Zebralight VS PT Aurora.

[ztm]

In my quest to consolidate to one battery type I am considering a Zebralight AA headlamp of some sort.

I have 5 or 6 old school Princeton Tec Auroras (I think most of those have never even been used) so it is not like I NEED another headlamp, but since they use 3 AAAs it puts a kink in my streamlining process.

Can anyone who has both compare and contrast for me? Not interested in written specs but rather real word use.

 

[Woods Walker]

I have a few PT Aurora headlamps plus some ZLs as well. I much prefer the ZL. Better beam and tint all around. Also more comfortable and I really don't trust the latch on my Auroras as broke them in the past. When it came out the Aurora was a great headlamp and will do the same job today as back then. But prefer something more up to date like a ZL, PT EOS etc. I still use my Auroras as backups for people who come camping with me but believe they can see in the dark. :laughing:

 

[ztm]

Is the battery life in real life better than the Aurora? How about comfort and the headband attachments etc. Anything annoying?

 

[Quiksilver]

I have the Zebralight H501.

It depends on your use and what you require out of it. The 501 is a great headlamp for it's price and is probably one of the most efficient single AA headlamps around.

That being said, the beam has 0 throw at all so if you're moving at any speed (cycling), the 501 is NOT for you. It doesn't put out much light, but its a very light package overall and does the job in a small area. Nice for walking and slow hikes on trails. It's a light-medium duty headlamp and as such if you're going into the wilderness with it, I would strongly implore you to bring along another flashlight with more throw. The 501 creates a "pool" of light infront of you out to roughly 20-30 yards, then all turns to blackness. An odd feeling, and I would feel underprepared out in the wilderness with only the H501. Therefore I bring a nice 2xAA Fenix LD20 along and it does the job for more throw.

Overall, good light, however make no mistake it is a light-medium duty trail walking headlamp. Do not make it your only light for the outdoors.