I’m looking for a headlamp specifically for reading in bed or on camp. I used to have the ideal (for me) Led Lenser H5 which worked really well as it gave a really smooth artifact free flood wide enough to cover a book page (the black band didn’t matter as it was outside the book )and the infinitely variable brightness let me adjust to the sweet spot where I could read comfortably but not keep my wife awake. I also liked it for hiking with plenty of brightness and being zoom able very good for picking up the trail at a distance. But it gradually fell apart and eventually the hinge snapped so I looked for something else, specifically something more reliable. Also something that didn’t have a separate battery pack.
Currently I have several older headlamps plus a new H62w Zebralight which with DC-Fix is almost right. Its lovely and light, and solid, and bright enough, and has a beam whose hot area is almost wide enough to light a page (close enough to be acceptable) but doesn’t have the right brightness. For reading M2 isn’t quite bright enough for me and M1 is far too bright.
So I would like something dedicated for reading that has infinitely adjustable brightness like my old Lenser or the HC90, which uses a single 14500 or 18650 battery, has an even floody hot area of something like 15/20 degrees, not too much bright spill over a big angle and good run times at low power. If it has a simple robust mechanical construction, is light and also good for for general night hiking/mountain those would be welcome bonuses but not essential. Within reason I don’t mind what it costs.
That’s going to be tough. That said I think you answered your own question. The HC90 is variable brightness, and it looks like that might be the only thing that would work for you if you want floody and variable. The M1 on the Zebralight is 65 lumens, and the M2 is 30. That’s a pretty specific window of brightness. I looked at Armyteks specs and they don’t fit that criteria . How about the Crelant CH10? It’s variable, but is not as floody as the zebralight unfortunately. Maybe a piece of scotch tape over the lens would help?
It will be simpler to modify the optic (applying diffuser material) and swapping the LED than modifying UI and modes, so get the one closer to your desired specs and eventually (DC)fix it as you like.
I dc-fixed an HL50 and it’s now perfect for what I wanted it to do.
If you already have a ZL H600w mk2 with DC-Fix and don’t like it, you may have a hard time finding something significantly better… especially if you want such a specific lux value. I’m not sure what the lux is at 30 or 65 lumens at reading distance with that light, but that’s not really a very big difference.
There’s the ‘F’ frosted version, which should give a smoother beam than DC-Fix, but it’s a small difference. The H52Fw version has a 47 lumen mode, but I’m not sure if you think its battery life is long enough. There’s also the H602w mule version, which has the same lumen levels but dramatically different lux since it’s a mule instead of using a reflector. You might find that its 65-lumen mode works, but it’s very wide.
I’m a little surprised you want ~45 lumens for reading in the dark. I find 5 lumens to be plenty. But it’s rare that I read paper; I find a phone or tablet to be much nicer, especially when the brightness is turned way down and it’s running in a light-grey-on-dark-grey color scheme.
As mentioned above, there’s also the HC90 with variable brightness, but it’s still a bit large and I think it only comes in cool white… and everything I mentioned is on the expensive side.
I use a Crelant CH10 with a neutral XM-L2.
I made a very basic slip-on diffuser out of a plastic chair leg protector and a circle of thin translucent plastic, and it’s about as good as you’ll find. They’re usually under $30, and dimmable down to as low as you like. Runs for a very long time on one 18650. I also like that it sticks out just far enough that it doesn’t cause any glare in my glasses like some of the very close fitting lights do. Out of a half dozen headlamps, it’s by far my favorite.
Thanks for the suggestions folks. I’ll try a CH10 and see how I get on with it as I like the nw tint availability, continuously variable brightness and reported lack of PWM. It is described a ‘throwy’ but its the size of the hotspot that has to be large enough for me not the spill angle and I’ll play with diffusers and/or lenses if its too narrow.
P.S. I have an e-reader already but its not bright enough to light up my books
I think for reading in bed it’s important not to have a head torch with the battery pack at the back. It will be uncomfortable to lie on.
As others have said, a diffuse beam is best- you don’t want to have to move the hotspot across the page all the time.
A torch that’s too bright will also be uncomfortable and detract from the soporific effect of reading in bed.
What works for me is an old Petzl Tactikka on its lowest level with the diffusor slid across. It’s also good enough for night hiking on the higher levels and the batteries last for ages.
No doubt there are other great head torches out there- the fully flood Zebralights sound promising, though the lack of a beam with some throw might be a concern with nighttime route finding.
If it’s only for reading, the Silva Siju is worth a look- very, very light and comfortable with a nice even beam- but I wouldn’t want to rely on it for the night section of a Hundred.
One lumen is for very young eyes, the Fenix HL10 is a great headlight, and I would like to see the same exact light as a AA and with 5 lumen as the low, instead of 3 lumen, and with something along the lines of 20, and 35 lumens as medium and high, with a moonlight mode of 1 lumen for sustained blackouts. It would be nice to have such a headlamp, for being inside in the kitchen and living room, during periods without electricity.
I was able to unscrew mine. The entire head/face screws on/off to allow access to the LED, lens and reflector. I was unable to get to the driver though, in mine. Also I must be missing something because mine is not infinitely variable (that I’m aware of).
EDIT : Hold switch for infinite variable brightness.
)and the infinitely variable brightness let me adjust to the sweet spot where I could read comfortably but not keep my wife awake. I also liked it for hiking with plenty of brightness and being zoom able very good for picking up the trail at a distance. But it gradually fell apart and eventually the hinge snapped so I looked for something else, specifically something more reliable. Also something that didn’t have a separate battery pack.