dorky headlamps

[peteybaby]

The first time I saw a headlamp, I thought it looked incredibly dorky. It seemed dumb, but I couldn't explain why I thought it seemed dumb.

Then a year or so later, I bought one for using on night hikes, camping, etc. As soon as you try a headlamp for the first time, you realize that hand-holding a regular flashlight is... how can I say this without offending anybody?... "stupid" for activities like setting up camp, or reading in a tent.

Luckily I knew a dork who already had headlamps and had removed some of the stigma for me.

I see well over 100 readers every day in the flashlight forums, but usually fewer than 15 on the headlamp forum, and I wonder if all these people just haven't yet tried a headlamp, because surely for actually "doing" something, a headlamp is the way to go most of the time. I have good flashlights too, including a good EDC on my keychain, so it gets used a lot. But if I know in advance that I will need light, I always bring the headlamp.

Here is a list of the activities off the top of my head that a headlamp is better for:

- hiking
- camping
- snowboarding & skiing
- snowshoeing
- home renos
- car maintenance
- rollerblading
- jogging
- biking
- stagehand work
- walking dogs
- reading
- caving
- fishing

And here is a list of activities off the top of my head that a handheld flashlight is better for:

- EDC'ing
- fighting

So it seems to me that a headlamp is hands down the winner, and that most people should be buying headlamps, or a headlamp plus a good EDC flashlight. Is it just the dorky look that deters everybody from buying headlamps?

I'm glad that headlamps get their own forum now because I think interest will pick up with the greater exposure.

 

[KingGlamis]

I have to admit it... I think headlamps are very useful, even though I've never owned one. The problem, as you mentioned, is the perception of them looking dorky. My wife and friends already tease me about my flashlight obsession. I can only imagine how much worse the teasing would be if I bought a headlamp.

I think the answer for me may be a head strap (not sure of the real name but I have seen them) that allows a hand-held light to be strapped to the side of the head. While still dorky, it's not quite as dorky as a headlamp.

 

[peteybaby]

Another thing I forgot to mention is that some people hold a flashlight in their mouth when they need to use both hands. That's fine if a flashlight is all you have, but if you're going to be using it that way fairly often, get a headlamp!

If a headlamp looks dorky, imagine how dorky you look with a flashlight in your mouth!

 

[KingGlamis]

Another thing I forgot to mention is that some people hold a flashlight in their mouth when they need to use both hands. That's fine if a flashlight is all you have, but if you're going to be using it that way fairly often, get a headlamp!

If a headlamp looks dorky, imagine how dorky you look with a flashlight in your mouth!

I can't ever remember putting a flashlight in my mouth. If I need both hands, that sounds like work, and for work I use a worklight. I have four DeWalt 18V worklights with the flexible neck. They work great. Sure, a headlamp would also be useful for "work" but I have had no issues using the DeWalt work lights.

 

[peteybaby]

Agree with you on the work lights. I use one of those for working on my car because I don't want to get my precious headlamp covered with oil! (but if I didn't have the work light, I'd use the headlamp)

Too bad my Ryobi kit didn't come with an LED work light. That would have been cool.

 

[LedSled]

Fascinating! Doesn't anyone recall the old rule that form follows function?

My family hails from a West Virginia coal mining area where you can still find old carbide miner's headlamps in backyard sheds. Today's PT Apex and Stenlight are just modern-day versions of that same old idea: turn your head and you point the light; hands are for working.

Dorky? Who cares? For a miner, this is life and livelihood.

 

[half-watt]

REAL MEN WEAR HEADLAMPS!!!


I believe the correct term is...


GEEK, and possibly NERD, but definitely NOT DORK as the distinguishing characteristic of a DORK, in contradistinction from the geek and nerd, should include lacking some modicum of intelligence and/or common sense, - though "dork" should not necessarily be confused with "mentally challenged".


