wildfowler
Newly Enlightened
So I've been trying to think about how I shall ask for a recommendation for a new LED headlamp. And I occurred to me to tell y'all what I currently own and perhaps briefly describe what I like about them and go from there. I assume it will be an LED headlamp? But don't know if there are other choices for example HID?
I am looking for a headlamp that may be considered similar to search and rescue uses he. My specific use will be primarily for operating a duck hunting boat to the blind in the morning. And I would like to be able to clearly illuminate the far shoreline and objects/obstacles in my path up to 500 yards away.
I would like the headlamp to be either an L or T shape and to operate on a single rechargeable 18650 or 21700. I am not looking for a remote battery housing type of light. I have a hard hat light with a 12v power lead that I can connect to the boat battery that has an aviation spotlight bulb that has an output sililar to an old style "Q-Beam" handheld spotlight and does everything I could ever need but really like the compactness and simplicity of the style of LED headlamp commonly discussed here.
Regarding LED headlamps I own the following:
4 different zebralight 18650 models. I consider these to be very compact in size and really like this. Unfortunately I will have trouble with the exact zebralight 18650 model numbers in my current inventory but I can say that one of them in particular seems to throw its beam of light farther than the rest. The rest all seem to look the same.
The travel time to the blind in the morning is generally no more than 20 minutes with a few minutes of standing around trying to get people in the boat. So typically I'll have the light on the brightest setting for 20-30 minutes tops. Even though the zebralight is lacking in the longer distance capabilities, the various models I own have served me well and I've been very happy with their performance. The light output has been more than adequate for low speed boat navigating. I just hope to learn there is something ablvailble online that I will like better.
Also I can generally use the zebralight twice before I have to change batteries. And if by chance the light steps down due to low voltage I just pull out a similar model zebralight flashlight from my pocket and hold in my mouth for the last five minutes of the trip. Based on the morning temperatures in MS I don't "think" I've ever had the lights step down due to overheating.
I will say this, a headlamp that has the super turbo output that only lasts a minute or two before step down is useless to me. I am looking for something that I can turn on and get full power for at least 39 minutes.
I also have a nitecore HC35 using a 21700. Compared to the zebralight it's a monster. Much heavier. But this is just my observation. The additional weight is not an issue. If my entire trip didn't have a long stretch of open water that's about 1/2 mile long and 1/4 mile wide with scattered stumps to deal with, this light would probably be perfect. There is a portion of the trip where I have to weave through some tall trees and line sight vision is limited to about 50 yards due to how brushy the terrain is. I describe the HC35 as a wall of light when in the tall trees. It's impressive light output. But as soon as hit the open water that big floody wall of light reveals its limitations. I find it difficult to pick out approaching stumps as far away as I would like to be able to see them. I honestly feel like my zebralight can spot the stumps farther away than the HC35 when I hit the open water.
And that brings me to my other headlamp I bought. A Thrunite TH10 V2. I read a topic here last year when searching for headlamps with the longest throw. Once I got this light, I quit using my beloved zebralight last year. The Thrunite definitely outperforms anything I currently own and comes closest to being able to illuminate the far shoreline 4-500 yards away when I hit the open water. It definitely doesn't produce the same wall of light that HC35 or even the zebralights do when I'm weaving through the tall trees. The thrunite still gets the job done admirably when traveling through that section.
My main complaint with the the thrunite is that it won't remain on full power output for the entire trip the second morning. Basically I have to recharge that light before each morning. This is certainly not a deal breaker, but it's an annoyance. Also, I feel like the zebralight and the nitecore are of higher level of build quality. I'm not saying i think the thrunite is a piece of junk seem to be machined to a higher tolerance.
So if anyone is still with me to this point in the post I can summarize my request to the headlamp with the most thrown using a single 18650 or 21700. No remote battery packs. LED or some other technology I may not know about. I'm thinking the light needs to cost at least $60 and be less than $300. And lastly, I would prefer to light to an online store bought stock light that can be replaced quickly and easily if it were to die. I'm not looking for a "one-off" that was modified.
I'm afraid I already own the headlamp with the most throw, but am hopeful there's something else out there is something out there I don't know about.
