More durable, water resistant headlamp?

I really like the Energizer 3-LED headlamp.
Lightweight
swivel head
excellent white runtime and excellent red light runtime.

But it's a bit fragile. Looking for something more durable and also water resistant that is otherwise just like the E-3-LED.
Recommendations?

ArmyTek, Zebralight, Nitecore or Fenix headlamps.

A good outdoor store or better still a store that caters for cavers is your answer.I live fairly near to the world famous Snowdonia mountain range and plenty of specialist shops exist here.They range in price from just a few pounds to many many pounds.

danpass said:

Looking for something more durable and also water resistant that is otherwise just like the E-3-LED.
Recommendations?

Click to expand...

So you need it to do red and white light?
If so, that does narrow things down somewhat.

Fenix HL30 is pretty good. Last year, mine survived a flash flood on Mt. Whitney with no problems. Has a useful red l.e.d., and a wide beam white light that goes from 4 to 200 lumens (on turbo) from 2AAs. The only drawback is that it doesn't work well on lithiums (you lose the lower levels). It's IP-X8 rated for waterproofness.

Anyone have experience with the Alpkit Gamma?

https://www.alpkit.com/products/gamma



_

danpass said:

I really like the Energizer 3-LED headlamp.
Lightweight
swivel head
excellent white runtime and excellent red light runtime.

But it's a bit fragile. Looking for something more durable and also water resistant that is otherwise just like the E-3-LED.
Recommendations?

Click to expand...

Would it be OK if 10X brighter too?

Quite a lot - cheap Chinese ODM, IPX4 at it's best, locking system of the battery container is pita...

If you can spend around $100, I really like my Surefire Minimus Vision.

Similar to this is the Black Diamond Storm. It takes 4 AAA batteries instead of 3 AAA but you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference in size. It's also waterproof and has both the red and white functionality of the Energizer.

Hooked on Fenix said:

Fenix HL30 is pretty good. ... It's IP-X8 rated for waterproofness.

Click to expand...

IPX6

TEEJ said:

Would it be OK if 10X brighter too?

Click to expand...

This statement is very funny to many of us.

I think what TeeJ and his 6500 posts mean, is that Brick an mortar stores (esp. energizer) offer pathetic offering in LED and circiutry efficiency. They assume the consumer will not research, rather just rely on their big brand name. This widens the profit margins, and sales volume.

Got to start somewhere. Just one lumen at a time, I guess.

Now, if lumens (after all who really wants a light with the "lumens", which sounds catchy and infectious) are not your goal. I would dip the light in a vat of that gutter seal stuff, or hot tar for economy! Tar and feathering instruction can be found the "homemade lights" section of this forum. I think the feathering is for the "shelf queen" lights, popular with many here. "Sure, I own the pink, jewel encrusted Armytech light with feathers. But honestly, Sergent, it's to see better at night."

I very highly recommend the Underwater Kinetics Vizion, you can read my review here:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R13UF49ZX1EMCJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B001G5ZG16

Basically this light is extremely durable, but not the brightest.

danpass said:

I really like the Energizer 3-LED headlamp.
Lightweight
swivel head
excellent white runtime and excellent red light runtime.

But it's a bit fragile. Looking for something more durable and also water resistant that is otherwise just like the E-3-LED.
Recommendations?

Click to expand...

I was looking at one of these for a backup. What problems have you had with it?

I've got the LED Lenser P14R.2, aside from the price it is all good. It is easy to recharge, IPX4 so plenty waterproof enough unless maybe you do things that mean your head goes UNDER the water. These focussing lens from Lenser are amazing too as you can go from a perfect flood, ideal for walking to spot allowing you look up to 300m away.

The setting I use most is just normal setting of 350 Lumens on flood, occasionally spotting and it has a low of 60 Lumens which is fine also for walking and a boost of 850 Lumens (only for up to 30 seconds) for a bit of extra range occasionally. It is powered by two 18650 batteries which are included or you can use 4x AA or CR batteries as well.

The other option which is much cheaper (and you can stick your head under water) is the Black Diamond Storm. These run on 4x AAA batteries and produce 160 Lumens but it has a flood setting and it has a dimmer so you can choose your light. It also has red LEDs. I just use this for working on computers but it would be a great general purpose headlamp for camping and hiking. Battery life is very good.

I've been very happy with my zebralights. Tough. I use them in construction a lot. I use surefire for hiking - served me well on many outings.