Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting headlamp recommendations

Going on a wilderness elk hunt soon and outfitter is recommending bringing along 2 headlamps. Need recommendations for brand and features desired as well as lumens & flood vs. spotlight. Thank you in advance.

I've had several. Mammut Lucido, an zebralight, and a couple of Petzel's.

Right not I'm using a Princeton Tec Fred and Remix. I like the fact they each have multiple settings for intensity and battery life, and usually several colors (green&white, Red&white for tracking, etc).

I'd get another one....

Petzl.

Anything that doesn't have a flood light or that ridiculous strobe feature.




Travis

The $20 dollar ones at Walmart that take 3 AAAs.

I use a nitecore hc50 for hunting. Has a red led also for sneak attack.

I've used Tikkas with no problems and lately I've liked the Princeton Tec Vizz.

Fenix

I got a Zebra Light to replace Black Diamond Spots. Kept breaking the plastic ones and wanted something more durable. Pretty happy with it, but it's not as versatile as the Spot. If I was doubling up on lamps I might look at two different Zebra Lights (flood and spot) that run the same battery and only take one headband.

Can't remember how many I've had. I think the only one I've broken was a petzl, and I still buy those. I seem to lose them before they break generally.

I avoid the Xmart versions, as the light always seems to work, but something else is annoying enough that they become unusable. My last petzl was $30 something, and so far is just fine. Super bright ones are handy in some cases but generally not worth the money unless you need it for a specific purpose.

I use a Zebralight H600W11 at work everyday. For batteries I like the 18650 Eagletac 3100Mah (the red & white ones)because they fit perfectly. If there is a better headlamp out there I like to know it !

I've got a surefire minimus and have used it a bunch. Everything about it is great but it was pricy. Some parts have zebra lights and they seem great. Petzls are not a bad way to go for the money.

I'm a big fan of the Petzl range. I do prefer the floody type of lens for shorter range stuff and working in the tent. I carry a small handheld spot torch for range and distance.

The Petzel Tactikka 2 does everything I need it to do, and uses the same AA batteries as my Garmin GPS, so that is a plus.

Two Petzls will do fine.

I wouldn't sweat the lumens. Something in the middle range that's printed on the back of the packages will do fine.

I let my grandaughter have the plastic schitt.

Zebra all the way....

^^^This^^^

I've used that ridiculous strobe feature to try and get my partners' attention in the past.

I like petzl lights I've had. I have a basic mammutt for just around camp use that I really like. Lightweight and simple. Reliable.

I do like the feature of a 1-touch off.

This Black Diamond model has proven to be very durable and reliable. It holds four AA's, so it weighs more, but it is like carrying spares in the battery pack. Illumination intensity and diffuse or beam are easy to adjust.

I have top end Petzl, Black Diamond and Zebra Light headlamps. I plan to purchase another Zebra Light. The Zebra Light is a great light and well worth the money.

You you zebra light guys like cool white or neutral white ?

My Zebralight H600W11 is a neutral/warm white. Given a choice now, I would pick cool white because its a whiter light.

Zebra for me. Cool white. My first one disappeared. I bought another.

Awesome light, and I love the rechargeable 18650 batteries.

The Surefire headlamp has to be their best product. Fantastic light with infinitely variable beam intensity and adjustable head angle. Can do low-powered map reading type jobs or blast light all over the trail when cranked up high. Uses one CR123 battery. Very worth the price.

Zebralight H52W Neutral. Single AA battery.

I like 2 different lights. One dead simple. One pretty versatile.

On the simple end is the Pelican 2690. White light only, and either on or off. No variables.
Super reliable. Super durable.
Switch can be operated with even heavy gloves on. Have had this light on my hardhat for over 2 years now.

On the versatile end is the Princeton Tec Remix. Have been using this light for around the house, and some camping/fishing trips for a little over a year.
2 levels of red light, 2 levels of white. Light weight and comfortable. I use the red mostly when bugs are thick outside. Doesn't draw them toward my face like little rockets.
Switch takes some getting use to. Has been very reliable.

I use a headlamp every day and I really like my Fenix HL30 for long battery life, uses AA's, buttons are easy to use with gloves. It has a red beam I like to use in my treestand before dawn as it seems to help with night vision.
The problem I have with it on a backpacking trip is it can be difficult to change batteries in real cold weather (especially in the dark).

That is when I use the Zebra light.

The Black diamond in the photo above is a wonderful light. It's good in every way.
If you want the bad ass of the headlamp world the zebra light with the spot beam is like wearing a locomotive headlight on your forehead!

My zebra light is the best headlamp imaginable. I cannot even see outside of a hammer, anvil or a truck tire running over it how you could break it. I think it would survive being run over actually, and I would bet on it.

The Mammut I have works fine for getting around in the dark. Hi and lo beams. Nothing special, just very reliable so far.

Not a recommendation, just my experience.

