The Surefire of Headlamps

[Numbers]

I like SureFire for my handheld lights, and dont want to get into any SF vs. name the company, type of discussion. So, to those of you who like/appreciate what SF markets in handheld's- Please advise what the equivalent headlamp company is. I am not looking for "best for the price". If I like SF for handhelds who will I like for a headlamp? I dont want to study the catalogs of a lot of companies, just the top one or two. The headlamp will be used for general purposes.

 

[KeyGrip]

Stenlight S7. One of the most rugged headlamps in production. http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/stenlight_s7.htm

 

[TMorita]

Stenlight S7. One of the most rugged headlamps in production. http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/stenlight_s7.htm

I think the other choice would be the Scurion:

http://www.scurion.ch

I can't think of anything else besides the Stenlight or Scurion that would qualify.

Toshi

 

[FrogmanM]

Thx for the links! Caving looks very straining on the body and equipment, so I"m guessing these lights are insane!

Good stuff


Mayo

 

[ltiu]

Thx for the links! Caving looks very straining on the body and equipment, so I"m guessing these lights are insane!

Good stuff


Mayo

Insane caving?

Depends how hard core you are. I can't say I am hard core and regular headlights from REI, Target and Walmart works just fine for me. Since those lights are cheap, when I lose or break them, I won't feel any pain.

 

[mountainpenguin]

I think the other choice would be the Scurion:

http://www.scurion.ch

I can't think of anything else besides the Stenlight or Scurion that would qualify.

Toshi

there are some probs with version 1 Scurion battery pack.
there is also the new oldham dl-16

 

[BlackDecker]

Insane caving?

Depends how hard core you are. I can't say I am hard core and regular headlights from REI, Target and Walmart works just fine for me. Since those lights are cheap, when I lose or break them, I won't feel any pain.

And for what a Stenlight costs, you can buy a bag full of headlamps from the retailers above.

 

[cave dave]

Many bicycle lights can be used as headlamps, although you might have to get creative and do some sewing.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=176131

PS Scurion and Stenlight are both helmet lights. They don't come with headbands.

 

[cave dave]

And for what a Stenlight costs, you can buy a bag full of headlamps from the retailers above.

And for the price of a Surefire you can buy a bag of DX lights but thats not what this thread is about is it? :nana:

 

[TMorita]

...
Since those lights are cheap, when I lose or break them, I won't feel any pain.

If they break while you're in the cave, you may feel some pain.

Especially if you're walking in a lava tube.

Toshi

 

[ltiu]

If they break while you're in the cave, you may feel some pain.

Especially if you're walking in a lava tube.

Toshi

I always bring multiple flashlights with me while in a cave

Backups and backups to backups and backups to backups to backups.

All of it must be ready to go, not stuck in the bottom of your pack somewhere where you can't find it in the dark. These are either ready to go already mounted on the helmet or off my waist.

Bring lot's of spare batteries too.

Never bring just one when you are caving!!!

So far, none of my lights have failed while actually being used in a cave. The only one that failed was a Garrity 8 LED headlight which was one of my un-used backups and which was not water proof and failed "after" I left the cave when I was testing all my gear before going into another cave.

 

[ltiu]

You can get 2 SureFires plus some tie straps and tie to the side of your helmet just like SureFire catalogs show.

 

[Numbers]

Thank you,
I now know what the best headlamps are but I am not a caver and do not need a helmet light - a headband is in order. Additionally I would like to run cr123's to keep all my batts the same. For me this light would not see enough use to require rechargeable batteries. I failed to mention this in my first post, sorry.
If you have any other input I would appreciate it, meanwhile I will keep my eye on this forum to continue to learn anout headlamps. I do know that I would like an updated led before I buy.
(If I were a caver or if the stenlight s7 came with headband and 123 power I think that would be the one, after an updated led).

 

[ltiu]

Thank you,
I now know what the best headlamps are but I am not a caver and do not need a helmet light - a headband is in order. Additionally I would like to run cr123's to keep all my batts the same. For me this light would not see enough use to require rechargeable batteries. I failed to mention this in my first post, sorry.
If you have any other input I would appreciate it, meanwhile I will keep my eye on this forum to continue to learn anout headlamps. I do know that I would like an updated led before I buy.
(If I were a caver or if the stenlight s7 came with headband and 123 power I think that would be the one, after an updated led).

