Good modern headlamp?

[dkkim73]

Hi All, 

Looking for a new modern headlamp. Either a simple strap model or something I can headset mount (or both). 

Have a number of random units for backpacking and around the house. Looking for anything that: 

-uses common or robust batteries

-lightweight

-sane modes for aviation (easy low-light toggle, intuitive settings, not cycling through 7 settings including "night-vision preserving low light" next to "10,000 lumen irregular pulsating tactical disorienting strobe"...  I exaggerate, but you know what I mean). 

I currently am awaiting a new lip light for my newer headset and carry a fingerlight (for real dark flights) and an old A2 (for which it seems difficult to get new real 2-stage bulbs). I'm thinking a lightwight good headlamp might replace a lot of these applications from pre-flight to ice to in-flight. 
Any thoughts appreciated!
David

 

[MikeOH]

May not be what you want, but I've been very happy with this when I'm working on the plane; I never fly at night, so never used it in flight.  Does have 3 modes to cycle through, though!  Low, high, and flashing...   It's perfect for a CB like me ($13).  Uses 3 AAA batteries.  HF also has a low power, 50 lumen one for $3

https://www.harborfreight.com/310-lumen-swivel-led-headlamp-59336.html

[PeteMc]

I got one from Amazon a few years ago that I'm happy with.  White, Red or Green light with multiple settings. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08975WM6Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&th=1

[MikeOH]

Yeah, but it's two bucks more!  And, 7 modes to stumble through

[MB65E]

This is the best I’ve found.

I’m addicted to flashlights and such but this head lamp is awesome!

https://a.co/d/eAuF9sE

 

-Matt

[EricJ]

50 minutes ago, MB65E said:

This is the best I’ve found.

I’m addicted to flashlights and such but this head lamp is awesome!

https://a.co/d/eAuF9sE

 

-Matt

That's very similar to what I've been using lately, and they are awesome, but I've also used the one MikeOH linked from HF and they're nice as well.   Even the usual cheapie $10 ones work well for me, though:

https://www.amazon.com/-/es/gp/product/B019MK6DX6

 

[Fly Boomer]

12 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

awaiting a new lip light for my newer headset

Are you using Flitelite, and are you replacing with a different model Flitelite?

[redbaron1982]

Fenix is one of the best flashlights, I have 3 and I'm very happy with them. One is a headlamp with red light mode. The only downside with the version I have is that to turn it on in red mode, you get a brief 1s period of white light (although you can set it to be in the lowest intensity level). I think they have fixed that in the latest versions.

The one I have is this: https://fenix-store.com/collections/with-red-light/products/fenix-hm61r-v2-rechargeable-headlamp

It has 100 hours of battery life in red mode, and the batteries are the standard 18650 Li-ion.

Oh, some of them have a magnet in the cap, but it is very easy to remove it. I removed mine just to avoid any interference with the magnetic compass.

[Rick Junkin]

I have an earlier version of this Black Diamond headlamp and I like it. It uses AAA batteries, and has a detented pivot that lets you aim it down where you need it while you keep your head up. I set to power up in the red mode when flying. I use it outside of flying as well.

Unfortunately the mode sequencing is not terribly intuitive and requires me to play with it occasionally for a refresh on how it works. It does have a number of modes and colors (green, blue) that aren't useful to me, but the general ease of operation and easily replaceable batteries work for me.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/black-diamond-spot-400-headlamp?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=BPS|Shopping|PMax|Camping|General|NAud|NVol|NMT&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD1Tgtd-xLx1u4N_Ik7NhGJOuEcb_&gclid=Cj0KCQiAire5BhCNARIsAM53K1hQoScYYFgSGP_BmHhskw5HfYQ8sPJG9jIrriIC39Q9BBicRzE0ZVQaAiqqEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Pinecone]

I haven't looked closely at their head lamps, but I have been very happy with a number of other flashlights.

https://www.olightstore.com/headlamps

 

[EricJ]

I used to own a silver mine, and so headlamps were important equipment.    My fave was a very nice LED lamp that I bought about fifteen years ago that was continuously variable.   In the mine (or caving) you want to be able to turn the light down as much as possible to increase your field of view (it's counter-intuitive, but works very well to keep your eyes dilated), and most of the "dim" settings on typical headlamps are way too bright.   It's still sitting on a shelf here and I just bumped into it again, and the brand is "LED Lenser".    They're still made, they're all over Amazon, and apparently they're expensive and considered high-end.   This one is similar to the one I have, that still works great.

https://www.amazon.com/Ledlenser-H7R-2-Linterna-frontal-recargable/dp/B0053H1842

Me in the mine with the LED Lenser headlamp, and an example of some of the fungus that grew in there.   It ate wood.

[dkkim73]

4 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

Are you using Flitelite, and are you replacing with a different model Flitelite?

@Fly Boomer responding quickly for now:

Good question. I have a Flitelite (Classic Plus I think) that I have mounted on an older DC 10-13.4, with the AAA pack on the band. I like it, though the battery pack is cumbersome esp. with the lower Mooney headliner. 

I couldn't get an answer from the company about what adapter to use for the DC One XP (despite previously good communications), so I looked around and ended up going witha Cejay Engineering model. It's still on its way to me, so no reviews yet. 

As for the flashlights, that's a lot of great suggestions to dig into above! Need to follow those links. I did see a neck light in passing that might be a good adjunct. 

[bigmo]

My a/c is with my mechanic this week getting Nulites installed on all standard instruments. I fly quite a bit at night and find traditional lighting just awful.

Ive owned 3 of these and love them. If I have a cap on, I clip it to the bill. If not, I clip it to the shoulder belt. 
Lots of life on quality AAA. I’d say it’s a near perfect design, however, like so many lights, you have to toggle through white first. I’m used to it so I just close my eyes for 1/2 a second for the click through.

Coast HX4 80 Lumen Dual Color (White & Red) Magnetic LED Clip Light with Beam Rotation, black

https://www.amazon.com/COAST-Lumen-Color-Magnetic-Rotation/dp/B002YGBJZI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_pp?adgrpid=158360153423&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OttTxB2xhguHO4xEHNFAszusQGmHyKJbnJpQOiJ2IFKXLavaI2-wIaqMBgg2J1Bk8gTmTzY1Bzbv8k99NILPu_CXwVshr0OtpsdFOjTtiOuIKcxCkvOFe3UcqlCp8bj1poaiDHJThrRUAthEjzAgw7tXih08klOtXLavyizx0S5HjScPvGW-Zki064zSlxoxn4zj1D2_hGm_sLoAB1BywQ.hBS3cjrN58DjOfFqwV2usSO0slATN5FIqEAlIWC2pLM&dib_tag=se&hvadid=692982881954&hvdev=m&hvexpln=68&hvlocphy=9022159&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=11555586282244515436--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11555586282244515436&hvtargid=kwd-1059482185198&hydadcr=17102_13425090&keywords=coast+hx4+80+lumen+dual+color&qid=1731218120&sr=8-1