Thank you.
ps - if there is a headlamp that uses a different rechargeable battery than what's listed above. Or if there is a headlamp that costs more than $300 that otherwise sounds perfect for me please don't hesitate to let me know about it.
I am looking for a headlamp that may be considered similar to search and rescue uses he. My specific use will be primarily for operating a duck hunting boat to the blind in the morning. And I would like to be able to clearly illuminate the far shoreline and objects/obstacles in my path up to 500 yards away.
I would like the headlamp to be either an L or T shape and to operate on a single rechargeable 18650 or 21700. I am not looking for a remote battery housing type of light. I have a hard hat light with a 12v power lead that I can connect to the boat battery that has an aviation spotlight bulb that has an output sililar to an old style "Q-Beam" handheld spotlight and does everything I could ever need but really like the compactness and simplicity of the style of LED headlamp commonly discussed here.
Regarding LED headlamps I own the following:
4 different zebralight 18650 models. I consider these to be very compact in size and really like this. Unfortunately I will have trouble with the exact zebralight 18650 model numbers in my current inventory but I can say that one of them in particular seems to throw its beam of light farther than the rest. The rest all seem to look the same.
The travel time to the blind in the morning is generally no more than 20 minutes with a few minutes of standing around trying to get people in the boat. So typically I'll have the light on the brightest setting for 20-30 minutes tops. Even though the zebralight is lacking in the longer distance capabilities, the various models I own have served me well and I've been very happy with their performance. The light output has been more than adequate for low speed boat navigating. I just hope to learn there is something ablvailble online that I will like better.
Also I can generally use the zebralight twice before I have to change batteries. And if by chance the light steps down due to low voltage I just pull out a similar model zebralight flashlight from my pocket and hold in my mouth for the last five minutes of the trip. Based on the morning temperatures in MS I don't "think" I've ever had the lights step down due to overheating.
I will say this, a headlamp that has the super turbo output that only lasts a minute or two before step down is useless to me. I am looking for something that I can turn on and get full power for at least 39 minutes.
I also have a nitecore HC35 using a 21700. Compared to the zebralight it's a monster. Much heavier. But this is just my observation. The additional weight is not an issue. If my entire trip didn't have a long stretch of open water that's about 1/2 mile long and 1/4 mile wide with scattered stumps to deal with, this light would probably be perfect. There is a portion of the trip where I have to weave through some tall trees and line sight vision is limited to about 50 yards due to how brushy the terrain is. I describe the HC35 as a wall of light when in the tall trees. It's impressive light output. But as soon as hit the open water that big floody wall of light reveals its limitations. I find it difficult to pick out approaching stumps as far away as I would like to be able to see them. I honestly feel like my zebralight can spot the stumps farther away than the HC35 when I hit the open water.
And that brings me to my other headlamp I bought. A Thrunite TH10 V2. I read a topic here last year when searching for headlamps with the longest throw. Once I got this light, I quit using my beloved zebralight last year. The Thrunite definitely outperforms anything I currently own and comes closest to being able to illuminate the far shoreline 4-500 yards away when I hit the open water. It definitely doesn't produce the same wall of light that HC35 or even the zebralights do when I'm weaving through the tall trees. The thrunite still gets the job done admirably when traveling through that section.
My main complaint with the the thrunite is that it won't remain on full power output for the entire trip the second morning. Basically I have to recharge that light before each morning. This is certainly not a deal breaker, but it's an annoyance. Also, I feel like the zebralight and the nitecore are of higher level of build quality. I'm not saying i think the thrunite is a piece of junk seem to be machined to a higher tolerance.
So if anyone is still with me to this point in the post I can summarize my request to the headlamp with the most thrown using a single 18650 or 21700. No remote battery packs. LED or some other technology I may not know about. I'm thinking the light needs to cost at least $60 and be less than $300. And lastly, I would prefer to light to an online store bought stock light that can be replaced quickly and easily if it were to die. I'm not looking for a "one-off" that was modified.
I'm afraid I already own the headlamp with the most throw, but am hopeful there's something else out there is something out there I don't know about.
Thank you.
ps - if there is a headlamp that uses a different rechargeable battery than what's listed above. Or if there is a headlamp that costs more than $300 that otherwise sounds perfect for me please don't hesitate to let me know about it.
