Head torch recommendation?

I have head torches from hell...regardless of make or price. The current one stopped working...new batteries? Nope...take it to bits...works perfectly, nothing obvious to see. Put it back together it works perfectly.......for five minutes.

The only one that has worked without fail uses expensive CR2032 batteries in threes..........and I can't find it...though I know its around somewhere. Where are you you little B***** ?:mad:
 
seumask said:
I've had this one from decathlon for 4 months , used extensively outside, under car, walking and around the boat and its great, nice wide beam with plenty of light. Red and 3 white levels, USB charged and waterproof as far as I can tell. At £20 by far the best value one I've had for many years.

HEADLAMPS HIKING/TREK - Head Torch Trek 500 USB
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I may well buy this. Decathlon kit is generally excellent for the price point. The only issue with usb charging is you have to wait.
 
KompetentKrew said:
I use this one from Declathlon: HEADLAMPS HIKING/TREK - ONNIGHT 100 Headlamp

In fact, I was so pleased with it I bought a couple of spares.
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The spec shows that it’s a single button with 3 lamp options, red, hi and lo white. Do you have to scroll the switch to get red?

So far the Energiser is looking like my preferred option, assuming that I get a positive answer to my switch question from the eBay seller. A replacement head strap is a close second and the slide-in red filter version looks interesting and warrants a bit of research.

Excellent response from the forum, many thanks to all. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one that uses KISS head lamps. The number and type of lamp options on some of the offerings simply beggars belief.
 
davidjackson said:
The spec shows that it’s a single button with 3 lamp options, red, hi and lo white. Do you have to scroll the switch to get red?

So far the Energiser is looking like my preferred option, assuming that I get a positive answer to my switch question from the eBay seller. A replacement head strap is a close second and the slide-in red filter version looks interesting and warrants a bit of research.

Excellent response from the forum, many thanks to all. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one that uses KISS head lamps. The number and type of lamp options on some of the offerings simply beggars belief.
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The switch is a + and a - , Pres plus once and it goes red, again goes low white, again goes med, again High. To turn off press - reversing the above steps. IMHO very simple to operate starting with red.
Charge state indicated by seperate small led light Green , orange ,red. It takes less than an Hour to recharge from red in my experience. But I note the details on the site say 2-2.5 hours
 
davidjackson said:
The spec shows that it’s a single button with 3 lamp options, red, hi and lo white. Do you have to scroll the switch to get red?

So far the Energiser is looking like my preferred option, assuming that I get a positive answer to my switch question from the eBay seller. A replacement head strap is a close second and the slide-in red filter version looks interesting and warrants a bit of research.

Excellent response from the forum, many thanks to all. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one that uses KISS head lamps. The number and type of lamp options on some of the offerings simply beggars belief.
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Like everything simplicity seems to go out the window with some designers ....

For me - I want a headlamp that I switch on ... can do the job ... switch of. Two power levels is good and occasional red maybe ...

LED is best of course then batterys last all year or more.
 
I would go to the nearest mountain shop and test few ones from Petzl and Black Diamond. They are very good quality, made for climbers. My Black Diamond doesn't have a direct red button, but switch remembers last color set, so it's not a big hassle. After quick look I have seen prices from 25 quid, so not expensive either.
 
Mrs Moron got one from the local outdoor shop (not a head torch though) at the premium price of about £40, she scoffed at my eBay special for £3.50. Scroll down a couple of years and my cheapie is still going strong whilst the premium item packed up months ago.
My point is that price doesn't always guarantee longevity. I'd be looking in Decathlon or Energiser, David.
 
I've got this one, which has separate buttons for red and white, is USB rechargeable and reasonably waterproof. I've been pleased with it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CEI5N3E/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_TPzvEbCY1MAXM

Two buttons
White bright - White dim - White flash - Off
Red - Red flash - Off.

