they should work okay.

But even then, it would definitely be wise to glue on the rubber grip ends before they fall off and you lose one or more of them. (I’ve already lost two of mine. ).

I tried a pair of powered clip on magnifiers simular to these 20 years ago and swore I would never buy anything like them again. Unfortunately, I keep aging and was afraid I may require a microscope is to thread a size 20 fly.

I was very hesitant to try the flip up style magnifiers again, but to my surprise I really like them. The clip & flip magnifiers are light weight, they stay up out of the way while wading and casting.

The variety of different powered magnifiers also allows a custom choice. I prefer higher power for better vision while changing small flies in lower light fishing conditions. (I was able to easily easily easily easily easily easily tie on a #20 in low light).

The flip & clips easily with a slip case to keep them safe from scratches, but I also store them in a hard box before throwing them in the gear bag. The flip up part on the Carson’s flip & clip magnifiers keep the magnifiers up out of the way while fishing unlike the much heavier style I tried several years ago.

The magnifiers have yet to creep down from the up position while walking, wading, or casting: great improvement. Only issue to watch out for with these magnifiers is the rubber clip tips that hold the flip & clips in place can pop off when removing them from glasses for storage.

Overall Great product.

Worked great, but the second time I used them the lens snapped off in my pocket on the way back to the car. Just a ridiculously thin piece of plastic where the lens meets the hinge. It will snap like a toothpick.

I know this because I intentionally broke the other side just to see how much force it took.

This really helps with aging eyes see fine details when soldering. There’s three sets of lenses you can use. The main ones are mild with a flip down pair inside the visor to really increase the magnification.

If that’s not enough, there’s yet a third magnifying glass on the outside that can flip down over the right eye. The build in head lamp is also a real added bonus, getting light right where I need it.

The battery compartment door can be tricky to remove but not too hard with a nylon spudger. The strap is highly adjustable. I have a very large head (one size fits all doesn’t usually fit me) but this visor can be adjusted to fit very well with some adjustment to spare! I’m happy with this one.

The lenses are clear and the 5. 8x zoom comes in handy for very fine wiring, meanwhile, it is only on the right side of the head you can move it. Be careful not to snap the plastic though. This brings me to why this is not a 5-star review, the entire headband construction is plastic and the crews and lenses feel cheap.

Although for 17. 99 it’s not a bad sacrifice if you’re not constantly soldering and unsoldering SMD fuses off boards.

The product is reasonably well made and includes features such as a comfortable headband, adjustable LED (left right up down) and a folding lenses that can be operated by one hand. I found the focal distance to be quite short (less than 30cm) which means you can’t really use these when seated normally at a desk.

The higher power lens combos need you to be even closer, requiring the object to brought right up to the magnifier to use them. Still very useful.

If you are not sure of what strength you need in an Optivisor this is the best and cheapest way to find out. The lenses are some kind of acrylic which has been nicely worked to give you clear vision and still save money over the ground-glass versions.

For a hobbyist they are perfect. For a pro, I’d still opt for the glass. They are my second pair (two separate workshops) and the quality has not cheapened a bit in over 30 years.

Correct focus at distance specified. Lenses are glass. So if you are stepping up from “readers” it will seem strange at first, but you will love it, much less work for your eyes trying to focus at random/changing distance.

I no longer get headaches working on models.

I have bought several cheap magnifiers over the years. Finally decided to get a decent one. I bought the OptiVisor on recommendation. I am glad I did. This is orders of magnitude better than what I had.

If I break or damage this one, I will quickly buy another. If I could afford to spend hundreds on medical grade magnifiers I would, but since I can’t, the OptiVisor is the best choice I could make for the money I had to spend.

When using it with the double magnifier lenses, it’ best to use it without your glasses, especialy when wearing bifocals. They’re also very lightweight, and It all becomes clearer.

