(Part 2) Best camping headlamps according to redditors
We found 339 Reddit comments discussing the best camping headlamps. We ranked the 100 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
My normal (and much lighter weight) one was showing signs of distress and not working 100% when testing gear out before the trip. Just went and bought a cheap one on Amazon and it worked pretty well despite being so heavy. Tons of different modes for spotlight, close range, and red colored
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07Q8G36QV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
The Nitecore HC50 meets all your criteria. However, it's not a favorite around here; the smooth reflector isn't ideal for headlamp use (too throwy for most people), and the design makes it usable only as a headlamp.
A much more popular option around here is the Armytek Wizard, although the superior Pro model is out of budget. The Skilhunt H03 is another popular choice, although only on a coupon code - at the full $50 it's not ideal. These are all much better lights than the Nitecore. However, none of these have red modes.
So, why do you want red light? If you need it for anything other than developing film photos, it's possible you've been misled. The oft-repeated claim that red light preserves night vision is dubious, based on a combination of people misunderstanding why red light was used in darkrooms, and a flawed study done by the US military in WWII. There might be specific situations where it holds up, but on the whole for ordinary people camping or getting up to pee in the night, white light of similar intensity is just as good. And all three of the lights I've suggested include ultra-low "moonlight" modes which will preserve night vision, run for literally months, and still give you proper color vision.
I don't know if I would trust any headlamp with a USB-C port on it into a cave... it seems like asking for trouble with it getting filled with mud and other nasty stuff. A similar light is the Nitecore HC50, which is $15 cheaper and has red lights. I have this light and have taken it in many muddy, wet caves and have banged it up something good and it is still rocking strong. The beam is awesome, and while it's only 565 lm this is honestly still brighter than useful pretty much always. I typically run it at the second or third brightness setting anyways. My only complaint with this light is that it is a bit heavy, which isn't really a problem when strapped to an ecrin roc, but can be annoying when not using it with a helmet around the camp.
My favorite light is my Zebralight, the hype for this thing is well deserved. While it doesn't have a red light, the form factor is awesome. It is super light on the head without the hassle of a battery in the back. I think many people will agree that the Zebralight H600 series is one of the best caving lights you can get. (note there four versions of the H600, two LED colors cool and neutral, and two beam spreads, flood and spot)
Nitecore makes a blatant ripoff of the Zebralight that is $30 cheaper. While I don't have one of these, I did have a chance to play with one after a buddy of mine got one and it seems to be pretty neat. Considering how much I like my Nitecore HC50 I'm willing to bet this would be a solid light to get as well. One thing I like about the Zebralight over the Nitecore is that it works with flat-top 18650 batteries so you can bust open old laptop batteries and use the cells to power the light, whereas the Nitecore requires a button top 18650. Not a huge issue but something to consider.
Edit (some more thoughts):
It sounds like you are new to caving, welcome! I would recommend that you attend a local grotto meeting, which I believe for you would be the Southern California Grotto. You may meet some awesome people and it's a good way to get involved in the sport.
Also, with your flashlight purchase don't forget to get an 18650 battery and a charger for it. You may already have these since you have the Nitecore MH25 but I figured I'd mention it just in case. Be careful with the batteries to get a reputable brand because there are a lot of fakes out there. Panasonic makes good batteries, but unfortunately there are a lot of ones that say Panasonic that are made somewhere else and a lot of ones that say other things that are made by Panasonic. Confusing! I got this one and it works great. You can take a risk with cheaper ones, just know they might not last so long. This charger works good for me. I've had both of my lights last for a 14 hour cave trip so the battery life is pretty good.
You'll probably have to get two. The Nitecore NU05 would be a good rear light. What's your budget?
So this is going to slightly exceed your budget but it'll be one of the best options in terms of raw power and great performance.
So first is the NW Thrunite TH10 but this light concerns me because its reflector is slightly large giving it a tighter hotspot which isn't quite ideal for hands on projects. The head does come off so I'm thinking this would work to convert it to a mule light by taking out the reflector. (Mule means a flashlight with no hotspot which is ideal for hands on work.)
