I'm looking for a really bright headlamp with a focused beam or adjustable beam. Looking for your best recommendation.

They sure have come a long ways from the 60s back. used to use carbide lamps, still have 3 or 4 that belonged to my grandfather. The old battery lamps were pretty dim compared to todays plus the battery life is so much better as well as some rechargeable. Can you have too many head lamps? I always kept a spare in my back pack.

Jed the rechargeable headlamps will light up the world but a charge only last so long and you have to remember to recharge them before you hunt. I’ve been using a Stream light headlamp that runs on three AAA batteries that last a pretty long time. It has three settings; one is a green light, one is a white broad beam and one is a white narrow focused beam. Been using it for several years.

I have gotten great service from Fenix, Black Diamond, and Coast, If one goes directly on the Fenix and Coast websites there always offering great discounts on there higher end products. Also Sofirns are lots a bang for the buck.

I have a couple Brownings that have served me well for years.

DP

I’ve been using Black Diamond’s Spot for several years. Bright beam, softer beam and red, all dimmable.

Fenix lights work really nice. They are a bit pricey but you get what you pay for.

I have had good luck with my Petzl Actik Core. It seems to hold a charge for a really long time. It has three brightness settings - the lowest one works pretty well for a lot of situations.

Fenix or Olight.

I use a Petzl ACTIK 450 lumen. It's pretty darn bright but you can get the Petzl and Black Diamond up to about 1000 lumens (maybe more but don't know). I'll bet one of those will blind you.

I agree with the petzl,black diamond mentioned above.. What is bright enough, is a personal choice for you. Keep in mind the brighter it is, usually either will have less burn time or will be much heavier.. My current one is the black diamond 400 lumen dimmable with the flood, spot, and red light.. Plenty bright..

Thanks for the recommendations, keep them coming if you can.

A great light and reasonable cost is the Eveready You can get them at Walmart for about $20 .Different models with different lumens.

Tim Finley-

I got that everready years ago because I mis placed my high $ one -it is nice and bright and has really held up great

recharges in the truck

I have used several different headlamps over the years in my finish carpentry work. My absolute favorite by a >wide margin< is:

Energizer HDEC32 $27.50 Amazon

3AAA cells. 450 lumens. BRIGHT white led lights are fully dimmable. Red and green lights. Red has a flashing function I've never used. The inside of the headband was a dual bead of rubber stripes that grip great. NO blasted sliding around and shifting position in use. That feature is really nice when you are moving around and shifting position while working. The on/off switch doesn't turn on in your toolbelt. Or coat pocket or pack. DYNAMITE light. Check it out.

Black Diamond

Cyclone from Roger's Sporting goods,it has several white light settings & red & green.

Black Diamond and Petzl are my top ones.

My brand new Coast FL1R just arrived today and is charging. It’s 435 lumens. Dimmable white and red lights. Lockable power button to prevent accidental turn on. Reflective headband. Comes with a clip to attach to a pack or whatever if you don’t want to wear it as a head band.

It got great reviews and was $33 on Amazon. I’m looking forward to trying it out.

Coast makes good stuff. My XPH30R headlamp came with two different premium type headbands . The thing is built like a tank . If I had too say any slightly negative thing about it , it might be too heavy if one is a hen pecked pencil neck geek . LOL ! .....

I've been using a rechargeable 18650 Boruit headlamp that I got because it had green (which I prefer) as well as red & white light This was before green became popular and everybody tried to steer me clear of it because it's foreign made. I've had no trouble, and the only complaint is the tightening of the endcaps is a bit finicky to ensure proper clicky on/off and cycling through modes, but you get the hang of it.

I have a Fenix HP25R v1.0. Does not focus, but there are three lenses (spot, floodlight and red). Current v2.0 has a better red light. It takes 18650 3.7v Li-ion cells. The floodlight and spot will go 90 minutes at the highest of settings or 150 hours at the lowest! For bloodtrailing the medium setings are sufficient. Current version has a 21700 mAh rechargeable battery and goes much longer - but I'd rather be able to carry a spare battery and swap them if needed.

Same battery as my trusty Fenix PD35, which is an outstanding flashlight that I use every night to close up the barn and chicken coops. Also in my pack when hunting.

I never used one until a couple of years ago. I was given one free for being a good customer at Lowes. I think it was their Kobalt brand and I always use it to find my way out of the woods after quitting time.

I was a Tika guy for 15 years. I bought a Black Diamond a few years back. Wow, I should have switched a long time ago. It has a pin and flood setting. Four colors and adjustable brightness on any setting.

I tried a lot and found that Coast for output and price is hard to beat.

I worked as a commercial Alaskan salmon fisherman for 8 years, where time of day did not matter. Only tide height. So I'd like to think I have a good amount of experience with headlamp choices, and I would tell you rechargeable ones are the best in my opinion, followed closely by BLACK DIAMOND head lamps. Best of luck, -John

Funny you mention that. I was at my cabin this weekend and got my lil Princeton tec headlight out. It was real small and battery operated. I don't like rechargeable ones because I end up losing the cord or I am hunting with no place to recharge it. Anyway I put some batteries in mine and it would not light. Not sure what is wrong with it but it was cheap and I have had it for over 25 years. Soooo, I just ordered another one. It fits in my pocket and is lighweight and I don't feel Like I am wearing the porch light on my head. I just use it for going in and coming out. For tracking I use something else. Hope this one lasts as long.

Thanks for the information. I need to try a headlamp.

