Let's talk Headlamps

[thunderchicken21]

What headlamp do you take with you on a backpack Elk hunt, and what specs are most important?

I had my eyes on the Black Diamond Spot 15 (newer version of the Black Diamond Spot) but it appears they won't be released until Spring 2016...obviously that won't work for the September hunt I have lined up

So, what are you guys using? As a second question, do you carry a backup?

 

[Dos Perros]

Perhaps you can learn from my failure.

This past winter I was using a PrincetonTec Fuel which is a nice enough lamp, rated at 70 lumens. I shot a doe in the last minutes of legal light and the headlamp, even with fresh batteries, wasn't useful in the least in picking up a blood trail. This fall I've opted for a brighter 125 lumen Petzel Tikka+ and will even be carrying a very bright Nitecore P12 LED flashlight (1000 lumens) as a backup and "just in case."

 

[wapitibob]

Black Diamond Icon, 320 lumens as main, Black Diamond Revolt, 120 as backup.

Had a Princeton Tech Vizz that was a pain. Low battery led came on within minutes and stayed on forever.

 

[bates]

i think Ryan is going to post up a review on some Zebralight's he has.

I am eyeing one of the 600 or 602 lights.

Look super bright, good price compared to petzl, just have to use dedicated batteries

 

[Ryan Avery]

I will do my best to have a video up this week on the three 600 models

 

[Shrek]

I use a zebralight 52 something number that has spot and flood and I couldn't be happier with it. I'll hike in the dark if the terrain isn't bad so I'm still burning the first battery. I use it around the house when working on things so it sees plenty of use.

 

[thunderchicken21]

Forgot to mention, red LED is a must...

 

[JG358]

I take 2 Zebra lights... H52 (bright) and a H600 (stupid bright).

 

[twall13]

I'm interested in what everyone else is using as well as I need a better solution for my primary headlamp. I've got a Fenix HP25 that I love because it is durable and has dual bulbs, one diffused for close up and one spotter for distance. It's bright and has multiple options on how you can run it between the two bulbs. My main problem with it is that it's heavy and bulky so it works great for some situations but not so much for backpacking.

I've got a BD Gizmo that's pretty light and works alright for up close work but it isn't super bright. I've been running this with a Fenix E25 flashlight as a backup for when I need more light but I'd really like a better headlamp to go hands free. I've also got a Princeton Tec Fuel that I won in a raffle that is similar in light output to the BD Gizmo but weighs more. I'm not as impressed with the Princeton Tec although I recognize it's a low end model, so is the BD Gizmo and I prefer that personally.

One thing I did pick up this year that I'm loving, as a backup, is the Petzl E+Lite. Not super bright at 26 Lumens, but at less than an ounce and tiny it stays in the pouch of my bino harness and is always at hand. I was planning on looking at a BD Spot or Storm but I'm pretty impressed with the Petzl and may check out some of their offerings. I may have a look at the Zebralight's and Fenix's other offerings as well.

 

[Ross]

Petzl tactikka and petzel elite for emergency..

 

[Graindrain]

I have Cabela's versions of the Princeton Tech Fuel, as far as battery life it is not dead and its 3 years old and lived a very easy life. I wouldn't buy itagain as it's not bright. But for the cost of $15 I figured I would take the risk since it is just for walking to the pig blind. Sooo... I learned buy once cry once, and give the "old" one to your wife or keep it in the duck bag for the partner that never remembers to bring his.

I bought the Black Diamond Spot the other day off Massdrop, but I haven't even taken it out of the package.

 

[airlocksniffer]

I have the BD Storm. A little heavier than the spot (4 AAA vs 3 AAA) but pretty bright. Both the low and high beams are adjustable and there is a strobe and red light.

 

[snowcamoman]

Zebralight and a Petzl E-Lite for tent stuff and basic close up work. I always like having a backup lamp, just in case. For under an ounce, the E-Lite is a solid little backup light. The Zebralight is like a landing craft if I need to light things up coming off a mountain or haul moose out in the dark. They're built like a tank and the Li-Ion 18650 batteries are superb in the cold.

Edit:
I've been eyeing the Lupine Betty 4500 Lumen headlamp for a while now. Crazy bright, but I just cannot see the need for that kind of light for normal hunting situations. At over a grand though, it's a tough pill to swallow in a headlamp.

 

[Dos Perros]

Forgot to mention, red LED is a must...

this x2

 

[Mtnboy]

Over a grand for a headlamp!? Wow, I've seen it all

 

[SHTF]

Over a grand for a headlamp!? Wow, I've seen it all

That is nuts even their 700 lumen lights are 245$. I don't get it. Titanium bezels with diamonds?? They better be or last a week on a single charge non stop use. Lol. Interesting for sure.

 

[snowcamoman]

At 4500 Lumens, that thing would keep me warm at -40ºF with all the heat it's generating.

 

[rodney482]

Zebralight

 

[BroodBuster]

The Black Diamond one that has the bright orange housing and strap. That way I don't leave it behind when I'm sleeping on the ground.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I ran a black diamond storm for years with no problems.
Ran a nitecore HC 50 for a year, it suddenly stopped cycling thru it's brightness settings. REI allowed me to return it without much of a hassle so I didn't have to send it off to China (I think) for repair.
Have been running a zebra light for the past seven months with no issues so far. Time will tell.