It might seem redneck in a sense but it actually makes the light have dual purpose. As is the light is more ideal for walking/hiking where you need light further away from you and then you could take the reflector out to convert it for closer applications. Hopefully someone can confirm my theory on their TH10. ~wink wink, nudge nudge~
My 2nd recommendation would the Nitecore HC50 which seems cheaper but it doesn't come with a battery or charger(trust me on these). This light is going to be a bit more ideal close up because of the larger reflector. I'm not the biggest fan of the Cool White tint but to most people just getting into high powered flashlights it's not even a concern for them.
Both lights have really good modes and features. It'll be up to you if to decide what's best though for him. Feel free to ask any questions. There are cheaper lights but we'd lose the ability of the 18650 battery feature. These are higher energy batteries that are found in laptops. Although the 18650 isn't much bigger than a AA battery, it holds the energy of over 5 AA Alkaline batteries to give you an idea of how awesome they are.
Are you specifically looking for a handheld? I've found that a headlamp is actually far more useful when I go camping. I have a Petzl Tikka XP 2 that is my go-to primary camping light. Really good multimode LED with red or white light and a built-in diffuser.
Not sure what your battery preference is, but if you're looking for a sub $50 handheld, I'd recommend the following:
For camping, I like a headlamp much better than anything handheld. My suggestion here.
More flood or throw?
If flood: Skilhunt H03 Neutral White!
Awesome little light. I just got mine a few days ago and it has replaced my olight S20r already. It's tiny, and puts out a ton of light with 8 brightness modes from 0.3 to 900 lumens. It's a right angle light with a pocket clip, magnetic tail cap and head strap. It's basically a perfect car light.
Edit: if you want more throw, the H03R is only $34. It's not as floody and has more throw.Edit2: oops H03R is out of stock
Edit 3: Apparently Amazon carries the Skilhunts as well. Both the H03 NW and the H03R both cheaper than GearBest's full prices.
Also northeast US. I am the type of person who deals with the cold pretty well and have no problem going out even in the low 20s/upper teens, so take what I say with a grain of salt lol.
Layers and warm clothing is the obvious one, but be careful about putting too much on. You want to dress as if it is 15 degrees warmer than it actually is because you body temperature will rise as you get into the run. 15 degrees is not a hard and fast rule, so just see what works for you.
If you work full time, have a normal work schedule (9-5), and don't run during lunch you will be running in the dark. You can find fairly quality headlamps for around $15 on amazon to help you see better, and also grab something reflective (I use this one).
I also have a reflective vest I wear (this one) and for those reading that run with their dogs, my pupper wears a reflective vest too (here). If there is fresh salt down I do not bring my dog. If you see a sidewalk that has been salted, try and avoid it. The salt will be very unpleasant or even painful for your dog.
If it gets lower than my previously stated temperature limit, or I know that the roads/sidewalks will be snowy and icy I will just stay in and put some time in on the old stationary bike. Unfortunately, if you do not have means of running inside with a treadmill or indoor track you will just have to accept that days you planned to run will not happen, but it is important to not let these days derail you completely.
If the temperature is good, but the sidewalks are icy/snowy I have a .5 mile loop near my house that gets very low traffic at the time I run so I can be more or less in the middle of the road.
In colder temperatures it can sometimes agitate your throat to breathe, so a scarf or something else you can wrap over your mouth can help.
I think that is all I can think of for now!
I picked up a Black Diamond Sprinter last year and it's perfect for my needs. Little on the pricey side but super reliable and I love that it's rechargeable - no batteries needed! There are better options if you're going to be running a lot of really technical trails in the dark or if you need it to last for hours, but as a mostly-road runner who just needs something for early morning/late evening training runs it's great.
One thing I'd say about myself is... I'm a professionally trained italian opera singer.
my item is this
The problem with lights on the board is that they're super close to the ground and tend to shift around when you ride. Going up or down hills, for example, they're almost entirely useless. Headlamp is really the way to go.
In the winter when I'm commuting after dark every night I use one of these. In the summer where it's more occasional I keep one of these in my bag.
If you haven't decided yet, I just got a Petzl Bindi and love it.
It's only 35g (1.23oz) has a rechargeable battery, red light setting.
I spent years packing extra batteries for my last headlamp - now I don't have to worry about that. On longer trips I'll bring my Anker 10000 power bank to recharge my phone, headlamp, etc.
Amazon has them here for just over $50.
