Seeking advice on rechargeable and BRIGHT headlamp

I have been using a ThruNite TH10 based on a recommendation from Shug on hammock forums, and it’s a nice bright headlamp using a single 18650 rechargeable battery (or 2x CR123).  I’ve weighed mine at ~6.0 oz.

I previously looked at Zebralight 18650s, but couldn’t justify the cost.  They are having a sale on several models now, but I like the natural white, which was out of stock.  I did pickup a Zebralight H52w that came highly recommended on another recent post, which uses AA (eneloop recommended) or 14500 rechargeable batteries.  With the eneloop it puts out a good wide spread with a hot spot that has decent throw.  The 14500 battery I have on order is supposed to increase the brightness from 280 Lm to 500 Lm for a minute before it steps down to the previous level.  I don’t know if the H52w will be bright or long lasting enough for you, but for $5 more you can get the H600 Mk II 18650 XM-L2 Headlamp Cool White on sale now at Zebralight.

This one keeps showing up on my FB feed – anyone know anything about it?
BORUiT RJ-5000 Super Bright Headlamp LM 3 x Cree XML-L2 4 Modes 5000Lumens Rechargeable LED Headlamp Headlight Comfortable Wearing Head Light for Camping/Biking/Hunting/Fishing/Walking

Although Manfred lives in California, I keep bumping into him in various obscure, roadless bits of Alaska and his approach has been to have a solar panel that charges its own internal battery (I think) and then charge AA and AAAs in his various GPS, messaging, light and SteriPen devices.

The guys spends more time outside for weeks at a time, than I do, uses a lot more electronics than I do, and researches his options in great Germanic detail; so I’d follow his lead.

If, OTOH, you’re talking about just day hunts and getting back to a vehicle or lodging each night, I’d just get 4 to 8 rechargeable AAs and swap them out as needed.

I’ve used the Princeton Tec Apex 4xAA headlamp several times going for caribou on Adak in the Aleutians.  Similar, I suspect, to Kodiak where it’s cold, wet, windy, and in addition to task-lighting and seeing-to-walk lighting, sometimes you need some route finding and are wondering, “Where is that valley, anyway?!?” when it’s fully dark.  I’ve found the Apex good for that.  The buttons are little non-intuitive and it takes me a few minutes to get familiar with it again if it’s been months since I used it.  It also can sit on the shelf for months and months without draining the battery which some computerized headlamps do all too quickly.  About $80.  Versatile, not UL, but neither is hauling back a load of meat!

5k lumens??? That’s insane. Your car headlights probably don’t put out 5k lumens. 1k would be plenty. We just carried out an elk in the dark and I was using my BD Revolt on the low power in the salmonberries, and high power (130 lumnes) in the spruce. That was enough for me, anyway, though we were in a group. Alone I’d probably want more light.

You missed the easiest hunt ever. A cow and a bull in 36 hours, door to door. :^)

I got the orange-trimmed one so it’s easier to find (compared to the mostly black one).

Man, all the Alaskans are chiming in.  That BORUiT RJ-5000 looks like it was pried off Seven of Nine’s head from her Borg days.  And 5000 lumens?  You could run your solar panel on that!  I’ve appreciated up a 1000-lumens light with a tight beam for figuring out exactly where the pass was on the next ridge when getting in position long before daylight.  And at $16.88, I’d wonder about the sturdiness and the honesty of the spec.  Some the “best deals” on external recharge USB batteries just jack up their specs to sell more items but when I measure amp-hours in and out they are no where near their advertised spec.  And I’ve gotten some off-brand headlamps with great apparent specs but they were very flimsy – not even to car-camping standards much less taking on a off-trail hunt.

Off the wall thought:  While the 48-state BPLers have their GGGs = gathering of gear geeks, how about a GGGGGG = gathering of gear geeks going gaga for game (animals)?  Stomp around Kodiak going for Sitka blacktails or Adak for caribou?  Manfred & Sons have been up a few times to harvest black bears with me and he’s pushing for a return to Adak (I’ve been a bunch, they haven’t).