Headlamps are a game-changer up in the mtns… makes it possible for a guy to get off work, arrive at the trailhead after dark, and charge up the hill anyway. Also way easier to come off the mtn under heavy load when you can see where you’re putting your feet.

I have used Petzl and Black Diamond, as well as some dirt-cheap ones, and basically, you can just compare features and get what you think you need, keeping an eye on battery life at the different levels. I currently have a BD, a Petzl and 3 spare batteries in the pack, though a cheap-o probably doesn’t weigh appreciably more….

For my money, Petzl - stream light rechargeable, affordable bombproof

I’ve got an Olight H67 12,000 lm on turbo and a Silva Spectra 10,000 lm on the highest setting. Don’t think you’ll get any better than these two – they are high dollar but I use them for trail running at 3:30 AM every morning. They get the job done!

A headlamp is an absolute '10 essentials' necessity in the Rocky Mountains. Bushwhacking after dark, while carrying a heavy pack, is asking for trouble.

Short story. Back in the mid 90s when I was about ~40, I fly fished Kroenke lake, a timberline gem on the north flank of Mt Yale, a 14'er on the eastern side of the continental divide here in CO. Mesmerized by the fall splendor and incredible fishing", "Just one more cast." after the sun had gone behind the horizon became a couple dozen too many.

It was dusk, three miles to camp, and I had no headlamp with me.

To get back before pitch black I thought 'I'll just walk back fast." Then, "Better start jogging." as it really started getting dim in the pines.

Sure as hell I tripped. While falling a threw my arms out, and tore my left rotator cuff. Effing stupid as hell. If I had a headlamp with me I would have walked out.

Take a headlamp even if you don't expect to use it.

I have been looking to replace my old Petzl and have checked out about everything out there and I will be buying one of these and a couple of extra batteries, so I always have a charged replacement or two along with me.

Streamlight 89001 ProTac 2.0 2000-Lumen Headlamp with Rechargeable Battery, Strap, Black

Distracting myself while I get packed up here…

The Petzl is their Tikka model, which I just picked up a month or so ago at REI for 26 bucks, I think, during a sale. It can be used with a rechargeable battery, and it has a rubber gasket on the battery box, 3 white lighting levels, Red LED which can go on Strobe. It blinks 4 times either red or green when you lock/unlock, and using the light charges up a glow-in the dark ring around the LED so you can find it in the tent. I consider that a good, basic unit. Runs 110 hours on low (7 lumens), 12 hrs on medium (100 lumens) and 2 hours at 350.

I think the BD is the Storm model, and while I don’t usually indulge myself in all of the bells and whistles, I bought that on a clearance deal for about $50. Major upgrades over the Tikka are that it’s seriously waterproof, offers 2 or 3 white lighting levels plus a dimmer. Red/Green/Blue LEDs are also dimmable and will strobe. Pre-set lighting levels change with just a tap on a membrane switch, and you’ll notice that the strap is intended to be worn comfortably without a hat and is sweat-friendly. It also has a lock, naturally…

I guess the worst thing that you can say about it is that you need to carry five spare AAA‘s..

I’d rather have the batteries than have my light go out with no place to charge it. Not to mention it will always go out when you are out a night using it.

I’d rather have the batteries than have my light go out with no place to charge it. Not to mention it will always go out when you are out a night using it.

I use headlamps all year long for hunting and fishing . I prefer batteries over rechargeable types , I would rather have extra batteries in a pocket , pack or tackle box . I currently have an inexpensive Coast that runs on 3 AAA batteries and also has an adjustable beam . The only thing I dont like about it is the on/off button can easily get accidentally pressed when in a pocket resulting in dead batteries later when you need it . my solution for this is turning one battery around until the light is needed . I also have a Busnell that runs on AA batteries , it is bright , also has a red light , two white light brightness options , and also has a recessed on/off button . I have a bunch of trail cameras that use AA batteries . After the batteries are to low in power to use in a camera I use them in my headlamps and small flashlights . I also have a small Coast flashlight that runs on one AA battery ,it is bright , has a recessed on/off button and also has a spring clip to put it on a bill of a hat , collar or pocket . that little flashlight has proven most useful and well worth the $20 price .

I’ve had a Fenix for 3 seasons and it’s been great. It came with a rechargeable battery but also takes standard battery. I bring batteries with me as a backup but I’ve never had to use them because the charge lasts long. Liked it so much I bought a small pocket flashlight with the same setup and carry both in my pack. One or the other gets used every hunt

With standard batteries now coming in the "weird sizes", CR123 for example, you can have the best of both worlds. I think two of them replace rechargeable 18650's. But don't quote me on the sizes, I may be thinking of 16650's, I have both and my mind ain't the "steel trap" that it used to be!

My plan is to carry extra batteries, the difference is that the batteries I'll carry are the same rechargeable battery that comes in the unit. Instead of buying disposable batteries and throwing them away they will be in a rotation. I don't foresee being in a situation that would burn down 3 fully charged Lithium batteries, but if that did happen there is always the flashlight and an extra battery for it.

Well, I bought my first headlamp today. I bought a Husky Multi- Color Headlamp. It has Spot Light High, Spot Light Medium, Spot Light Low, Flood Light High, Flood Light Medium, Flood Light Low, and has LED Red, Green, and Flashing Red Modes. And it's water resistant. On Spot Light High it is 500 Lumens. It wasn't one of the real expensive models but so far, I like it. I'll be testing it in the woods in 13 days. :)

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