Headlamps for alpine climbing 2019

FrankPSwrote:

Is this your company, Javinder? Do you work for them?

No

I am afraid that I have nothing to do with the many companies that rebrand and sell D25 headlamps. Nor do I speak mandarin which would be needed to work for mainland chinese companies.

Buy them or not, I don't care.

If you want to spend 3 to 4 times the amount on a headlamp that is marginally better for climbing than all the more power to your bank account!

why are there still new posts on this thread? just buy zebralight!

Zebralight hasn't released a new model in 3 years I believe! In the electronics world that is a lifetime.

The word on the forums is that they are having issues sourcing parts and holdups with their chinese factory and suppliers.

Javinder Bainswrote:

No

I am afraid that I have nothing to do with the many companies that rebrand and sell D25 headlamps. Nor do I speak mandarin which would be needed to work for mainland chinese companies.

Buy them or not, I don't care.

If you want to spend 3 to 4 times the amount on a headlamp that is marginally better for climbing than all the more power to your bank account!

I’ve yet to hear of anyone who has tried an 18650 powered headlamp and decided they were better off going back to a 3x AAA powered headlamp. That’s why Javier did such an extensive write up (thanks btw!) - because once you try one you’ll be telling all your climbing partners to get one. I have a few Sofirn SP40 lamps that I like a lot, and just got a D25LR to try too

Drew Neviuswrote:

I’ve yet to hear of anyone who has tried an 18650 powered headlamp and decided they were better off going back to a 3x AAA powered headlamp. That’s why Javier did such an extensive write up (thanks btw!) - because once you try one you’ll be telling all your climbing partners to get one. I have a few Sofirn SP40 lamps that I like a lot, and just got a D25LR to try too

I know someone who went from an older  18650 headlamp to a Petzl Actik Core. In some cases it does make sense.

Lets use the D25S as an example:

D25S all in with 3000 mAh battery and headstrap = ~125g

Petzl Actik Core with 1250 mAh battery and headstrap = ~82g

Petzl Accu Core 1250 mAh battery = ~23g

So for a bit less weight than the D25S you can carry the Petzl Actik Core and a spare battery. You also gain the ability to use lithium primaries in extreme cold.

Of course you have maybe 1/2 the max output. And you are paying $100 vs $25.

The new H05A only weights 110g all in, so the comparison is a closer with it.

With older heavier headlamps, or ones which lack USB charging (should you need to charge on a longer trip) the comparison is actually worse.

The Petzl Actik Core is the lightest solution with integrated charging and decent runtimes for climbs where you dont need all night output at good levels or high lumen bursts. 

For all night sustained output at good levels though an 18650 headlamp is the only solution without a battery swap. And they generally have much higher output.

The D25S is made in china as is the petzl accu core battery. So no brownie points there!

Javinder Bainswrote:

Zebralight hasn't released a new model in 3 years I believe! In the electronics world that is a lifetime.

The word on the forums is that they are having issues sourcing parts and holdups with their chinese factory and suppliers.

Probably because the Chinese stole their designs, stole LED designs from Cree, and colluded with the lawless Chinese government to ruin USA businesses.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/headlamp/zebralight-h600w-mk-iv

tom donnellywrote:

Probably because the Chinese stole their designs, stole LED designs from Cree, and colluded with the lawless Chinese government to ruin USA businesses.

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/headlamp/zebralight-h600w-mk-iv

You do realize where zebralights are made do you not?

Shenzhen, China

Typical Zebralight fan bois!

Javinder Bainswrote:

You do realize where zebralights are made do you not?

Shenzhen, China

So are you saying intellectual property theft is okay, just because the products are manufactured in the same country?

Based on your posts promoting Chinese products, I'm wondering if you are being upfront here on MP.  Are you here primarily to promote headlamps sold by Chinese companies? Do you receive any money from the United Front?

Jim Stephenwrote:

So are you saying intellectual property theft is okay, just because the products are manufactured in the same country?

Based on your posts promoting Chinese products, I'm wondering if you are being upfront here on MP.  Are you here primarily to promote headlamps sold by Chinese companies? Do you receive any money from the United Front?

Are you so scared of the chinese that anyone who recommends anything that is made in china is now a "front"?

I would have thought that this forums was the last place for online McCarthyism witch hunts!

Buy chinese headlamps or not, that's up to you. I certainly don't get any commission, I wish I did!.

Zebralights are for all purpose and intents Chinese products made in China. They send them back to China for repairs!

Now you want to talk about Chinese owned companies, Arc'teryx comes to mind!

Its is amazing how a good $25 dollar chinese headlamp can get forum dwelling proud boys and Zebralighter fan bois seeing red communists in every nook and cranny here!

Javinder, can you reply to my question - are you saying intellectual property theft is okay, just because the products are manufactured in the same country?

