Head Lamp (1 Viewer)

[Kofoed]

After searching for a cheap-o head lamp, I bit the bullet and upper my price range. I was looking for something that was useful around camp, I could find a faint trail in a dark forest (long range beam) and could use to wrench at night (flood light)

I checked a bunch of models out in person, and settled on a Black Diamond Storm

The two deciding factors were a bright spot light (better than my mini-mag flashlights) and it has a rheostat output adjustment--continuous from full bright to full dim. It has spot and flood, and red, flashing blah blah...

$50

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/headlamps-and-lanterns/storm-BD620611VBORALL1.html

 

[Sinister]

After searching for a cheap-o head lamp, I bit the bullet and upper my price range. I was looking for something that was useful around camp, I could find a faint trail in a dark forest (long range beam) and could use to wrench at night (flood light)

I checked a bunch of models out in person, and settled on a Black Diamond Storm

The two deciding factors were a bright spot light (better than my mini-mag flashlights) and it has a rheostat output adjustment--continuous from full bright to full dim. It has spot and flood, and red, flashing blah blah...

$50

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/headlamps-and-lanterns/storm-BD620611VBORALL1.html

I have the storm as well and it's a very good light.

 

[Tapage]

I have this one and has been great for me ..

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en...s/icon-headlamp-BD620617ALUMALL1.html#start=4

 

[cruiserfj45]

This is the headlamp I have used for 4 years on night calls for work. It is focus able from a flood to spot as well as adjust the brightness for close up work to max output. Everyone I work with now has one. You can find them at lowes and osh. they run on AAA batteries.

Coast HL7 Headlamp

 

[Kofoed]

This is the headlamp I have used for 4 years on night calls for work. It is focus able from a flood to spot as well as adjust the brightness for close up work to max output. Everyone I work with now has one. You can find them at lowes and osh. they run on AAA batteries.

Coast HL7 Headlamp

Nice. I like it. I would have bought that instead, if I would have known about it.

Battery life on the brightest output setting?

 

[FJ60Seth]

I prefer red light when camping. Doesn't dilate the pupils.

 

[cruiserfj45]

I can usually go about 2 nights of constant use before it starts dimming but you still get light. And what I mean by all night is from sundown to sunrise when I work the overnight shift. Then I go to the office and they give me more batteries.

 

[bloc]

On the nicer headlamps, you can't go wrong with petzl or black diamond. Princeton Tec works well at first but at least in the past the way they formulated their plastic resulted in problems with self-destruction after a couple years.

 

[tag3]

Yep, my P-tech battery cover let go a couple months ago so I got the Black Diamond Icon. Liking it so far.

 

[Comet]

I have the storm also. Had it for years. It is showing some wear but man is it flexible. My band stretched out so I just folded it and sewed it tighter. I crawled under houses for a year, wore that thing around my neck in broad daylight in public, even on my days off. The new one has more lumens and longer on time. Great headlight.

 

[Godwin]

I have a Princeton Tech that still works great but the plastic swivel base had crumbled so I'm in the market for a new headlamp.

Is a screwdriver needed to replace batteries in a Storm? If that's the case I think I'd go with some other model.

 

[Kofoed]

The battery

I have a Princeton Tech that still works great but the plastic swivel base had crumbled so I'm in the market for a new headlamp.

Is a screwdriver needed to replace batteries in a Storm? If that's the case I think I'd go with some other model.

The battery compartment has a knurled knob, with a slot for a screw driver or the band adjustment buckle fits in it to turn if your finger are too fat or frozen.....

 

[StaleAle]

Take a look at the Fenix HL55. It's slightly more expensive, but way more power and reasonable battery life.

Fenix HL55 LED Headlamp

Product Description
The Fenix HL55 headlamp offers four brightness levels plus 900-lumen burst mode and 150-hour runtime from one 18650 battery or two CR123A batteries. Neutral white light means superior definition and penetration in high-humidity environments. A 380 foot/116-meter carry distance reaches farther while the side switch on the head is all you need for ON/OFF, output selection, and burst. With all-metal housing and ANSI rated, the HL55 matches all-season backcountry and cave exploration.

