View Full Version : Head lamp recomendations
earlyriser26
03-01-2011, 16:46
Somehow I lost my head lamp. I am looking for a replacement. Bright and light.
Petzl E+LITE... Love it...
http://www.petzl.com/us/pro/emergency-and-signal-lighting-0
Petzl E+LITE... Love it...
http://www.petzl.com/us/pro/emergenc...nal-lighting-0 (http://www.petzl.com/us/pro/emergency-and-signal-lighting-0)
I second this! If you don't night hike, it is hard to beat the 1.0 oz
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___37828
Campmor has a better description. and waterproof down to 3 feet. purchased mine for $20, but can't remember where.
ARambler
03-01-2011, 17:05
I have just shelled out for the PT Remix Pro, to replace my BD Spot. It is only slightly ligher than the AAA models but the CR123 battery is compatable with my Steripen.
swjohnsey
03-01-2011, 17:26
Another vote for the Petzl E-Lite. Even comes in its own little container.
theeulogy
03-01-2011, 17:38
I have the PT Remix, just under 3 ounces and pretty bright. Also has a lower setting for tent use.
Another vote for the Petzl E-Lite. Even comes in its own little container.
One more vote. Does everything I need.
I got a PT Remix for Christmas from my wife and I really like it. I do a fair amount of night hiking and it is super bright, I also like that it takes AAA batteries; as they are more common than the CR123 batteries and cheaper too.
I also use the Petzl E lite. I remember when it first came out I was so excited to find something so tiny and lightweight plus bright enough.
Boothill
03-01-2011, 19:53
i have this and love it
http://www.princetontec.com/?q=fuel
boot
Red Beard
03-01-2011, 20:05
P-Tec Byte. It's light, bright, and has a red LED, so it doesn't ruin your night vision.
Majortrauma
03-01-2011, 20:07
I have three Black Diamonds and never had an issue with any of them.
johnnybgood
03-01-2011, 20:30
http://www.rei.com/product/807913
Blissful
03-01-2011, 20:37
i have this and love it
http://www.princetontec.com/?q=fuel
boot
That's what I have. It does what it needs to.
bigcranky
03-01-2011, 21:09
Been using a Zipka for years. Love the retractable cord - very handy.
I like the Petzl Tikka Plus for its findable-in-remote-spots AAA batteries. I can night hike on low setting. (Plus the Tunisian economy needs all the help it can get right now...)
Have had trouble with Black Diamond switches going bad to say nothing of various other China made headlamps. How cheap can a switch be to not work on these things? Mind boggling.
Jersey Tim
03-01-2011, 22:37
Another vote for the Petzl Tikka series, for long battery life and common AAA batteries.
I like the Princeton Tech stuff.
I've had 3 Petzl headlamps fail (older incandescent, 2 Tikkas) one at an extremely inopportune time, I would never buy another one.
How much light (lumins) do you want?
Cooldays
03-01-2011, 23:24
if you do any night hiking i don't recommend this elite.
Its ok for camp chores though but not much else. I carry the energizer light for night hiking even though it is heavy since you can really see down the trail much better and it lasts a good long time. Its half the price too.
I have the Petzl Ziipka Plus 2. It weighs just 2.5 ounces, and the retractable cord allows the headlamp to be worn on the head or wrist, or attached to any other support.
THe PrincetonTec Quad works great for me because it is one of the few that will angle just right to use with my bifocal glasses on.
I used my Petzel Zipka daily for at least an hour every day for nearly 9 years before finally retiring it recently...had I taken better care of it I'd probably still be using it. I used it for a reading light and I sleep in a loft bed...several times I dropped it from a height of 8ft onto a hard wood floor...the case was cracked in several places and I finally did enough damage that the battery contacts weren't tight enough for it to work anymore. If I had never dropped it I'd probably still be using it...I always figured the retractable cord would be the first thing to break, but the mechanism and the cord itself were in perfect working order when I threw it away. And don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to say the case isn't strong enough or was defective in any way, I probably dropped this thing hundreds of times before it was broken enough that it didn't function anymore. I'll be buying another one before my next camping trip.
earlyriser26
03-02-2011, 05:18
How much light (lumins) do you want?
Had a Pretzl Tikka, 4 led's, high , low, and flash settings. Liked it. Don't know what the lumins were, but something just as bright. Weight is a secondary issue. Is the Pretzl E+lite just as bright?
EastCoastFeastCoast
03-02-2011, 08:19
http://www.campmor.com/black-diamond-icon-headlamp.shtml?source=CI&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=82623
It's big and it's heavier than most all other headlamps out there. I don't do thru hiking or anything ultralight, and I don't carry a backup light source. I do, however, play a lot in the woods at night, and therefore love to have lots of light and options on battery output. I have the older version of this headlamp, it has a halogen bulb for the main instead of the big led beam. It's built like a tank, it's gone more than 15ft deep in the lake and was still on so I could find it. I love it and i've had it for years. Just 2 cents.
Had a Pretzl Tikka, 4 led's, high , low, and flash settings. Liked it. Don't know what the lumins were, but something just as bright. Weight is a secondary issue. Is the Pretzl E+lite just as bright?
Assuming the 4 leds are the 5w leds...you are looking for very little light.
None of my lights actually fit your spec. I am usually using more light. If you are looking to do some night hiking these will work, but are larger and heavier.
I have a couple Fenix headlamps that produce LOTS of light. I am not sure these will hold up for the entire AT. I had one die.
My Petzls are older Duo models. They are larger and heavier than what you have had, but are 7-10 years old, having traveled with me to several countries and multiple trips. I love them, but it is larger and brighter than you are asking for.
Sir-Packs-Alot
03-07-2011, 03:53
One more vote for my favoirte headlamp - the Petzl Tikka series.