...How's the beam on the new MYO XP? Spot? Flood? A little of both? I like the look and output on that one...
as you probably know from reading other Posts, i have the Dosun H1 and it think that it is a good HL in many respects. however, both the Petzl MyoXP and the BD Icon beginning in '08 use a Cree based LED. they are both, IMO, much superior to the Dosun H1. also, the BD Icon, at least, can be purchased cheaper than anyone sells the Dosun H1 for (at least that i've been able to find). not sure if you can find an '08 Petzl MyoXP for less than the Dosun H1???
the MyoXP is FLOOD *or* SPOT, depending upon whether you deploy the attached flip-up diffuser which deploys out of the way when you're not requiring it.
the Icon used the 3W Cree LED for throw and the 4x0.5W LEDs for flood lighting. the 3W Cree is MUCH, MUCH improved over my two examples of the 3W Luxeon based Icon released in earlier years. both of mine have such a tiny hotspot and dim spillbeam. this one has a bright hotspot and pretty bright and broad (read that as "very useful", to say the least) spillbeam.
as far as the MyoXP goes - make sure to get a "grey"/"gray" one; *NOT* a blue one (that's pre-'08 and doesn't have a Cree).
as far as the Icon goes, to BE 100% POSITIVE that i was getting a Cree, i could have either driven to REI and looks at them (you can easily see the Cree die - looks just like that in any Fenix CE flashlight), or i could order directly from BD. i chose to save some petrol and order via telcon directly fr/BD. i asked them and they told me that BD is only selling '08 versions now, but that some other retailers have acquired BD's old pre-Cree stock of Icons and Spots (a smaller 3xAAA 1W Cree-based HL - also very nice) and may not distinguish in their advertisements/webpages (or even know if you speak w/them) whether the HL you purchase is Cree-based. plus, some warehouses may just dump both in the same SKU??? who knows. so, i ordered directly fr/BD to get an '08 Cree-based Icon HL.
both are non-Regulated; not that it matters much in a 3xAAA HL, IMO - unlike in some flashlights where it does matter, to me at least (see a couple of my other Posts elsewhere for an explanation of my logic, or lack thereof, as to why regulation is not mandatory in 3xAA and 4xAA powered headlamps).
now, you could also wait for AUGUST when PrincetonTec is supposed to release a new Rebel-based version of the Apex HL (don't confuse it w/the current 80lumen version which i've been told via telcon by an authorized online PT dealer is an INTERIM upgraded release, pending the Rebel equipped version, supposedly to be released some time in August '08).
there is also a wonderful HL made by Primus, viz. the '08 Rebel-based Primus PrimeLite Race HL. it is very bright; warm-ish tint, and broad, bright spillbeam - very useful for hiking. it uses 4xAA. however, its LO mode is still very bright (as is the lowest mode in the '08 MyoXP, '08 Icon, and even the '08 interim-80 lumen Apex/ApexPro - i know, i have them all, as well as this '08 PrimeLite Race).
with any of them, you'll probably want to also carry a smaller, lighter, dimmer secondary light source for use in camp as a task/proximity light.
my two shekels. hope this info helps.