You didn't ask, but my favorite flashlight is the Petzl Zipka. https://www.amazon.com/Petzl-Zipka-Headlamp-Black-Size/dp/B01KYTQZEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519744676&sr=8-1&keywords=zipka
It's amazing because it's small and instantly can strap to your head. With headlamps and your hands free, you will never want to use any handheld lamp again. It's super bright, can be strapped to anything with its retractable string, has red mode, and glows so you can find it. 200 lumens.
Been researching for a while, and if its a headlamp, this is the one I recommend.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZI6EF6
Its a brand I use and like a lot, but whats really cool and unique is that the it has a lithium battery, but is also AA compatible.
Rechargeable is really really great to have for flashlights and headlamps because you can always make sure to have full charge at the start of a trip, lithium is great because its light weight. But being able to also use AA's means its very easy to accommodate situations where you can't recharge it.
Another suggestion in the realm of lighting. A Luminaid solar lantern.
These are great for a tent lantern, sometimes the only light I bring while backpacking. Also great as a flag for CTF games.
https://luminaid.com/collections/solar-lanterns
Thanks Para!
Nitecore HC50 (when it is available)
https://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-HC50/dp/B00GSXOSOW/?tag=parametrek-20&ama_error
Thank you for the reply! It is between
Petzl Tikka XP2
http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-Tikka-Improved-Output-Headlamp/dp/B009065J1K
and
Black Diamond Spot
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-Spot-Headlamp-Green/dp/B005FND1LW
Do you have any experience with the XP2? They're so similar!
Time to slide in at the last second with my Skilhunt of choice!
So most of the tools have been taken care of by other posters but here are some things i recommend.
Get a rechargeable headlamp. They are cheap and save you so much hassle when you are trying to work somewhere with bad light. It does not need to be super fancy this $14 one from Amazon is reviewed very highly 4.7/5 with 1,239 ratings.
Get a good quality respirator and use it when you are kicking up lots of dust/debris or when using spray paint/solvents. Those disposable dust masks are not very good.
Also grab some of those wrap around Safety Glasses. They are like $6 and are small enough to forget you are wearing them. The googles are nice if you are doing super heavy work/dangerous but i prefer just the glasses for 95% of the time.
Also I really like Huskys Connect System. If you are gonna be taking your tools to worksites away from home every week then look into the more expensive packout systems but for Harry Homeowner the Husky system is great.
Its a rolling tool box you can pull behind you and you can customize what kind of boxes clip onto it. There are 7 different kinds of boxes you can buy (2 are versions of the wheeled base) so you can pick and choose your configuration for whatever projects you do the most.
Heck, I really like flashlights too.
Headlamps are a pretty good idea.
https://www.amazon.com/NITECORE-NU25-Lumen-Triple-Output/dp/B0785S9G67/ref=sr_1_6?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1520610281&sr=1-6&keywords=nitecore%2Bheadlamp&th=1
Looks cool.
In for an NU25
Thanks again!
https://www.amazon.com/Skilhunt-H03-RC-NW/dp/B0797B476C/?tag=parametrek-20
Thanks!
A Pair of these
For front and rear.
I have 530.
Coast FL75R Rechargeable Focusing 530 lm LED Headlamp, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KZI6EF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ntoMAb5JCV1Z4
I use my hiking headlamp at work. I bought it for backcountry camping but I had a eureka moment and brought it to work one day. Every headlamp I've bought at home depot or a supply house is dog shit compared to this workhorse. Never dies or fades, long battery life, fits in a tool pouch easy because no strap. I also really enjoy that it's a floodlight and not a spotlight.
I usually use it when I'm working in a drop ceiling for an extended period of time.
If you're in a hurry, Here's the H03R on amazon.com for $44.50, which is less than you'll find the Armytek for.
So if I look for a Petzl product like this one : https://www.amazon.fr/Petzl-Tikka-Lampe-Frontale-Adulte/dp/B01KYTQKBE/ref=lp_1690265031_1_1?srs=1690265031&ie=UTF8&qid=1555425940&sr=8-1
Even if it's written "from Petzel" it doesn't mean it comes from them? I thought anytime it wasn't an official seller, the name of the reseller was written somewhere on the page.
