Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Headlamp recommendation?

I am not a night hiker, but sometimes come out of the mountains at night on foot. I'm tired of trying to see my way with the cheap 2032 powered hat clip on lights. I have good flashlights, but many times need both hands. Budget is $100 or less. Any recommendations on a good one? Thanks. RJ

I tried a few different top-shelf headlights, including the Petzl which was disappointing. Settled on the Fenix HL60R and it has worked out very well over the last 2 years. I need to figure out how to get a green lens on it for hog hunting.

I will say I bought a few cheap Black Diamond headlamps for the trucks, and they work just fine also.

I have run a few over the years. There was something about the Petzls that always bugged me. My most recent was a Black Diamond...350 I think. Picked it up for $50 or thereabouts. It has worked very well for the last two years...and then my wife's one year old lab decided it looked like a good chew toy. Came home from work and all that was left was the headband.

Found a Surefire Minimus new in the package on Ebay for $75. Shows up tomorrow. Going to see how that one works out for a bit. It uses CR123 batteries which is the same as the flashlight I keep in my pack, so I will be able to consolidate the spare batteries that I keep on hand.

When I went looking for a headlamp, Cabela's had a Petzl Tactikka+RGB that I liked. I had probably watched too many CSI shows where they said that blue light was the best for showing up blood at night. But now with my using better, softer bullets and bang flop results, I've yet to use that blue light option, but this headlamp has the red and green light as well. There is a strobe feature that I haven't found a practical use for. I do like the three white light intensities that get used mostly around the house. I've been seen and blown at by the deer when I use white light, so I prefer using the green and it doesn't mess up my night vision like white light. While this Petzl is always in my pack, what I use mostly is a green 4 LED 3 AA hand held flashlight with a silent on off switch that I can hold lower to the ground.

Black Diamond, but I am not sure if they have any really good ones within your budget.

Personally I rarely use a headlight for hiking, unless it is absolutely pitch black out or in timber thick enough to block any moon or star light. I don't like my night vision being taken away.
I also don't like people seeing where I come off (or go into) the mountain. If you're on private than I guess this is a moot point.

I use headlamps regularly and the one that stands out is the Princeton Tec Apex, they make it in several models one within your price range.
Ultra reliable and rugged

I just use the Energizer ones in the blister pack from Wal Mart. Work well enough, plenty bright with new batteries. I always end up misplacing the damn things, so not gonna spend 50 bucks on one. I dont really lose them, just cant find them when I need them and find them later, so I have a good pile of the Energizer ones laying around. I always take 3 or 4, depending on how long the trip is.

I bought a Surefire 123A powered one for work because I was tried of them dying from hard usage, not batteries. That said I do have a handful of cheap AA/AAA powered ones I keep just because, but my next expensive one is going to be a Fenix usb rechargeable, as I hate buying batteries.

To me, depends on the purpose. For general close range use, the Petzal Tikka and the like work fine. For navigating in the backcountry where I really want to see where I'm going, I use a Black Diamond Icon. I have a bunch in between to use as back-ups. I used a Petzal Tikka for several years and it worked but I found it didn't throw enough light for me when I was trying to find a trail, blood, or keep from walking off a cliff.

I thank you gentlemen very much for your comments/recommendations. I checked out (on the net) the ones that you all mentioned. I am giving serious consideration to the Fenix HM61R. My better flashlights use the 18650 battery so that would be a plus. Where I live, in Romania, there's not much in headlamps that you can check out in the stores so I will just have to make up my mind and order it. RJ

Walmart has headlamps for a $1 that cannot be beat for the price.

Check out Zebralight. 18650 batteries and built for the long haul.

I have 8 head lamps. The best to date, for me, is the Foxelli USB rechargeable. I always have the means to recharge USB devices and my lamp works. My only complaint is it is a tad too bright for walking into a stand even on the low setting but for $13 it's a steal.

https://www.amazon.com/Foxelli-USB-...&hvtargid=pla-330197367340&psc=1

I have run the Fenix HP12 for years and years and it is one of those pieces of equipment that makes me happy every time I use it.

When I bought the Fenix, I also got a pair of good Japanese Panasonic rechargeable batteries just for it, and a charger for them. Game changer. These batteries work excellently, and I've never bought a battery for the Fenix. I'm in the process of converting all my battery-operated gear to rechargeable (if possible).

I have taken this light and a spare battery for many miles in the black, and it has served well. If I had to replace it today, I'd get an other Fenix just because this one is a champ.

The light is very bright, with variable settings. However, the market selects for high lumen output, and this is the prominent advertising feature. I think that's a poor metric for headlamps, as the bright setting on the Fenix is plenty bright. I have other lights for spotlighting. And none of them last as long as the Fenix ... 5 stars from this hunter.

I have a Fenix HM61R for work use and really like it. Compact, bright, easy to find 18650 stuff and the magnetic USB charger works great. Ive got a couple of their handheld lights for personal use and they have held up extremely well after numerous years of being throw in a pack and traveling all over the place.

I have used a few Petzl models over the years and they do last and they are light . Last model that I have bought was a Petzl Tikka , that works great , but they do not have a lot of throw.
I have also a couple Armytek headlamps and falshlights. I have a aa model and a cr123a model. If you get the rechargeable batteries the cr123a model is small , not to heavy , has a magnetic tail cap, and it’s a lot more powerful then the Petzl.

Done deal. I ordered the Fenix HM61R. It should handle my lighting needs. RJ

+1

I did check out the Zebralight, but the Fenix HM61R spec'ed out better for my use and the Fenix uses the 18650 battery and it is definitely built for the long haul. RJ

I have had good luck with my two black diamonds. I want to say I bought mine for approx $50 each. I like that I can use usb to recharge.