What would be your perfect head lamp?

I'm a camping enthusiast and graduate from the University of Minnesota in Electrical Engineering and I've got a lot of expertise working with LED lights and making them work, which ones are the best, etc.

I know there are a lot of little specialty camping supply vendors out there who make smaller quantities of products out there for people who really care -- for example feathered friends sleeping bags, which are priced at a premium but are supposed to be really good quality.

So - my question is: if I were to try to make a really well-made [color:"blue"]LED head-lamp[/color], what would it look like? What features would it have? Would it be solar powered? Would it be super bright like a car headlight or pretty dim so as not to blind your camping partners? Would it turn on automatically when it gets dark? Sky is the limit.

When I get a good idea of what kind of features people like, I will put it together and post pictures.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

What I use? is:

http://www.rei.com/product/749039


I normally use just a Photon micro-light that I wear on a lanyard around my neck. I only use the headlamp for cooking and hiking in the dark. So far this year I have cooked twice in the dark and have not hiked any.

I am considering leaving my Petzl E+Lite at home.

I use the Photon Freedom with the hat clip. I would be interested if you could make one lighter weight, brighter, and longer battery life. One other thing that I would really like is one that uses 2 differant colors. Right now I carry a white for cooking and hiking in the dark and a orange one for reading because it lasts longer. It would be nice to be able to choose which type of light you want in a single unit.

My perfect headlamp is the Petzl Zipka. It attaches to anything - had it on the top of my trekking pole the other day. I put it on the ridgeline of my hammock to read. It's not the brightest but it's adequate to the tasks I have for it and takes three triple A batteries rather than something proprietary. As a backup I take a Photon microlight.

My perfect headlamp would be a Petzl Tikka XP with slightly bigger buttons.

My ideal headlamp would have 2 or 3 levels of brightness, regulated so that it would not grow dimmer as the batteries aged. It would be powered by 3 AAA batteries, as are most of the LED standard headlamps I've seen. It would also have a battery indicator to show me how much life is left in the batteries. And of course ideally it would be no heavier than the current Princeton Tech Aurora I'm using.

Solar powered would be very nice but I haven't seen anything like that around yet that is all that bright. Perhaps solar with battery backup?

Features I look for in a headlamp in no particular order of importance:

1) Power source consisting of a single commonly used rechargeable cell. I prefer NiMh AA's.

2) Adjustable output. 3 steps minimum. 100+ lumen high level. Infinitely adjustable would be ideal. The level I need to navigate in the woods is way more than I need for reading in the tent.

3) Light. <2 ounces without cell.

4) Voltage regulation. When the cell is at the end of its charge I don't want the light level to sag. But I also want a warning when the cell is low. Blinking once every 30 seconds maybe. Some regulated lights cut out with no warning once the low voltage threshold is reached.

5) Nice clean output with no rings or artifacts.

6) One handed operation.

7) Cree or Rebel LED. No 5mm LED's

8) Glove friendly switch.

9) Waterproof.

10) Cell can easily be replaced in the dark by feel only.

11) Firm switch that won't be activated inside pack.

12) Simple design with few moving parts. Especially not a pivot hinge.

There is no perfect headlamp IMO because every design is a compromise on features. The light that currently is the best compromise for my particular needs is the Zebralight H50.

A solar powered light sounds good, but given the state of today's solar cells it won't be very small or it will take a long, long time to recharge. And it's only going to work on sunny days, outside of forest canopy and deep canyons. That really limits its use.

-Groan----------every year you guys ask us this when you need to write a paper.

BF <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

This is my ideal light: https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_50&products_id=403
It runs on one lithium or one NiMh AA cell.
However, to make it perfect it needs a way to:
1. make into a headlamp
2. put it on my bike handlebars (NOT on my head). I love the strobe feature for the bike. This allows two markets to be tapped.

