headlamps.............

charlie_the_tuna · #1 02-28-2015, 10:25 PM

wondering what you guys use. just got my first one, free with a coupon at harbor freight. of course it wasn't in the house 2 minutes before my 13 year old confiscated it. so now i'm in the market for a decent one. saw a few at REI a few weeks ago and couldn't believe the range on some of them. I don't think I need a 50 or 60 dollar one but some of the 20 and 30 dollar ones were pretty strong too.

scook · #2 03-01-2015, 01:05 AM

I got one at REI about a year ago that was somewhere in the $30-50 range. I don't remember but I don't think I would have spent more than $50. It has two light level settings (the bright id moer focused in a beam) and I almost always use the brighter one. If you have a 13 year old, your eyes are younger than mine but I think you'd want the bright option. It is a Diamond brand and it's waterproof (I think it was the only waterproof one they had when I bought it) - I really like that feature. The REI guy said that he hadn't been a fan of Diamond brand, but this one looked to be good quality - I use it often and don't baby it and it's not had any problems. I thought they were kind of stupid until a friend gave me on and I tried it out. They're so handy when you need them, I'd recommend getting a good one and hide it from the kid.

smokeonthewater · #3 03-01-2015, 01:05 AM

Look at the ball caps with led's in the bill....

Destroyer · #4 03-01-2015, 06:37 AM

I love them. Usually buy the ones you can get in Costco and other places. They come 3 to a pac, and are perfect for normal usage. I also like the baseball cap I have that, like Smoke just said, have led's in their bills. Biggest problem with them is their lower usable time since they normally have button batteries as their power source. But I have 2 of them and they are by far the most comfortable type. But my favorite ones are the type that have 2 red LEDs and three white LEDs. I use them for night fishing because I can turn on the red lights and not destroy my night vision like a white LED will. Extra important when you're in a boat at night with all the lights off.

charlie_the_tuna · #5 03-01-2015, 11:15 AM

I used to wear a ball cap all the time. not anymore. I don't know why. maybe when I move to florida i'll wear one again. I always thought they looked stupid but it's a great invention and very useful.

RWilson2526 · #6 03-01-2015, 12:53 PM

I've had a couple made by Coleman that have lasted well.

THEFERMANATOR · #7 03-01-2015, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWilson2526

I've had a couple made by Coleman that have lasted well.

Same here. My current one is a coleman from walmart that cost me less than $30. It has 3 brightness levels for the high output LED, a small set of blue LED's, and a set of red LED's. It isn't my favorite one I've had, but it's sealed water tight, and the battery life on it is REALLY good. I use it for 30 minutes every night walking the dogs, and sometimes for alot longer, and I recharge the 3 AAA batteries in it(I use RAYOVAC rechargeables) about every 3 weeks. It has a battery meter built into the bottom of it, so you always know when it is dying BEFORE it dies, and on high it has pretty good distance to it. My favorite headlamp I had was also a COLEMAN, but it has been discontinued. It had low, high, and red, but it just fit my head better. Another thing to consider is will you be using it when you sweat. I sweat EASILY, and profusely, and my current headlights band doesn't stretch out and get loose when it gets sweaty. My old ones did stretch out and always fell down when it got sweaty.

This one was my favorite as far as light output went.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/10196615?w...tRedirect=true

And this one is simliar to what I have now.
http://www.coleman.com/product/multi...s#.VPN0NuGM6So