advice please on best beam headtorch

[Derekoak]

I have just bought a H30 zebralight as a camp light and walking torch. After experimenting I find it very good as a headlight about camp but I have found I prefer it clipped to my waistband and angled down 40 degrees for walking. I find I can see the shape of the shadows better with my eyes away from the light source.
The H30 is so floody that I do not need to aim it very often but of course I cant without turning my whole body. So I now have a partly unused Zebra light headband and a need for a beam head torch to:
give some more distance for when I need to see up the path ahead ,
fill in the shadow of the Zebra light if I wish by just turning my head.
I would want this head mounted light source to preferably use a CR123 battery like the H30 and be very light, preferably regulated, with several light levels and good efficiency, and good throw for its weight.
I thought a Fenix 2d or PD20 or so in the Zebra light headband? I dont know how a flashlight on the side of my head will work when it is cold and I am wearing a hood. There will not be a lot of adjustment to this set up but I only want to point it where I want to look.
Does anyone have any experience or opinions?
Howeve

 

[DM51]

Welcome to CPF, Derekoak.

We have a separate sub-forum dedicated to headlamps, so I'll move your thread there.

I like the point you make about clipping your light to your waistband - I do the same.

 

[jankj]

...
I thought a Fenix 2d or PD20 or so in the Zebra light headband? I dont know how a flashlight on the side of my head will work when it is cold and I am wearing a hood. ...

Using a jackstrap to attatch the light to the side of your head works - sort of. I don't like it, and won't use it, but it may work for you. I think it's too wobly, creates pressure in the wrong place and is hard to aim - AND it will give you problems with your hood.

My fenix L2D in a jackstrap gives me a headache after 15 minutes - it is too heavy for this, and has too much pressure on the side of the temple. The L1D does not - it is one AA and some aluminimum tube lighter.


EDIT: My L1D/L2D does fit into the zebra headband. I will probably not use it in this fasion, for the reasons stated above, but it is certainly doable. It is probably a lot better than the jackstrap as the zebra headband is flexible. I like this idea, and will probably try it out at some time :)


For walking you don't really need much light. There's plenty of headlamps that will do. Have a look at the Princeton headlamp, not sure what it's called, but the "pro" version can run on CR123 batteries.

Also - thanks for the tip about mounting the zebra at waist height. I'll try that :D

 

[Derekoak]

Thanks for your input Jankj and DM51,
I will investigate the Princeton pro.
I thought a bit of ribbon or light adjustable band across the top of the Zebra headband would be a fall back to spread the load if the side torch was a bit too heavy.
Jankj you are saying that the P2d with cr123 battery weight about 40 gram would be like your L1D in weight and might work?

 

[jankj]

Thanks for your input Jankj and DM51,
I will investigate the Princeton pro.
I thought a bit of ribbon or light adjustable band across the top of the Zebra headband would be a fall back to spread the load if the side torch was a bit too heavy.
Jankj you are saying that the P2d with cr123 battery weight about 40 gram would be like your L1D in weight and might work?

I'm not saying anything about the P2d - I don't have one. I'm sure you've read the information available from your fenix dealer, and then you know at least as much as I do ;)

The weight may or may not be an issue for you - it's an individual thing. For me the L2D in a jackstrap is too heavy, the L1D is OK. It's easy to test, though: Fit something of the same shape and weight, walk around for an hour or two and see if it bothers you.

I feel confident your setup should work better than a jackstrap, at least for walking. It's well worth testing. It would probably bounce too much for running, though . . . :sssh:

 

[NoFair]

The Princeton Tec Apex uses 2 cr123s or rechargeable cr123 sized li-ions (16340). It is very light, very bright (make sure you get the new 130 lumen version) and has 2 levels of flood light and 2 levels with throw to choose from.

If you can solder you can buy an older Apex pro on sale and put a new Seoul led in it for the same output. This way you can get warmer tinted leds.

Sverre

 

[Derekoak]

On the British site I went to the Princetown Tec Apex weighed 275 grams I was hoping for lighter like under 70 gram.

 

[ifor powell]

On the British site I went to the Princetown Tec Apex weighed 275 grams I was hoping for lighter like under 70 gram.

Best sub 100g light I have used is a BD Spot. 3*aaa in the front. Good throwing spot with multiple levels. The pwm dimming can anoy some people but I don't mind it.

