...Besides its main beam is too tight for my liking...
the new BD Spot main beam is NOT as tight as the earlier Luxeon Spot beams. the same is especially true for the newer BD Icons. for close-up, task, proximity lighting the Spot's 5mm LEDs (and the Icon's, for that matter) suffice.
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while i still collect HL's, i don't use them as much anymore (exception being to occasionally EDC a new 35[IIRC???] lumen Petzl ZipkaPlus). flashlights clipped onto a ball-cap brim or head-mounted (i.e. "side"/temple mounted with a Jak-Strap or Jak-Strap II) seem to be superior in my estimation (for my uses, at least, YMMV).
the flashlights are generally lighter (important to ultra-light, gram weenies) as compared to most higher powered HLs, more waterproof, and provide better illumination than a headlamp - though generally a narrower field of view, but still sufficient for most of my uses.
if i want really diffuse light when using a flashlight, for example for task/proximity lighting, i usually take an opaque plastic disk and cut it to fit and press fit it into the bezel (and over the lens) of the flashlight (a small Leatherman S4 which i EDC has a nail file/cleaner, which is NOT sharp, that makes it easy to remove the beam diffuser when so desired without scratching anything up). since i want the diffuse light only on low light settings, heat isn't an issue for the "poor-man's" plastic beam diffuser. i can also add multiple layers of Scotch Magic Tape (which is opaque - works well for clear lens too) to reduce the light output and reflected glare, if necessary on those low modes, depending upon the flashlight being used, as well as to make the "press-fit" more secure, if necessary, to make up for any very slight differences in diameter. the plastic disks, thus far come from either a Mini-Mag Lite Accessory kit (contains both clear and colored filter disks) or from some larger AA, C, and D sized Mil-type "Angle-Head" incandescent lights (now with LED replacements) that i have. these larger disks can be cut down to fit. additionally, cutting down in height the filter holder that comes with the $3.95 Mini-Mag Lite Accessory kit (the diameter is already spot on for use) permits use with SF E-series lights if one doesn't already have the purpose-made SF E series beam diffuser. otherwise for task/proximity lighting, i just carry a 2x5mm LED 9-Volt Pak-Lite for very long burning task/proximity lighting. i use a modified Photon Microlight clip and velcro to afix the Pak-Lite battery to the clip and then clip it to a ballcap brim. i've also used SuperGlue to semi-permanently afix RECHARGEABLE 9V batteries to modified Photon Microlight clips.
between a small, light, bright, multi-mode, flashlight du jour and a Petzl ZipkaPlus or the Pak-Lite (usually either hi-lo mode SuperWhite or two-color White-Yellow/Amber), my camping lighting needs have been well provided for. Pak-Lite is NOT the most waterproof light, by any means. i can temporarily afix it to the underside of a ball-cap brim to shield it from rain, however.
just some rambling thoughts. hope they prove useful to someone.