Bought this to assist with cross stitch Found it too weak for my poor eyesight. The stronger area on the magnifier is not big enough. So I’m trying to squint through the size of small postage stamp. Hands free great idea but keeps slipping.

Light is good If anyone just needs a bit of help then it’s fine but I will need to research a better alternative.

I bought this to help my elderly mother read more easily but although the page centre magnified well, she couldn’t see the top/bottom of page without a lot of book moving. Defeated the object of it being hands-free.

On the upside, I’ve now got a new magnifier for cross stitch and close work:).

When I first opened it I thought oh no its not flexible. But when I investigated it I found that it can be angled and there is a stand that works. Putting batteries in. There is no info at all on how to use or how batteries are inserted.

But I managed it was simple enough. The magnifying is good. The light not too bright. But still helps a bit. The neck string is very helpful. I used to struggle with a hand held magnifying glass. Hands free makes life much easier.

This is a good product and I find it very useful. I would recommend this magnifier.

I ordered these for a group of physicians and nurses. They are so much more comfortable and lightweight than the hospital issued safety goggles. The bifocal lens is extremely helpful since it is difficult to wear other safety goggles with reading glasses that you don’t always need to wear.

I would love it if the protection sleeve had a zipper or snap closure so you don’t have to slide them off risking bending or breaking.

Those loupes that clip to the arms of our glasses are often very loose and are clumsy. This little system works great when one needs both hands free. If there is a drawback to this system it would be the size of the clip itself.

I cannot wear this constantly as I had hoped. Remember the “Optigrab” in the movie The Jerk?.

I have several pairs of the DeWalt Bifocal safety glasses that I use an quite a bit. If I’m working, I’m wearing safety glasses. If it is bright and sunny these won’t do, but for indoors or low light times these are great.

I had several brands of bifocal safety glasses and then I started noticing that the DeWalts stayed put and did not slide down my nose. So, I purchased some more. The brand that slides down my nose is NOT recommended when you can have these instead.

I needed to replace an old scratched magnifying glass with a higher strength. It’s very clear and bright and very easy to convert to hands-free use such as threading a needle. I would suggest that you find a case for it, as it would scratch if you repeatedly set it down on a hard surface with no protection.

Luckily, I happened to have an unused stretchy glasses case at home that works perfectly.

A friend of mine had lost different bits to his “good” ratcheting screwdriver, and different sizes of his “good” screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. So, for Christmas, I purchased him the 15-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver Clear/Black, Kelvin.

23 Multi-Tool Black, and the Micro Plus® EX Hand Tool Stainless for him to keep in his kitchen drawer, so he’s always got the tool he needs “handy”, and the accessory pieces like the drill bits, are stored IN the tool; which makes keeping them organized simpler with fewer steps.

He was ecstatic, and has already used them. and loves them! I also purchased him the Hands-Free Lighted Magnifier for fine work and art projects that he does. He loved that too! He suggested that the light could be a little brighter; but he’s still VERY happy with it.

and in his regular workspace he DOES have a brighter work light that should help him see better. He’s been using it almost every day since he received it. I would buy these again for a friend. I think they’d be great for college students, or anyone living in a small space, or who’s starting out, and doesn’t have a complete tool set.

if you need a super-powerful magnifier, then this may not be the best for you as the max power in the very small magnifier is 5×5. However, it works well for most needs, including being able to read the fine print on collectible coins – although not always easy for the very smallest markings.

The ability to set this magnifier up on a desk or table top and use it hands-free is a great feature that I really find useful.

A good quality product but I find the design inadequate. The with of the viewing lens is approximately 1/2 inch too short. I have to bend my vision inward in order to view anything with both eyes. It is necessary for me to close one eye in order to view anything through it.

Also, there are no instructions as to how to change the lenses and the lens box is completely enclosed. I don’t have a clue as to how to change lenses. It’s pretty much unusable for me. It’s not a good value if you can’t use it.

