Best headlamp under $50?
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Kudos to those of you rocking the Walmat Blue Plate Special headlamps. Those are so tempting because they are cheap - but also disposable, yeah? |
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I just saw that you said under $50. Well, I got a like-new Petzl R+ used for $50 ($80 MSRP). So I'm sure you can find less fancy ones even cheaper. |
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I use a 240 lumin Energizer headlamp I bought from Lowe's |
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Yeah, Black Diamond headlamp quality is generally crap (I exclude the Icon on that). Fenix, Princeton and Petzl are real good quality. That said, I have a Spot and like it. I have not even seen a Coast headlamp, and hadn't heard of them until Outdoorgearlabs.com did that test. |
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I've found the battery contacts on the non waterproof BD headlamps corrode very quickly. I had a Spot that lasted a bit more than a year and another that lasted even less time. |
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you can't find a brighter headlamp for $20 that this one >>>> Headlamp on Amazon |
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I have a BD ReVolt and like it a lot. Not quite as bright as the storm, though. In a perfect world I would have a Storm for alpine stuff (brighter, waterproof, etc) and a revolt for cragging/rock multpitch (rechargeable batteries mean you don't have to blow through AAAs). |
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Make sure you get one that does red. |
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Thanks so much simplyput for agreeing with me that even a 3 or 4 TO 1 ratio of cost (Energizer vs Petzl for instance) is also a similar ratio of junk heading to the landfill (and production+distribution overhead). I don't blame anybody for selecting that thing which is significantly cheaper, the reality of it is just horrifying sometimes. :/ |
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Another vote for the Petzl Tikka, inexpensive, lightweight, and tough. |
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The only time I thought about throwing away my Lowe's brand headlamp I was smart enough to check the batteries first. My Energizer headlamp works great at work and for climbing. Sometimes I work underground and sometimes I get caught outside after dark. I have some friends who wanna go ice climbing after work. My lamp has worked well and it will be in my pack for the third ice season. |
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I think I'm going to ask for the BD icon for Christmas . |
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I use Princeton tec remix. Batteries last forever on the led which is plenty bright. Plus very bright spot for looking for that belay ledge. Upside-lightweight, long bat life, strait forward usage. Dislike the BD dimming, & button clicking memorizing. Borrowed one n tried to brighten half way up the climb n had to finish with the red light 8(. Downside- plastic clip holds batteries in. My old one was 3 years old with tons of night climb, & endless backpacking trips before it broke. Taped it with gear tape 1.5 years ago n it still works great. Use it as a backup now, & has saved many butts. |
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Just got the Icon in the mail and love it. Some have complained about the button sequence for lighting, I think it genius, and find it easy to use. Love the lock feature and this light has a good solid straight light, so far so good! |
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The energizer ones you can pick up at home depot or lowes. Those things are money and way more durable than the BD Spot etc |
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Black Diamond recently released new editions of the gizmo,cosmo, and spot. Right now the spot is probably the best headlamp under 50 bucks. 200 lumuns, ipx8 waterproofing (which means in can be submerged up to 10 feet and still retain it's integrity, just need to shake the water out of the battery terminal) and also the battery compartment is much easier to get into now. The power tap feature works well for climbing, quick tap turns the headlamp to full brightness. REI is the only place you can get the new headlamps. |
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I also have to agree with Weston. As the owner of two said energizer headlamps for the past 10+ yrs... same two the whole ten yrs and still going strong. They have a red light option. Both headlamps have stickiness on the top of them though as i am continually replacing the climbing tape over the on off slider to avoid the accidental turing on of the light in the pack issue. Still though, awesome lights. Is it me or have these energizer headlamps gone up in price over the past few years, I swear mine were dirt cheap and just saw some in Home Depot and they were like over 20 bucks. |
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Another vote against any BD headlamp. They lack durability and reliability. |
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RE: the Energizer ones...bought mine a couple of years ago for like $14? I know they did offer some more expensive models around the $22 range. |