Here are some "Official" definitions obtained by engaging in many, painstaking hours of searching the entire WWW in effort to edify those who have some measure of interest in proper terminology...


geek = 1) a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked, also an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity <computer geek>; 2) a person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.


nerd = 1) an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <computer nerds>; 2) a nerd is a technically bright but socially inept person. The classic image of the nerd has been the wild-haired genius kid with thick-lensed glasses surrounded by test tubes and computers. Microsoft's Bill Gates is sometimes considered the walking embodiment of the older, successful nerd (Authors comment: before he was rich and famous, and not universally disliked throughout the galaxy, "geek", perhaps, would have been the better term to apply to Mr. Gates, IMO.)


dork = 1) a stupid, inept, or foolish person; 2) a term of abuse designating the target as quirky, awkward, eccentric, and/or socially inept


so, as all can see "dork" is, in many cases, not the term of choice for many headlamps users. go with "geek" or "nerd" instead, depending upon the level of "attractiveness" of the particular individual to whom you wish to apply the moniker.

as an older individual, being "down-hill" to hundred for me and displaying a technical bent since about the age of nine when i built a 30W TUBE stereo amplifier for my father as a birthday gift (though earlier endeavors at disassembling heirloom european built clocks that my parents had in the home to see how they worked and to TIME how long the little sprockets would spin as a wee top of sorts, resulted in less than desirable results when i attempted to reassemble them and a good "tanning" of my hintermost parts with "the strap"), my preference as a personal description would be "TECHNO-GEEK", however that is perhaps being redundant in the same sense as "Sahara desert", or "Mount Fuji-yama" are redundant. since, there appears to be a distinct lack of understanding as to the proper definitions of these terms, i find that "techno-geek" identifies to those, not of the cogniscenti, that the "geekiness" resides within the realm of specific techinical disciplines.


i hope this Post, dealing with one of the more important topics here (perhaps a notch or two above exploding batteries) helps in clarifying a misunderstanding which appears to exist in the minds of some on the CPF Forums (there's that redundancy in terminology again, sorta' like "VIN number" in automobiles!!!).

if this Post has served to benefit anyone's life for the better, than the time taken to author it has already been well rewarded!!!

 

[Valolammas]

Headlamps are great! If you look at my user profile, you'll see that my favorite LED light is a Petzl Tikka XP. Yes, I have several other LED lights that are brighter and run longer, but they are not as useful. I'll buy a new one as soon as Petzl gets around to making a Cree version (or whatever, there will probably be a new & improved super LED out by then).

I like handhelds for playing around with, but if I need a light to actually do something with (like read in bed), I'll grab the Tikka XP.

 

[Gnufsh]

I have owned a headlamp since I was in 6th grade. I don't haved that one any more, but I have 2 right now. They are essential working on the fireline at night.

 

[peteybaby]

Valolammas, in case you didn't know, it's REALLY easy to mod the Tikka XP to put a Cree (or actually a Seoul) in it. I did that for my gf's Tikka XP. After getting the screwdriver bit required to open the headlamp up, the entire mod took 15 mins or less. The stock Luxeon LED is mounted on a star, so you just have to swap it with a Seoul star, and you're done! Just 2 wires to desolder and resolder.

Before the mod, my gf was semi-happy with the Tikka because although it was quite bright with the diffuser off, the beam was kind of too narrow for camping. With the diffuser on, it wasn't bright enough for her liking. Especially in comparison with a PT Apex, which I use and which is pretty bright with the side LEDs on for close-up work.

After the mod, the Tikka with the diffuser on is better. She hasn't used the Tikka for camping since I did the mod, but in indoor testing it looked like it would be much better.

 

[Valolammas]

Yes, I've heard that it's really easy. Unfortunately, I can't get Crees or Seouls here in Finland (not yet anyway) and ordering them from abroad gets pretty expensive with the shipping charges. But I'll probably get some eventually. Thanks for the encouragement, anyway!

I have actually opened it a couple of times. I took the optic out, because I wanted to try it that way, and the beam is very nice and even without it. But then I got worried about dust and grime getting in so I put it back. The diffuser works fine, though for a flood, the beam is nicer without anything in front of the LED.

