2ManyLights
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2007
- Messages
- 52
As I was looking through all of my headlamps, it found several I do not use anymore. While good at their inception, better things quickly came to market at these went the way of the buggy whip. I am now considering what I could do with them to bring them up to date. I need some ideas and suggestions. The criteria: 1.) Inexpensive upgrades... No need to break the bank on these when I already own better HLs and or 2.) Easy mods... never tried a down-and-dirty-solder-extravaganza.
Here's what I have:
1.) A Petzl Zoom - I know, I know... it's a lunch box. But it was my first HL and, frankly, there were not many HLs out when I got it. It took that big-*** 4.5 battery, but I have the 3AA insert, too. Is there an LED drop in? Would a Cree go in it. Would it then be worth wearing a 10 lb. brick on my nugget?
2.) Princeton Tec Vortec/Matrix - This 2AA HL was nice when I got it. It was an early self-contained HL… no back battery pack and thus (the biggest attraction for me) it was waterproof. It came with an incan module. Later, a 3 LED (5mm) module came out for it. I was so excited at the time. In retrospect, this turned out to be as useful as a crocheted prophylactic. I've rubbed my socks on carpet and created a doorknob spark that threw more light. But what if you could replace the three 5mm with SMJ LEDs or something? Or even mod the incan module? [The reason for the double name? I think the incan version was the Vortec, which was available long before the LED module PT made later. When the LED module was created, they packaged it with the Vortec and called it the Matrix… or so my memory goes.]
3.) Black Diamond Ion – Excited about this, too. So light… so little. But the two 5mm LEDs lack real light when compared to today's mini HLs. The two LEDs on my Superbright PakLite blow it away. That, and the "I have a better chance of contracting the SARS virus than finding a replacement battery", caused me to shelve it. (What is that battery, anyway? Is there an inexpensive replacement?) I just saw that BD just changed the design of this to a .5W LED for this year. But, what about this one? Can the LED's be replaced with something brighter?
4.) Cyclops Atom – Proof that at one time, someone slipped a crack rock into my drink. I saw this in the back of back of Backpacker Magazine. Found one at Bass Pro for $10. Oh… I got my back packed, alright. It uses two 2016 coin cells making this HL indispensable in an emergency… providing the emergency is over within the first 120 seconds. Any options on this one?
5.) Black Diamond Gemini – Backpackers Editors Choice Award winner. This light has served me well. Incan for throw (I use the brightest BD incan bulb) and 1 LED (later two) for proximity lighting. This light still has potential, but it needs a beef-up. Ideas?
Here's what I have:
1.) A Petzl Zoom - I know, I know... it's a lunch box. But it was my first HL and, frankly, there were not many HLs out when I got it. It took that big-*** 4.5 battery, but I have the 3AA insert, too. Is there an LED drop in? Would a Cree go in it. Would it then be worth wearing a 10 lb. brick on my nugget?
2.) Princeton Tec Vortec/Matrix - This 2AA HL was nice when I got it. It was an early self-contained HL… no back battery pack and thus (the biggest attraction for me) it was waterproof. It came with an incan module. Later, a 3 LED (5mm) module came out for it. I was so excited at the time. In retrospect, this turned out to be as useful as a crocheted prophylactic. I've rubbed my socks on carpet and created a doorknob spark that threw more light. But what if you could replace the three 5mm with SMJ LEDs or something? Or even mod the incan module? [The reason for the double name? I think the incan version was the Vortec, which was available long before the LED module PT made later. When the LED module was created, they packaged it with the Vortec and called it the Matrix… or so my memory goes.]
3.) Black Diamond Ion – Excited about this, too. So light… so little. But the two 5mm LEDs lack real light when compared to today's mini HLs. The two LEDs on my Superbright PakLite blow it away. That, and the "I have a better chance of contracting the SARS virus than finding a replacement battery", caused me to shelve it. (What is that battery, anyway? Is there an inexpensive replacement?) I just saw that BD just changed the design of this to a .5W LED for this year. But, what about this one? Can the LED's be replaced with something brighter?
4.) Cyclops Atom – Proof that at one time, someone slipped a crack rock into my drink. I saw this in the back of back of Backpacker Magazine. Found one at Bass Pro for $10. Oh… I got my back packed, alright. It uses two 2016 coin cells making this HL indispensable in an emergency… providing the emergency is over within the first 120 seconds. Any options on this one?
5.) Black Diamond Gemini – Backpackers Editors Choice Award winner. This light has served me well. Incan for throw (I use the brightest BD incan bulb) and 1 LED (later two) for proximity lighting. This light still has potential, but it needs a beef-up. Ideas?
You can add the BD Moonlight to the list also.
and the kids can only play/wreak so many...
