For those who actually use them.....for general use, gutting, packing, skinning, etc after dark, hiking, etc. What headlamp would you recommend for good light, battery life, and reliability. Thanks.

I've been pretty happy with the petzl tikka model for a basic, dependable unit. I do have a couple black diamond ones, but their "on" switch seems pretty sensitive.

This rechargeable is very nice especially for the price.

https://www.amazon.com/NITECORE-NU32-Rechargeable-Headlamp-LumenTac/dp/B07CV3VTYB

Petzl and Black Diamond have maintained a strong rep for a long time from frequent users. For me I usually carry one Petzl Actic Core multi level light and, instead of spare batteries, a Petzl Tikkina. I have tried to replace batteries in the dark and now would rather just pull out the spare unit.


mike r

A small pen light in your shirt pocket can be a big help when replacing batteries.

Fenix.

got rid of everything but the Zebralights......

I use a Nightstick which is what I'm issued at work... it's great and it's LED... no one hates Streamlight more then I do...

mike r[/quote]
A small pen light in your shirt pocket can be a big help when replacing batteries. [/quote]


Or a headlamp.... sorry, couldn’t resist.

Zebralight...

Petzel and Black Diamond here. They seem to last forever. Still have one (black diamond) I was issued in 2003 and it still stays in my pack.

Petzl Tactikka+ and Zebralight get most of the use these days.

Did the research. Zerba was a game changer. Sofa King Bright

Is that the Greek one?

I use a headlamp for fishing at night. Most have too tight a beam. I've found a lamp that has four settings. My favorite setting has a wide, short range beam with no central intenseity to blind me when watching my float. Excellent for close up work. Good illumination of an area about 20'x20'. The other settings are tighter beams for longer ranges. Brand is HyperTough. Found it in the hand tool section at WM. About $15.

Petzl Tactikka rgb.

Why would that be?

Armytek. Been using one for years. Takes the 18560 batteries and they last a long time. You can adjust lumans from .5 luman to 1200 luman.

I've got a couple of these. I have yet to find anything better.

From another campfire thread...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/14009157/flashlights

Fu ck I love headlamps. I have a crapton of them.

I've had the gamut of price ranges for them. None of them last real long, so now I just buy the $15-25 lamps and use them. Sometimes I remember to carry spare batteries, but I usually have a spare or 7 in the truck and the pack.

Be cautious of the rechargeable lamps. They don't last much more than 1/2 hr and take a lot longer than that to recharge.

I like the ones that have red and green besides the white. The colored lights save me from night blindness.

I never carry spare batteries as I take two headlamps with fresh batteries installed........extra batteries
for a light with a bad switch doesn't get it.

Fenix, i've got this model and it's hella bright on the turbo setting.

https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/hp15ue-fenix-headlamp/

The rechargeable version.

https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/fenix-hp30r-rechargeable-headlamp/

Check out the zebras. This is the best of both worlds. You can use them as a headlamp or just unclip it.

My nitecore HC30 with 18650 battery is the best light I've used. Crazy bright, straightforward/useful switch function, stupid long battery life, can pull the light off the headlamp and use it like a flashlight if needed. It has been flawless for 3+ years, and I use it as my primary light all winter, and for all my backpacking now. It is probably not the lightest for the gram counters, and it takes a while to recharge the battery. Only downsides I can see.

Nitecore HC30

Black Diamond

For general use I've got a bunch of Black Diamond headlamps. One in the bedroom. One in my study. One in the garage. One in my truck.

For being way out in the woods or up a mountain - Zebra all the way.

Good grief...

Yeah. I chuckled when I read it.

