Are there any single AAA headlamps?

[bgiddins]

Title says it all. Thinking of picking up a Petzyl E+lite that runs on CR2032 batteries, but was thinking it might be interesting to see if there are any 1xAAA headlamps out there.

Purpose is for a "get home bag".

 

[HKJ]

Title says it all. Thinking of picking up a Petzyl E+lite that runs on CR2032 batteries, but was thinking it might be interesting to see if there are any 1xAAA headlamps out there.

Purpose is for a "get home bag".

If your can use AA, your can get the Zebralight it is a very versatile light, and also very small for a AA light.

 

[LED_Thrift]

If your can use AA, your can get the Zebralight it is a very versatile light, and also very small for a AA light.

+1 A single AAA headlamp couldn't be much smaller than a Zebralight H50, and the chances that it would be better designed are almost nil. The H50 is the smallest AA light I've seen - put an Eneloop/Hybrid or a lithium AA in there and it would be great for a BOB.

 

[Flying Turtle]

I have an old CMG Tracer that uses 1 AAA. It has two very bluish 5mm LEDs and is not very bright. Not hardly water resistant, either. I probably would not recommend it, except for its tiny size. I think Gerber has or had an upgraded model with three LEDs (Tracker?) that is probably an improvement.

Geoff

 

[bgiddins]

The Zebralight H50 is the other light I was considering, but it's an expensive headlamp to leave buried in a bag (x2 as my wife will be getting a bag as well) - $49 versus ~$24 for the Petzl. The E+lite is just adding another battery size - I'm trying to stick to AAA, AA and 18650 for any lights I purchase.

Given the runtimes of the E+lite though, battery runtime really isn't an issue - I'm looking for something to get from the office to home, not to some "survival" destination.

Will keep thinking about it. Zebralight makes a lot of sense for a proper BOB if it's standardized on AA.

 

[bgiddins]

Gerber Triode is a single AAA headlamp - will look into it. It's also around the $20 mark. Not as lightweight as the Petzl E+lite though.

 

[Marduke]

Of course there is. Fenix LOD clipped to a hat. Works great as a headlamp.

 

[half-watt]

LED Lenser makes a 1xAAA HL. Cabela's sells (or at least sold) it. it uses a standard LEDLenser super-duper-powerized (or whatever LEDLenser calls it - "power tube" or something) reflector.

now get this,...

in order to preserve a hunter's need for exceptional balance an not throw off their shot (i'm attempting to be facetious here), the 1xAAA batt. box is REAR MOUNTED!!!

the batt box IS actually rear mounted, but...

more seriously, my guess is that the rear mount of a miniscule 1xAAA battery is b/c they also have a teensy-weensy lil' green LED in the batt. box (so one can be seen fr/behind by other hunters & either followed, or not accidentally shot at, as the case may be).

anyways, take Marduke's advice. either a Fenix L0D-Q4 or Tiablo MA1 makes a really good 1xAAA HL when clipped to a ballcap brim/visor. it is my preferred 1xAAA solution.

 

[bgiddins]

anyways, take Marduke's advice. either a Fenix L0D-Q4 or Tiablo MA1 makes a really good 1xAAA HL when clipped to a ballcap brim/visor. it is my preferred 1xAAA solution.

Again... price is a factor - a quick look shows that they're both $40+ lights. I really would like to stick to a traditional headlamp format for this particular purpose.

Might try and dig up some runtimes and beamshots for the E+lite and the Triode for comparison and go from there.

cheers

 

[bgiddins]

Think I've decided - the Petzl E+lite.

Petzl - 18 lumens for 35 hours
Gerber - 8 lumens for 4 hours

Given the usage in a "get home bag" - the Petzl wins hands down. If I was looking for a light for a "72 hour" bag I'd look to the Zebralights to maintain some battery commonality with a handheld light.

thanks all!

 

[paulr]

Think I've decided - the Petzl E+lite.

Petzl - 18 lumens for 35 hours
Gerber - 8 lumens for 4 hours
thanks all!

