Let's talk Headlamps

[Greg Beck]

Pretzel, Princeton rec, and my latest and favorite is a Black Diamond storm

 

[Ryan Avery]

I never really thought much about headlamps till I made a shitty shot on a bull a couple years ago. I had a tikka 2 headlamp, yes I could see but it wasn't till my buddy found me and turned on the Zebralight 600 MK2 that we started finding little specks of blood and eventually my bull.

 

[steve s]

Which light (flood vs reg?, cool vs neutral?) are you guys running on the Zebra 600's?

 

[ofl0926]

reading this shows i need to purchase a headlamp. i usually walk into my stand with a flashlight covered by my hand LOL

which one on e budget would you recommend with a red LED?

 

[ChrisS]

I used to use a shitty little energizer headlamp and then when I was walking into my stand I noticed that the batteries were fading. I pulled out my iPhone and turned that light on and it lit up the woods compared to that big box store POS even if it had fresh batteries. So I dumped that and currently run a Fenix HL-50. I liked this light because of the ability to switch between AAs and CR123as.

 

[COlineman78]

which one on e budget would you recommend with a red LED?

Check out the one in my earlier post. Super cheap, Red LEDs and a pretty bright focusable main LED. $35

http://smile.amazon.com/Neiko-40432-Sensor-Headlamp-Flashlight/dp/B0042IS1Q6

 

[ofl0926]

Check out the one in my earlier post. Super cheap, Red LEDs and a pretty bright focusable main LED. $35

http://smile.amazon.com/Neiko-40432-Sensor-Headlamp-Flashlight/dp/B0042IS1Q6

thanks bro

 

[16Bore]

My "musts" are waterproof and AAA's, which now is an older Princeton Tech. I carry a small Fenix LD01 in my kit that will clip on the bill of a hat if need be. Still manage to throw a Redline LED flashlight in for good measure..

 

[LostArra]

My "musts" are waterproof and AAA's, which now is an older Princeton Tech. I carry a small Fenix LD01 in my kit that will clip on the bill of a hat if need be. Still manage to throw a Redline LED flashlight in for good measure..

I'm curious why AAA is a must.
I only look at AAA's for use in occasional or intermittent use items like keychain lights (ARC is a dandy) or remote controls

 

[Kevin Dill]

Count me as one of the average headlamp guys until recently. I own several and I DO like the PT Eos and Remix. In fact, I think the Remix using AAAs is an outstanding performer and value. On the positive feedback of several forums, I bought a Zeeb this past March. I don't recall the model but it uses a rechargeable lith-ion 18650 battery. The light output is FAR beyond what my PT and Petzies can do, and the Zeeb is built so tightly it feels like a precision tool. I took it to Manitoba on a bear hunt in June and didn't even come close to using up the charge in one battery after 6 days. This light is going with me as my only light source on a ten day hunt in just a couple weeks. I'm taking it and one extra 18650 battery.

 

[16Bore]

I'm curious why AAA is a must.
I only look at AAA's for use in occasional or intermittent use items like keychain lights (ARC is a dandy) or remote controls

Just so I'm carrying one type of battery. I currently don't carry a GPS, but when the time comes, who knows. Plus I have an Orbit lantern which is a badass little deal for camping and uses the same.

 

[COlineman78]

I carry all 18650 now and also have a cheap plastic device that outputs 18650 power via USB for charging my phone.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I carry all 18650 now and also have a cheap plastic device that outputs 18650 power via USB for charging my phone.

I do the same thing. The 18650 have some juice!

 

[armyjoe]

I carry all 18650 now and also have a cheap plastic device that outputs 18650 power via USB for charging my phone.

what charger do you carry. I like this idea

 

[COlineman78]

I can't find the one I have, but this one is close.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18650-USB-C...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item234ed304a9

Another Option:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-US...50-EVM-/221822515798?var=&hash=item33a5a6fa56

I also have the one that holds 3 batteries, but have never used it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5V-1A-3x-18...hone-MP3-K2-/271909998162?hash=item3f4f194e52

 

[murf45]

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.

How do you store your extra 18650 batteries when in the back country?

 

[JG358]

How do you store your extra 18650 batteries when in the back country?

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Waterproof-Storage-Holder-organizer/dp/B00IJB3E82

 

[gelton]

Juice they have. I charged up four 18650 and used them all through whitetail season last year up until the end of December. I only used two batteries. The other two I am running down slowly to recharge all four for elk. Only carrying two (one in the Zebralight and a replacement) but I doubt I will ever need the replacement.

 

[COlineman78]

Small Ziploc Baggie. My nice batteries came with plastic cases, but they add weight for little to no value add IMO as I have never had problems with the Ziploc.

I carry about 1 battery per day. My good ones will last several days if I am careful with my medium brightness light, but a night time track and dress will eat a couple. My cheap ones don't last nearly as long. There are many sites out there that measure and plot discharge of all the different brands.

 

[JG358]

Juice they have. I charged up four 18650 and used them all through whitetail season last year up until the end of December. I only used two batteries. The other two I am running down slowly to recharge all four for elk. Only carrying two (one in the Zebralight and a replacement) but I doubt I will ever need the replacement.

Never know, I burned through 2 18650s last year tracking a cow my buddy shot.