Ifor

 

[tnuckels]

Your desire to stick with CR123A batteries and your wish for a small, lightweight headlamp are at odds with one another. There just aren’t all that many CR123A headlamps to begin with (that I’m aware of), with most headlamp makers preferring the more widely available and less costly AAA & AA configuration.

If you’re willing to go to another battery type, here are some links that you might find useful:

Petzl Tikka XP – 3xAAA, High, Med, Low, Strobe, Boost modes, unregulated, weather “resistant”, spot and flood (slide over diffuser) beam shapes, battery indicator, 35lm (20sec 50lm boost) for around $40. If it had an updated LED (due out later this year) I’d suggest this one.

Princeton Tec EOS-R – 3xAAA, High, Med, Low, Strobe, regulated, water-proof, single beam is good combination of spot and flood, 50lm for around $35. Probably the best bang for the buck straight from the box.

Black Diamond Spot – don’t know much about the Spot, but thought to add the link as it gets mentioned a fair amount.

Good Luck!

 

[NoFair]

On the British site I went to the Princetown Tec Apex weighed 275 grams I was hoping for lighter like under 70 gram.

My pro with 2 batteries weighs 160g so I think your data is for the heavier AA version..

Sverre

 

[Derekoak]

Your desire to stick with CR123A batteries and your wish for a small, lightweight headlamp are at odds with one another. There just aren’t all that many CR123A headlamps to begin with (that I’m aware of), with most headlamp makers preferring the more widely available and less costly AAA & AA configuration.

As I was after light and long life, I priced lithium batteries. At least in Britain on the internet a CR123 an AA and an AAA all cost about £1 each. To me the 3 x AAA seems very expensive to run as the watt hours in 3 x AAA is almost the same as one CR123 or one AA, at 3 times the price.
I suppose I might have been better getting a single AA zebra H50 but I did not like the excessive flood. Are there any light (less than 70 gram) single AA regulated head torches, with good long beams, I dont want flood, the H30 at my waist does that?
For light on the head I dont see the point of multiple batteries just to extend burn hours. I always carry spares in my sack so my total burn time is up to me. Most Single battery formats seem to be able to give the light levels required for walking and occasional running, they are just not made into proper beam head torches.

 

[tnuckels]

I mostly buy rechargeable AA or AAA, either high mAh (≈2600) or LSD (not the drug of yore, but Low Self Discharge ≈2000 mAh) these days, and lithium versions of these for very cold weather or when I’m feeling flush, which is getting to be less and less often.

The PT Apex Pro is a lighter (≈175g), 2 x CR123A version of the standard Apex model. Heavier than you want, but …

The Surefire Saint is a 1, 2 or 3 x CR123A or 2 x AA that is not out just yet, but might fit your bill. It will come in two configurations, one with a rear battery back that can use any of the battery configurations cited, or the other “Minimus” version without the rear battery pack that will take 1 x CR123A up front. Pricing for the full version is around $185, and though I don’t know about the minumus version pricing, I wouldn’t expect it to be a whole lot cheaper. There are a couple of threads on CPF in the headlamp forum with more information on both.

Other than the Zebralight, I really don’t know much about any of the other CR123A headlamps:
Browning Nitro – there is a European version of this … forget the name, but a CPFer recently commented on it in the HL forum
Nuwia - ?
Streamlight Argo HP – Streamlight has a good reputation, try a search in the HL forum for this one

Good Luck!

 

[jankj]

Well I hope my headband comment makes you afraid of non-lightweight headlamps! Don't be! As long as the weight is balanced and the straps are good then a little weight on the front or the back of the head is not a problem. Of course, lighter is better - and too heavy will be uncomfortable when running because it will be too much mass jumping up and down.


Personally, I find that a little pressure (weight) on the side of the head is HIGHLY uncomfortable -which is one reason I dislike the jackstrap-type of headband. The front of my head (or the back) is MUCH more robust.

 

[Andrey]

I gave up on search and wait for perfect headlamp and decided to try two-unit setup -- a headlamp and a compact light with good throw.
Very lightweight headlamp (Zebra) provides light for walking and camp activities. Should I need to illuminate something far away, a powerful light may be quickly pulled out of pocket or holster.
Check out my thread on this:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=225599

Andrey