Views on a headlamp? Thanks!

[Big Dawg]

Another vote for the Petzl e+lite. Love mine.... what everyone else said about em. Good idea about a snack baggie for storage. That little hard case gets annoying.

[SOBO 2011]

How bright is the Petzl e+lite? i was looking at the
Petzl Myo XP LED Headlamp at REI and it was really bright ... how do people feel about that?

[Lyle]

How bright is the Petzl e+lite?

I've used it to find bear branches and hang food bags. Hiked with it. While not the ideal for these tasks it suffices. Great for most camp chores.

[Don H]

Here's a site with a lot of information on LED lights

http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/headlamps/lighting

[waldick]

i too used the Wally World 3 AAA version....works well, can't beat the price.
i only wish you could turn it off without cycling through the other setting....

[Mags]

i too used the Wally World 3 AAA version....works well, can't beat the price.
i only wish you could turn it off without cycling through the other setting....

Maybe you have a different version, but the 3 LED version I have has a slider switch for RED LED/OFF/WHITE LED.

Maybe other versions have a different type of switch? Who knows. See the MADE IN CHINA wonder comment.

[Montego]

I used the Princeton Tec "Apex" headlight in 2008 and will use it again next year. It's super bright at 130 lumens, has both hiking and camp light options, can use alkaline- lithium-rechargeable batteries (LED's are regulated), and is waterproof. Problem is it's HEAVY at about 279 grams and doesn't have the red or green light modes which is nice to have when your hanging around the shelter with others.

Yep, when you want bright it's the best game in town. When going light (no pun intended) it's not the best choice available.

[dla]

Petzel defintely pushes a lot of different headlamps, but you should be aware that (a) they are not regulated and (b) they cannot take Lithium batteries. So I happen to think that Petzel is a bit overpriced for what they offer.

[Doooglas]

Go join candle power forums. Those guys get crazy testing all sorts of lights. The experts are over there, for sure.

[LIhikers]

Princeton Tec Quad.
It's bright enough to night hike and there are dimmer settings for around camp. The thing I love about it is how you change the batteries.

[lustreking]

Maybe you have a different version, but the 3 LED version I have has a slider switch for RED LED/OFF/WHITE LED.

Maybe other versions have a different type of switch? Who knows. See the MADE IN CHINA wonder comment.

It sounds like waldick has the 6 led version, which I, too, have. It has a single pushbutton that you use to cycle through the light options.

Spot, Flood, Spot+Flood, Red, Off

It is kind of annoying that you have to go through bright, bright, brighter before you get to the red option, but otherwise I like the headlamp. You can find it at walmart for less than $15.

[ShelterLeopard]

Petzl, all the way! (I think there's another thread very similar to this one, there may be some good input there as well)

[snaplok]

I have the princeton tec fuel which I really like. Budget wise it was nice. It has 3 bright settings and also a flashing one. The only thing I don't like is, I wish it had a red light option on it. I tend to have to put my hand on it or I blind people when I look at them. Other than that I love it thus far.

I have to go with the Fuel too, even though I run into the same thing blinding people. I made a sleeve out of red acetate that I cut from a report cover and a piece of duct tape that I can slide on and off to give it the red filter option. Works so far.

[Rainman]

Black Diamond Spot. A great spotlight for hiking and alternate 3 small LEDs for general light around camp or in the tent. I have four different headlamps and this is the one I always grab.

[Don H]

Petzel defintely pushes a lot of different headlamps, but you should be aware that (a) they are not regulated and (b) they cannot take Lithium batteries. So I happen to think that Petzel is a bit overpriced for what they offer.

Some of their new models do take Lithium batteries including the Tikka 2, Tikka XP, Tikka PLus, Zipka2, and others of the same line. Even in my old Tikka I've always used Lithium batteries even though they say that they can burn out the LEDs but never had a problem.

[Trooper]

I have a Streamlight headlamp. Love it!

Single power white LED with 3 white 100,000 hour LEDs in the same reflector
Three lighting modes: Power LED, single LED, three ultra-bright LEDs
All models; White power LED: 2,000 candela peak beam intensity; 50 lumens
Yellow Model: (1) white LED – 11 lumens, (3) white LEDs – 30 lumens; Camo Models: (1) safety green LED – 2.5 lumens, (3) safety green LEDs – 8 lumens
Runs up to 7 hours on one power LED and up to 150 hours on a single LED
Water-resistant, lightweight thermoplastic construction
Powered by three "AAA" alkaline batteries (included)
90° tilting head
Limited lifetime warranty

It's a littler heavier at 5oz. (with batteries), but it's very durable. It only costs $27.00 at Home Depot

[JLeephoto]

The Petzl Tactikka has a red filter that has become indispensable both at home and around camp to keep from bothering camp mates/wife. It also will preserve the night vision for stargazing. It seems to last forever on 3 AAA batteries. I have one I've used heavily for 5 years.

[flemdawg1]

i have both the princeton Tec Aurora and the Wal-mart Energizer headlamp. I like the weight, brightness and longer battery life of the Aurora much better.

[Rain Man]

... It's simple and doesn't seem to get turned on in my pack by accident the way that my Energizer (Wal-Mart) light always seemed to. ...

I was a caver in an earlier life (before children) and I still carry three sources of light to this day. In fact, had to loan a Photon button light to a fellow hiker on my last section hike. He had some inexpensive head lamp from Wal-mart or some such and it quit and new batteries didn't help.

I always wonder why light makers these days still use the caveman system of a single click to turn on a light, when a double-click would prevent all those accidental clicks in packs, pockets, and car glove compartments that run down batteries and you never know it until you need the light and it's too late.

As for the red filter, my Tikka XP doesn't have one, but I experimented with a Saran wrap "QuickCover" in red, but it was just too thin to convert the white light to red. Any other make-shift options that folks might suggest I try?

RainMan

.

[birdog]

Petzl Myolite....6 oz., 70 bucks, bright as aircraft landing lights. A great light....if you're a caver. Never did I regret a purchase as much. I use a wally world cheapie now. 11 bucks..2 oz...works great.