It requires only 1AA.
If it requires 3 AAA’s I immediately look elsewhere since 1AA is lighter and much cheaper to run than 3AAA lights. And it’s easier to charge one battery vs 3 AND it’s easier to buy in 1’s than in 3’s

Other things I look for:
1. It must turn on at 0F.
2. Waterproof
3. Easy battery change (that knocks out most headlamps)
4. Long runtimes on one AA.
5. Output stays flat as battery dies.

-Barry

Tikka XP powered by two AAs, regulated and truly waterproof.

I'm not sure what would be considered perfect as new stuff is constantly being revised. I use a Petzel. It replace a flashlight type headlamp.

Perfect? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Never needs new batteries. Infinitely adjustable brightness. Unbreakable. Hinge-mounted for easy positioning and having a clip as well as a headband. Comfortable. Beautiful to look at. Weighs 12 grams. Or less!

Perfect! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

12 grams? no way - too heavy to be perfect!

I use a Petzl E-light most of the time now In winter, or hunting, when I have need for more light I use a petzl Tikka(plus? some number of go-fast letters and digits?). I like my headlamp to be light, small, throw lots of light, be able to do white or red, and last a long time.

I do sometimes hike at night. I can manage fine doing that with either the tikka or e-light on trails. If I knew I was gonna bush-bash I'd for sure take the tikka.. but most of my headlamp use is in my shelter reading or fiddling. for the most part, if it's dark, I sleep <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OK, you asked for it!

Regulated so it can use lithium batteries, so I don't have to carry extras along and so it doesn't dim out until the batteries are almost gone.

Three light levels, bright (night hiking), medium (in camp, cooking or washing dishes), low (reading in tent). The strobe for emergency signaling is nice, too.

Maybe a red filter that can be turned on and off so that, if I want, I can use the light without destroying night vision.

Nicely padded, comfortable head strap.

Easy on and off switch, but depressed so it won't get bumped on in my pack.

And, of course, no more than 0.5 ounce total weight including batteries.

I can dream, can't I?

What she said - persactly!

Oregon Mouse, you hit all the dream requirements. I see Princeton Tec is coming out with a "militarized" version of their excellent Quad headlamp (it has a red and a green filter) but it's not quite light enough for you or me. Since I have a regular Quad I know what it weighs... especially after an hour or two of night XC skiing.

Eric

Except for weight (just under 4 ounces), what if I told you that such a head lamp existed (including the red light for night hiking) and was just $30. And what if I also said that it reused heat to keep batteries warm and could be converted to a lantern.

Have a look here:

http://www.feedthehabit.com/gear-reviews/uk-vizion-3aaa-eled-headlamp-review/

I just bought another Headlamp after seeing the performance of my buddy's Yukon HL LED model cut through a foggy night. I bought it for that and the fact that it's switch is utterly simple. Once for low beam, 2nd time off, 3rd for high beam and the 4th for off.

However, the battery compartment was a *&^%*&& ing hell to open up. I almost had to resort to a screw driver. Finally using a bandana to protect my fingers and yet still after several times opening and shutting the cover it is still really hard to open. Now do all that when it's freezing outside with gloves on, it'd be impossible. And the final straw is this headlamp is too heavy for my needs so am returning it to www.moontrail.com for an exchange for some other gear.

Earlier this year I bought an Icon LED headlamp (Black Diamond) because it's high beam is way powerful compared to my Zenix IQ (B.D.) model which the latter I use all the time, but I loathe the Icon's memory chip switch and it's way too numerous different power settings. I just want HIGH beam and LOW beam one each and that's it. The Icon has at least three of these for each, plus it has a memory chip which after you turn it off, it'll remember where the last power setting was from previous, very frustrating and a waste of having to toggle through all the settings fo find High power.

So to answer your question I'd to find a -simple- LED Headlamp that has the features of Yukon HL simple switch for power settings, is waterproof or at least can be used in pouring heavy rain with no worries, has both a powerful far reaching spot light and an LED or two for closeup (cooking and reading), comes with an over the head strap (don't have to purchase separately like a Petzel model), and a Headlamp which weighs under 6-ounces with either AAA's or AA's I don't care.

