I spent some time searching around, and one option I came across was the KLARUS HC3. I like the idea of rechargeable battery, and the price seems right. My wife and I both need one, and she will never use hers again likely.
I know black diamond and others use AAA versions, but my preference would be non AAA, although I suppose I could just use eneloops for power.
Anyway, let’s hear what you have to suggest.
Get something with high rather than red. You’ll likely want brightness and colour rendering over red in the wilderness. 18650s are the way to go rather than NiMh
I use a Nitecore NU32 headlamp all the time. Easy to plug in and charge. White light has decent throw. Red light is useful for sneaking out to the deer hunting blind at 4am.
Nitecore HC90 it is officially discontinued but still available online, continuous brightness up to 900Lm, rechargeable single 18650 and red (and green and blur) lights
Thanks for all the replies. Based on present inputs, I’m leaning toward Robert’s suggestion, currently on sale at Illumn for $23.99. Seems hard to beat.
Ilumn backs the products they sell as well. I’ve had my NU32 for about 3yrs now I think, and has been very reliable.
+1
I’ve used red lights, but mainly for astronomical use where it’s important to save that night vision in your eye’s rods. But it’s really difficult to use while walking around. Things are either red, or black. And there are plenty of things that will show as black but you really want to see instead. So, yes, a high CRI light with some dimmer modes is far more useful for hiking in terrain that isn’t clear. Zebralight has plenty of headlamp types for that, but whatever you get make sure it has a low mode of no more than a few lumens.
You’ll give up a bit of night vision with dim white light, but you’ll see where you’re walking a whole lot better.
for walking dim high cri is good, but I like red light for around the camp site when you are looking at people in the face.
I’ve not been on a trip like this, but the outfitter specifically requested a headlamp with a red light option, both for not shining in other’s faces, but also for the night wildlife in the canyon. Robert’s suggestion had a 6 lumen output, which isn’t blinding, but seems like would be sufficient for navigating around in the dark. Hard to know without trying it.
Oh, yes, if you’re going with a group, then I can understand white light being very annoying if you’re looking at other people. But I’m not really sure how white light is going to bother wildlife any more than you tramping by in a group. They’re going to wake up and run away anyway. It’s not like you’re spotting them with a 500k candella thrower.