I'm lost without my headlamp

LEDBE
DIΩDΣ

DIΩDΣ

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
262
Location
Ohio
Well it finally happened. I've seemed to misplace my headlamp. I'm sure its on the prperty somewhere, but its been a few months now. I've given up looking, and hope it will just turn up at some point. Its the onyl real headlamp I have and the first modern LED light - my ZL H51W.

Ever since getting it I was an instant headlamp convert. They are so freaking useful! I went all through hunting season without out - something I was really hoping to get to test it out with. And my deer I got in muzzleloader season I even had to field dress after dark. Luckily I have my Quark handheld, and a nearby sappling to clip it to. Going out to the woodpile after dark is not as enjoyable. Trying to hold a big armfull of wood and flashlight isnt fun. Especially when your carrying so much weight and tensing your arms and hands and keep accidentaly putting pressure on the front of the light and triggering the retina burning turbo mode!

But since I only had one anyhow, and now possibly gone, I need to get a replacment. I have wanted an all flood like the 502 but was holding off for the W version. Then again I was thinking about upgrading to the 600 and 18650's though that would need further investment in batteries & charger. I have a few dozen eneloops and a nice Maha currently and make it a point to get everything as AA as possible. Then again I love the tint and mix of flood and throw of my H51 maybe I'll just get anoter - or the F model. Well sorry, this thread is heading in all direction nowhere fast. Just venting a little since I lost 'my precious'. :sigh: I've really come to appreciate how usefull a headlight really is!
 
Ah, bad times mate, its starting to look like Im in a similar situation with my H51c :sigh:

Sounds like the H51w was perfect for your needs, sods law says that you'll find it as soon as you order another!

GM
 
Once you go head lamp it's hard to go back. I am holding out for the 502w too. As a hunter also, I use a quark in my pack and use a Spark 190nw as my in and out of the sticks light.
I gave away some H51F's for christmas this year. played with one a little and I think this would make a great hunting light. Floody with a little throw too.
 
Of course you have checked all the pockets on all your coats? and you've checked the car 3 times?

The H600w is still available and it's great... but as you say then you need to invest in 18650 and charger (it's the best battery technology out there). The H600w might seem kind of big compared to the H51, but I'm liking it. Since you already missed your hunting season, you can probably wait to see what Zebralight releases next or if it happens to turn up.

Since you use it outdoors a lot I would definitely recommend a 'w' version, and outdoors more output can be useful.

You could always look for used on on the marketplace.
 
Probably a good time to pick up some more. Good ones and cheapies. To help you find your old one of course
 
Gregozedobe said:
I think it is because they are scared of looking like a dork/nerd, but when it is dark all anyone can see is the light coming from their forehead !
Click to expand...
Yeah I might agree, plus most headlamps are bigger and bulkier and more dedicated to just headlamps. The ZL is so tiny and able to be a flashlight in a snap. Many don't even use flashlights hardly at all, just depends. I live in a rural area, no streetlights or anything and I have very little outside light. I do quite a lot outside, either here or on the farm hunting or working etc. I'm often in the basement which one side has only one light and the switch is upstairs on the opposite side of the house, and I'm often crawling under cars or machinery. Its amazing how dependant I got on the headlamp!

Still hasnt turned up. :mecry:
 
Well here's a switch...

I'm a camper and for years only ever used headlamps. I've now moved on to flashlights and have little interest going back. There're a few reasons, like an infinitely better selection of flashlights, much less weight and bulk to EDC, and I find it far easier to adapt a flashlight for headlamp use, than vice versa. ZL is arguably the one exception, and I have a few, but I don't like the company... so I like I said, there's better selection on the flashlight side.

Anyways, I EDC a lantern diffuser and hands-free "necklamp" accessory, together less bulk and weight than a AAA battery - it serves my purpose quite well as minimalist, ultra-light camper, and I find it quite refreshing not wearing something on my head. Guess I was never a real hat person either.
 
One of my favorite things about the ZL H51s is how small they are, but it does make them especially easy to misplace. I've lost mine a few times on my head, ditched the headstrap the day after I got it.
H51 clips to the underside of a ball cap just fine -off center, near left or right temple, floody lens is really nice.
 
reppans said:
Well here's a switch...

I'm a camper and for years only ever used headlamps. I've now moved on to flashlights and have little interest going back. There're a few reasons, like an infinitely better selection of flashlights, much less weight and bulk to EDC, and I find it far easier to adapt a flashlight for headlamp use, than vice versa. ZL is arguably the one exception, and I have a few, but I don't like the company... so I like I said, there's better selection on the flashlight side.

Anyways, I EDC a lantern diffuser and hands-free "necklamp" accessory, together less bulk and weight than a AAA battery - it serves my purpose quite well as minimalist, ultra-light camper, and I find it quite refreshing not wearing something on my head. Guess I was never a real hat person either.
Click to expand...

Yeah you can't really argue against the larger selection of flashlights. And like you said most headlamps are rather bulky. I wouldn't say ZL is the only exception (even cheapie department store headlamps that are like $20 are getting pretty small and bright now-a-days). But ZL I think is one of the best examples of minimalist design thats still multi use. My H51w was used probably 50/50 headlamp/handheld edc in the pocket. I went out jogging tonight with my Quark-X AA2, and missed my hands being free.

I do really want to get some kind of diffuser on my quark, but havent really looked into it yet to figure out what would work with it (or was debating trying to make something myself).

eh4, I personally never liked it clipped to a hat, but thats just me. And I don't wear hats much anymore and if I do they are more the safari style (?) hat that wouldnt work as well. The worst part about loosing it this time is I think the headband was actually still attached!
 
Apart from areas where flashlights don't exist either (like affordable controllable twin-beam units) I can't say I've found any great gaps in available headtorches.
There are a lot of flashlights, but there's a lot of sameness in functionality, or functions which would be limited use to most people in a headtorch (like massive output for short duration, or tight beams with little or no spill).

Small size is also a double-edged sword.
For secondary headtorches I appreciate compactness, but for a main torch I think there's a lot to be said for having a decent size unit - my main headlight is essentially Petzl Zoom size/weight, and while it's not really usable for running, etc, it's great for locating in the pitch dark in a tent or rucksack or a big pile of gear, and I'm not going to lose it the way I could lose a Zebralight or a Tikka.
It has good battery capacity, and is easy to put on single-handed, which some lighter/smaller torches aren't.
 
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