Sadly I don't think there is such a Headlamp to these specifications..................yet.

Everyone else has his most of my requests, but I'd like to add a few:

-Voice Recognition: when I yell "where's my f*ing flashlight" as a mouse invades my tent at 3:00am, I want the flashlight to reply by turning on
-If the above is not practical, maybe it could glow in the dark or have a very low wattage "night light" mode
-ability to recharge via USB when equipped with rechargeable batteries
-optional solar recharger
-multiple battery configurations (1 AAA internal, and an optional external cartridge for 2-4 AA or something)

the things others have mentioned: <1oz, red mode, variable brightness are all important too.

My Ideal light would be a petzl e+lite with more durable switch, two flat lithium batteries 2057 or such, and a single 1 watt CREE or Luxeon LED with multiple output settings (Low Medium High, nothing stupid like flashing)

phat, you've mentioned your Petzl eLite a couple of times before on other threads. You got me interested enough to check it out. Of all the ones on the market, that one looks like the best choice for me. Mostly I just look for missing socks or read with my light anyway. Never seem to find the socks though . . .

Trailrunner, there's also the Zebralight H30. Same as the H50 except:
- less floody beam
- push button instead of twist (so, one handed function) (and comes with a glow-in-the-dark replacement button)
- recessed lense (so no light in your eyes)
- tighter headband bracket
- lanyard ring
The only problem is that it takes CR123 batteries instead of AA. To me, that is the only thing that makes this not the perfect light.

Another great thing about the Zebralights is the power levels of the low, med and high settings.
- Low is good for tasks at 5% of high power
- Med is good for in camp stuff at 25% of high
Having a medium setting at a higher level of power is wasteful.

They are regulated, bright, light, waterproof, multi-mode. And they have an advantage over traditional handheld lights that need side-mounted headbands in that the light is oriented more to the center of your vision and your head isn't in the way of part of the beam.

That UK Vizion is a really cool item that I HAVE to buy.
(I can almost taste the "New Item Worship")

Eric

Of course, I can STOP buying backpacking items any time I want. Done it hundreds of times.

Thought you might think that is cool. I too am going to pick it up. Apparently my other two headlamps are lonely <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I believe the Princeton Tec Tactical EOS is the headlamp described by Oregon Mouse, except for the weight. It is voltage regulated, has a large, recessed switch, has a red filter that can be replaced with a blue or green if needed, is bright enough that the red filter can be used even when hiking, the modes start out on low and go increasingly brighter (3 modes and 1 flash mode) to help save batteries, and the new ones currently being made have the Rebel 80 Lumen LED (almost as bright as the Apex). I think it is the best all-around headlamp Princeton Tec makes. I even like the stealth look, especially the tan version. A no frill, made to be used headlamp.

Battery output has always been the question with the EOS headlamps, but an article done by backpackinglight.com showed that it is the longest burning headlamp on the market (216 hours) for 1+ lumen output based on its voltage regulation. This is what they consider useable light. The fact that the Tactical EOS starts out on low will insure that the batteries, especially if using lithiums, will last a long time.

LMAO - however the funny part is that the technology for the "clapper" is really simple old and stupid - and probably available on one (tiny) chip. It would be interesting to see if you
could add a clapper to a headlamp for pretty much no weight gain. It would be kind of useful.

My biggest fear was moving away from AAA's to CR2032 lithiums - they don't last *as* long but my tikka lasts for bloody ever on 3 AAA's, and I can find CR2032's cheap like dirt and a few spares plus the ones in the light weigh less than 3 AAA's - were I resupping on a long thu hike I'd think twice because I can buy a AAA batt a gas station, unlike a CR2032 - but realisticly for most of the 3 season hiking I do the E-light is fine.

