Buying a New Headlamp

If I am going to use a headlamp with replaceable batteries I like AA format instead of AAA.  For AA headlamps I like the Zebralight headlamp.  They are bombproof and use a single AA battery.  You can get them in warm color which I really like for color rendering.  That has allowed me to keep from stepping on a copperhead which can really hide in the leaves.  Having said that I recently bought a Nitecore NU25.  It is rechargeable so if you already carry a battery pack it makes sense.  That sucker is really light weight.  With the headband replaced with bungee cord it barely weights over an ounce.  Has 3 different LED bulbs which server different functions including a red mode.  So far I like it.

I used to use the discontinued Mammut s-flex(single AA) but one of them has gotten a little erratic over the years so I don’t trust on trips anymore. HEIMDALL made a similar version available thru Amazon, don’t currently see it. Probably other copies out there, it works ok but there is a slight battery drain. Leave it in for 6 months and battery may be dead. All that being said I’d look at the NU25 as mentioned above. Great price/performance.    Its currently on Drop which might save you a couple of $. The NU20 is similar just no red light. For battery powered(2AAA) I’ve been happy with the BD  spotlite 160.
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Nitecore NU20. I modified mine by trading out the headstrap for stretchy cord. It weighs 0.9 ounces. I never had a need for a red light, so I don’t care about the heavier NU25.

Al, I am going to challenge the idea of a headlamp at all. Have you considered carrying a AAA or AA single cell flashlight with a reversible hat clip? I carry a AAA Maratac Ti flashlight which weighs 26 grams including a lithium AAA. I carry an extra AAA in my FAK and a Nitecore Tube. I use the Tube as my primary light and I’ve got the Maratac which I can clip onto the brim of my hat if I want to hike at night or need to repitch my tarp at night or whatever.

I feel like this split system is the most fault tolerant option because I can recharge the Tube from my battery via USB and I have two batteries for my Maratac. It gives me lots of options.

I don’t hike at night and I’m usually in my quilt by sundown. I have hiked at night, on trail, using the Maratac several times but you wouldn’t want to run off-trail with it…

edit: the Tube is 10 grams and I think the extra AAA Lithium battery is another 12. I’m pretty sure I’m well under 2 ounces all in with lots of redundancy.

+1 Nitecore NU25

Nitecore NU25. Haven’t looked back. Can’t even tell it’s on your head with a modified strap. Along with it’s light weight, long run times and super low/bright modes. It has the brightest red light I have come across. Very convenient when in the tent, waking up at night and not trying to blind yourself. It’s near military bright.

-1 multiple AAA headlamps

If it’s just around camp activities, than single AAA with a clip is a good option like Thrunite Ti3, or olight  i3s eos.

+1 on either zebralight or NU20/NU25 depending of whether you want to quick swap power, or save a bit of weight in exchange for having to recharge.  Both had good runtimes for around the camp chores but can run very bright for wayfinding.

More complete thoughts and a few other (cheaper) options on my lights page.

I never hike at night, though I have been stuck doing so at different times. Mostly, I use a simple Princeton impulse for 90% of my camping chores. An old one with AutoOff works well around camp. Unfortunately, the new ones are not regulated nor do they have the auto-off function, and, I do not recommend these anymore. With a spare set of batteries, about an ounce or so.

I also bring a Petzel e+light. The new model has a somewhat better switch, and, good light for the few hours of night travel I am sometimes forced to do, or, for reading. This is really not what you are after, since it has 2032 “coin” batteries. But a spare set of batts and the light come up to about 1.25oz and is easy to carry.

With those two lights, I can go with an easy 72 hours of lighting available. More than enough for 2 – 3 weeks.

The Thrunight Ti3 is a newer light with a single AAA battery.  I have been testing this as a replacement for my Impulse. It is dimmer on firefly mode and lasts longer. It is brighter on medium (at a severe longevity penalty.) On high, it works as a very bright light at 120lm but will only last a half hour or so. It also comes with a reversible clip (metal) for my hat. It is less than an ounce. I have not decided to use this in place of my Impulse yet…

Anyway, you really didn’t describe your needs. Winter camping, nighttime hiking, camp light, nighttime bathroom runs, or whatever. I didn’t need that kind of light. Among my first excursions into UL gear was dropping a light because of weight issues. I found that just using the campfire was enough to get by on, but I started carrying an old AA light. I had a couple older Tikka’s that I used for several years but found that they were way overkill and a lot heavier than the Photon’s. About 15 years ago they released the older Impulse lights that I still use. But, I also understand my physiology. Most people can adapt night vision rather quickly (around 20min in darkness) and see OK with just starlight. However, after fog sets in or on a rainy dark night, it is difficult. I tried red lighting, but these always left me without seeing a lot of color…difficult to read maps, for example. So, I went back to a simple white light. Now I use a couple different lights, with the e+Light being red light capable to preserve my night vision.  Because I don’t hike at night, I don’t really need high intensity, white light to hike. For the few hours I do, the emergency light works fine. There is a good article here: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/night-hiking-basics.html

A lot depends on your needs, and like Mark, you will find you have a variety you will purchase depending on your needs. Winter camping is usually done with an older, bright headlamp. I don’t do this much, so it is not a fancy one (sorry, forgot the name.) It has an external power source, I think a couple C cells, that will last through a night of hiking (around 8 hours) on high. It is overkill for three season hiking, for me.

For fairly regular night hiking, the ones recommended work fine. Again, I don’t do this much, maybe 2 hours once every three weeks out, or something…not as a regular thing.

Al, I am going to challenge the idea of a headlamp at all. Have you considered carrying a AAA or AA single cell flashlight with a reversible hat clip?

+1. I use an Olight i3S, weighs 0.67 oz with clip and 1x lithium AAA battery. More versatile than a headlamp. Plenty bright for solo needs in camp.