Zebralight w/ redlight

Might want to check out the XTar AA H1. I am in the hunt for a new single AA headlamp and it was the only one I found with the additional red LED. It's sold through Amazon and is even a fair bit cheaper than a ZebraLight.
I don't own one so I can't comment on it's quality.

That looks pretty good, thank you! Unfortunate though that the lumen output is so much smaller than the one of comparable zebralights. Guess you can't have everything…

Theo, someone commented somewhere that the lack of a red light on a zebralight is made up for by the very low setting, since it's low enough to preserve night vision.

Personally, I like the Tikka Whatever I have because it has the CORE battery. I can use Petzl's little computer program to customize the modes. Even though I have no red light, two clicks turns on the headlamp on super low to preserve nightvision.

Good luck,
M

I have always been doubtful whether a low whitelight achieves the same nightvision-preservation (and has the same campmates blinding avoidance) as redlight.
Actually, there even is a bpl-article suggesting the opposite: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00202.html#.VFF5JRaOpwZ

On the other hand, I don't know if I will ever need a very high lumen output on my headlamp – it is easy to construct scenarios where it is, the frequency of their occurence in practice on the other hand is in doubt.

"Unfortunate though that the lumen output is so much smaller than the one of comparable zebralights."

Out of curiosity, I checked out the Xtar AA H1 on Amazon and they note the following for their brightness levels:

Lighting level:AA: 3LM-60LM-120LM

Assuming you'd run it at 60lm, that's been more than bright enough for night hiking, at least that's been my experience. My princeton tec byte maxes out at 50lumen but I usually run it on low which is much less as 50 lumens is overkill for me.

Night biking/running/skiing would be another story altogether.

For general movement, seeing the trail etc. I totally agree with you. For searching stuff (like trailmarks) or scanning the territory I found 120 lumen not to be alot – I could thoroughly test this with my old tikka xp2 that I used on numerous night orientation marches during my military time.
I'll probably need the full power very infrequently. However, if dimming down is as good as redlight, I can just go with the slightly more expensive Zebralight and have the reserve when I need it. Best thing would be to field-test both and then make a decision. But that's always the case, isn't it?

what will you be using it for … thats the biggest question

the new lamps out absolutely blow your old tikka XP2 away (i had one) … in both output and runtimes if you pick the "right" ones

the 3 biggest "innovations" in headlamps are …

– use of high power LEDs … they are both more efficient AND provide greater maximum output

– use of lithium ion bats … they allow the new LEDs to achieve long runtimes at a decently 100+ lumen level while still fitting on yr head with an internal bat … also USB chargeable ones can be topped off in the field (less need of changing your bat in the middle of the night under nasty conditions)

– use of Petzls Reactive technology … you have to use it to "believe it" … not only does it saves bats, it allows flood or spot beams hands free … in the old days you would have a headlamp for flood and a flashlight in your hand for spot, with reactive technology its all in one headlamp and adjust automatically

no headlamp currently uses all 3 innovations to their maximum potential …

however because the headlamp potential is increasing at a very high rate youre seeing folks doing more and more nightime sports

;)

I had the same apprehension as you when I ditched my older headlanps for the zebralight. I had been using a red photon for middle of the night stuff where I wanted to preserve my night vision, but decided to switch over to the zebralight H52 (I think). The low low setting is so low that I have no problem using it if I wake in the middle of the night. I use the high-lop if I have to leave the tent in the middle of the night. I don't feel there is much hit to the night vision and don't miss my red photon.

After watching a lot of videos, I decided to go with the Zebralight H52. I'm still not certain how the lack of a red diode will be for me, but I will never find out if I don't try. Certainly, if it is possible with a type of lights, it's definitely a zebralight due to the excellent customizability of the different modes. Also, their lights seem to be very well developed and optimized over the course of a long time so I am confident that I might be happy with it.

Thanks to everybody for the advise!