Princeton Tec APEX with the CR123A battery pack version:

http://www.rei.com/product/748982

 

[TMorita]

Princeton Tec APEX with the CR123A battery pack version:

http://www.rei.com/product/748982

The PT Apex Pro is probably the highest-end CR123 headlamp, I agree.

But it wouldn't survive being run over by a car and other things a Surefire can survive. The "runs on CR123" and "Surefire quality" are probably mutually exclusive requirements.

Toshi

 

[xcandrew]

But it wouldn't survive being run over by a car and other things a Surefire can survive. The "runs on CR123" and "Surefire quality" are probably mutually exclusive requirements.

Toshi

How are people using their headlamps so that they would need the ability to be run over by a car? I'm having a hard time imagining people putting their headlamps through such abuse, especially while they are attached to someone's head! Otherwise, they need to survive storage in pockets, bags, tight pockets of backpacks, maybe poor baggage handling if you put no care at all into packing, cold and heat, water, etc. I think the more likely failures are electrical - switches and stuff like that - and from what I've read in these forums, Surefires are not immune to those kinds of failures.

 

[SaVaGe]

Look no further........

http://www.foxfury.com/products/pro_series/tactical/tactical_3.html

Light Emissions

• Candle Power = 6,270
• Lumens = 500
• Field of Vision = 30°
• Photopic Lighting = Near
• Distance Vision = up to 500 ft (152 m)
• Peripheral Vision = 60 ft (18 m)

Features

• Tilt = Yes (90°)
• Intrinsically Safe = No
• Handheld = Optional
• Number of LEDs = Four 3 Watt CREE XR-E
• LED Colors = White
• Tap Switch = Yes
• Battery Power Pack Belt = Yes

Durability

• Waterproof = Yes (20 ft / 6m)
• Fire Resistant = Yes
• Impact Resistant = Yes

they also have different models.

 

[mountainpenguin]

the sten has a head band attachment and i am sure you could get a cr123 battery pack after all it has a huge input voltage range.

 

[TMorita]

How are people using their headlamps so that they would need the ability to be run over by a car? I'm having a hard time imagining people putting their headlamps through such abuse, especially while they are attached to someone's head! Otherwise, they need to survive storage in pockets, bags, tight pockets of backpacks, maybe poor baggage handling if you put no care at all into packing, cold and heat, water, etc. I think the more likely failures are electrical - switches and stuff like that - and from what I've read in these forums, Surefires are not immune to those kinds of failures.

"Run over by a car" is probably a bad example.

I can think of a few personal examples why I'd want a near-indestructible headlamp:

1. Paragliding

Paragliding packs weigh about 50 lbs, and when we caravan to the top of a mountain, we pack a lot of people and equipment in one car or SUV (put 12 people and their 50 lb packs in one suburban once!). I like to keep a headlamp in my paragliding pack because sometimes I've landed out in a big field in the dark a few times, and it's good to have a headlamp to pack your paragliding wing and hike out.

Anyway when you pack a bunch of people in a vehicle and stack their paragliding packs, the ones on the bottom tend to get crushed. Right now I keep my headlamp in a crushproof Otterbox to ensure it won't be smashed, but the Otterbox is extra weight to fly with and lug around.

2. Rock climbing

It's good to have a headlamp around when rock climbing in case something happens and you need to hike out in the dark. Sometimes rock climbing packs get smashed because they're stacked, or if you throw them down into a gully before clambering down

3. Caving

I've caved a few times and liked it, and I'd like to go a few more times. Caving tends to be pretty rough on headlamps, because they get mounted on helmets, and depending on the cave you can be crawling on your hands and knees a lot (did one three hour cave trip where I was on hands and knees almost continuously). If the cave is that tight, you tend to bang your helmet/headlamp on the walls/ceiling a lot. For example, some cavers on the caving forums complain about the PT Apex because the hinge tends to break after being banged around in caves.

So personally, for me, a durable headlamp is very important.

Toshi

 

[ltiu]

If the cave is that tight, you tend to bang your helmet/headlamp on the walls/ceiling a lot. For example, some cavers on the caving forums complain about the PT Apex because the hinge tends to break after being banged around in caves.

Thanks for sharing your experience and insights.

I find that every caver (every person) is different, almost reflects the personality. I see some people are very reckless or just plain clumsy and tend to bang against things while in the cave. I also notice some people are pretty elegant and careful when inside a cave and come out with very few hits and scratches.