18 lumens for 35 hours from two coin cells is not even remotely realistic, sorry. I can believe lumens with fresh batteries, and I can believe useful light output (1 lumen) at the 35 hour mark. But not 18 lumens the whole time.

 

[MojoLight]

I have the E+lite and like it, but it is directly driven and within several hours there is no difference between high and low. It most definately will not keep 18 lumens for 35 hours. It's also not light I would want to be navigating at night with, but it's fine for "around camp" type stuff.

Have you thought about the Ray-o-Vac 1aa sportsman extreme? The blue is plenty bright enough for most tasks and the 1watt white can reach out when you need it. Price is right too.

Other thought is the old River Rock or Streamlight Enduro (same light)...two aaa, two light levels, price is right.

JMO

 

[bgiddins]

Oops - my post was a bit simplistic. I'm not expecting 18 lumens for 35 hours - I do understand direct driven lights taper off. Those were the only available runtime figures I could find though.

 

[scott]

I do not (yet) own a Zebralight, but my understanding is that it is more of a work light, and not a "get you home" type of light. I don't think that many would recommend it for hiking. It would probably be even less useful if there were street lights or other lights around.

Like others have said, I'd get a (Fenix) 1AAA with a clip and use it with a ball cap.

 

[Citivolus]

I do not (yet) own a Zebralight, but my understanding is that it is more of a work light, and not a "get you home" type of light. I don't think that many would recommend it for hiking.

Having used both, I would never recommend an H30 or H50 for hiking. While it is a great utility headlamp for indoor use, and can light up a room quite well on high, you'd never be able to see more than a house or so down the block outdoors in a power outage. I like to see more than 5m ahead of me when I'm walking, thanks, especially in urban environments.

As a bit of a joke I just measured, and my E01 out-throws my H50 on high by 10%. The H30 is slightly brighter, but you get the point.

If you want a better feel for the H30 and H50, have a look at this set of beam shots. Click "head" down at the bottom to filter for just the headlamps that I was using. Distances of 5, 10, and 14m (~15, 30, and 45 feet) are marked in the reference shot. Mouse over the label on the left to bring up the related picture and histogram (no click needed).

Regards,
Eric

 

[LED_Thrift]

Thanks for linking that set of beamshots Citivolus, they're very informative. I love the mouse-over for the quick comparison - that's a great setup.

 

[half-watt]

the Petzl e+LITE, being Li coin cell powered, suffers fr/the same poor brightness-burntime problem that afflicts other Li coin cell powered lights.

i've seen curves of the light o.p. over time for the e+LITE and it resembles other Li coin cell powered lights.

the fact is that after just 30min of continuous burntime on HI, it is producing just 25% of its starting light output. after 1hr of continuous burntime it is only slightly brighter than if it had been running on its LO o.p. setting for 1hr. by 2hr burntime it is the same as the LO o.p. level and remains so for the at least the next 14hrs. at the 2hr mark it is only ~17% of its starting light o.p. level. it continues to drop off linearly until it is ~8% of its starting o.p. level at just 4hr of continuous burntime.

the only mitigating factor is that one often does NOT continuously use a Li coin cell powered light for 30min or longer. however, if one ever needed it as a long burning backup, then, IMO, it is definitely NOT the right tool for the job.

this is the main reason i no longer use, even as a backup, a Li coin cell powered light. IMO, a 9V "transistor" battery powered Pak-Lite is far superior to a Li coin cell powered light.

 

[Woods Walker]

My E01 plus Jakstrap combo makes for a nice camp headlamp. So UL and runs forever. I will post some photos from my setup in a few days. One thing I like about the Jakstrap is it can point the light down or to the front.

 

[BIGIRON]

Philosophically, I prefer my emergency or "last resort" items to be the best I can get. If you're in a situation to need them, you need them to work and keep working. My wife has a E1 in her "get out of the office" bag, along with smoke hood and whistle.

I think the E0? and strap might be a good solution - multi-use.

Stop and think - do you have a dedicated light, of any kind, IN your first aid kit?

 

[Illum]

Coast has one, not the best but its a cool little headlamp to play with
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/coast_round-up.htm#LL7451

Available at Home Depot here:thinking: