Tech-Heavy, Compact, and Inexpensive: Coast FL97R Headlamp Review

As I shivered in the predawn darkness, the need for a caffeine hit was overwhelming. I was groggy and tired from back-to-back days of whitetail hunting, and prime time was fast approaching. My head wasn’t in the game, and it needed to be.

Twenty feet in the air, I shifted in my tree saddle and started digging through my pack, searching for the energy drink I foolishly placed at the bottom on the night prior. I pulled all sorts of junk from the pack, using one arm to keep everything from falling out of the tree while the other frantically searched the clutter in the bottom of my bag. The magic juice was nowhere to be found.

In my easily frustrated state, I caved and decided to use the Coast FL97R headlamp, despite the haunting suspicion that a shooter buck was only 100 yards away in the darkness. “Coast, Red,” I whispered, arms laden with extra layers and gear. A subtle, red light glistened off the top of the can, buried beneath two trail cameras. Thank God, sweet relief.

“Coast, off,” I whispered, enveloping myself back into darkness. I stuffed everything back in the pack, and then sat back and woke up with the woods, enjoying my drink on high alert.

In short: Voice activation is a relatively new technology in headlamps. The Coast FL97R ($60) is the most budget-friendly headlamp in the brand’s lineup that you can talk to. After over a month of use, I’ve found it to be useful in way more situations than I expected. Throw in the ability to spit out 1,250 lumens, four different lights, and an intuitive user interface, and you have a stellar torch for under 70 bucks. It’s impressive, and the price is only reflected in the battery life.

See how the Coast FL97R stacks up against other headlamps in our Best Headlamps of 2025 Buyer’s Guide.

Voice Activation in a Budget-Friendly Torch

If you’re not familiar with voice activation from Coast, think of it like Siri. You give the headlamp instructions by saying, “Coast, *insert command*.” The brand launched the RL35R flagship headlamp in 2024. Now the lineup is expanding to include the FL97R reviewed here.

There are nine different commands the light knows. Before using it, press the small button at the bottom of the headlamp to activate it. The voice activation will stay on, but automatically turns off after the light is powered off and has been inactive for 15 minutes.

I thought it was a cool concept when I first looked at it, but I wasn’t sure how much I’d use it. In fact, when my mom was in town visiting, I showed it to her, and she mocked me. “That’s ridiculous. What’s wrong with your two hands?” OK, Boomer.

After using it, I can say that it is way handier than I anticipated. And really, when you think about it, that should be obvious. I’m opting for a headlamp rather than a flashlight so I can keep my hands free. It makes sense to have a completely hands-free operation.

When I’m hunting, I operate in complete darkness as much as I can. However, some tasks need light, and I’ve occasionally run into hiccups while placing climbing sticks on a tree halfway up in the dark. While keeping my lineman’s belt tight, holding a stick steady, and trying to run a rope around a trunk, I don’t have free hands. It’s so nice to say, “Coast, red” to get the little bit of light I need.

It’s useful when doing boat repairs with tool-laden hands, while cooking in hunting camps, and really, everywhere.

Does It Work Well?

The voice activation is pretty much glitch-free. I’ve had a bunch of people test it, including children, and some southern rednecks with thick accents. It works for all of us.

Since I’m a hunter, I’ve also tested how quietly I can speak to it. It will pick up whispers — although not perfectly. I usually have to whisper the command a few times, but it does eventually get it.

The nine commands are excessive because I can’t remember them all between uses. I use “Coast, Red,” “Coast, On,” and “Coast, Off” the most, which gives me red light and the standard LED light set at medium. I occasionally use “Coast, Warm” for a less blinding, more camp-friendly light.

The Coast FL97R: Four Different Lights in One

There are four different lighting modes on this headlamp. For 60 bucks, you get a red and green light to preserve night vision, a “warm” light on the outer edges of the lamp, and a four-setting LED light capable of cranking out 1250 lumens on turbo, which is a very high output for a lamp at this price point.

You have options, and I regularly use all the lights except the green. The warm light is one of my favorites. It’s perfect for working around camp, and it provides a working glow that envelopes you, rather than a bright beam that blinds everyone you look at.

While the 1,250 lumens on turbo is impressive, it is a bit much for most uses outside of sending a glaring beam into the woods to check for the Sasquatch you’re certain is coming to eat you. Outside of its excessive brightness, it’ll also drain the battery at a much faster rate than the lower levels.

