Best headlamp under $50?

Been out climbing a couple times recently and ended up in the dark. My POS Walmart special has done okay, as long as the stupid switch doesn't kick on in my pack killing my juice. Outdoorgearlab.com has the Coast HL7 as their best pick and I see that online for Less than $30, but I want climbers perspective for climbing light. Cheapo lights are fine for camp but the vertical world's a bit more serious than trying to find my tent when drunk. Thanks for the input! Eric

Black Diamond Storm. End of discussion.

Waterproof, 160 lumens, has both spot and flood settings, adjustable from 7-160 lumens, big easy button that can be manipulated even wearing gloves, and can be "locked" so it doesn't accidentally flick on in your pack. I usually run mine at 1/2 power and a single set of rechargeable AAA's lasts me an entire week long climbing trip with juice to spare.

MSRP is $50, can often be found on sale in the $35-$40 range.

I'd personally recommend the BD Spot outdoorgearlab.com/Headlamp….

Lightweight, simple, good battery life, super bright, good proximity, lock function, red light, and inexpensive.

sierratradingpost.com/princ…

If you can find a 30% off coupon you'd hit your price range. I have the version with the CR batteries since it gets extra battery life but its not a universally available battery like AA. 200 lumens became essential to finding cairns at night in a scree field...

BD Storm

Any idea how that compares to the BD ReVolt?

2 for the Storm
2 for the Spot (My buddy used one to lead into the unknown the other day here in the Gunks)

Depends on what you are looking for.
I carry the icon on walls, where weight is not so big a deal. ON III and IV days i carry something small and light for just what you have found yourself in.
This is one thing i use Supper Taco for, gear reviews
outdoorgearlab.com/Best-Hea…
Biggest deal is that it is light and small enough that you don't leave it because..."hell, i don't want to carry this thing"!.

Eric Lutz wrote:Any idea how that compares to the BD ReVolt? 2 for the Storm 2 for the Spot (My buddy used one to lead into the unknown the other day here in the Gunks)

It's waterproof, cheaper, brighter, and has better battery life. Though, it's heavier with 4 batteries rather than 3.

Jeremy Bauman wrote:I'd personally recommend the BD Spot outdoorgearlab.com/Headlamp…. Lightweight, simple, good battery life, super bright, good proximity, lock function, red light, and inexpensive.

terrible experience with this product. both partner and i have one.

all the things you say are true, but the lock function fails to work a lot of the time (find it on in my pack all the time despite being locked). so i have to reverse the batteries. but the casing is hard to remove quickly to swap em, requiring a tool or nails of steel.

other than that is its durability. i have had it less than 6 months. i just keep it in my pack, only really used it ~20 nights, and the thing has a short so it doesnt turn on half the time.

same problem in partners lamp - intermittent short causing the switch to not work it sometimes. have to smack it or hit the button a bunch.

awesome light, great settings and operation, but the lack of durability and poor lock function makes it a dud.

My bd spot crapped out too. Had it less than a year and it won't turn on. I'm thinking a bad soder point. It also would turn on in my pack, even with a hold down lock button. Has anyone picked up any of the NEW BD models.?Thinking about going for the new spot. Bummed with the issues my old one had because I really loved the light output and functions.

I use the petzl tikka 2. $30 and does the job. Batteries last a long time. I use it for everything, camping, climbing, house work, on and on.

Also has red light for ease on the eyes at 4 am.

I bought the Coast based in part on the OGL review. It is ridiculously powerful and has pretty good adjustability. Two problems:
1) burns through batteries really fast
2) accidentally turns on a little too easily

Second BD Storm. Long battery life, plenty bright, can be used in pouring rain/snow. Lock out mode, dimming, cool power adjust feature thats easy to use, red light, battery life indicator.

I have a revolt it's nice but idk if the rechargeable feature is really worth it but I did get it for about 50 brand new

JoeGaribay wrote:My bd spot crapped out too. Had it less than a year and it won't turn on. I'm thinking a bad soder point. It also would turn on in my pack, even with a hold down lock button.