Specifications

• Utilizes Cree XM-L2 T6 neutral white LED with a lifespan of 50,000 hours
• Instant Access Burst Mode: Even if the light is off, press and hold the button for over one second will activate the burst mode. After 30 seconds, the headlamp automatically returns to the previous condition
• Four modes of output plus a "Burst" mode
  • High: 420 Lumens (3 hours 45 min.)
  • Mid: 165 Lumens (10 hours)
  • Low: 55 Lumens (30 hours)
  • Eco: 10 Lumens (150 hours)
  • BURST: 900 Lumens
• All-function switch in the head for easy and fast operation
• 160-degree tilt mechanism
• Enhanced heat dissipation
• All-metal housing to shed heat and impact
• Digitally regulated output maintains constant brightness
• Reverse polarity protection guards against improper battery installation
• Made from durable aluminum alloy
• Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish
• Toughend ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating
• Waterproof to IPX-8 standards (under water 6.5 feet/2 meters for 30 minutes)

Batteries Used (NOT INCLUDED)

• One rechargeable 18650 battery (accepts Tenergy, Fenix ARBL2M, ARBL2, ARBL2P, or ARBL2S). Each has a different mAh. The higher the mAh, the longer the runtime between charges.
• Two non-rechargeable CR123A batteries. (Fenix does NOT recommend rechargeable CR123 batteries since they will not perform according to the specification chart included for the headlamp)

 

[JCruse]

My headlamp doesn't do any of the fancy things but with 4 LED's, 2 levels, 4 position hinge, and a 30 meter distance it has served me well for three years now - 4 or 5 nights a week, May through mid December - with no signs of aging.

 

[SLO Nomad]

I have been running the Black Diamond ReVolt for sometime. I think it is the same light as the storm but rechargeable and less water resistant. Did the JMT last year and used my solar pad to charge along the way. Saves about $15ish bucks a year with rechargeable battery.

Black Diamond ReVolt Headlamp - REI.com

 

[Bogo]

Princeton Tec works well at first but at least in the past the way they formulated their plastic resulted in problems with self-destruction after a couple years.

Must be the newer ones. I have an old one that is still going for over a decade. It's one of the ones with the separate 3 AA battery packs. Something may be finally going. It now may take tapping it to get it to light.

 

[Comet]

No screw holding the battery area in the Storm. Just pop it open, swap out batteries, snap back together, and keep on getting it.

 

[surfpig]

I have the storm as well and it's a very good light.

Me too. The only thing I dislike about it is the on/off switch is too sensitive, it can easily turn on inside a pocket and burn out the batteries.

I just have to remember to "lock" it when it's being stowed. And get my family to do the same.

 

[Sinister]

Me too. The only thing I dislike about it is the on/off switch is too sensitive, it can easily turn on inside a pocket and burn out the batteries.

I just have to remember to "lock" it when it's being stowed. And get my family to do the same.

Yep and even on lock it has turned on by accident as well. I always carry extra batteries anyway, just in case.

 

[JCruse]

Well since my current HL doesn't have red light which is really useful when tossing plugs in the surf at night so you don't kill the night vision you've built up just to unhook a junk fish or undersize bass, I had a Storm delivered. I've had it about 3-4 days now and really like the low intensity and dimmable near field light, and the spot is about as bright as my little 3.7V "tactical" flashlight. The two things I don't care for are the yellow spot in the center of the spot beam, and the fact that the red LED's are focused to a point instead of a flood pattern. I like the way each mode is dimmable since I almost never use much light on the beach.
It's got a battery indicator and a regulated voltage feature that keeps full brightness until the batteries are about dead. Haven't tried the lock feature yet..

Overall I think it's a keeper and that it would serve anyone very nicely.






I got the orange one.

Oh BTW, the Storm DOES have a screw holding the battery door closed. And the piece on the band acts as a screwdriver. Awesome


















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