I been using headlights for years.These are by far the best.Rechargeable 18650 batteries will give you about four hours of super bright light.I just buy extra batteries and carry a couple in my pocket.I use this light for dressing game after dark and it really helps you see what your doing.They are really good if you have to look for blood at night.You can see like daylight.This light has an excellent comfortable headband too. BORUiT 15000 Lumen Headlamp CREE 3x L2 LED Headlight Light Charger 18650 Battery
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BORUiT-15000-Lumen-Headlamp-CREE-3x-L2-LED-Headlight-Light-Charger-18650-Battery/132671431408?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40719%26meid%3D311f9d6d191d40bbbf6f42a4aac5bf9c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D131831869779%26itm%3D132671431408%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

+1 but I always have a backup.

I have a Petzal. I bought one for my son when he went to boy scout camp and liked it so much I bought myself one. I use it all the time around the house. It's great for putting direct light on stuff I'm working on.

Dan

Have used all the above and find this one as good and better.
Can't beat the price either. I especially like using the red lamp in early morning to go set on a stand.

Have a couple coast ones, and have owned 2 others, but not that one. I like them well enough for what they are, but can't put them in the same ballpark as nitecore, fenix, or zebralight.

I liked my Black Diamond Revo enough to buy another. Uses rechargeable or regular batteries. Comes with rechargeable. I like it because If needed I can plug it in to my Anker power bank and recharge it with a small cord that plugs into USB.

I have the BD Revolt too, and it's a good light. I like the Nitcore better (it's a rechargeable like the Revolt), but as you mention, the Revolt can use rechargeable or regular AAA batteries, which can be handy at times.

However, the Nitcore is smaller, 1.5 oz's lighter, equally bright, has the most positive "on-off lock" of any headlamp I've had, and also can be charged in the field with a power bank and USB cord.

I've been using the same Petzl headlamp for close to 20 years. Its never let me down.

In their instruction manual they claim 1hr on the brightest setting for the NU32.

Fair enough, but no headlamp is going to last long on high, and there are very few occasions where high is really necessary. Everything is a tradeoff for sure... for summer backpacking I just carry the Nitecore. For hunting I carry the Nitecore in addition to the Revolt... ie, I always have two light sources.

Black Diamond has their spot headlamps on sale for $25 (marked down from $40) right now. I just bought 2.

They use AAA batteries. Haven’t tried them in the field yet but they’re supposedly pretty excellent brightness-wise. Not sure how much more cold effects AAAs vs other power sources.

I have a different view on headlamps, but I do not do any serious backpack hunting anymore.

1. I want one that will not accidently turn on in the pack.
2. I want one that has the battery in the lamp, not on the back of the head harness with wiring to break. Been there done that a couple times.
3. I always carry two, and sometimes a spare set of batteries.
4. I prefer the ones that use AAA. Small easy to carry back up.
5. I require a red light to prevent night blindness and not to alert the critters when I am out bowhunting and prepping for a morning hunt in the dark.
6. I really like the adjustable brightness lamps that way you pick the brightness you need.

I bought four Rayovac brand from WM over 10 years ago and they have served me well, but they are wearing out and not as bright as they used to be.
I am looking to replace the couple I have left and the rechargeables have me interested.

The BIGGEST #1 requirement should be - RED LIGHT....

Critters can see white - but for what ever reason they don’t react to red.....

It’s #1 for me on my list - there are so many good ones out there anymore it’s not hard to find one... at least not until you add RED to the list.

head-lights all work well my only thing i like is that the light has batteries i can buy easy and have extras in my pack or truck,just in case so i use either AA or AAA always.

Ease of buying batteries and having extra power is what has kept me from rechargeable.

It's intensity of light, not color. Do a bit of research. Predator hunters have known this for decades.

I'm convinced some deer think I'm another deer at night with white light. I hike a lot in the dark, like tons, and I've had multiple deer let me walk to within feet of them looking right at me. Not sure if I'm blinding them or what but they act like I'm a deer. Got some video of this somewhere....

This... I've been running the same zebra light for the past several years. Bright, durable, and lasts a relatively long time. I simply unscrew the tail cap about 1/8 turn and the light cannot come on in your pack. If I lost it today I would have another one headed my way tomorrow.