You know, I've heard a number of those & had a partner w/ crapped out batteries w/ a storm.

FWIW, the Princeton Tec EOS was sort of the gold standard for a waterproof, regulated (constant brightness until battery is low, works fine w/ lithium, NiMH, etc) headlamp. There isn't a lot of frills (fixed beam pattern) but it's a proven design (the led got upgraded over the years). I'd think the latter outweighs most of the new features. If anything, the Petzl (or another brand) w/ the (USB) rechargeable battery pack (can also use AAA in a pinch) would be the next logical step up.

After many years of loyal older generation Spot use I purchased one of the new versions. I hate it. It turned on in my pack even with the lock feature and drained the batteries; this never happened with the old ones, which lacked the lock. It's annoying to get the battery cover open as well. I replaced it with a Princeton Tec.

+1 for the petzl tikka 2 but I never did any climbing with it. I carry it with me everytime I venture out into the woods and mountains even if I shouldn't need it. Its come in handy many times when our excursions take longer than expected. There are times where more lumens would be nice but always do just fine without them. On the mountain bike I managed to ride some rough single track trails at 15mph with the wimpy light so it should be fine for climbing.

SteveMarshall wrote: [...] but the casing is hard to remove quickly to swap em, requiring a tool or nails of steel. [...]

fossana wrote: [...] It's annoying to get the battery cover open as well. [...]

The plastic head band adjustment piece doubles as a tool for opening the headlamp. I used to hate trying to open it, but once someone told me about the trick, opening it has become a piece of cake.

Recently picked up a cheapo 2-pack of energizer headlamps for only $15. I've use it quite a bit recently while night bouldering and have to say that for the price, it's fantastic! It has 4 different modes with 2 buttons. There are high and medium, single led brightness, then low with 2 leds. The second button is the red led only. The only thing I don't entirely like with it is that the main led has a somewhat yellow tint, unlike the 2 leds for low.

Great headlamp, cheap, would buy again.

1. buy yr "name brand" headlamp from somewhere with a no questions asked walk in exchange warranty ... MEC, REI (for a year), etc .... headlamps are one of the things that go kaput more than most other gear

2. if you cant do the above, buy a petzl ... they are one of the more "reliable" regular brands

3. you can find other brands such as fenix that blow away the "normal" brands price and weight wise

4. outdoorgearlabs has CRAP review for headlamps ... basically they test it on MAX and then claim battery life off it ... then they give a poor rating for a headlamp that lasts say 2 hours on max, even if that headlamp is really designed for longer run times at a lower level (but higher than the competition)

an example is my fenix headlamp which would get a crap rating from OGlabs because it only last for ~4 hours at 400 LM, but at 150 LM last 10 hours (thats more powerful and longer than any other "name brand" headlamp in the price and weight range at that level)

5. the climbing gods are on the side of more LM/endurance ... when yr looking for rap anchors or trying to find a sketchy descent in the dark .... youll wish you had a powerful headlamp. or a HAWT partner for spooning...

Fenix HL55 ... 900 lumen burst, 400 lumen for 3 hours, 150 lumen for 10 hours, 50 limen for 30 hours ... Regulated output

The single 18650 lithium ion bat provides the same energy as 4 AA alkalines for much 1/3 the weight

Entire lamp fits in a chalk bag picket and weights ~150g with bat (but no top strap)

fenix-store.com/fenix-hl55-…

Pic above is the 400 lumens setting on rap

Theres a new breed of lithium ion headlamps that blow "name brand" headlamps out of the water ... Including the new petzls (i have 2 of the latest petzls as well)

the headlamp is 60 dollahs ... but the charger is 20$ and the bat is also

;)

I like the Storm that I have now, it's my second after the first one died from abuse. The ReVolt that I have sucks. The Spots are ok but I like the Storm better since I'm out in wet weather a lot. The Spot and the Storm are basically the same except that the Storm has an o-ring and screw closure and the Spot is lighter and easier to get into but more susceptible to water damage.