Lets Talk About Headlamps

[JimP]

What headlamp do you like?

I'm looking for a good one that puts out a good amount of light. It doesn't have to look like daylight when I am using it but a close second.

I don't like ones with rechargeable batteries. They seam to die at the wrong moment and then you have to dig out your secondary lamp and spare battery if you have one to replace it, and then you find out that the spare isn't any good either. I just as soon have to buy batteries that you can get at the grocery store. I don't even mind the C-123 ones even if they are a little bit expensive but you can find them on line for a good price.

 

[go_deep]

I don't even know the names of the ones I use, but I do know that I won't buy one that has the slide over or an easy turn, or a push button that sticks up to turn them on. I've had headlamps turn on in the pack before because of the easy turn on option and be dead when I need them, luckily I had extra batteries.

 

[ivorytip]

Bushnell TRKR 225-Lumen Multi-Color Headlamp. I'm not generally a fan of Bushnell but I sure do like this light. and its cheap, when it comes to you get what you pay for, well that's not always true. thing is about $20. I sold my higher end light to a buddy because this one does every thing the expensive one could. has high beam, low beam, red light, and the good ole blood blue light. takes three AA batts. I know a lot of guys worry about brand names on gear, but if it works and does the job need that's all I care about.

 

[ivorytip]

I don't even know the names of the ones I use, but I do know that I won't buy one that has the slide over or an easy turn, or a push button that sticks up to turn them on. I've had headlamps turn on in the pack before because of the easy turn on option and be dead when I need them, luckily I had extra batteries.

good point, light turning on in pack is one problem that drives me crazy nothing worse than being a couple miles from camp when dark falls over and you pull light out to see its on and about dead, makes for a real fast hike back to camp!

 

[Gr8bawana]

It's true a lot of guys worry about the brand name and having the latest and greatest thing out there. That's not always the best value.
I've got a Bowning LED headlamp my wife bought me probably 15 years ago and I bought the same one for my son about 10 years ago and they still work great. They use 2 AAA batteries which last forever and the on-off button is reccessed and fairly stiff so the don't come on while in you pack.
The best thing is they were less that $20!

 

[bghunter]

I don't even know the names of the ones I use, but I do know that I won't buy one that has the slide over or an easy turn, or a push button that sticks up to turn them on. I've had headlamps turn on in the pack before because of the easy turn on option and be dead when I need them, luckily I had extra batteries.

I don't like them either but they usually have locking feature and I always have back up flashlight

 

[hoshour]

I use a zebralamp.

 

[JimP]

I think that the next time that I am in Sportsman's Warehouse or Cabela's or similar store I'll ask them if I can take one of their headlamps into a dark room to see if it is any good and see what kind of look I get.

I know that one time I asked a Cabela's employee at the optics counter if I could take a pair of binoculars outside to check them out and he just about had a heart attack, then the older gentleman handed me a pair and said to go ahead. I like getting things like that out into the environment that they are going to be used at to check them out and not under artificial light.

 

[hoshour]

For me, it's mainly about how bright do they get and how long do batteries last at different settings. The second is much most important. I don't need 1000 lumens but I want to know how long they last at 100, 50 and 25. You can usually look those things up online.

The cost of those lithium batteries can really add up and it's usually hard to recharge batteries if you're not on the road.

Weight and size are issues too.

 

[hoshour]

If you really want bright, here's one that puts out 380 lumens and lasts an amazing 75 hours at that setting. But it is 8 oz with the battery pack on the back of the strap. It also has a red setting. $90

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/sportsmans/Black-Diamond-Icon-Headlamp-(320-Lumens)/productDetail/Headlamps/prod99999038320/cat100794

Here's another one that is lighter.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZUXSQLM?psc=1

High Mode: 168 Lumens 110 meters 30hrs
Med: 75 Lumens 65 meters 55hrs
Low: 10 Lumens 9 meters 120hrs
SOS: 17 Lumens

It has a red setting and weighs 3 oz with 3 AAA batteries

 

[Micah S]

The coast hl6 has worked great for me it doesn't turn on in my pack. It's super bright. It takes aaa batterys and it's cheap.

 

[marshmstr]

I've used the same Petzl Tikka Plus 2 for at least 8 years, it's been great. Put fresh batteries in and go....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[laxwyo]

I use an $8 energizer headlamp. 4 LEDS and 2 red ones. It's Ultra light and has held up for a long long time


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tim]

I was firewooding at night and needed to be able to see what I was doing. I ended up with a rechargeable petzl that puts out 570 lumens. it lights it up.

 

[Casey Gepford]

I love my Black Diamond spot headlamp. And can pick up on amazon at a good price right now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011K7JEVM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Zebralight

http://www.zebralight.com/Headlamp_c_7.html

 

[JMSZ]

Streamlight Sidewinder Compact II, it has White, IR, Red and Blue.

There's another version (plain old Compact) that has three versions, all have White and IR lights, one also has Blue and Red, another has Blue and Green and another has Red and Green lights.

They runs one CR123 or AA (life is a lot longer with the CR123), have variable output (start out dim and get brighter, not the other way around, which is nice), the head swivels, and they have a clip, so you can take it off of the headband (or get it without one) and clip it on gear or something.

The head-pad part isn't quite as comfortable as others, but it's not bad if you wear it right.

 

[Bonecollector]

Can't go wrong with a Black Diamond. There are several models to chose from, but all are good lights.
Long battery life, lightweight, ease of use, and very bright.

 

[hoshour]

After reading some reviews, what keeps coming up is that the battery length times posted for various brightness levels by almost all these manufacturers are pure garbage, often 3-4X as long as they actually last. A lot of headlamps on Amazon, especially the ones that don't give a brand name, list really long times. The times are totally bogus.

The other issue is that most headlamps get dimmer for a long time before they go out, so your actual time at full brightness is even shorter. For testing purposes, the battery life time continues until there is no usable light at 2 meters, even if it is testing the time at 100 lumens. If you're wanting to know how long you can get 100 lumens, the listed times are not what you're looking for.

You can get some headlamps where you can set it to stay at full brightness instead of it dimming as battery power decreases. You have shorter battery life but it is all at full power.

The other things to look for are a red setting, what kind of beam it has, how even the pattern is (is there a yellow spot in the middle or is it brighter at the edges). If it is rechargeable, do you have to use their battery or can you switch to AAAs or to eneloop rechargeables? The last two things you'll probably only find out by reading good reviews like you'll find on REI or Outdoor Gear Lab (or when we do a Hard Core Field Test).
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Best-Headlamp

I like my Zebralight. Another brand that keeps coming out on top is the Black Diamond, which has all kinds of models. Coast also does well.