I need a new headlamp..suggestions?

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

My beloved Petzel headlamp has given up the ghost after 9 faithful years.  I know there's gotta be some good ones out on the market nowadays.

My only requirements are the beam brightness needs to be adjustable and I prefer AA batteries instead of the CR123s.

Thanks!

[meathead]

I think if you had one that lasted 9 years I would try to find another one like it. For something new fenix and zebra light make a couple good ones in the 200-400 lumen range. My favorite one is a terra lux but it runs on 123's.

[swampcrawler]

I will be following this thread as well..

I don't know any good ones to recommend, but I would avoid the Black Diamond lights. I got pulled in by the cool packaging, neat design and bunch of different modes, but it's not at all intuitive to cycle through the functions and it is very easily turned on in your pack if you forget to use the lock feature. (Happened twice this year. Thankfully I keep an LED mag light as a backup).

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

Originally posted by swampcrawler:
 and it is very easily turned on in your pack if you forget to use the lock feature.

Oh man I hate that. I've had that happen with other brands. Gets me mad enough to kick puppies. That's why I gave up those Surefire G3 lights. I'd have to buy batteries in bulk because it would always turn itself on in my pack.

[JakeD]

I use princeton tec and like them.  I've had one for over 3 years now and it is pretty much like brand new after all that it has been through.  I just recently bought a 2nd one so that my wife has one too.  They are reasonably priced as well.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Originally posted by JakeD:
I use princeton tec and like them.  I've had one for over 3 years now and it is pretty much like brand new after all that it has been through.  I just recently bought a 2nd one so that my wife has one too.  They are reasonably priced as well.

X2 on the lights capability and love the adjustability.

My only hiccup is the bracket broke relatively easy but mine is pushing 8 years old so maybe the durability is better now

[Gundog68]

I switched to zebralights. There are great. Use the warmwhite and you can follow bloodtrails really good. I have also a Petzl (EDC Jacket), a LED-Lenser for the car as backup (my old hunting lamp). As i am often hunting for wild boars in germany (rifle) this is always in the dark (moonlight)time of the day :-). So a good lamp is very useable.

[Hawkeye]

I have really gotten a LOT of good out of my Zebralight, as well.  Well designed, excellent quality, and all around great light.

[ozy clint]

Fenix HL50. does everything you asked for and takes both CR123 and AA. been a bombproof light for me.

[MCS]

Black Diamond. Great lights.

[Kevin Dill]

My top performing light is a Zebralight. I've not found anything brighter or with a more useful beam pattern. It's not the most intuitive to understand and control, but man is it a super light. It should be too, considering the $90ish price.

For mid-price and general outdoor use I really like the Princeton Tec lights. I have a Remix and EOS II. I give the operational edge to the EOS II, as it is super easy to use and does a great job.

The Remix might have the edge in light output and LED choice, and it's a smaller package than the EOS. It's a super light and I use mine frequently.

I've owned 4 Petzl lights and finally admitted they just don't please me. Variety of things, but I moved on from them. I like the fact that Princeton Tec, Zebralight and Fenix are all companies focused (sorry) on headlamps, flashlights and portable lights in general. BD and Petzl offer lights as part of their overall array of products.

[Patknight]

FYI ...On the zebra website..There are quite a few headlamps on sale for 20 bucks off!

[YosemiteSam]

Black diamond spot.  Never have any issues with it turning on in my packs.  Admittedly, though, I rarely have my light buried in my pack.  It's usually somewhere I can find it with my eyes closed.  I've hiked for hours in the dark this year and I'm still working on the same set of AAA batteries.  It's not very easy to cycle through the light settings but it's very functional, durable, bright as you'll ever need for a packable headlamp and not too expensive ($40 +/-).

I had a Petzl before.  I forget the model but it was about the same price point.  It lasted about 3-4 years before the plastic broke where the head strap attaches.  I duct taped it a couple years ago & it still works well enough.  My son or wife gets this one -- mostly just because they never actually use it.

I have another one that is rechargeable and bright as ever.  It is bulky with the battery pack in the back of the head.  I got it for running and cycling in the dark -- helps to see and be seen.  Batteries last for about 2-3 years before needing to be replaced.  I've used it for up to 4 hours and still haven't run down the battery.  I took it out for an insane hunting day trip a few years ago -- 6 mile hike to get beyond the National Park boundary to start hunting.  The bright beam lit up the trail very nicely.  Deer were everywhere on the trail inside the park.  Seeing all those eyes looking at me was pretty spooky, though.  Deer eyes are so far apart that, when illuminated, look like they belong to much bigger animals.  I wouldn't use that light for most hunting or backpacking trips.  But it was fun to have that day.

[gvdocholiday]

I went through black diamonds every other year...Just no life in them.  

Just got a Zebra light....I think this will be passed down to my grand kids in 30years.

[bswear]

I am interested to know why you prefer AA batteries.  I really like cr123, especially for a headlamp.

[Crittergetter]

How is battery life in the zebra light?  I like how bright my cheap light is  but it sure sucks the life outta batteries!

[bswear]

My zebra headlamp lasts forever but it is cr123.

[Walt Francis]

After two years,I am really impressed with my Fenix, however it uses the CR 123's.  It has five setting, good battery life, and at 900+ lumens it is good for spoting cat tracks from a distance.  Mine is the rechargeable model, so after buying an extra/backup battery, I haven't needed to purchase any additional batteries. Keeping it mostly on the mid level (3), it used approximately 50% of the first battery, during my 12 day Alaskan moose hunt last fall.

[fisherick]

I liked the performance of my Princeton Remix Pro green headlamp for hunting that I purchased another Remix Pro white for work and a Remix red headlamp for hunting backup. The Remix Pro's use a single CR123 battery and the Remix uses 3-AA batteries. The CR123 run better in frigid weather.

[Yellow Dog]

Sorry I'm probably no help but another Petzel.