Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Headlamps - Who favors one over handheld light?

Same here. Keep both handy if I can.

I recall climbing a tree with a mag-light held in my teeth....those were the days...

Absolutely indespensible for waterfowlhunting. Especially setting out a diver spread

Me, too. Just the once, and never again!

FC

I go with the headlamps. I haven't invested in the good high end stuff yet, but I think that day's coming. I would like to get one with adjustable brightness. Like others, the days of holding a light in my mouth to keep my hands free are done.

Headlamps and a little consideration for others is my preferred option..

I have a couple of good ones, multiple Energizers from Walmart (surprisingly good, but not light), and even the ones that clip on the bill of your cap. Kind of an addiction honestly, probably have 6-7 headlamps and as many of the clip ons - but they are dang handy and nice to have one in the truck, in the camper, by the grill, in my duck blind bag, ...! All work great for what they are needed for.

Still have many flashlights for when more light is needed, not needing my light to be hands free, etc.

My problem with the headlamp I have is that it reflects off the back of my glasses. Very annoying. Have any of you tried one with an extended lens like this one? It might be slightly heavier but it would get the light out in front of my glasses and should eliminate the glare.

I prefer headlamps for most of what I do, from working in crawlspaces to walking to and from a hunt.

Where handheld lights win is in brightness, control of beam and in fitting easily into a pocket. Headlamps with all their straps and bulky battery packs don't pocket so well when you're out on the town and include a flashlight in your EDC.

The few clipon's that I have tried, were not bright enough. I miss my old coon hunting light (wheat), but the battery quit and I was not using it enough to warrant replacing it. miles

Use both....

If you haven't tried one lately, do so. In the last few years, improvements in LED's have multiplied the brightness many times over. Today's light isn't yesterdays light by a long shot.

That right there is the truth. Nowadays you can get a flashlight the size of a shotgun shell that's better than an old timey Maglight that was 3' long


Mike

No kidding, I had 3 in my pack this fall on a bull after dark by myself. Just in case...

But I carry a scorpion for other tasks that need brighter light for less time, uses for all, but I generally always have 1 or 2 headlights in my backpack at all times.

I don't have one bright enough to do blood trails with though. So I bought a coon hunters headlight for that. Just wished I could find a 6 v halogen bulb to fit it too...

Miles, those batteries are the same ( generally) as whats used in electric fence chargers...I buy replacements for my headlight or spares at the feed store all the time, generally around 15 bucks...

I have a ball cap with a built in Led in the bill. And it's surprisingly bright

I use both, like those head lamps.

My jaws ache in memory of gutting a moose in the dark in the rain in a swamp while holding a flashlight in my mouth. Ditto to those who never want to do that again! It makes a man appreciate headlamps.

In a brilliant innovation I discovered that you can hold a headlamp in your hand when a handheld light is preferred.

When walking on uneven ground, a light held in hand away from eyes makes it much easier to see bumps and dips due to throwing shadows to indicate depth, show trip roots, etc. When the light source is close to the eyes I trip and stumble more.

Ditto to having smallish LED lights stashed everywhere in dresser drawers, night stands, glove boxes, tackle boxes, tool boxes, shaving kit, brief case, etc. Also stash inexpensive knives in most such places.

Added: a headlamp has to be compact and light weight for me, no wires, separate battery packs, etc.

LED's have revolutionized lights and the price is coming down more all the time. These things sell for only $3.50 at Harbor Frt. They've very good little lights, easy on batteries, lots of light, and cheap enough to have lying around everywhere. The only drawback is that you have to use a tiny phillips screwdriver to change batteries.
It has a hook on the back and I use one for a tent light.

Wearing a headlamp with a ballcap should resolve your problem with your glasses.