Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

A place to chat about gear and the philosphy of ultralight. Ultralight bushwalking or backpacking focuses on carrying the lightest and simplest kit. There is still a good focus on safety and skill.
Forum rules
Ultralight Bushwalking/backpacking is about more than just gear lists. Ultralight walkers carefully consider gear based on the environment they are entering, the weather forecast, their own skill, other people in the group. Gear and systems are tested and tweaked.
If you are new to this area then welcome - Please remember that although the same ultralight philosophy can be used in all environments that the specific gear and skill required will vary greatly. It is very dangerous to assume that you can just copy someone else's gear list, but you are encouraged to ask questions, learn and start reducing the pack weight and enjoying the freedom that comes.

Common words
Base pack backpacking the mass of the backpack and the gear inside - not including consumables such as food, water and fuel
light backpacking base weight less than 9.1kg
ultralight backpacking base weight less than 4.5kg
super-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 2.3kg
extreme-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 1.4kg

Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Neo » Tue 14 Nov, 2017 8:07 pm

The red lamp is my favorite.

A mate has one that also has a green lamp. Maybe a Black Diamond. The green colour is even better around camp and also doesn't upset a plant's daylight rhythm.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Tue 20 Feb, 2018 6:03 am

After maybe 15 years my Petzl Tikka is on the way out. The catch is broken, probably due to the plastic becoming brittle. This is my third head torch in well over 30 years, so it's a pretty good life. I've read the above posts and am unsure about what to buy. In order, the specs are:
* Reliability.
* Ease of use. Some switches and battery replacements are quite fiddly.
* Decent life for the battery. LEDs will ensure this.
* Light weight
* Good price.
* Other features that may be considered desirable. All my torches have a switch on-off, and that is adequate.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Zapruda » Tue 20 Feb, 2018 6:15 am

Lophophaps wrote:After maybe 15 years my Petzl Tikka is on the way out. The catch is broken, probably due to the plastic becoming brittle. This is my third head torch in well over 30 years, so it's a pretty good life. I've read the above posts and am unsure about what to buy. In order, the specs are:
* Reliability.
* Ease of use. Some switches and battery replacements are quite fiddly.
* Decent life for the battery. LEDs will ensure this.
* Light weight
* Good price.
* Other features that may be considered desirable. All my torches have a switch on-off, and that is adequate.


Will you be walking at night?
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Tue 20 Feb, 2018 7:18 am

The only walking at night will be at camp.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Zapruda » Tue 20 Feb, 2018 7:32 am

Lophophaps wrote:The only walking at night will be at camp.



I have been using this for the past 5 years - https://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/black-diamond-storm-headlamp-black-350-lumens/BD620633BLAKALL1?istCompanyId=d8409198-7d9a-4b69-8cca-04b207c3f146&istItemId=xqqprwxiap&istBid=tzxt&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI967qmPWy2QIVQ4mPCh1s5QCXEAQYAyABEgL9iPD_BwE

I use it nearly everyday trail running, rain, hail or shine, I use it at camp in the snow and even once at night while skiing out to Valentines hut. It has been down a few caves in Bungonia as well. it is absolutely fantastic and extremely reliable. These newer models are even brighter. Its got everything you need.

Alternatively when I know I wont be needing anything more than a little bit of light around camp I use the Petzl e-lite https://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/petzl-e-lite-headlamp-50-lumens/E02P4 I think this little guy is great. No complaints with it.

Cheers
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lamont » Tue 20 Feb, 2018 4:40 pm

Hi, I have this
https://www.catch.com.au/product/niteco ... gJdwfD_BwE
as well as the Black Diamond mentioned above, both are excellent the NU 20 is rechargeable if that interests you. It weighs about 45grams.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Gadgetgeek » Tue 20 Feb, 2018 7:29 pm

If all you need is a little light, the BD Gizmo is pretty simple. Depending on conditions, a BD spot is my normal light, the new one is pretty good, and I'd rather duration over lumens. I decided that if I need a bonkers big light, its better as a handheld, so the first bug that flies past does't blind me! Of course the light I get from my fenix tk41C is way more than what you'd want on your head!
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Tue 20 Feb, 2018 7:35 pm

Thanks. I'll look in some shops with the above in mind.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Wed 21 Feb, 2018 7:45 am

This is the short list
Black Diamond Storm, $88, too expensive.
Petzl E+lite, no angle adjustment $49.50
Black Diamond Gizmo, too heavy, 84 grams, $35
Nitecore NU20 rechargeable, 47 grams, has angle adjustment, $40.00
https://www.zapals.com/nitecore-nu20-re ... gLaMvD_BwE

The Nitecore looks good. It's heavier than some due to the angle adjustment. The USB charging is of no use on an extended trip, when spare batteries are taken. The only negative may be that the battery may be sealed and cannot be replaced easily or at all. If so this is a major negative. Can anyone clarify this point?
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby metastable » Wed 21 Feb, 2018 8:04 am

That Nitecore headlamp can be obtained cheaper here, if interested. I've always had good results from this particular shop (regards actually receiving product, disputes etc). The one listed above at Catch seems to be the $38 one below.

https://www.banggood.com/search/nu20.html
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Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby ChrisJHC » Wed 21 Feb, 2018 8:27 am

Massdrop often has headlamps that MAY be cheaper and you’re happy to wait.

At the moment they have a Black Diamond Iota for $52 USD delivered to Aus.