 

[BlackDecker]

I've got a Tikka XP, and like others, was disappointed with the light output. I picked up a $19 Rayovac 1AA 'Sportsman Extreme' headlamp from Wal-Mart that puts out far more light than the Tikka, and the Rayovac comes with a flip-over diffuser.

Thanks for the tip about swapping out the emitter in the Tikka. I hate to just throw that headlamp into a desk drawer and not use it after paying over $50 for it.

 

[jbviau]

Hopefully you all won't consider this too off-topic. I'm someone who does not yet own a headlamp and who usually lurks in the LED forum. Why don't I own a headlamp? No good reason. I'm convinced now that I have use for one. I'm tired of holding my G2 in my mouth when I'm in the basement resetting the circuit breaker or digging through storage. Nitrolon isn't very tasty.

Do you have any favorite headlamps that I (as a first-timer) wouldn't find too awkward or "geeky" to wear? Slim would be good, i.e. no huge battery pack. It seems like a lot of people favor the Petzl Tikka XP but say it needs an emitter mod to compete in brightness with others. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[peteybaby]

Hopefully you all won't consider this too off-topic. I'm someone who does not yet own a headlamp and who usually lurks in the LED forum. Why don't I own a headlamp? No good reason. I'm convinced now that I have use for one. I'm tired of holding my G2 in my mouth when I'm in the basement resetting the circuit breaker or digging through storage. Nitrolon isn't very tasty.

Do you have any favorite headlamps that I (as a first-timer) wouldn't find too awkward or "geeky" to wear? Slim would be good, i.e. no huge battery pack. It seems like a lot of people favor the Petzl Tikka XP but say it needs an emitter mod to compete in brightness with others. Thanks for any suggestions.

I think there are other threads where people have asked for headlamp recommendations too but I'm in a rush and can't look for them right now.

Yeah "digging through storage" is another great use for a headlamp. We've probably all tried balancing a flashlight in weird ways to try to get the light where we want it.

My experience with headlamps might be considered outdated because the 4 lamps I've owned are all at least 2 yrs old, but here's my opinion anyway:

It depends on how much light you want. If you want tons of light, you'll want a headlamp with a Cree or Seoul or at least a Luxeon LED. Anything that says 1W or higher will probably have one of these three. I use a PT Apex but it does have a bulky battery pack. The PT Eos doesn't have a bulky battery pack and it's pretty bright, but for flood, it's not as good as the Tikka XP. The TXP isn't quite as bright as the Eos, until you press the momentary boost button (up to 20s of higher output), but it has a sliding diffuser so you can get great flood at the expense of brightness.

When my gf and I compared the TXP with the EOS, I preferred the EOS for it's throw, while she preferred the TXP for its flood. There's another thread in the headlamp forum about someone who added a diffuser to an EOS, I think.

There are a few more that I haven't tried, like the Myo XP (also has a battery pack but smaller than the Apex's), Brunton L3 and L5, and one or two Black Diamond models (can't remember the names of them... maybe "icon" is one?) that use a high-powered LED. Plus if you read more on CPF, there are models by Ray-O-Vac, River Rock, and others, and they're cheap.

Oh one thing I did that helped: we asked the store salesperson if we could take our top 3 contenders into a dark room somewhere. He let us go in the washroom. So we did that and compared the 3 headlamps with the lights off, for about 10 mins.

Oh one more thing: how robust do you want your headlamp to be? My Apex is plenty robust, but I've heard about some other lamps where you have to be a bit more careful with them. Nothing too serious, but one for example supposedly gets very warm after 5 mins on high. I read some people saying that the BD (forgot the model name) produces good output but is not built quite as tough as some others. Might not be an issue for you though.

 

[Botnik]

I used to be outdoors a lot at night. Sick of incandescents I started delving into LED flashlights, eventually going through many generations of drop-in LED upgrades for AA Maglights. My mom helped me sew a strap system that allowed me to strap said AA Maglight to my head (with elastic sections and everything -- it was modelled after commercially-available headlamps. It was pro!). This "head flashlight" also went through many upgrades over the years. Many people, including peteybaby, said I looked quite dorky, having a flashlight strapped to my head.