With all things, you may struggle just to find a headtorch which does everything you want. This was the best compromise for me, and I quite appreciate having the low white. I don't use the flash, but it's just one extra button press. Wish I could get my chartplotter do do what I want it to do with just one extra button press.
 
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Just pay the 40 quid and buy the Petzl.........
Yes buy the cheap chinese firecrackers............then...........right when you need the light..............It fizzles out !
You get, what you pay for !
 
STILL AFLOAT said:
Just pay the 40 quid and buy the Petzl.........
Yes buy the cheap chinese firecrackers............then...........right when you need the light..............It fizzles out !
You get, what you pay for !
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RUBBISH !!!!!

I have a 5 euro headlamp in front of me now and its more than 5yrs old ... only thing I have ever done is change the batterys !!

40 quid for a headlamp !! I have better things to spend 40 quid on seriously ...
 
Refueler said:
RUBBISH !!!!!

I have a 5 euro headlamp in front of me now and its more than 5yrs old ... only thing I have ever done is change the batterys !!

40 quid for a headlamp !! I have better things to spend 40 quid on seriously ...
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I admit to having owned 2 petzls. Plastic cracked on both after time and button broke on one. Cheap head torches have been much better. The usb ones are my most recent at about 6 quid on amazon.
 
I was walking around Halfords earlier today and, to my surprise, saw that they sell Energiser head lamps. In exchange for a crisp, new £10 note I bought one. One switch, two positions. Slide to left for red light and to right for white. Simple. Came complete with 3xAAA batteries. The package claims "Designed for 15 year life"

It has "Made in China" on the plastic moulding and pretty much the only difference between it and the one it's replacing (with a no longer stretchy strap) is that it carries the Energiser logo. That and that I didn't have to wait a month for it to arrive from China, of course ;)

Great result, thanks everyone.
 
davidjackson said:
I was walking around Halfords earlier today and, to my surprise, saw that they sell Energiser head lamps. In exchange for a crisp, new £10 note I bought one. One switch, two positions. Slide to left for red light and to right for white. Simple. Came complete with 3xAAA batteries. The package claims "Designed for 15 year life"

It has "Made in China" on the plastic moulding and pretty much the only difference between it and the one it's replacing (with a no longer stretchy strap) is that it carries the Energiser logo. That and that I didn't have to wait a month for it to arrive from China, of course ;)

Great result, thanks everyone.
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Glad to hear that the... ahem... illuminati of the forum have shone a light on the subject for you. It means that I now feel free to add my less constructive input. I heartily recommend that with your shiny new headtorch you never look up and back when a grumpy skipper like me says 'Dave, haven't you got that bloody anchor up yet?' I, for one, manage fine with a bit of moonlight and hard earned night vision. Not a fan of headtorches ruining it.
That said, I was using one today while checking batteries and usually carry one at night in the dinghy or for boosting thenear-useless photoluminesence on my hand bearing compass. And thats soon to be redundant now I've discovered the joys of tritium betalights for low level illumination
 
Your view is no less constructive than any other........it’s just that I don’t share it ?

I am that grumpy skipper. My main reason for wanting a same-as replacement was to avoid the crazy trend of having too many, silly and unnecessary lamp options, imho, of course.

In my retirement from making an honest living, I now have a bit of fun on school boats teaching DS etc. A red light is very useful to help the navigator read his night Pilotage plan. The aim is to help new sailors learn their skills, not necessarily for salty sea dogs to hone their doubtless already impressive anchoring skills. Give ‘em a break ?

They are also useful at the chart table during night passages. On a fully crewed boat on a longer passage there may be off-watch crew asleep in the main cabin. I try to teach courtesy to others and a red light generally doesn’t disturb slumber.

I’ve been night-blinded many times by white lights in the cockpit, by phones and by the cycling of multi switch headlamps.

On a night passage, the crew need to develop their night vision skills to identify the next mark, often against light pollution from the shore, so no lights allowed. The navigator, however, needs to refer to his written plan so using a red light is a good progressive step towards your skill level of having fully developed night visition ?
 
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