I usually use the LED light set to medium, which emits a sufficient 420 lumens and keeps the battery alive for 5 hours of runtime. If that’s not enough runtime for you, you can preserve battery by switching to low (110 lumens), which boosts the runtime to 15 hours.

Easy-to-Use Interface

The button layout and interface of the Coast FL97R are among the most intuitive I’ve ever used. I am the king of forgetting button sequences. Press and hold for one light, three clicks for another, hold to dim, etc., doesn’t work for me. I end up turning the woods into a disco just trying to get a red light on, which isn’t exactly ideal for hunting.

This headlamp packs quite a few features, but fortunately, everything has its own button, eliminating all confusion. The middle button controls the main LED; the left button controls the colored lights; and the right button controls the warm light. You press the associated button multiple times to toggle through brightness. It’s simple and impossible to forget.

Changing from a floodlight to a spot beam is equally as simple. You just turn the “GLIDE FOCUS” lever on the light itself to adjust the constriction of light.

The FL97R can reach 4 m with the dial set wide open and the light set to low, and up to 225 m with the dial zoomed in and the light set to turbo. It has the perfect reach for most, if not all, situations where you need a light, and adjusting it is very straightforward.

Where the Coast FL97R Headlamp Could Improve

For the first 2 weeks that I used this headlamp, I despised it. The battery was dying on me at an unreal rate. On three separate hunts, I was rolling in the dark.

Warning: User Error Is a Thing

That problem came down to me, well, being an idiot.

I will admit I work too quickly in the woods. Small details go by the wayside, and I’m often hurrying to move on to the next task or objective. An example of a small detail I often forget is utilizing a headlamp’s lockout function, which the FL97R has.

Now, for my entire life, not using a lockout function has only bitten me in the butt a handful of times. With this headlamp, it seemed to happen dang near every time.

That easy-to-use, multi-button interface proved to be the culprit. The buttons on the top of the headlamp aren’t recessed. They stick out, and that design all but guarantees the FL97R will get turned on in a backpack or pocket. I started stuffing it in and out of a pack without using the lockout, and lo and behold, it was almost impossible to keep it turned off.

So, I did something truly groundbreaking: I started using the lockout function Coast provides. Voilà. Problem solved. Ultimately, my issue didn’t stem from the product. It was my fault. I’m providing a warning, though: use your brain and use the lockout function, or you will have a dead headlamp.

The Battery Life Is Still Less Than Impressive, Though

Even though I solved my problem, it is worth noting that the burn time is, in fact, worse than that of other, more expensive headlamps. However, it’s not so poor that you can’t rely on it in the field. But you may have to recharge it more than you’d think. I’ve started recharging after every three uses, depending on how heavy that use is.

I’ve also started packing spare AAA batteries, which the headlamp also takes, a detail I appreciate on a rechargeable headlamp with a shorter-than-average battery life. Since the lockout debacle, I haven’t had to break into them in the field, though. However, if you’re headed on an extended trip without the ability to recharge, the AAAs make this headlamp a serviceable choice.

Final Thoughts on the Coast FL97R

I have dropped what many would consider an irresponsible amount of money on a headlamp before. At that stage in my life, I was spending excessive time outdoors, and a good headlamp was indispensable. I needed ridiculous run times and massive amounts of power.

There is a problem with those headlamps, though: they tend to be very bulky, with the light at the front, a giant battery pack at the back, and wires everywhere. Yes, they’re awesome, but they’re incredibly uncomfortable to wear for long periods.

The real beauty of the Coast FL97R is that it’s highly feature-rich and kicks out a ton of light in a compact, easy-to-use package. And the asking price is more than fair, all things considered.

The headband is comfortable, and the lamp isn’t so heavy that it feels like it’s sagging on your noggin. Yes, the battery life could be better, but if you wanted an improvement in that department, you’d have to go to one of those clunky, obnoxious designs. It’s a tradeoff, and one I’m willing to make for a sleek design.

Is this the headlamp I would select if I were consistently going on multiweek expeditions? No. But for most people who need a headlamp for short camping trips, hunting, or general use, this is an excellent choice. You’ll probably be surprised at how much you use the voice control. I, for one, don’t want a headlamp without it.