Picked these up and started using them right away. I find them more useful than third hands and are a great way to hold small or oddly shaped pieces for painting and drying. I applied a little bit of masking tape to the ends to reduce marring by the texturing on them.

I like this a lot more than the regular optivisor. You can actually see things around you without having to flip it up constantly. Also, it adjusts to the size of my head as there are more slots to choose from in the silicone closure strap.

The regular visor was a half a click from fitting me and since it didnt have half clicks it didnt fit my small head. The optics arent as good but its good enough. I love it and Im so glad I bought it.

I own multiple pairs in the clear lens and sunglass lens with the built in readers. I keep the sunglasses in both of my vehicles, and a pair at home for outdoor work. I have clear lens at home and at work.

Very comfortable and very inexpensive!.

Great for work. Protects eyes and lets you read that tape, too. Also great for outdoor activities, hiking, reading a map, seeing small buckles on horse gear. LOVE these.

Having a magnifier around the house for all the close-up tasks is great. Having one at work as an emergency physician is indispensable. I’ve used all sorts of loupes (magnifiers) over the years and for wood working at home or patient care at work, the headband style works best.

However, I’ve always been plagued by the issue of not being able to get light exactly where I need it. Headlamps don’t play well with headband magnifiers and bright procedure lamps have to be set at angles to accommodate the workspace that cast shadows in my working field.

When I saw this magnifier with the built in lights, I ordered 2, one for home, one for work. They have been a fantastic asset to both handy work and medical care. The 3 levels of magnification let me get as close a look as I need and the built in lights point right where my hands do the work at the focal lengths of the lenses.

I would give this product 5 stars were it not for 2 minor issues. First, the quality isn’t up to some of the other non-illuminated headbands on the market. I keep my work headlamp separate from the general ED equipment since I don’t think it would last long with the kind of bouncing and jolting our non-illuminated loupes get.

Second, and perhaps more problematic is that the battery cases are mounted fairly far forward and so create a leveraged weight that is fine for the first 10-15 minutes but then you start to notice it ever so slightly in your neck and upper back muscles.

A battery pack on the back of the headband shared between both lights would be a much better design and eventually I’ll probably do just that with a little solder and an old battery pack from a retired headlamp.

Those two issues aside, this is the best illuminated headband magnifier in this price range. So from tying flies to tying sutures and everything in between, this is a great tool for the price.

This is written in the spirit of constructive criticism. I have shopped with you for several years and am impressed with the high quality of your offerings. I have just bought over a thousand dollars worth of stuff for this Christmas season.

However, there is one glaring exception to the high quality of your merchandise and that is what I am writing about: 19R05. 01 Headband Magnifier. I have purchased three of these over the years, each time forgetting how poorly made they are.

Except for the plastic headband, which becomes sweat-covered quickly, the design is a good one. However, they are so poorly constructed that they are not usable. The lens hinges break easily, the lenses fall apart, and the lights don’t work for the few hours before they also fall apart.

If I had paid ten dollars for them I would regret the purchase. Having now paid nearly $150 for three units, I find myself almost ready to stop shopping with you. Find others with a similar design, but with LED lights and reasonably solid construction, and I will buy several.

I urge you to stop offering these for sale. If you do, I will continue to shop with you. If you decide to continue to offer them, I will cancel my catalogues, or, worse, let you send them (your cost), and just throw them away.

Donald B. Roberts, M. D. Response By: Garrett Wade Tech Department Thank you for your review on the Headband Magnifier. We’re sorry you weren’t satisfied with its quality. For the most part, we have sold these with much success, however there were a few that had some problems.

We have been corresponding with the manufacturer regarding working on improvements for this item. Thank you for your comments.

My husband is delighted with what the magnifier allows him to do. He is making use of it to do fine work in his shop and in his office. Trying to see small screws for battery replacements used to be a problem.

Now all sorts of things he can do again with the magnifier. Thank you for making this possible. I like seeing him happy again.