how light can you go on a headlamp, including battery weight, for a lamp that provides enough light for predawn and some night hiking and also has a red lamp option?
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how light can you go on a headlamp, including battery weight, for a lamp that provides enough light for predawn and some night hiking and also has a red lamp option?
Nitecore NU25.
Mine is a Black Diamond of some kind. Weights under 2 OZ with 2 AAA cells. I can't find in on the REI site, so maybe replaced by a newer model. Wasn't too expensive as I recall.
That nitecore NU25 looks like a great option, but be aware, the specs on it are misleading, it is not 0.9 ounces, more like 1.9 ounces with the headband. Still, pretty darn UL for a versatile headlamp.
Anyone have any actual experience with this headlamp?
Yes, the Hiking Hammonds used it. They wrote a review and based on that, I bought one. Yes, I got it from the Litesmite site with the line mod to be lighter. It seems like a good light. Since most people are carrying a battery back up, you can recharge in the field.
Hiking Hammonds blog > https://hikinghammonds.com/
Any chance you're talking about the Black Diamond Ion Headlamp?
That's what I currently use. It's quoted at 1.9oz, used two AAA cells, has a max brightness of 100 lumens, and could usually be purchased for $15-$20. Unfortunately it's been discontinued and could be difficult to find.
I know you pulled the trigger already but yes, I have had one for a year or two after buying a NU-30 or 35 before that. I almost did the headband mod but decided I like the original headband more than the shock cord version. I have night hiked with it multiple times for 2-4 hours at a time, used it in camp and it lasts for a long time.
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Any chance you're talking about the Black Diamond Ion Headlamp?
i have one of these as well and it works really well once one gets used to the switch....
not sure what mine weighs out at and i bought it at a discount REI sale for 6 bucks..
figured i couldnt lose with that price and it has served me well for a couple of years now....
I have successfully used and hiked with a very small headlamp which uses a CR-123 battery or something like a quarter. I don't know what type it was, but it was bright enough, and even with a spare CR-123 on me it was much lighter that alternatives. I don't think I would knowingly go into a night hike with that (with a exception of perhaps a full moon traverse), but it did what it needed to do when I needed to hike at night.
Petzl E-lite.
hmmm... I have an Energizer with multiple settings and 3 batteries weighing in at 3.2oz. Guess I will keep this one for now.
The Petzl eLite+ is another option.
I bought an NU25 when my last headlamp bit the dust. I like not having to account for batteries anymore, and can simply charge it up with my Anker if needed to, but haven't had the need to yet in the field. I did the strap mod using directions from a YouTube vidya and some extra z-line I had. Light as a feather.
There were two models...
The 1st one used two silver touch sensitive sensors on the front and came with a pair of lithium batteries.
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond.../dp/B00PUC8S48
The 2nd one used a single push button on the top and came with a pair of alkaline batteries.
https://www.rei.com/product/107917/b...d-ion-headlamp
The easy way to tell the two apart is that both had a red LED, but the 1st one had both the white and red behind the same diffuser, the second one placed the red LED on the opposite side behind a second diffuser.
Got my NU25 less than 24 hours after ordering it... yikes, Amazon delivery is scary..... Anyway, I'm already liking it, works great, I replaced the heavy strap with a much lighter one from an old headlamp, 1.2 ounces total weight, we'll see how it works long term.
Thanks Steve Buscemi for the recommendation.