These days on my head you can sometimes find a Princeton Tec Apex, that I've used to do house renos (wiring in the attic, etc.) and other tasks, now modified (by peteybaby since I don't have any more time with a baby in the house) to use a Seoul emitter. I don't know where you are, but in Vancouver, BC, lots of people are into outdoors activities, and many (50%?) use headlamps. I also know a lot of electricians, IT people, etc., and they all use headlamps when they're up in the ceiling etc.. So I don't think you'll look that dorky because of a headlamp.

Here are some old pics from 2003. For the first few shots, that's not my head.

 

[DesertFox]

I think the answer for me may be a head strap (not sure of the real name but I have seen them) that allows a hand-held light to be strapped to the side of the head. While still dorky, it's not quite as dorky as a headlamp.

I think you are talking about the Niteize head strap. http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=28&product_id=61

I have a Tikka XP and it works great for me stock. I usually don't like too bright of a light around the capsite because it destroys night vision. Besides, I would have no excuse to use my bright flashlights when I do need more light.

 

[greenLED]

I can't ever remember putting a flashlight in my mouth. If I need both hands, that sounds like work, and for work I use a worklight. I have four DeWalt 18V worklights with the flexible neck. They work great. Sure, a headlamp would also be useful for "work" but I have had no issues using the DeWalt work lights.

Unfortunately, you can't lug all that heavy gear when you're camping (real camping, not car camping) or backpacking.

 

[ltiu]

I'm a headlightaholic. I have more HLs than heads to put my HLs on.

 

[jbviau]

I think there are other threads where people have asked for headlamp recommendations too but I'm in a rush and can't look for them right now.

Yeah "digging through storage" is another great use for a headlamp. We've probably all tried balancing a flashlight in weird ways to try to get the light where we want it.

My experience with headlamps might be considered outdated because the 4 lamps I've owned are all at least 2 yrs old, but here's my opinion anyway:

It depends on how much light you want. If you want tons of light, you'll want a headlamp with a Cree or Seoul or at least a Luxeon LED. Anything that says 1W or higher will probably have one of these three. I use a PT Apex but it does have a bulky battery pack. The PT Eos doesn't have a bulky battery pack and it's pretty bright, but for flood, it's not as good as the Tikka XP. The TXP isn't quite as bright as the Eos, until you press the momentary boost button (up to 20s of higher output), but it has a sliding diffuser so you can get great flood at the expense of brightness.

When my gf and I compared the TXP with the EOS, I preferred the EOS for it's throw, while she preferred the TXP for its flood. There's another thread in the headlamp forum about someone who added a diffuser to an EOS, I think.

There are a few more that I haven't tried, like the Myo XP (also has a battery pack but smaller than the Apex's), Brunton L3 and L5, and one or two Black Diamond models (can't remember the names of them... maybe "icon" is one?) that use a high-powered LED. Plus if you read more on CPF, there are models by Ray-O-Vac, River Rock, and others, and they're cheap.

Oh one thing I did that helped: we asked the store salesperson if we could take our top 3 contenders into a dark room somewhere. He let us go in the washroom. So we did that and compared the 3 headlamps with the lights off, for about 10 mins.

Oh one more thing: how robust do you want your headlamp to be? My Apex is plenty robust, but I've heard about some other lamps where you have to be a bit more careful with them. Nothing too serious, but one for example supposedly gets very warm after 5 mins on high. I read some people saying that the BD (forgot the model name) produces good output but is not built quite as tough as some others. Might not be an issue for you though.

Thanks for the advice. As far as robustness goes, I'd like the headlamp to be waterproof (just to -1m or so). So far I like the features in the Petzl E-Lite...multiple levels, a red LED, compact, can be clipped to various things, etc. I don't need a throw monster.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I read a post by a guy who said he started EDC'ing a headlamp (on his head). He said not long after he started, his office was suddenly moved to the basement.
:thinking: