Headlamp for mechanic

[New2novas]

Hey i'm looking to upgrade from a POS streamlight headlamp i currently have. I have looked at a few pretty nice ones but they don't seem to have all the features i require. That would be not having to push a switch 20 times to shut it on and off, i don't need strobe, sos, all the brightness controls etc. The light that currently has my eye is either the Coast hl7r or hl27. I like how one switch for on and off if i want to change something i do it independently of the power. Is there a better light for me out there? Rechargeable is nice but i can use rechargeable batteries as well. I like the coast also for the beam adjustability but thats not a deal breaker

 

[1mT]

Spark SD6-40NW + Reflector
or
Spark ST6-460NW

 

[electrothump]

Go with the HL27. The AA format is just a much better deal. I really like the H7, and the HL7, because they are so light weight, but the HL27 puts out more light, and the AA battery type gives muuuuch better runtime as compared to AAA's. I've been using the 27 now since march, and it has been nothing but good, and glitch free. No silly modes to cycle thru is certainly a plus. The only thing that may give you problem as being a mechanic, is the battery case on the back of your head. If you only use racks, that's not a problem either. It's only when you have to get on a creeper, or just crawl up under one is when the battery pack gets in the way some. As for a rating out of ten for usefulness, I'd give the H7, and HL7 a 9, and the HL 27 a 10. I'm betting you'll really like both of them, but I really think the 27 is the ticket.. You can pick up the hl7 at lowes, and the hl27 at Held's knives on ebay, www.opticsplanet.com, or at sears. Just check for the better price. Good luck.

 

[New2novas]

great info thanks guys!! i work mainly on a lift but thats a good point about the creeper deal, i guess i could use another one of the plethora of headlamps i have for that task. The sparks look interesting also! It looks like some of them come with a charger for the battery also, and although not really important it doesn't seem to have the pack on the back, how are the runtimes compared to the coast lights and light distribution, is it flood or spot?

Now i hate to say this because i usually like to buy quality stuff ONCE rather than cheap stuff over and over, but in the "customers also viewed" on ebay deal they had some pretty cool looking headlamps that put out ridiculous lumen claims for like $13 shipped