Need a New Headlamp

J

JNieporte

Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
3,352
I'm in the market for a new headlamp. The only one I have right now is an Energizer 6 LED as shown here...
41dbuRMT8SL._AA300_.jpg


It's a pretty good light for the money, but I'm looking for something a bit brighter and hopefully with a longer run time. It will be my primary hands-free light for the outdoors at night, and thus needs to have a good throw. General-use, perhaps a just-in-case-the-zombies-come light, perhaps a bicycle light for night use. I'm not too concerned about super brightness, but throw is a must.

My budget isn't high at all - around $30 plus shipping - but I'm hoping I can get something good in this price range.

Any recommendations?
 
Zebra light, it comes with a headband, molle clip, glow in the dark fixtures and power switch, has three modes of intensity, single LED style, throws clean white light well, weight is just over that of the cell you are using and comes in CR123 or AA cell models.

Price, your looking at around $40 for the less desirable CR123 models, everyone I know who has one of these lights held out for the AA's Zombie-Day sence says CR123's are a bugger to find in the wasteland.
 
I've done some extensive research online about headlamps and one that keeps popping up is the Princeton Tec EOS. If you search carefully online you can find it for around $31. Make sure you get the current model which is 70 Lumens and uses a Maxbright Rebel LED.

It's not the brightest out there, but for my uses, it's more than bright enough. The lowest mode is good for reading in the tent or general campsite use. The middle mode is best for night time trail walking. And the brightest mode can be used for when ever you need more than enough light.
 
I purchased a Petzl Zipka Plus 2 for my Oh Sh*t bag, which runs on 3x AAA batteries. It has a standard white LED with high and low modes plus strobe, and a red LED with a constant on and strobe mode. It is very lightweight and compact. At first I thought the zip part would be kinda hokey, but it is actually a decent setup. It won't stand up to running or jogging I think, but for navigating your way around in the dark it works very well. As a bonus, the zipka can be "lashed" onto other items than your head if need be, such as a wrist, arm, bicycle, etc. and still retains the same amount of hold as if on your head. I have used it on my upper arm just to try it out, and it works just as well as if it were worn normally on the head.
 
Tikka 2 XP. I got one for the missus and me. Works great on alkalines and rechargeable cells. Main LED has hi, Lo and beacon and red led has constant and beacon. 2 overnight fishing trips and I still haven't changed cells. Takes 3AAA. Very good straps with a whistle built into one of the adjustment buckles. Very comfortable. The low is good enough for lighting up a tent at night. Decent flood for lighting up a path.

tikka-xp-2-clsup.jpg

tikka-xp2.jpg


Black for me, purple for the missus. I love the red LED for night fishing; doesn't spook the swim as much as the white LEDs. I hardly ever need the brighter setting as I find it too overpowering.
 
Watson-349 said:
I've done some extensive research online about headlamps and one that keeps popping up is the Princeton Tec EOS. If you search carefully online you can find it for around $31. Make sure you get the current model which is 70 Lumens and uses a Maxbright Rebel LED.
Click to expand...

Older models could be upgraded very easily by replacing the existing Luxeon led with an SSC P4 one.
 
A little while ago I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which headlamp would be best for myself. My criteria included being able to use as a general purpose light, being able to use as a reading light, waterproof/canoeable and some others. Basically it was going to be a "can only grab 1 light to go camping/whatever with" (other than my LoD on the keychain).


After trying out a bunch of lights at REI, and doing a lot of research on CPF I decided on the PT EOS Tactical. I choose this over other options because of its widely approved of beam pattern, its good output and long "moon" mode and the fact that it is vastly more waterproof than its closest compitition (The Petzl Tikka XP or something). Plus it has the added bonus of coming on in low mode (not high like the regular) as well as having color filters (I just use the red). If those two arent imporant, the regular PT EOS is available with a newer emitter and labled ass the 70 lumen model as well s coming in "prettier" colors.

Additionally, I also found the Zebralight H50b VERY interesting. Single AA powered, Cree XRE Q5 with a broad 80 degree flood (tighter than their standard 120 degrees). Three modes, with a reliable twisty and good waterproofing. Definately not a thrower but PERFECT for reading or blackouts.
 
Loneriderz said:
Tikka 2 XP. I got one for the missus and me. Works great on alkalines and rechargeable cells. Main LED has hi, Lo and beacon and red led has constant and beacon. 2 overnight fishing trips and I still haven't changed cells. Takes 3AAA. Very good straps with a whistle built into one of the adjustment buckles. Very comfortable. The low is good enough for lighting up a tent at night. Decent flood for lighting up a path.

tikka-xp-2-clsup.jpg

tikka-xp2.jpg


Black for me, purple for the missus. I love the red LED for night fishing; doesn't spook the swim as much as the white LEDs. I hardly ever need the brighter setting as I find it too overpowering.
Click to expand...

+1.

I had one for years before I got my SF SAINT. While I love the SAINT at the price the Petzl can't be beat.
 
Zombie lights should be attached to your M4, IMHO.

I'm out at o-dark thirty a lot during the waterfowl season and have been happy with the small, inexpensive, 3 LED headlamps..you eyes adjust pretty quick or that has been my experience,

Oh, for the M4 I can recommend Streamlight Scorpion LED and Olight M20Warrior PremiumR2 [milspec MIL-STD-810F] in confidence..well, not on zombies..yet.
 
I also have a Petzl Tikka 2. It's a fairly decent headlamp.

I think I like the headband style more than the retractable cord style.
 
One thing about the Petzl though.... No current regulation which the PT Eos has but it has very good runtimes. I prefer unregulated as I want to know the status of my battery life and like the extended runtime. The PT Eos is also waterproof to 1m static but the Petzl Tikka 2 XP is weather resistant and I can affirm this as I've used it under pouring rain with no ill effects.
 
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