Jim Stephenwrote:

Javinder, can you reply to my question - are you saying intellectual property theft is okay, just because the products are manufactured in the same country?

I see no reason to answer demanding questions of someone who is obviously here to promote hatred!

These forums are not a court of law, they are simply a place where Zebralight fan bois who feel threatened by a cheap $25 headlamp can cry in public!

Are you saying that hatred of Chinese is OK Jim? 

Just to make this more enjoyable, here is a Zebralight failure from a few days ago:

https://old.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/sczu6e/help_zebralight_wont_go_into_high_mode/

Good lights, just not the perfect light that their fan bois worship.

Oh well you can use a D25S while your Zebralight gets shipped back to china for a few months of repair!

I am surprised by your interpretation.  What I asked has nothing to do with hate. 

It seems you think that companies that invest in R&D should be open to having their work exploited and stolen.  I have little more to add to this discussion.

Pretty suspicious that Jims account is literally just these few comments, either a burner or troll, either way ignore them javinder. 

Jim Stephenwrote:

I am surprised by your interpretation.  What I asked has nothing to do with hate. 

It seems you think that companies that invest in R&D should be open to having their work exploited and stolen.  I have little more to add to this discussion.

3 posts there Jim in the entire life of your account?

Seems like you are our friend Tom in another disguise!

I now see how this burner account thing on these forums work. Quite the shenanigans for some personal hateful attacks Zebralighters go through!

Here is another recent one on their warranty:

I paid $110 for one of the h600s, I was initially nervous I would regret paying significantly more than I usually would for a light but the UI, beam, machining, everything was a notch above anything I had bought before. Would I call it good value for money? Maybe not but after handling it in person I had zero regrets.

After about a month, it died on me, put at most 5 cells through it. Everyone makes a lemon now and then, no big deal, the problem is they have had it almost 4 months and the only email reply I get from them is that they are still fixing it. For the price they charge this is a completely unreasonable level of customer service. Googling shows that this is a standard thing for them, post going back years all say a similar story so it's not like it's a short term thing where they were caught out by an increase in demand or something. Would it be so hard for a company pricing themselves at the top of the market to hold a small percentage of their inventory back in order to replace faulty units in a timely manner?

https://old.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/qgxwe7/zebralight_never_again/

Its like Apple, good products but not as great as their rabid fan bois think.

The same Apple who stole from Xerox by the way.

Never have I seen Zebrlighters feel so threatened by ae cheap $25 headlamp that they scream "chinese shill" everywhere. Especially as Zebralights are made in China themselves.

What fun!!!

My girlfriend got one of these $25 Chinese headlamps for Christmas this year. After coming down Solar Slab in the dark a couple weeks ago, I think I will be replacing my primary climbing light with one of these in the near future. I've been using a BD Storm and a Petzl Actik for the past few years, but hers throws light way farther. I'll probably keep using my Actik for backpacking and leave the Storm in my multipitch pack as a spare/loaner. 

I don't care what brand they are, I just want to find rappel stations in the dark quickly. 

Has anyone tried the rechargeable lamps by Coast?

Trevor Carlsonwrote:

Has anyone tried the rechargeable lamps by Coast?

This one?

It is simply an updated version of the D20 chinese headlamp.

A mix of this:

And this:

Likely made in the same chinese factory.

Most of these headlamps are made in china (including zebralight) often in the same factories.

The chinese branded versions usually cost much less.

However no one will call you a "chinese shill" for buying a western branded version that is basically the same!

Javinder Bainswrote:

This one?

It is simply an updated version of the D20 chinese headlamp.

A mix of this:

And this:

Likely made in the same chinese factory.

Most of these headlamps are made in china (including zebralight) often in the same factories.

The chinese branded versions usually cost much less.

However no one will call you a "chinese shill" for buying a western branded version that is basically the same!

你 是 中 国 大 陆 人!

The Chinese copy everything they can.   https://www.hotcars.com/20-chinese-copycat-cars-we-wouldnt-touch-with-a-ten-foot-pole/

https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/the-most-blatant-chinese-knockoff-yet-great-walls-ora-punk-cat-clones-volkswagen-beetle-to

1 in a 1000 of these is stopped by a "legal" ruling, usually many years later after the copy has profiteered for years.
The Chinese government itself is behind these copies, and is not subject to the normal conditions of a market economy.  They are hardly going to rule against themselves.

"BAIC Group is an automotive conglomerate owned by the Beijing Municipal Government. There are several of these groups in China and most are managed by faceless bureaucrats, that rose up through Communist Party."      https://carnewschina.com/2021/10/24/the-big-read-story-of-baw-baic-part-2/

Hello,

I have purchased a H05A on the recommendation of the other review thread. It seems alot brighter than my previous Petzl.

I hope it will be as reliable as well 

There seems to be alot of personal attacks going on here over a chinese headlamp that seems to perform well.

Pity.

Thank you