Unbelievable Philip – I was really puzzled by the elk head on Patrick’s roof.  It’ll be a pretty short video.  Glad you guys made it out and back with the gales predicted for today and tomorrow.

an 18650 lamp with an XML2 LED will provided the needed juice and output efficiency for your needs within a reasonable weight and price

basically yr looking for 5+ hrs at 150+ LMs REGULATED output, possibly as high as 400-500 LMs for some continuous use …

the fenix hl60R for example gives 10h at 150lm, and 3h at 400lm … and has a built in charger and red light

remember that a single good 18650 bat is the equivalent of 4 AA NiMH bats or so …. at a much lighter weight … unless u really want the AA format, the 18650 lamps make the 3-4 AA lamps obsolete

as an added bonus one can use the same 18650 bats as a power bank for their USB devices with a cheap 5$ powerbank/charger

theres many 18650 lamps around …. my recommendation is to stay away from the cheap cr@p with “chi-lumens” (cheap chinese exaggerated lumens) and buy only reputable brands ….

companies that have a service centre and warranty in NORTH AMERICA so you dont need to ship the lamp back to china for repairs

and buy it from an authorized retailer so you arent stuck in the lurch if something should go wrong … all electronics can fail

amazon has plenty of authorized dealers  and has a 30 day return policy with free return shipping

personally i use my fenix 18650 lamps for climbing and approach/descents in the dark

;)

GGGGGG sounds like a great idea. Philip’s videos have tempted me for quite some time to pack my packraft and visit Kodiak. Depending on Philipp’s and Daniel’s college schedules we would all three come to Alaska for such a gathering of gear geeks going gaga for game.

In regard to Michael’s question my choice for headlamp for the last 6 years are Zebralight headlamps. For month-long trips where I re-charge via solar panel I use for the last 3 years the H52W in neutral white as it takes AA batteries that can be charged directly by my solar panel. When I just go for a weekend of hunting and want many more hours of bright light than the H52W can provide I take the H603w in neutral white with an 18650 battery 

My world class caving friend recommended this one:

http://www.sbflashlights.com/Spark-Headlamps/Spark-ST6-460NW-p112.html

Thrunite, Zebralight, Fenix or Nitecore.

I feel obligated to reply, for two reasons: 1) another devoted H52w user; and 2) another Alaskan BPL hunter (further north than most of you).

Und ausserdem spreche ich auch Deutsch. Es sind hier alle Besucher willkommen!

The spark is dated

for 18650 formats fenix, ZL, nitecore and armytek are considered the current standard

fenix has the best (real) warranty from authorized retailers

Especially if u can buy em from a retailer with its own guarantee   …. MEC for example

;)

I’ve been using the petzl reactik + for the last few months and its an excellent rechargeable headlamp. 300 lumens, but only when you need it.

I’ve been using the petzl reactik + for the last few months and its an excellent rechargeable headlamp. 300 lumens, but only when you need it.

Same. I have two now, since Petzl replaced my Tikka RXP after a dead battery and they are simply fantastic with their automatic brightness adjustment

the petzl rxp/reactik are fine lamps … the spot/flood combo works well, the reactive lighting works when you want to be hands free and the pre-adjustment of your settings is great

however they 1800 mAh proprietary li-on bat is on the low side for the bat efficiency (18650s come up to 3500/3600 mAh) and the overall output is on the low side 200-300 LM vs 900+ LMs for good 18650 lamps …

this also translate into lower run times at midrange (150+ LM) outputs because of the bat limitation

also if you bump your head enough (climbing the headlamp on the helmet bumps things easily) the plastic isnt as durable and itll scratch the lens

i gave my petzl RXP to my favorite climbing partner

;)

Eric B,

wir koennen uns dann gerne auf Deutsch unterhalten, falls wir uns mal treffen, wenn meine Soehne und ich mal wieder in Alaska sind.

Viele Gruesse,

Manfred

Yes, the Petzl Reactik is a cool light. I used mine on a SAR mission last night and enjoyed the powerful throw and auto dimming for close work, and it’s easy to go to manual mode or a red light for talking in a group so you don’t blind others. The new Petzl Actik and Core battery looks promising, and I’m partial to anything that is USB rechargeable.

Mike, if you want to borrow my Reactik to try out, let me know…