Headlamp

[bodywhomper]

Looking for recommendations.

Current desire: not too heavy, rechargeable with usb-c, red light, long battery life

cheers

[2FUNKY]

Bought a Coast this summer as I lost my Fenix. Compared it to many others and read a ton of reviews before buying. It exceeded my expectations. Bright af when need with a long batt life.

https://a.co/d/guJlhti

[zion zig zag]

I really like the Petzl’s with Reaktiv lighting. The lamp dims when you look down at a map and then gets bright when you look back up at the trail, for example, it’s handier than I would’ve thought. I’ve had mine for almost 10 years and it’s still going strong.

[waxloaf]

One rec - the Petzls that take AAAs and also the recargable battery block are really nice. It’s nice to be able to keep extra AAAs in your pack for a situation where you can’t recharge easily


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[IceBumps]

PEAX has all of the features you are looking for. I bought one a couple of years ago and will likely buy another just to keep in my truck.

[evdog]

One rec - the Petzls that take AAAs and also the recargable battery block are really nice. It’s nice to be able to keep extra AAAs in your pack for a situation where you can’t recharge easily

I've had a couple of these and do like the option of rechargeable battery or AAA. The rechargeable is regular USB, not USB-C. Not a big deal unless USB-C is a deal killer.

Experiences with the headlamps themselves have been a bit mixed but I'd buy the Tikka again.

I had the Actik first. The rechargeable battery stopped working in it. It still works with AAA. Problem is, its high lumens burns through AAAs pretty quick so it doesn't last long on high setting. Annoyingly it then lasts forever at the lower 100 lumen setting which isn't bright enough for general use. So you either deal with it or put new batteries in. I would not buy the Actik again.

I found a Tikka on a hike that I've been using for a few years now. The rechargeable battery worked in it. Its brightest setting is half the lumens of the Actik so all batteries last way longer. It's bright enough for most needs. Recently bought a new Tikka as the original one started flickering to the point it's become unusable. Petzl re-designed both headlamps at some point. The older ones had an irregular shape with the power button on the flat top surface and hinge on the bottom so it was easy to put on correctly and find the button in the dark. The new ones are symmetrical with the hinge in the middle and a power button that is surprisingly hard to locate by feel. If I'm putting the headlamp on in the dark half the time it's upside down. Annoying but not enough to keep me from using it or buying it again. It does have the red light.

I'd look for a headlamp in the 300-350 lumen range or the batteries won't last very long.

[2FUNKY]

PEAX has all of the features you are looking for. I bought one a couple of years ago and will likely buy another just to keep in my truck.

Almost went with the peax as several buddies own them, after more research I went Coast. The Coast is a better light at half the cost.

[gwat]

I’m liking my Fenix HM50R.
haven’t used any other rechargeables, but I’m happy with this.

[Toddball]

I got a Lynx OGT Aurora based on recommendations from the last headlamp thread. It meets all your requirements, although I think 1200 lumens is just barely bright enough for ski touring at night if that's what you're going for. I used it on an overnight mountain bike race this summer and it worked very well paired with a brightish handlebar light like a Fenix BC26R.

https://www.lynxogt.com/product-page/aurora

They also sell replacement batteries, GoPro attachment adapters, etc.

[bodywhomper]

Thanks for all the recommendations! I’m currently looking for my soon to be non-teen kiddo. I need to figure it out, now. We’ve been dirt bagging headlamps for decades, buying whatever cheap we find at the hardware store.

I used to be a buyer at a mountain shop right when led headlamps were starting to take off. It’s amazing where the tech has gone in the past 25 years!

Btw, I tried to find a recent headlamp thread before starting this one.

[yeahman]

I'm a cheapo Black Diamond guy. Thirty bucks for the Astro. Never had one fail me. Lightweight and NBD if you misplace it. Just had to buy one today because I gave my extra to my daughter. I noticed now you can buy a rechargeable battery for them. I'm fine packing extra AAA's though. Maybe they're not bright enough for what some people are doing but they work for me.

[Flippo]

I have a petzl tikka and a nao. For general use (around the camp…) the tikka is ok but having all the weight on the front is less comfortable and stable for active use. The Nao is expensive but I would look for a headlamp with the battery on the back. (Black diamond sprinter 500?)

[Blaster]

For budget but still very good picks I like the sofrin Sp40 or Hs21 for bright ones that are strong enough to ski or bike with. If you want a lighter one the NITECORE nu25 or nu20 are sub 50 grams, have all the features of the classic BD ones or petzl tikka and are cheaper.

[ktoor]

I got a Lynx OGT Aurora based on recommendations from the last headlamp thread. It meets all your requirements, although I think 1200 lumens is just barely bright enough for ski touring at night if that's what you're going for. I used it on an overnight mountain bike race this summer and it worked very well paired with a brightish handlebar light like a Fenix BC26R.

https://www.lynxogt.com/product-page/aurora

They also sell replacement batteries, GoPro attachment adapters, etc.

i also have the lynx ogt (otus) and used it for alot of night touring last season. was awesome. couldnt ask for much else other than it doesnt sit as flush as other petzl headlamps but it doesnt bother me. i bought an extra battery and keep it in the pack as backup.

funny toddball i have the same light setup for biking. i got the gopro mount and its super rad having the light off your handlebars and hang down so you can adjust.


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[Toddball]

i also have the lynx ogt (otus) and used it for alot of night touring last season. was awesome. couldnt ask for much else other than it doesnt sit as flush as other petzl headlamps but it doesnt bother me. i bought an extra battery and keep it in the pack as backup.

funny toddball i have the same light setup for biking. i got the gopro mount and its super rad having the light off your handlebars and hang down so you can adjust.


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I covet your 1800 lumens!

Also bodywhomper here's the headlamp thread I referenced if you're interested:
https://forums.tetongravity.com/home...-ski-headlamps