Petzl - TIKKA Headlamp, 200 Lumens, Standard Lighting, Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KYTQKBE/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_k.gWAb1495FV5
Or
Carry a flashlight in your free hand. This is what I use, but there are cheaper options.
Lumintrail Super Bright USB Rechargeable LED Bike Light Set Headlight Taillight 1000... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0722S8TC8/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_pbhWAb94HRSWX
I strap Serfas Thundebolt rear lights to my backpack and keep them in flashing mode. Works very well to be seen by cars.
I have a Nitecore HC30. 1,000 lumen flashlight. Very bright and fits in your pocket nicely.
Nitecore Bundle: 3 Items HC30 1000 Lumens Rechargeable LED Headlamp with 18650 Battery and Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NMH16U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MlR2CbY7WHQ9J
I didn't have a problem with that but I did have to entirely redo the mask strapping. He ships it out with two ribbons on either side that are supposed to tie behind your head. That doesn't hold it up very well, is hard to tie on your own and tends to be uncomfortable. I added a 3 point elastic strap similar to what you'd see on a headlamp like this. So I would strongly recommend doing that.
Headlamp
I had Cinnabon and then I stole some of my girlfriend's pizza rolls for lunch.
lunch money
I stick to stuff right outside my door after dark and wear one of these things for light.
This is what I use for late evening runs in the winter:
Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp
LED Lights wrapped around my arms. (They come with velcro bands to wrap around anything)
I also have a couple Nike Flash jackets and tops, and a few pairs of Lulu reflective shorts that always come with me on runs. I'm sure most running apparel companies have similar reflective gear. I think at a minimum night runners should get the Sprinter headlamp due to the back red flashing light.
i have basically the same thing
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009065J1K/ref=smi_www_rcolv2_go_smi?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true
it's pretty light. my only concerns are that the light assembly is a bit rough so i wear a headband under it and there's a little bit of light leakage which shines a tiny bit in your eyes. not bad at all but i have noticed it. wearing the headband or a hat seems to get in the way of the leaking light and fixes the issue.
it really doesn't move at all on my head and i feel approx 1000X safer on my night runs now. pretty happy with my purchase.
Black Diamond Spot has a good balance of battery life, max lumens, red light, flood light, and usable light distance. Geared toward backing I suppose, so that's something to consider. Less than $32 with free shipping on Amazon right now.
These things are great! Black Diamond Unisex Spot Light Torch One Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011K7JEVM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9.6XBbX2XMYA3
Black diamond Storm Head Torch or [Petzl Actik Core Led Stirnlampe 350 Lumen] (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01KYTQ5UA/ref=cts_sp_1_vtp?th=1)
Which one should I buy?
Edit: If there are any other cheaper options, I would consider them as well if they are worth it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NMH16U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_Xv-rybH5J8RHC
Detachable from headlamp, comes with pocket clip, water proof, 1000 lumen burst.
Two for one deal u/notaplebian
It's weird I was just doing hours of research and just about decided on this one, but thought I'd see if this sub existed, and saw your post.
Also for the build, if you're stretched for time it might be better to use an elastic head strap and either one that looks the material - or a hybrid: the elastic headstrap is the holder and just glue the leather-looking part onto it, so it's both the perfect size and the leather doesn't have to be able to look on and hold, it just looks like it is.
. Like the one's on headlamps.
I have one sitting next to me.
http://www.zebralight.com/H600Fd-III-High-CRI-Floody-Neutral-White-18650-Headlamp_p_171.html
Bought mine on Amazon (no Fd's available, just warmer Fc): http://www.amazon.com/Zebralight-H600Fc-Floody-Neutral-Headlamp/dp/B018H64FCM
I bought this:
https://www.amazon.com/Foxelli-USB-Rechargeable-Headlamp-Flashlight/dp/B01GD463NE/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=260BKKIJLW2SH&keywords=foxelli+usb+rechargeable+headlamp+flashlight&qid=1551143660&s=gateway&sprefix=foxelli&sr=8-4
Boomerang!
https://smile.amazon.com/Petzl-Headlamp-Lumens-Rechargeable-Battery/dp/B01KYTQ5UA/ if it stays under if not a good headlamp. Thanks again for these wonderful giveaways and your wonderful site that keeps me looking at flashlights more then I should be...