LED headlamps?

Scott Ridgeway said:
You should definitely read the reviews for the Zebralight at candlepowerforums. It is very efficient and lightweight. It is ALL perfectly flat even area light. It has absolutely no "throw." You can see buy them here: https://www.fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=89
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Beat me to it. I got mine from fenix store yesterday and I am absolutely blown away by this thing. Perfect beam, incredible build quality, simple UI. There is absolutely nothing I would change about it. It's the headlight Surefire should have built.
 
I've broken a TacTikka and they're not waterproof. IMO not as well built as the gasketed/waterproof Princeton Tec's. The Quad I bought was less money and better built.
 
Have a look at www.flashlightreviews.com - reviews of just about every light on the market in serious detail, with all the stats on throw, beam spread, runtimes etc. There's a section specifically for headlights.

As for me, I use a Petzl TacTikka XP. Its been great, but I haven't used its major competitors so can't really compare it. flashlightreviews.com gives it 4 1/2 stars and an extra 'thumbs up' recommendation.
 
I own three Tikka+ models including one with the red filter, the E+Lite, and a Princeton Tec Aurora. If you get a Petzl, the 'Adapt' kit is one of the most underrated products out there.The Aurora is cheaper and gets the job done, though, blocky and not very maneuverable but simple. The E+Lite or E-Lite...I want one in every kit I have. They market it as a back-up to keep in your back, but on its own with an extra set of batteries, the lightweight hiking crowd is flocking to it.
 
Streamlight Trident. 2 White LEDs with a Green LED. 3AAA. I use the green LED for night fishing to preserve my vision.
 
I am another Princeton Tech Fan I have an EOS, It really competes with larger models in brightness and the batteries last a long time.
 
I've used Princeton Tech and Energizer.

The princeton tech came with an ACU pattern headband and was over 30 bucks at Ranger Joes outside Ft. Benning.

The energizers were about ten bucks at Wally world and every bit as useful. If I had to do it all over again I probably wouldn't have bought the Princeton tech, but I needed a headlamp in a hurry and it was the cheapest at the store.

The Petzl brand is good, the Army got some through RFI, but I've never seen any of the cheap Garrity or Energizer headlamps fail.

Jimro
 
Snow said:
Beat me to it. I got mine from fenix store yesterday and I am absolutely blown away by this thing. Perfect beam, incredible build quality, simple UI. There is absolutely nothing I would change about it. It's the headlight Surefire should have built.
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If you want a small, AA headlamp, the Zebra is it! I too have several headlamps (Petzl, Princeton Tec, etc), but the Zebra is really a great little light. As mentioned it doesn't have the best throw, but for area coverage out to about 20 feet, it does extremely well. This is a great light for the money and I plan to pick up an extra one.

ROCK6
 
I have two. A Princeton Tec Quad and a Black Diamond Ion.

quad.jpg

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I think these have replaced my regular flashlights. I love headlamps and while these two lights are not the top of the line they work great. The Prineton Tec uses a few AAA batteries and lasts forever. It has 4 settings: High, Medium, Low and strobe. At the lowest setting its great for keeping an amount of night vision and at the highest setting it reaches far down the trail. For a light weight alternative the Black diamond is first off very light and has two settings: High and Low. It uses a little camera battery and has a decent battery life of about a day of straight use.

I would reccomend both of these lights.
 
JackBauer24 said:
wife's bday is coming up and she specifically asked for a headlamp. She got me the black diamond in question and I love it. But if you've had both and like this one, I think I'll pick one up for her this weekend.
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JB, it may be too late at this point, but I just picked the Tikka XP at REI for a great price.

-- FLIX
 
I have been using a Petzl e+lite for the last 1.5 years. It is ultra-compact and provides plenty of lighting for immediate area work or night hiking. It has 3 white LED bulbs and one smaller red LED bulb. It has a 5 lighting modes: Low white, high white, flash white, flash red and red. I mostly use the low white for task work around camp. I have used the single red LED for night hiking.

Pics:
elite04.jpg


It comes in a little case. I keep an extra set of batteries in the case with the headlamp.
elite02.jpg


You can use the e+lite on its strap around your head, neck, arm, etc. It also has a clip on its base and can be clipped to a hat visor or clothing:
elite07.jpg


The light can be swiveled on a ball joint in its base, and the face can be turned inward for protection/storage:
elite06.jpg

elite08.jpg


I liked this light so much that I bought two more to keep in various packs.
 
I bought a Princeton because it was cheaper than the Petzl.

Actually, nowadays I prefer to use a couple of clip-in LEDs instead of dealing with the strap-on. Works good enough for night hiking, camp chores, close-up work and reading. So light, I don't notice the weight compared to having elastic bands on my head.
 
hikeeba said:
I have been using a Petzl e+lite for the last 1.5 years. It is ultra-compact and provides plenty of lighting for immediate area work or night hiking. It has 3 white LED bulbs and one smaller red LED bulb. It has a 5 lighting modes: Low white, high white, flash white, flash red and red. I mostly use the low white for task work around camp. I have used the single red LED for night hiking.

I liked this light so much that I bought two more to keep in various packs.
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Great review hikeeba! I appreciate the detail you put into it with the pictures; I've read a little about this headlamp, but you definately show the potential.

ROCK6
 
I did not get anything but my fiancee just bought the Petzal XP and e+light and loves them both so far. They will get a workout next weekend so I'll give her (and maybe my) opinions on them after that. I would have bought something but a $600 red tux for the wedding cleaned me out, and no present for me (but we did get a cheap wally world 2 room tent and blow up mattress for the trip).
 
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