Headlamp Specs

Size, weight, battery type, brightness, and runtimes are the obvious ones.
Emitter type, user interface(how you control/adjust it), color temperature, and beam profile when you start getting picky.
Independent tests showing actual runtimes, brightness levels, and beamshots are helpful. "Selfbuilt", who posts on Candlepowerforums is about the only one I know who does detailed and unbiased reviews, but I don't keep up any more, and there may be others.

He has a list of lights he's reviewed here, and some crossover to headlamps with similar specs from the same manufacturer. Unfortunately, he mostly reviews handheld lights.
http://www.flashlightreviews.ca/reviews.htm

My blanket recommendation for backpacking is the Zebralight H52Fw for general use.
I've spent several thousand dollars on flashlights over the years(was a hobby for over a decade), and it's my favorite…

Here's his review for the SC52(which coincides with the H52 headlamp) as an example.
It may be more than you wanted to know, though!

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?354117

The Fw stands for F(loody) and w(arm), meaning that it differs from the standard model in that it has a "warm"(actually it's a neutral) emitter that gives more accurate color rendition, and has a diffused "F(loody)" beam that is wider and more even than one with a center spot that's sharply delineated from it's spill. Much better for close use around camp, in a tent, walking, etc.

Sorry if I lapsed into flashlight nerd mode and that sounds like a bunch of gibberish…

I find that for running you want a good 60-100 lumens depending on the density of the area you are running in.

For hiking at night, 30-50 works good enough.

For camping you want something at least in the 30+ range and the ability to go 15 or under so it's not too bright when doing thing close up.

So if this is only for camping, I would try to find a single battery headlamp that last as long as possible in the 30 range that also has the ability to go under 15 lumens.

Plus 1 on the Zebralight H52Fw runs 11, 23, and 47 lumens for a good time.

It wouldn't work for running as I would always want to be on the 110 lumen instead of 47 so it would only last for 3 hours.
For running, I would go with a Fenix HL50 for 60 lumens and 10:45 runtime.

Seems for every other application, the Zebralight has a much better spectrum of brightness levels.

Be careful of paying too much attention to these specs … Just like buying a pack or gear here on what is "lightest" buying a headlamp based on specs that flashaholics obsess over may not be the best for your uses

The question that needs to be answered before anyone gives you a recommendation is what will you be using it for

There are other things not reflected in the "specs" such as reliabilty, real warranty service (not the propaganda that manufacturers claim), that it works properly out of the box, simplicity of use

On the light forums, those folks rave over things that may not make sense or even matter … And ignore things that a normal consummer may consider important

Remember that every day plenty of folks do things crazier than you or I with headlamps that they dont talk about or "recommend" on those light forums

As a side note im shipping back my nitecore hc90 and trying to deal with fenix distributer over defective headlamps straight out of the box

Both brands come "recommended" from thise forums, and in the case of the nitecore … There multiple defective units fresh out of the box

The "reviews" on those forums dont catch such issues … Do manufacturers send em cherry picked ones to test or do they buy their own?

;)

I found the Outdoor Gear Lab article:

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Headlamp-Reviews

to be very informative and clarifying (pleased I did not say enlightening?). It is especially useful in discussing battery burn times.

Thank everyone. I will check out the brands mentioned above.

I also added some info in the OP.

For night hiking/scrambling purposes i would suggest a 120-200+ lumen headlamp … In the past many of us have gotten by with less, but with the latest generation of LED lights there no reason to get by with any less for such applications

The first thing to be aware of is that specs often lie … Here is an article on it

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/a/11165/Why-Headlamp-Claims-are-Deceptive

Secondly, not all power sources are the same … As you are having an issue with carrying too many bats, you would be looking for a weight efficient power source

However since you dont want to spend $$$$ on disposable bats you would be looking at rechargeables

You will note that AAA and even the AA which is so popular here is the least weight efficient alternative for the watts hours (voltage x amperage)

Heres a table i whipped on quickly on my iphone this morning

As you can see lithium ion batteries are the most weight efficient …

The other advantage with certain headlamps (tikka RXP) is that you can use a lithium ion battery pack to recharge through USB … Some of these power packs that take 18650 batteries are twice as weight efficient as AA eneloop batteries

You can see a review for the tikka rxp, which i own and use for night climbing here

http://sectionhiker.com/petzl-tikka-rxp-headlamp-reactive-programmable-and-rechargeable/

My third point is that buying such a light from a retailet with free return shipping and a stellar no questions asked warranty is something not usually mentioned by flashaholics

If you have issues with the lamp right out of the box, and ive had two so far this past week … The cost of shipping the light back to china for repairs can be 1/3 or more th cost of some of these chinese brand lights … Not to mention the wait

Buy it from a retailer with clear policies and who offer a direct swap with no shipping costs

ALL electronics can fail, while plenty of folks hete may have no issues with a particular brand, there are quite a few folks that do have issues with that same brand

A simple search through the light forums will show you this

;)

"watts hours (voltage x amperage)"

Actually, watt-hours are voltage x amperage x hours of time.

–B.G.–