headlamp?

[Rick James]

For those of you who have experience with modern Headlamps--Do any of you have a problem with the "Hot Core" of modern LED lights  and do any of you use the "Floody" type lights--What type of light have ya'll found works best for you in hunting situations like hanging sticks and stands, getting to stands, cleaning game, etc.?
Thanks, Rick

[Buckeye1977]

I really like the Energizer head lamps that you can get at Walmart for about $20. The ones I've had you can switch between numbers of the white LEDs to adjust brightness and they also have a green or red led for walking to and from stands.

[kevsuperg]

I use a noxx headlamp. Originally designed for coyote hunting. About 65$ but worth every penny.
 Adjustable flood to spot out to about 200 yds. Adjustable for elevation too.
 Uses 3 AA batteries.
 Comes in white,green or red. I prefer the green.
 I haven't used any other lamp for the last 5 yrs or so, you should check them out.

[KSdan]

Black Diamond Storm is impressive. $35 on sale.

[doubleo]

I've used a head lamp made by Rayovac for years now. It cost about 15 bucks. It has different colored lights. I use the green light for hanging my stand.

[Keefer]

I have bought so many and one I really like was a very inexpensive one made by HeQiao LED 5000 lumens and it is rechargeable and can be found on Amazon if you search. Many companys make that same one and yes it's made elsewhere but mine cost me $13.99 shipped with prime!
 I bought 2 and it comes with a charger for a regular outlet ,a cigarette charger and many vehicles now have the option with a receptacle as well.
 Mine even came with a charger that can be charged by a smart phone if need be.
  I have other styles but this one has a light beam that you can see a 1/4 mile or more and I use it every day on my dog as I let her run outside at night.
  It lasts about 4 hours on high beam but has a low beam and a flashing as well.
 Fits on head and a swivel light to point on whatever you working on.
 When I hunt I use a 360 Huntmore chair and it's hands free and It really casts the brightest light beam I ever used.
 Just do a search for the best deal and I am happy I did!
 I couldn't believe how nice it was for what little bit of money I spent on it.
 I have two made by another company at work and take the same style battery.

[Dorado]

I use a Black Diamond Nano. I think they've been discontinued. I picked it up in Cabela's Bargin Cave for $8. Runs off of two AAA batteries. Has a bright and adjustable white light and a red light. I tend to use the red more as it doesn't affect low light vision and most animals can't see it. It's small and fits in my pocket. I've heard lots of good about the Thru-nite headlamps as well.
I prefer headlamps as they allow me to keep my hands free for other things and it always points where I'm looking. When I'm out with it I either wear it around my neck so I don't lose it or keep it in my pack until I need it. I only wear it on my head when in use. Mine's small enough that I don't notice it if I'm wearing it.
Never had a problem with any of mine getting hot. Go with LED and avoid ones with exotic batteries. AA or AAA are cheap and easy to find. I never found a need for the larger ones except for when I was going on a night mountain bike ride. Spot works well for me. One that can adjust to a flood would be large but useful.

[Stumpkiller]

My favorite is an LED Lenser H4.  It takes three AAA batteries that are carried at the back of the strap.  Stays in place on a hat brim.  The front is a simple on/off and three LEDs.  I carry a Fenix E35UE flashlight that has a high or 450 lumens and a "Turbo" of 1000 lumens if I need more light.

Light output is only 50 lumens for the H4, but that is perfect for working (field dressing, tying on a fly, working around the farm, etc.) Eight hours of burn time and waterproof.  The "carry case" converts it into a handheld light.

Price is right, too ($22.50)

   https://www.swissknifeshop.com/led-lenser-h4-led-headlamp  

     

[babs]

Zebra light they offer alot of options from 100 lumens to 1900 lumens. AA bateries, cr123, and 18650 rechargeable batteries. Ive had mine for about 5 years money well spent around 100 dollars.

[YosemiteSam]

Black diamond for me.  I don't know what model -- it cost about $30-40 at REI when I bought it a couple years ago.  Runs on 3 AAA batteries.  It has some cool features but my use is pretty simple.  Adjustable brightness is a must and the high beam must be high enough for me to run in the dark.  I've had mixed experiences with red beams, which this one has but I don't use it much.  Theoretically, animals that can't see color shouldn't be able to see it.  But I've shined a red beam at rats in the chicken house & watched them scatter just as fast as with white light.  So I figure a dim white light is as good as a red light.  And shining it anywhere but down is a no-no for hunting.  

I'm not a big fan of any particular light but I use mine a lot and all year.  I run early mornings so for 4-5 months a year, it gets used a few times a week at a minimum.  Add in some backpacking trips, hunting trips, camping trips with the family & random other uses and I tend to go through them about every 3-5 years.  The only thing I ask of them is a bright high beam, adjustable levels of brightness down to a reading light, and to just work whenever I need it.  Black Diamond, Petzl fit that bill.  Although I still have duct tape on an older Petzl that broke on the hinge.  Still works.  But not as user-friendly as it was 5 years ago.  My son gets that one when we go out together.

[Covey]

Check out Thrunite headlamps in cool white, they’re a heck of a lot better for blood trailing than the super bright blueish lights.

[goobersan]

Halo One80 is by far my favorite for camp/general use headlamp. And they are working on red/green leds for night vision and hunting.

[nineworlds9]

Love both my headlamps from Coast

[YosemiteSam]

Originally posted by Covey:
Check out Thrunite headlamps in cool white, they’re a heck of a lot better for blood trailing than the super bright blueish lights.

I carry a small thrunite almost everywhere, even when I have a headlamp.  It is usually clipped to my pocket.  I'd take a look at more of their stuff.  My little pocket light is a spittin' image of a surefire that is double the price.

[Mike Orton]

The Surefire company of Fountain Valley, CA is the industry leader for flashlights for military and law enforcement.  These applications require dependable lighting.  I note they tend to lean toward the ultra reliable CR123 3 volt Lithium batteries, variable intensity dimmer switches, coupled with LED bulbs, which make for a combination of light adjustable management and long life usage, both in terms of bulb life and battery life.  Additionally the power curve of the Lithium battery differs from the carbon or alkaline battery in that it stays consistent right up to the dead end of the curve, then immediately drops off. Carbon and alkaline batteries tend to have a power curve similar to one half of a strung longbow. The Lithium batteries also have a 10 year shelf life, far superior to the carbon and alkaline versions.

When I'm in the woods hunting I typically start out in the dark and end my day in the dark, thus my head lamp gets used twice per hunt day.  For general walking in the woods very dim light is all that is necessary.  Just a few lumens is all that is needed for locating where to place a foothold. I tend to use a red filter to preserve night vision as well.  The red filter also preserves a hunter's steathiness on approach to the final hunt location, masking the hunter's signature on approach in the woods from game.

This is where the Surefire Minimus Headlamp really shines (pun intended).  The Minimus Headlamp is dimmer switch adjustable in intensity from zero to 300 lumens (far too much light needed for the return to camp walk).  There are also battery compartments that would mount to the rear of the head strap which incorporate (3) of the CR123 batteries which extend the run time to as much as 144 hours.  These same battery compartments are set up such that you could swap out the CR123 batteries for standard AA sized batteries.  Real versatile Professional units.

The Surefire Minumus Headlamp has been a foundational part of my hunt kit for many years.  Has never left me in the dark.  Some will balk at the price of the Surefire.....but in any industry there is the industry leader standard and the imitators that operate in the wake of the research and development investment performed by the leader....