Brightest headlamp or compact flashlight

[billp0806]

looking for suggestions for the brightest headlamp or compact flashlight for tracking at night.

 

[Axlrod]

I have Fenix, they have some bright ones!

Fenix LR60R Search Flashlight

Explore with Fenix LR60R Search Flashlight offering 21000 lumens, 10 modes, OLED display, USB-C fast charge, and hands-free options. Shop now.

www.fenixlighting.com

 

[wweaver]

Headlamp, this !! 1500 lumens. Four times the lumens of a normal headlamp

Distance 1500 Headlamp | Black Diamond

Shop the Distance 1500 Headlamp. Our brightest headlamp yet, made with a rechargeable battery, secure strap design and waterproof design make this perfect for those long distance routes.

www.blackdiamondequipment.com

 

[BigNate]

This is pretty subjective as sometimes the high lumen lights aren't as useful light. I've found with some to much light reflects back into my eyes and I turn them down from the max settings.
The last one I bought was this one, but have not tried tracking blood with it. Ace beam

My most used are a Fenix HM71r, Streamlight ProTac 2.0(newer version of mine), my son uses a Nightcore HC68.
I hate the battery pack on the back of my head.

 

[Trldad]

Definitely check out Nitecore, they have some great headlamps as well as flashlights. Klarus is also one to look at for lights.
Headlamps with about 2K lumens and flashlights with up to 5K lumens is where you want to be, anything brighter you get to much bounce-back and wind up blinding yourself.
good luck, tell us what you decided on.

 

[Perrin713]

Backcountry Duo Headlamp by PEAX, The Best Hunting Headlamp

Breakthrough lumen output armored in a machined aluminum housing, the BACKCOUNTRY DUO is the brightest, most durable hunting headlamp ever designed. Never get left in the dark with run times up to 69 hrs. Engineered to endure any mountain adventure. Get yours now.

www.peaxequipment.com

Very pleased with the Peax

 

[alexnelon]

How compact are we talking?

You've gotten suggestions for bulky headlamps and a 3-pound flashlight so far.

The Wurrkos TS10 is about the size of an 18650 battery and goes up to 1400 lumens with a fairly tight beam. That's what I use when I need to see further than my headlamp washes.

 

[bigbuckdj]

I sometimes bring an Acebeam H30 because it can be used as a battery bank. I have brighter and more compact headlamps but none that can be used at high output for nearly as long in that form factor. Itll do 1100 lumens for nearly three hours.

The light without a battery is 3oz and each 21700 is 2.5 oz so I can just bring however many MaH of 21700s I need to charge things

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Zebras are pretty bright

 

[uncastan]

Check out nitecore. Amazing flashlights and headlamps.

 

[Huntnfishing]

Anyone find a good headlamp with a bright red light?

 

[mtnbound]

looking for suggestions for the brightest headlamp or compact flashlight for tracking at night.

Peax headlamp is the brightest red light IMO. They are expensive but if you want a usable red light you won’t be disappointed. Their green light is also very good.

 

[Huntnfishing]

Peax headlamp is the brightest red light IMO. They are expensive but if you want a usable red light you won’t be disappointed. Their green light is also very good.

This looks great!

 

[Ice-kub]

I have a nitecore hc33 that runs on 18650s, not impressed with battery life at all. I have an olight Perun 3 that runs on 21700s and man that thing is bright, brighter than the nitecore and seems to run much longer. It is heavier but it also has a red light option.

 

[Jethro]

Anyone find a good headlamp with a bright red light?

Yes

 

[Beagle1]

Best value hands down is the Sofirn. It is my backup light. For tracking I’ve used a Zebralight for many years and have only good things to say about it.

 

[coiloil37]

It seems everyone missed the fact that the colour of the light is important for blood trailing.

For my eyes I prefer the zebralight neutral floody. I can handle bright but only when it’s a homogeneous wall of light. Any hotspot washes out what I’m looking for as a lot of blood trailing is seeing the contrast of the blood on the foliage. A cool tint doesn’t work for my eyes either. I used to have good luck with the old Coleman lantern too but the zebralight has all but replace it in the last 15ish years.


For a spotting light, pick your poison but of the ones I own, I really like the Fenix LR35r and it’s a bloody beast for anything less then about 300 yards. Very good for illuminating EVERYTHING up close and personal.


As an example of homogeneous light. Here’s the zebralight last weekend on some pigs. This is all night work so it’s pitch black.

In the second pic you see a little of the hotspot from by buddies headlamp on the pigs butt and up it’s back but mine illuminates everything to the same level of light. Blood sticks out well although there is a lot there to see.

 

[Beagle1]

Agree on the Zebralight. I remember the Coleman lantern days. It worked well but I don’t miss lugging it around.

 

[Ratamahatta]

Yes

View attachment 902358

This brand is underrated, and with the discounts you.can stack it's well worth it.

 

[ni7ne]

ZL is the only headlamp I've had the electronics fail on. It's a sample size of one, but I didn't have any backup on that trip, so my confidence is permanently broken with that brand. Convoy is probably the Chinese brand I trust at this point. I have a headlamp from them with the tube that converts to cr123 size cell, and a couple of their flashlights. Purchasing is a little less intuitive because they have pretty much every LED and battery combo, so you need to know what you want.