Hand's free walking light

Can anyone recommend a hand's free light for walking my dog at night?

What you want is a headlamp. Go searching around the appropriate forum(s) within CPF, there will be tons of prior discussion on the topic. That should help you out quite a bit.

I don't have a lot of experience with headlamps but I do have a Zebralight H30-Q5 and it is very nice.

http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=89&products_id=455


You could also get one of many small, pocket sized lights with a headband and use it the same way as a headlamp when necessary.

Go to Headlamp forum :thumbsup:

There is many options there! I prefer the PricentonTec EOS

+1 on the Zebralight H30-Q5. I ordered directly from http://www.zebralight.com/ and it was here in three days, saving $20 + shipping. Great little light, I just clip it on my hat, belt or collar. I also have the H501 but prefer the 30's beam, it has a little more throw although the 501 uses AA batteries.

One I might look into would be a First-Light Tomahawk. They can be put on a belt and still shine forward, etc. Or put on a backpack strap.

I'd only get a Tomahawk if using a headlamp wouldn't be desirable. For me wearing a headlamp for extended periods bothers me. Any longer than 20-30 minutes and I start feeling like my head is in a vice and sometimes a mild headache feeling too.

I love headlamps and use them daily, but not for long periods. Someday I'll probably get a Tomahawk, expensive, but a nice light for alternative uses.

http://www.lighthound.com/First-Light-USA-Tomahawk-GP-Angle-Head-Flashlight_p_2583.html

+1 for the Zebralight 501W. I just got one a few weeks ago and absolutely love it.

Zebralight headlamps are very nice, but if you want to see further than 20 feet they really don't cut it. All flood and no throw = great for close proximity tasks and not stepping in a poodle. Not that great if you're unsure which way to go.

You will see where you step and the next 4-5 steps ahead, but not much beyond that. That is great if you're in familiar terrain and just don't want to step in some other dog's business or snag on a branch. If you walk out in the woods and need to determine which path is the right one you would want a bit more throw. Of course you could use a handheld small thrower for that specific purpose, but then you don't have a hands free solution any more.

The princeton tec EOS headlamp is inexpensive and has a very good mix of throw and flood. It is an excellent choice for your purpose. It runs on 3*AAA batteries. You probably want to invest in some nimh rechargeables (sanoy eneloop comes to mind) and a charger.

Dont forget Petzl have a very good range not always the newsest tech or brightest but reliable and comfortable.

another vote for Zebralight. warm tint prefered.
i dont use it as a headband. i usually clip it to my shirt pocket, or on top of one of my shirt button. the clip doesnt look the greatest, but its very adjustable, and works great.

or maybe the fenix mc10 (anglelight) its head swivels. and ive seen a picture of it on the fenix site with it clipped onto someones belt.

Ignore the zebralight, it's not practical if u want to walk your dog.

This would be better IMHO.



http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=201717

4Sevens Quark with the Prism installed, hanging from you belt would do the trick.

knightrider said:

One I might look into would be a First-Light Tomahawk. They can be put on a belt and still shine forward, etc.

Click to expand...

You took the words out of my mouth! I'd go the belt route, too.

More often than not I'd want to light the path ahead, rather than what I'm looking around at!

Of course a helmet and hip combo wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Steve

Has anyone tried that new Zebralight on the same headband as one of their headlamps? I know there was a review that shows just this configuration and that would solve a lot of the shortcomings of the ZL Headlamps' reach. It might get a little hot after awhile, but that's what the silicone holders are for!

strinq said:

Ignore the zebralight, it's not practical if u want to walk your dog.

Click to expand...

Why not?

strinq said:

Ignore the zebralight, it's not practical if u want to walk your dog.

This would be better IMHO.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=201717

Click to expand...

that comment should have been left out, zebralight makes nice lights also for walking your dog, check out H60w for nice warm floody beam, or the new sc30w for a warm more throwy beam

jankj said:

All flood and no throw = great for close proximity tasks and not stepping in a poodle. Not that great if you're unsure which way to go.

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poodles are quite agile creatures and you'll have a hard time stepping on them than a hole or depression leading from the roadway to a drainage canal

puddles are okay, its those holes or bumps in or around tall grass that gives the most painful of sprains

Thanks for the input. I like the idea of a light I can clip on my belt or clothing. Any other lights out there to fit my purpose? By the way the dog I walk is a poodle.

Originally Posted by strinq
Ignore the zebralight, it's not practical if u want to walk your dog.

Warp said:

Why not?

Click to expand...

Because the floody beam has too short range as a general purpose hiking light. Maybe you don't need that for walking the dog. Some people do, it really depends on where you live and in what terrain you walk that dog.

The zebralight is GREAT if you know the way and just want to avoid stepping in some other dog owners lazyness. If you want to, say, check out the path further ahead out in the bush (which one of these two paths is the right one?) then zebralights have too short range.

jankj said:

Originally Posted by strinq
Ignore the zebralight, it's not practical if u want to walk your dog.



Because the floody beam has too short range as a general purpose hiking light. Maybe you don't need that for walking the dog. Some people do, it really depends on where you live and in what terrain you walk that dog.

The zebralight is GREAT if you know the way and just want to avoid stepping in some other dog owners lazyness. If you want to, say, check out the path further ahead out in the bush (which one of these two paths is the right one?) then zebralights have too short range.

Click to expand...

I suppose.

But I didn't think "walking the dog" meant hiking through brush where you need to throw some light down the trail in order to determine which direction was the righ way.

When I walk my dog, at night, it has always been somewhere that I knew where I was and where I was going.


BTW: I've used my Zebralight hiking in the Rocky Mountains and it was all the light I needed. With all of the twists, turns and cut-backs in the trail, not to mention brush and other vegetation, there wasn't much to light up directly ahead even if it had more throw.

I like the Petzl 3xAAA with red shade as far as a headlight goes.