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Advice on headlamps

I like headlamps that I can somehow prevent from turning on in my pack. Most lamps these days have a push button that always seems to get pressed in the pack. I have one that has the push button but taking out 1 battery is easy, so that is how I solved that issue. Just something to consider.
 
pesqimon said:
I like headlamps that I can somehow prevent from turning on in my pack. Most lamps these days have a push button that always seems to get pressed in the pack. I have one that has the push button but taking out 1 battery is easy, so that is how I solved that issue. Just something to consider.
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Cyclops conductive touch....I'm still in first season of field testing so can't fully endorse but so far so good...
 
pesqimon said:
I like headlamps that I can somehow prevent from turning on in my pack. Most lamps these days have a push button that always seems to get pressed in the pack. I have one that has the push button but taking out 1 battery is easy, so that is how I solved that issue. Just something to consider.
Click to expand...

The Fenix headlamps with removable lithium ion batteries will turn themselves off if you unscrew the battery cap enough to break contact. So, that is how I turn them off. To turn on in your pack, you'd have to screw the cap down and also hit the on button afterwards, which could happen but is really low odds.

I'm sure all twist cap lights go off when you break contact by untwisting (while still leaving enough threads grabbing to keep cap in place), but Fenix has the feature of this also turning the button off. I unscrew with light on so that I'm sure I've backed it out just far enough.
 
JamieB said:
The Fenix HM65r has a lock out feature so it doesn’t turn on by accident in your pack. It’s as simple as pushing and holding both buttons for a couple of seconds to activate/deactivate.
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nice....in 2020 i called fenix and at that time no headlamps had this feature
 
Ive been eyeing the Acebeam h30 it has a 21700 battery... it has a lockout so it wont turn on in your pack,green &red light, rechargeable and works as a battery bank as well
 
I got a Harbor Freight one for $20-25 that has 2 levels of white and a red, tilts up and down. Got my knee pads there too. Love them both.
 
huntin_addict said:
I like this one. Three colors (I like green better than red) and high / low setting. Rechargeable. Can use either the headband or hat clip.

timetogowild.com

HybridLight Hybrid Light NAV Headlamp | Flashlights

The NAV is our versatile Headlamp that comes with both a comfortable Headband, and a Hat Clip that slides snug on your hat. The head of The NAV pivots at 180° allowing you to point the headlamp where you need it. The NAV is equipped with 3 LED’s (White, Red, Green) that shines
timetogowild.com timetogowild.com
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Just as a follow-up, this light also has a small slide switch that you can toggle so that if you put it in your pack, dump pouch, pocket, etc. and accidentally hit the button, it won't turn on.

Also has a red light flashing feature that I use when I walk in the mornings to get oncoming drivers attention.
 
raisins said:
The Fenix headlamps with removable lithium ion batteries will turn themselves off if you unscrew the battery cap enough to break contact. So, that is how I turn them off. To turn on in your pack, you'd have to screw the cap down and also hit the on button afterwards, which could happen but is really low odds.

I'm sure all twist cap lights go off when you break contact by untwisting (while still leaving enough threads grabbing to keep cap in place), but Fenix has the feature of this also turning the button off. I unscrew with light on so that I'm sure I've backed it out just far enough.
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My new MR50 jen2 has the lock out but I turn the cap to turn off any way works great awesome light!!!
 
Jason from TBWPODCAST YouTube has really good reviews on MR50 jen 1
 
I bought a nitecore hc65, and a backup unit, before the 2019 season. And a charging station and 4 3000mah 18650 batteries. (The headlamps came each with a 2400mah battery I believe).

I’ve got four total batteries left, both headlamps are still working just fine.

Can charge the batteries on station back at camp or home, or charge them with mini usb wherever I am. Can also use the batteries in a little usb charging dock to charge phone or gps if In a pinch.

The lamp gets incredibly bright and can be used much like a bigger light for tracking, truck fixes in the dark, etc. way brighter and more functional than the BD. For just getting loaded at truck and to and from hunting area, I use second lowest setting. I get about 20-25 hours per charge.

Total cost - I’m in for about 260 bucks. Call it 5.00 for the electricity to charge them.

Prior, I was using the black diamond lamp you get at academy, and replacing 3 AAA batteries 4-5 times per season with lithium ion.

Lamp is 60.00. Let’s assume 4x4 on battery changes by end of this season. Batteries are about 3.00 a piece right now with tax.

Total cost 205.00



I anticipate I’ll get another 2-3 seasons before I need to get more batteries. And I’ll swap from the main lamp to the backup, and reverse their roles. But assuming I don’t have something strange happen, I should get 10 years out of the whole setup for about 300.00. Less than I was paying for batteries, and a lamp that gets 4x brighter.
 
bigmike23 said:
Zebralight is the king. I love mine. It's goes crazy bright for deer tracking. Very dim for the walk in. Then extremely dim moonlight mode just enough to see my hands as I climb the tree. Battery life has been tremendous and the choice of light color and beam pattern is second to none
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Except the Fenix mentioned previously has a light that has spot, beam, and red all in about the same size package and specs, which you have to carry 3 separate Zebralights to cover. Zebralight was the first 18650 light I bought, a floody one, and it's a dang good light but still. I would rather support ZL because their advertising is way less annoying but Fenix has better options so it is what it is.
 
I go for cheap headlamps, mostly Energizers from the hardware store or whatever. They're cheap enough if I lose or break one I'm only mildly inconvenienced, and that I can have 2 or 3 in various packs and pouches. One in my main pack, one 1 my kill kit, maybe 1 in a pocket. All take AAA batteries, and my GPS takes AAs, so I only have 2 types of batteries to carry with me.
 
Fenix is the way to go. I use the HM70R, great spot & flood settings as well as a red light. Typically use the red or the dim spot for deer hunting, but the brightness on the turbo setting is awesome for tracking in the dark, or I mainly use that setting for waterfowl hunting. Super bright light & great that it is rechargeable.
 
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