Headlamps. Do you guys use 'em?

[Patrick Corry]

I needed a new strap for my Black Diamond headlamp. I guess my big head finally wore out the elastic!! I found this young guy in California and decided to buy from a small business instead of the big box store and was pleased indeed when I received the new strap (and he included an extra as a gift). I had let him know that I would share his company with my outdoor buddies; so here it is; look at Sean's products at:

THIRDEYEHEADLAMPS.com

 

[jdeerfoot]

I have a number of them. Oddly, a big box home improvement store carried cheap Ray-o-Vac headlamps for sometimes as low as $7.99, otherwise regularly priced at $9.99, and they work and seem to last as long as as much more expensive name brands.

I always take mine on all trips but generally only use them on fall trips when night comes early. Since many of my trips are in Canada, the early summer trips don’t require a headlamp. There is still plenty of light early and late in the day. At home they are handy for some tasks. I used one on a small plumbing repair last week.

I have a Black Diamond headlamp purchased at Canoecopia a number of years ago which seems to go through the batteries very quickly. I probably should have complained to Black Diamond back when I bought it. And the booth where they were offered at an attractive price was staffed by a Black Diamond employee. I always wondered if they brought “seconds “ to the show. Having worked the show 4 different times I sometimes felt some products offered didn’t seem to be first rate. Some of the canoes offered by a big name manufacturer had some minor cosmetic issues, but the floor display models were perfect.

 

[Marten]

I carry two. If one quits under the cedars on a moon less night you will.be glad you had a second light of some kind.

 

[Black_Fly]

Two for me. Read with one in the tent if I have a paperback. I have Black Diamonds - served me well.

 

[tketcham]

Headlamps. Do you guys use 'em?​

Yup, headlamps are the best flashlights around for all sorts of things. Over the years I ended up with four headlamps with different brightness levels, features, and power. I usually bring a previous iteration as a spare.

I had let him know that I would share his company with my outdoor buddies; so here it is; look at Sean's products at:

THIRDEYEHEADLAMPS.com

I would suggest that he make the information about the headlamp features more prominent on his website. The "SHOP" page shows all the colorful bands that can be bought but the information about the headlamp is kind of buried under "JOURNAL" and not as complete as it could be, e.g., battery type and burn time are missing.

 

[GeoBoy]

I have Petzl headlamps and only used them when getting caught out late while hiking but now I use them a lot around the house, working on the car, going up in the attic, etc.

 

[MyKneesHurt]

Petzl tikkas, with the 'red light' mode for night vision. They in combination with a Luci Light have worked out really well for me.

 

[billconner]

I carry one but can go for many trips without using it. I also have a hat - baseball style - with two lamps built into brow and flat batteries tucked in headband.

 

[ppine]

Petzl lamps are really good. I just got one that is rechargeable.
I use them around the house, working on cars and RVs and at night when I need to get wood or turn of the irrigation.
I like to get bright colors so I can find them easier.

 

[snapper]

I've been using a Petzl as my main headlamp for years. Instead of carrying two, I always carry an extra set of batteries. I also have a no-name brand headlamp in my truck (along with other supplies; i.e. extra blankets, clothing, etc.) that a former student gave me. To top it all off, I keep a Luci light charging in the front windshield of my truck.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[scoutergriz]

I have multiple headlights, but my 2 main ones are my petzl tikka+ and for about 40 years a tiny little Black Diamond Neo, sadly my BD died after one too many dunkings and they stopped making them about 25 years ago, so now my backup is a Dewalt one with about a half dozen too many features, all I want is high, low, and off but it seems everybody is designing them with a crapload of other functions- I don't need 6 levels of brightness, a dozen different flashing patterns (one I had had an auto sos function)and all the colours of the rainbow...
I also don't like rechargeable lights for the simple reason that I need light NOW, not after several hours of charging. my power bank already is able to recharge 4 AA's or AAA's and the solar panel on it recharges them in about 6-8 hours, or the internal battery does it in 2. I can always charge up a set and keep them in my pocket and swap them out out in a few seconds. Being a 4 season camper and former contractor, all my lights get a heavy workout and the cheaper ones just don't cut it. I also have a box of old 3 for $10 ones that I used to lend out to kids- one or two of them could invariably be counted on to forget any light source

 

[MichaelMerry]

I’ve probably been through a dozen or so headlamps in my wilderness traveling career. My wife just bought me a petzl lamp for Xmas that I really like. It has a rechargeable battery, but also runs on 3 AAA batteries. I always carry spares anyways, so I’ll just have the rechargeable in there with the AAA as backup. I’ve used it twice already; one trip was a 4 night backpack a few weeks ago. It got heavy use with the short daylight. It was also very cold. I used only 1/4 levels on the charge indicator when I plugged it in back home.

It was plenty bright to use to hike at night by headlamp into our first campsite.

It has a switch lock, three brightness levels on the white light and two levels on the red light. It’s very lightweight. I’m not a fan of the headband it came with, so swapped it out for an old one I had.

I’m a fan!

 

[Pseudonym]

Black diamond makes my favorite headlamp: https://blackdiamondequipment.com/products/spot-400-headlamp?variant=49702311067965. Pricey, but worth it. Lightweight, dimmable, multiple beam patterns, red light, and brightness memory, so it turns back on at your last setting, rather than a default. That's critical at night around camp.

I keep one in each car, one in my backpack and one in my workshop.

 

[lowangle al]

I have cheaper ones that I got at Costco, where thy come at least three per pack. I take at least two on a trip plus a small hand held flashlight that has a very bright beam. Sometimes I'll take three, because I'm never sure which ones have good batteries. I can hang one from a D ring in the tent and keep one on my head and still have an extra if one fails or the batteries die. I just had one fail recently on a night ski. I try to keep one where I know where it is and is handy to get to.

 

[Odyssey]

When we got as far as Huntsville* one year my memory kicked in. An event that doesn't usually happen, so best not ignore it. I suddenly remembered I'd forgotten to pack the headlamps. So we popped in to a big box store to check out the selection. It was very poor, but reasonably priced. Along with batteries that weren't included, the 2 units from a major battery brand performed okay, but they weren't stellar. I subsequently gave them to my grand-kids, with extra batteries of course. I used to have Petzls but they either suffered moisture damage or were given away as nearly new. I do that sometimes. My current collection stands at 3 (I found the errant 1 I thought had been gifted, it was actually in our kitchen kit.).
All Black Diamond Astro now of various ages, with reasonable weather resistance and simplicity. 1 is in the kirchen kit, 1 is hanging in the hall closet for home/yard pottering DIY, 1 is hanging in the furnace room "workshop". All fairly close at hand.
I'll run with this until my next memory lapse or momentary gear giveaway.



* https://www.groupofsevenoutdoorgallery.com/huntsville

 

[dramey]

I have Petzl headlamps, a Fenix PD35 flashlight and a Fenix rechargeable lantern. I like the Petzl headlamps and I use the lantern inside my tent and carry the flashlight with me everyday. Fenix has the best customer service i ever experienced. They are also owned and operated by veterans.

 

[Patrick Corry]

My headlamp journey began many years ago one Vermont winter when my pal bought two Eveready headlamps powered by a 9 volt square battery. The thing looked like the classic doctors disc reflector they wore on a headband back in the day. The lens had to be 3" in diameter, and about 2" projection from one's head. They were great! The battery went into a backpack, and the cable (wire) led up to the headband. It enabled miles of delightful cross country skiing. We had the terrain all to ourselves since we were the only crazy people skiing in the dark and cold!

 

[PortageW/Cerberus]

Nitecore NU20.