I'm looking at a Pelican 2620 Heads Up right now, it's been on my hard hat for 2 seasons now. Work provides them. No idea of cost.

Good points:
It's nearing the end of its second season and still functions.
3 AAA batteries like lots of other equipment
Two types of headbands, rubber and elastic cloth.
Seems to be tolerable of wet weather as I work outdoors and it hasn't failed yet,
Adjustable angle
LED and Incandesant in case it matters to you.

Bad points:
Kinda "clunky", not really big, just clunky
If you forget and leave it on the incandesant setting batteries are gone really quickly.

LED light seems quite bright, I have absolutely no use for the incandesant and don't know why they even bothered putting it on the unit. I just thought about it the other day and might look into pulling the bulb.

Just another idea for you.

Good luck with your search for something suitable and more importantly on your hunt. Be safe.

Geno

Another vote for the Zebra. Very reliable, great battery life and bright!

This again.......

Link to Zebra

IMO everything about this comment is spot on. If a gun was put to my head and I was forced into the plastic land of headlamps it would be a black diamond. But my Zebra Light has been through the washer and dryer twice(forgot it was in my pants pocket). And ran over on purpose. Its money and won't ever leave you hanging unless your battery is dead.

Dang, you take your gear testing seriously.

stay away from streamlight. Love all there products, but the headlamps on/off button is very easy to trigger. I've had to take the batteries out while in my pack due to it constantly turning itself on leaving me with a dead light.

I carry two of these. Clip on the bill of your hat.

Led lenser H7, good lights and are very bright.

I have four or five. My favorite is a Black Diamond with 3 AAA batteries. No place to charge rechargeables in the wilderness. I carry a baggy of extra AAA and AA for the GPS and camera. It is very light and very bright. It has one color but has both flood and spot. The flood is nice for doing camp chores at 3 am, finding stuff in the tent etc.

I don't have a zebra but I know they are good. I wouldn't take two of them. I sure wouldn't take a $10 walmart one on a hunt. I have had a few of them and they always break or quit shining.

Not really. If you've ever owned a Zebra you can't stop thinking about how well built they are. You can't help but think to yourself,I'll bet I can run that over and nothing will happen. JJ obviously thought the same thing and that's why he said it. After going over dozens of headlamp threads I figured I'd get it over with. I ran it over. You'd never know.

Another good one to look at is the ArmyTek XM-L2. Mine is the white light version. They make a cool light version also. 1100 lumens at its brightest and .5 lumens at its softest setting. Takes the 18650 battery. Can use as a headlamp or has a pocket clip or you can use the magnetic base.

The Zebra H600w Mk II is the finest headlight I've ever used. I use it every day - around the house, in the garage, and outdoors of course! Once you go Zebra you won't look back. Mine is a neutral FWIW - I like the tint of it.

Now I'm thinking about picking up an Acebeam K60vn (modded) - 5000 lumens of sweetness in a handheld! Just need a few more 18650's...

I use a Princeton Tec Fuel. Its very small and light, and sips battery juice.

Fenix HL30 for a AA light and Princeton Tec Remix or Vizz for a AAA light.

The 2015 Black Diamond Spot looks like a winner...

Nitecore HC30
this just came in the mail.

1000 lumens at only 1.5 oz. (w/o batteries).

only thing missing is red led.

Hey BigDave, Your nitecore is very similar to the armytek. Does it take a 18650 battery?

Yes.

I use the cr123 though, I buy the USA made batteries in bulk on eBay.

The King of headlamps

http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/item.asp?cID=1&scID=75&PID=461

I ride a mountain bike a lot at night so I can justify the cost.

I think it kind of depends on your intended use. If you just want to find your way back to camp, then this isn't 'zactly rocket science. This little things are cheap and fairly reliable. I have not had one to fail yet and carry one as a backup and have them around the house and in the truck.They're like, 20 bucks.
http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/039800/039800037879.jpg

Personally, I like the Princton Tech Vizz. It's very bright @ 160 lumens, so it is certainly bright enough to meet the needs of field dressing or quartering an animal in the dark. Frankly, if I'm just walking to or from a deer stand, or headed back to camp or the truck, or looking for something in the tent, I really don't need that bright of a light and prefer the red light.

That is a requirement for me, a red light option which helps preserve your night vision. I also have no interest in a separate battery pack.

If you're out spotlighting, coon hunting, or otherwise need to light 'er up, then I doubt a headlamp will do the trick and there are other lights more powerful for that.

Some feel they have to have the most expensive and best of everything and while I don't disagree with "you get what you pay for", (see my sig line) I don't need to pay extra for a light that can endure being run over with a vehicle as a test as to whether a light is adequate for my needs... which is overkill IMO. YMMV and everyone has their own priorities.

So bottom line, decide what your needs and priorities are and based on the suggestions in this thread, buy a light to meet them.