Andy

I like the older, smooth-bodied Zebras better than the 'ribbed for her pleasure' ones. I lost one a few years ago and immediately ordered 2 more. Don't want to ever drop below 3.....

Myself, I have 4 in use right now. My first headlamp was in 1982. I have used them daily for this time.
I don't need red light or flashing functions.
high/ low is enough

Ditto

Which particular Zebra headlamp do you guys prefer? Looking at the ones taking CR123 battery there are two different flood models and one you can pick flood or hotspot. Guessing the later is more handy?

I have the H600 MkII, and it's a great lamp, though it's been discontinued for a while. The MkIV looks pretty sweet.

Hotspot is my preference, and is more like a flood lamp than other headlamps I've used, anyway.

I prefer the AA models and run lithium. If I remember correctly the flood version is nice (good blend of spot and fill in light) and the more neutral color is better for seeing blood.

I have all version of the Zebra Light 18650; hot spot, flood, and floody. For hunting I'd feel handicap without the hot spot version. The flood versions are great for working at night, in a tent, or around camp, but are terrible for lighting a trail. The hot spot does it all.

The batteries seem to last forever. Don't buy cheap 18650's. Get the purple Eagle Tac.

Here's what you want.

H600W MKIV http://www.zebralight.com/H600w-Mk-IV-18650-XHP35-Neutral-White-Headlamp_p_215.html

18650 Eagle Tac https://illuminationgear.com/products/eagletac-18650-3500mah-li-ion-rechargeable

XTAR VP2 charger https://www.amazon.com/XTAR-VP2-Sel...p;sprefix=xtar+vp%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-3

Thanks for the info!

I just bought a couple of Nitecore NU25's to give them a try this season. My first rechargeable headlamps. I'll also pack a battery powered backup Petzl or Black Diamond headlamp just because I like to have a fallback plan.

Didn't read the thread.

Here's my criteria.

300 lumens, minimum. Has to take standard batteries. Then we are done.

For me, Zebralight H600W 11 is hard to beat. Use it every day at work and no complaints. Also, have two spare Eagletac 3400mah batteries as back-up

Black Diamond.

Greg

^^^This^^^

I have been using this one from Harbor Freight Head lamp. Has worked quiet well for me so far.

310 Lumens zoom feature. 3 settings bright, dimmer, flashing
3 AAA
0-45* adjustment
robust wiring system

$9.99 on coupon sale.

I’ll have to get one of those.

Years ago I was walking to my tree stand in a huge block of hardwoods before sun up. I was using one of the big Maglight three cell flashlights (white light). About half way to my stand, I heard “someone” walking up behind me. I shined the light back behind me to let whoever it was know I was there and not a deer. I continued and it sounded like the footsteps were getting closer so I stopped to see who it was.

Finally, I saw it was a doe. She walked by me, maybe 15 yards away, stopping every now and then to look In my direction. I kept the light on her and she eventually walked on past me. I had the wind on her but even with a bright, white flashlight right in her eyes, she never stomped her foot or snorted or did the “head bobbing” trick.

JG,

This will be my third season using the Steelman Pro headlight.

200 lumen
https://www.amazon.com/STEELMAN-79236-Lumen-Profile-Headlamp/dp/B075QFGC2V

250 lumen

steelman pro 78834 slim profile rechargeable led

https://www.amazon.com/STEELMAN-78834-Rechargeable-250-Lumen-Activated/dp/B01CK427ZY


Each have two different brightness levels both tilt up and down.

It has become an essential part of my kit.

I walk in before daylight and usually do not leave the stand until after dark-thirty. It is not a blood tracking light, but does come in handy when one is out at night.

At home I use it almost every night for some activity as it seems the older I get the more light I need to see, especially small parts. I keep it on my nightstand along with a couple other items just in case things go bump in the night.






It is rechargable with a mini-USB connection that can be acheived with a plug in to a wall socket or a charging accessory.




ya!


GWB

LOL. That’s pretty funny!

Thanks for all the input guys. Much appreciated.

What did I miss?