Best Headlamp
|
So what do you think is the best all around headlamp? |
|
coop wrote:So what do you think is the best all around headlamp? Or your favorite lightweight and mid-weight?Best one I have found is from Target or Wal-Mart, it's an Energizer: target.com/Energizer-6-LED-… It has a red light which is really nice because it doesn't attract bugs and is good enough to hike in. The white lights on it are really bright too, and it's only $16.00. |
|
John Farrell wrote: Best one I have found is from Target or Wal-Mart, it's an Energizer: target.com/Energizer-6-LED-… It has a red light which is really nice because it doesn't attract bugs and is good enough to hike in. The white lights on it are really bright too, and it's only $16.00.PLUS one |
|
Best headlamp i've had has been the Petzl Tikka. It held up to the 7 months of abuse I put it through in Afghanistan and it's still holding on strong |
|
I have two that I use for different things, and I'm pretty happy with my system. |
|
shoo wrote:I have two that I use for different things, and I'm pretty happy with my system. Petzl e+Lite : This is normally what I bring to the wall for day trips or anything I'm not expecting to be caught out in the dark, but might. It's ridiculously light, small, bright, and versatile. Works as an emergency flasher, has red light, clips/straps to things easily. Petzl did a REALLY good job with this one. You're obviously sacrificing battery life a bit (more than enough for a couple nights per set of batteries, but replacement batteries are EXPENSIVE!!), so this definitely doesn't fall under the all-arounder category. nice.you can get the coins batteries at the dollar store for the e-lite its a great light |
|
The BEST headlamp |
|
As posted earlier the e-lite is awesome for a spare/think you won't need it headlamp. For nighttime illumination my go-to lamp right now is the BD Icon, which I found very similar to the slightly nicer Petzl Myo XP, but I'd personally go for whichever you could get cheaper. I have regretted all the iterations of cheap headlamps I bought over the years, a good lamp is money well spent. And that's coming from someone who loses/breaks 1+ lamps per year. My awesome expedition lamp is the Mammut Lucido TX1-belt, and all of the mammut headlamps are first-rate. If you're using a headlamp for anything other then obvious trail travel then the increased speed/peace of mind you will get from a bright headlamp are well worth the couple extra ounces of weight. |
|
Besides tech climbing I also dabble in winter mountaineering here in Colorado so a good headlamp is a key piece of gear...trying to navigate in the winter at night is pretty tough without one. The best I've found is the Mammut Lucido TX-1. Not ridiculously expensive, 6 oz. with batteries, something like 100 hour burn time, multiple settings, and a 105 meter beam throw. Really impressive specs. Oh, and it has this cool design feature where the lense housing will rotate backwards so that when you're storing it the lense is protected from scratches/breakage. I've been very impressed. |
|
John Farrell wrote: Best one I have found is from Target or Wal-Mart, it's an Energizer: target.com/Energizer-6-LED-… It has a red light which is really nice because it doesn't attract bugs and is good enough to hike in. The white lights on it are really bright too, and it's only $16.00.I would agree seeing as I've purchased two (dropped the first in a hot spring), but if you are ever doing any trail running at night or any activity where you jumbling around it tends to fall on its hinge, ends up pointing at your feet, and does a great job of lighting your face. Cheap but definitely not the best. |
|
I have the tikka plus. Have had it for about 3 years now and works well. I stays in place while hiking, climbing, running. The unit doesn't allow itself to get lazy and eventually point at your toes. I can fit the headlamp fine around a helmet. It has stood up to quite a bit of abuse over the years seeing as how I just keep it in the top of my climbing pack. I often tend to toss it on the ground and then take up a chimney right after. It also has an interchangeable lens system. This is not very practical for hiking, but if you wanted to read in the tent and your partner is trying to sleep, pop in another lens color for softer lighting. So all of this being said I would recommend the BD Spot over this. Pretty similar in price, settings, and functions. However, the difference lies in the actual performance of the bulb. A partner and I were hiking back to camp one night and I was blown away at how bright her headlamp was. The spot would light up cliffs in details that the Tikka wouldn't pick up for another 10-15 meters (both sets of batteries were fresh). Extremely bright and has great range. I wish I would have known this when I was buying a headlamp. Definitely my recommendation. |
|
+1 on the Mammut Lucido (TR1) headlamps. Picked up 3 from SteepandCheap for about $15 a piece. They seem a good bit brighter than similar headlamps I've used from Petzl and Black Diamond |
|
ccerling wrote:Best headlamp i've had has been the Petzl Tikka. It held up to the 7 months of abuse I put it through in Afghanistan and it's still holding on strong+1 for the Tikka. Traveled for over 2 years with mine from New Zealand to Costa Rica to Greece and it still works just fine. It really took a beating. |
|
Mammut Lucido TX1 |
|
I'm a fan of the Black Diamond Spot. I have both the 2009 and 2010 versions, and the new one is amazing. Variable output with the main LED from 6 to 75 lumens, and red LEDs as well. It locks too, so it won't turn on and drain battery in your pack. Not too expensive either, around $40. |
|
I have an Apex Pro and while it's fairly light and quite bright, the tilt mechanism is weak and broke. I patched it back up but I'd hate to have it snap on a mountain so I save it for working on cars now. |