Update - you can get them for $70 AUD from local suppliers so about the same.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Wed 21 Feb, 2018 9:00 am

My Petzl is working, just. The catch fails and batteries spill out, at times, so reliability is unacceptable. I need a new torch with a removeable battery soonish. The Nitecore is okay except for the battery. Does anyone know if the Nitecore battery is removeable?
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lamont » Wed 21 Feb, 2018 3:16 pm

I referred (and own) the NU 20. -Battery is not removable. Two hours for maximum recharge from fully depleted and will work while being recharged. Cheers
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Wed 21 Feb, 2018 3:35 pm

Lamont, thanks. If I go bush for a week or three then the NU 20 is quite unsuitable as recharging is impossible. In my view this is a fundamental design flaw. I'll keep looking.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Sat 24 Mar, 2018 1:02 pm

I bought a Petzl Tikkina. While ultra-light purists will no doubt be critical of the weight - 85 grams - the torch satisfies my needs:
* Able to remove the batteries;
* Good battery life;
* Simple operation; and
* Reliable.
The price was good, $36. The switch is interesting. Push slowly and it goes on-off at the lowest setting, which should suffice for most camp situations. Push the button rapidly and the light cycles off-low-medium-high-off. The switch and battery access are much improved on the Petzl I bought around year 2000. I would have liked to have seen a brightercolour for the elastic and plastic housing so the torch can be more easily seen at night.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby north-north-west » Sat 24 Mar, 2018 2:47 pm

Lophophaps wrote:I would have liked to have seen a brightercolour for the elastic and plastic housing so the torch can be more easily seen at night.


Leave it on.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Lophophaps » Sat 24 Mar, 2018 3:08 pm

Mea culpa, I was attempting to convey finding the torch in a tent or the like, while it is off. The torch being off that is, not the tent, although the tent can be off as well.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby north-north-west » Sun 25 Mar, 2018 10:39 am

I repeat, leave it on. Sleep on your back and you won't even notice it's there unless the band is too tight.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Mark F » Mon 26 Mar, 2018 9:39 am

Some of the new Petzls have a luminous ring around the led which makes finding them during the night rather simple. They (not the eLite) can also use the USB rechargeable Li Core batteries which work well within my bushwalking recharging system.

The Petzl eLites DO have angle adjustment. The model that doesn't is the Zipka
"Perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove".
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Moondog55 » Mon 26 Mar, 2018 12:17 pm

I need a small back-up light for this winter.
Is there a small headlamp that uses 2 * AA batteries?
I don't like taking too many battery types with me and the Icon uses AA batteries
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby LachlanB » Mon 26 Mar, 2018 12:25 pm

I've got an Icon, and I use it for caving. It's fine there, because it's mounted on a helmet.
But having the heavy battery housing on the back of your head makes it seriously annoying for bushwalking.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Moondog55 » Mon 26 Mar, 2018 1:05 pm

LachlanB wrote:I've got an Icon, and I use it for caving. It's fine there, because it's mounted on a helmet.
But having the heavy battery housing on the back of your head makes it seriously annoying for bushwalking.


Don't think walking; think skiing back to camp after dark, also after using an old Petzl Mega that used the old flat battery the Icon is nothing, although these BD LED lights do seem to have a definite half life and perhaps it is time to buy a replacement, I swear the beam is now only half what it was only 4 years ago and I want and need about 300 metres in bad conditions. I just accept that ski touring needs heavier more robust gear
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby LachlanB » Mon 26 Mar, 2018 1:13 pm

Ah, I didn't think about skiing. It's interesting to hear that you've had the beam get dimmer over time. I wonder if this is widespread in BD lights?

I haven't tried them and you rarely see them in shops, but would any of the Fenix lights meet your needs?
Maybe this one- https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/h ... -headlamp/
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Moondog55 » Mon 26 Mar, 2018 1:55 pm

Looks good Have to find local tho as no O/S shipping

OK Local eBay for the same cost, watching and I'll buy after Easter.
Thanx very much for the link
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Warin » Tue 27 Mar, 2018 7:32 am

Moondog55 wrote:these BD LED lights do seem to have a definite half life and perhaps it is time to buy a replacement, I swear the beam is now only half what it was only 4 years ago and I want and need about 300 metres in bad conditions.


All LEDs reduce their output over time ... though half would be more than the tests/specifications suggest. And 4 years would be short of the times too.
Possibly that the lens is deteriorating? Or the drive electronics... possibly some dirt in there?

My old BD has a flashing LED to indicate the battery condition (green- ok, orange- going down, red- change battery) that was very usefull for finding it in the tent at night. The new one only flashes when you turn it on .. no as usefull but probably increases battery life a little.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Singe » Thu 10 May, 2018 6:23 pm

This just hit my inbox - for anyone who's not familiar, Knog is a Melbourne based bike gear company and were the first to design the now-ubiquitous silicone bike lights.

Introducing The Bandicoot - a USB rechargeable silicone headlamp without the bulk, endless batteries and the “boring”. Weighing in at just 49g the super-lightweight Bandicoot is the perfect multi-use headlamp for running, camping, hiking, climbing, fishing, reading, fixng... and pretty much anything else.


The Bandicoot - Kickstarter

At 30 bucks and 50g I'm very tempted to grab one.

Edit - 38 bucks with freight and shipping after November... Suddenly less appealing. Oh well.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby Gadgetgeek » Fri 11 May, 2018 8:13 am

@moondog55; I'll second Fenix as a place to look for AA lights. At the bottom of any of the product listing pages, there is a little search bar where you can select lights by battery type. it looks like they have a few headlamps that run AAs now.
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Re: Headlamp [Headlight] - Small and Light. Suggestions?

Postby LachlanB » Mon 14 May, 2018 9:38 pm

Gadgetgeek wrote:@moondog55; I'll second Fenix as a place to look for AA lights.


Any idea of a reputable store (online or otherwise) that sells them in Australia? I can't find anywhere that does anymore...
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