FINALLY in need of a headlight !

[jamie.91]

Hey CPF, not long ago i started working on the railway but i never got any night shifts, BUT.. today i was told i will be doing night shifts starting on the 8th of october and that i will be needing a headlight for then :naughty: and with the days getting shorter and for the first time "needing" a headlamp i thaught now would be the bast time to ask for your suggestions. TBH i couldnt wait lmao

so here we go

1. price - i am willing to vary on but definatley no more than £60 or around 95usd ( so no surefire )

2. Battery - any, rechargeables prefeably, i have rcr123a's and would love to use them but AA is fine too, maybe some enloops ?

3. Quality - i would rather have quality over lumens

4. Runtime - my shifts last up to 12 hours usually but i am willing to change the battery thruought the shift once or twice

5. lumens - i would like to find a comprimise between lumens and runtime

6. i dont want anything MASSIVE lol the smaller and more compact the better.

Please dont everyone say zebralight, basically i know ZL OWN this category but im very open minded and open to suggestions, i even considered a headband for my quark MiNi 123 lol

BTW im in the uk and i need it by october the 8th so if its coming from china i need to buy ASAP lol

thanks in advance for any suggestions
jamie

 

[roadie]

toot toot ......... toot toot ........ toot toot .......

errr go to cpfmp and search there ......

toot toot .......... toot toot ......... toot toot .....

 

[Lynx_Arc]

yup and if you want advice only (not a seller) you should post in the headlamp forum instead of here

 

[jamie.91]

sorry for posting in the wrong section

and i have been reading, so far the Silva trail runner looks good :thumbsup:

i cant find much info on the Silva though like the led it uses and runtimes

thanks jamie

 

[ab1ht]

Couple of suggestions. I do some outdoor running at night and here's what I've found.

1. The Zebralight 501W is nice because it can be used as either a clip-on (for the belt at waist level) or a head lamp. Nice smooth beam and can use AA (primary or rechargable). Also well within your price range.

2. Have you considered a backpack or vest with chest light or waist light? Take a look here: http://gomotiongear.com/shop/

 

[Solscud007]

I would put out the money for the saint minimus. However if price is really rigid, then take a look at zebra lights. I have the H30, it runs off of a single CR123 but can handle a RCR123.

three modes of light. Im not sure what kind of work you will actually be doing, but dont forget to have a handheld backup.

You might want to look into a petzl tactika or something similar since they just run on AA or AAA.

Icon reccently came out with two models of headlight you might look into as well.

Also you can get a Larue Tactical baseball cap and a simple E1B or similar light and clip it to the purpose designed loop. It hook onto a gap between the rear of the brim and the front of the cap. There is no way for the light to come off. unless you take the hat off and slip the two way clip off the hat.

see my old thread.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=259961&highlight=Larue

 

[glockboy]

How about the Quark 123 and a Quark prism kit?

 

[pounder]

fenix hl20 if you want a smaller lighter headlamp..or fenix hp10 or hp20 if you don't mind a bigger headlamp..

 

[jamie.91]

Thanks for all the replies, i am leaning towards a ZL seen as they dominate the market, i was trying to find an alternative maybe with a small reflector.

a light at waist level or on a back isnt practical in this situation because i will be wearing a hard hat and the light will be living on there, thats what made me consider a seperate battery pack for longer run times.

my quark mini 123 on the side of the hard hat was also an idea with one of those universal headbands, i think thats my favourite so far due to the fact i know the light has good throw, good runtime, reliable and has the 190 lumens if needed lol

and yes, i will definatley have a backup :twothumbs

thanks again jamie

 

[Gunner12]

A headband could be a cheaper idea, and if you ever need more light, just use more headbands to attach more lights! But I'm not sure how well they will attach to a hard hat. The quark should work pretty well in this setup.

 

[jamie.91]

think your right gunner, i saw a universal headband advertised somewhere recently but i cant remember where lol

jamie

 

[CarpentryHero]

I use the Night-ize headstrap with a Quark AA2. Nice flood and great for seeing what your doing. Fenix LD20 also works really well in this headstrap,
for a little more throw.

Plus the benefit of versatility if you want to use it as a flashlight. Thinner Cr123 lights will work. The Fenix PD30 fits, so Quark should.
EagleTac look well made, and Lumapower Trust series maybe?
All less than 100 usd and the night-ize strap is $15 maybe.
Goodluck and good shopping

 

[Lynx_Arc]

Underwater kinetics have helmet kits and lights like the UK 3AA and 4AA versions. They are not cheap but waterproof, and rugged.

 

[Flashfirstask?later]

A headband could be a cheaper idea, and if you ever need more light, just use more headbands to attach more lights! But I'm not sure how well they will attach to a hard hat. The quark should work pretty well in this setup.

Streamlight has a simple rubber band that can allow you to put a light on each side of the helmets like fire or hard hats. I acquired mine at a local ems/police tactical store for only like $3.50 or so if I recall.

Google for "Streamlight 99075"

 

[fixitman]

Petzl makes a kit for mounting most of their lights on a helmet, if you dont mind having a plastic disc glued to the front of the helmet. Works pretty good, if you have a decent petzl light. Unfortunately the petzl lights we have at work SUCK, but the mounting is pretty good.

Me, I would go with a Zebralight H51. Decent combination of flood and throw, plenty of brightness levels to choose from, very battery efficient, great interface, and fairly lightweight.

 

[jamie.91]

thanks for all the replies, im not allowed to "modify" the hat eg. drill holes or use glue on it because it weakens the whole thing.

i think i will see how much i get payed this week, that will decide on a ZL or to use the quark mini lol

thanks everyone, jamie

EDIT; i just baught this
http://www.nitecore.co.uk/nitecore-d10-headband.html

seemed like a better investment as i can use more lights at one time aswell if i wish, my second choice was the fenix headband but just looked bulky and easy to break for more than doubble the price, although the battery carrier did look schweeet, may stay true to the cpf spirit ang buy bothlovecpf

 

[Trancersteve]

I think I'd be inclined to go for the Zebralight H51.

What kind of railway work do you do?

 

[jamie.91]

I think I'd be inclined to go for the Zebralight H51.

What kind of railway work do you do?

moneys tight so i went for a headband lol

I only started on the rail a month or two ago and work is scarce tbh, did some white lining, week or two on manchester metro for ISS and just signed on with Renown for some weekends, cant find nothing more "permenant" at the moment, do you work on the railways ?

jamie

 

[Trancersteve]

moneys tight so i went for a headband lol

I only started on the rail a month or two ago and work is scarce tbh, did some white lining, week or two on manchester metro for ISS and just signed on with Renown for some weekends, cant find nothing more "permenant" at the moment, do you work on the railways ?

jamie

No I don't work on the railways but I have always had a keen interest in them A few months back I applied for a trainee depot driver position; sadly I didn't get it though.

That's a shame work is scarce, hope it improves for you.

 

[jamie.91]

No I don't work on the railways but I have always had a keen interest in them A few months back I applied for a trainee depot driver position; sadly I didn't get it though.

That's a shame work is scarce, hope it improves for you.

if youd like to be a conductor not long ago trans pennine was taking on, maybe worth a look depending on where you live ?

the only thing to do is keep applying, cutbacks are in place though for a reason, i just hope it works the way its intended an work picks back up once the resession is over, if ever, and thankyou :thumbsup:

jamie