Firefighter choosing headlamp..which one ?

ConfederateScott

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Joined
Aug 27, 2004
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249
Location
Magnolia, Mississippi
I am a FD lieutenant and I will be using the headlight on the outside of an involved structure. I'm assigned to personnel accountability so all my use will be from the street near the firetruck looking at the fire scene. Not in interior smokey conditions. I need a light with as much reach as possible so that I can be standing at the street and use it to identify personnel operating on the roof of a single story residential dwelling or all the way across the yard. Again, I need throw more than anything and good up close use would be an extra, but is not my primary concern. I want a headlight because my hands will be full of a clipboard and ID tags that I will move around to keep up with who's where. My price range would be in the $100 or less range. Either CR123 cells or even AA or AAA would be sufficient. But I suspect CR123 would give me more of what I'm looking for.
 

Sarratt

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Jul 22, 2006
Messages
473
Location
Ottawa, Ont. Canada
Welcome Scott,,I think we have been slow to respond because of your unique situation.

I don't think you will find one single light that will fill your needs.

We can find you a headlamp that will light up someone on the first floor from 100 m away but if you tilt your head down your clip board will be as bright as a neon sign.

What looks like may be of use to you is the new Fenix that you can control from a chest level switch. Where your clipboard and pen is.
It's AA powered with great runtimes.
My only hesitation in recommending it to you is that you probably have other applications trailing from your head to a belt.
However if you don't want the extended cord look at the other Fenix 4aa headlamp

Best of luck whatever you choose and thanks for your work.

S
 

hopkins

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Nov 15, 2007
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906
Location
California
During the mine rescue in Chile I saw on TV many of the guys had the newer Petzl MYO XP headlamps strapped to their helmets.

Rarely did I see any of them switched on; once when a guy pointed it down the hole looking for the arrival of that rescue pod. My experience is you don't want anyone standing near you pointing a switched on Myo xp into
your face. Did not see any PT Apex's being worn.

But at sidewalk-to-rooftop distance of a one story building I'd think it'd be
fine. And the diffuser for instant switching over to wide area light is nice for reading and the boost function does work well.

Tougher plastic and lower profile than the Princeton Tech Apex headlamp
which does have a slightly more powerful beam..4AA batts vs 3AA. tradeoffs...

http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/myo-series/myo-xpAaQ


I think if you adjust the headlight tilt just right you can read the clipboard in the corona (side spill) of the spot beam
without actually zapping your eyes by hitting white paper dead on close up, then look upwards to your people on the roof.
wb9k0k.jpg
 
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Pigslayer

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Oct 18, 2009
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1
From one firefighter to another I don't think you'll find one light that fits your bill. I use the FoxFury head lamp for wildland fires. Best head lamp I have ever used for firefighting. Lots of throw and periferal vision. But, that is out in the forest away from ambient light. Might not work well in your situation with flood lights lighting a scene. http://foxfury.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2&products_id=128

I think you might go with a simple head light and a hand held light for farther reach. I understand your position well. Without getting into a discussion on operations we gotta make things work the best we can as most lights aren't made for our use.
 

GhostReaction

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Joined
Aug 16, 2005
Messages
1,194
Location
Singapore
I ll chime in my 2 lumens worth.
I was an Emergency Rescue Specialist for several years.
All these while the standard issue light is the UK40 dive light (incan) which comes with the rescue helmet.
For clipboard reading the light spill is darn helpful to not glare myself. The light attached to the side of the helmet so no problem with the spot beaming directly in front. For distance spot lighting is as easy as looking up, no hands required .

having said the above, I would recommend for a headlamp with hotspot and spill configuration. Those petzl myo RXP would be my pick if there were led available back then.
Stay safe Chief.
 

MikeAusC

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Jul 8, 2010
Messages
995
Location
Sydney, Australia
For Wilderness Rescue I've found an LED Lenser clone to prove the importance of several vital features -
- Zoom for light in the distance through to Flood for local viewing. Push-pull action that's easy, even when wearing gloves
- Full Brightness to Dim - continuously variable and instantly adjustable to whatever level I want by sliding a lever, even if wearing gloves.

It lacks robustness, waterproofness and brightness.

The $17 clone proved the concept, but I want something even brighter, so I'm building my own headlamp with these features using an SST-50 that puts out 5 times more light than an XR-E torch.

I started on it - then got sidetracked by my SST-90 modular videolight/searchlight project.
 

readyme

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Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
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Location
Seattle, WA
Lt.
I have a few suggestions.

Princeton Tec:
Apex or Apex Pro (just different batteries)

Petzl:
MYO RXP
 
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