(BTW, I find batteries at princess auto, or online at computer parts places in stacks - CR2032 is a standard motherboard battery for PC's <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> - but even MEC sells 'em cheap )

Anything that is smaller, brighter, lasts longer, and cheaper than this. . It has to have all four of those characteristics. If it is bigger, but brighter, I won't take it. If it is brighter but more expensive, forget it. All right, I will give you some room. If it is 10X smaller, 10X brighter, lasts 10X longer and is twice as much, then I would buy it. But, I am not spending more than $20 on a headlight when this things works great for me.

Right on. I received my Petzel tikka as a gift and it cost at least 3xs what the wally world version costs. But for a backup bike light it looks great. It will be hard to design something better that can be sold at that price point. It's probably made in China but probably so it the Petzel.

After getting a Septor LED headlamp, I love it. Best commercial light I own. 6 LEDs with 3 levels of brightness, runs on 3 AAA batteries. I do not buy any LED lights that run on button batteries as the button batteries cost $5 each around here (except for my Microlight), I can get 2 AAA's from the dollar store.

That said, my idea light would:
- Be cheap on the pocket book
- Be reliable.
- Sip power
- Use a long lasting battery like a 9v.
- Have at least 2 brightness levels.
- Switch between 2 white LEDs and one red led (which sips REALLY low power for those emergencies)
- It should use batteries my other gadgets use, like my GPS (which uses 2 AA)

And so, as a person who also makes simple LED lights, this is my current favorite light I have made. I call it the Altoid Light.
2 ultra-bright white LEDs.
Uses a 9v (cost: $1) which lasts a longgggg time.
Very simple circuit, no voltage booster needed.
Plans and pics here: http://www.geocities.com/csroberts/light.htm

I use this light every night for locking up the house. That means I use it about 5 minutes per day. I also use it when repairing things in dark places. My current NiCd rechargable 9v batt lasted about 3 months on a charge.

“what if I told you that such a head lamp existed”

I don’t see the Vizion as a good match. It seems OM wanted:

“Regulated so it can use lithium batteries, so I don't have to carry extras along and so it doesn't dim out until the batteries are almost gone.”

Vizion is not fully regulated so it will probably dim as the batteries dim (very typical of 3 AAA lights).

“Three light levels, bright (night hiking), medium (in camp, cooking or washing dishes), low (reading in tent). The strobe for emergency signaling is nice, too.”

Vizion appears to have ‘high’ and ‘low’ mode only. The absent strobe feature will capture a larger audience (like me when biking).

The Vizion boasts “Design transfers heat back into batteries”. Well most designs do this anyway. That’s why headlamps and flashlights feel warm (at least the high power ones). That will keep batteries warm anyhow.

Battery life is advertised at ‘high’ for ’76 hours’. You’ll be lucky to get 10 hours on high and 20 hours on low. Too bad UK does false advertising like this. They are a good company. But advertisers usually spec in the ‘moonlight’ mode.

The Princeton Tech Aurora is what I currently use, and is pretty close to perfect for me.

Improvements on it would be,
- make it a little brighter
- rechargable, with a kinetic motion recharger so it would recharge during the day while hiking
- a little lighter-weight

Other than that, I really like its design.

The motion recharger would probably make it heavier.

Very neat simple design. How long will it run continously on the 9v?

I'm sure... I think they use a metal weight travelling between magnets to work, both of which are heavy.

Still, in a perfect world, made out of lightweight Unobtanium, it would be great.

To reiterate what some others have said on this thread -

The "perfect" LED headlamp would be one that:

1. can handle getting wet
2. is easy to change batteries
3. has two brightness settings (not overly complicated)
4. uses AAA batteries (same as other gear requiring batteries)
5. can be tilted to point at what I want to see (not just flat against my head)

I currently use a Petzl Tika (or tikka??) and really like it. That said, I only use 2 of the 4 settings on it, and the design is such that it is a little bit difficult to change batteries. I also wonder what would happen if it really got wet. Luckily I haven't found out yet!

Yeh, I dont' mind carrying both AAA and button batteries. The buttons store neatly in my first aid kit. Also, I really like how small electronics using buttons can be.

Santa Clause, please bring me a Petzl elite!

Now, I just have to keep checking out those ebook readers . . .