I bought a UF-H3 and I'm more and more impressed with this light all the time. I was home alone last night and wanted to do a test. I turned it on at it's highest mode and put it on my head. I didn't turn on any lights in the house to see how everything worked with just the headlamp. What I found is that this light works great basically because it doesn't have any hot spot. I never think about the light because I don't see a hot spot. I kept it on for 4 hours using a TF Flame 2400. After 4 hours I measured the battery and it still showed 3.58 volts. That was impressive. It is the best reading headlamp I have used because covers the entire page and more without the hot spot.
My friend wants one. I don't know if I should buy her a H3 or a H2. Is the output the same? How is the battery life on the highest mode on the H2? She isn't afraid of 18650 batteries and has quite a few but she would be happier with AA NiMh. Is it as bright as the H3 and how long will it run on one AA NiMh on high mode?
I'm curious to hear as well. I'll probably pick up a UF-H3 or UF-H2 in the near future and I can't decide between more runtime with the 18650 or convenience of AA.
I had both... I just sold the H2. I like that the H2 runs off of any AA sized cell but I always found myself picking up the H3 instead. I have a bunch of 18650s so that kind of helped me make my choice.
On low, the H2 holds it's own with impressive run time counted on a calendar, not just hours. On high it's a different story. I own both and the H3 will stomp my H2 on high for run time as well as outlasting it on low. Also, I find that if I don't lock out the tail on my H2 it drains the battery pretty quickly due to parasitic draw. When I've needed it it was dead. With the H3 it's always there for me.
Get both. I picked up both, back when DD had the GB. Both are amazing lights. Fit n finish is superb for budget lights. Smooth anodized threads, nice anodized body.
True, not locking out the H-2 will drain the battery in less than two weeks. It is the biggest downfall of that light. I just now always remember to turn it off by unscrewing it at the tail cap and it is fine. I can’t speak to the H-3 but I have been so happy with my H2 that I just ordered a spare from DD. It should be here in a year or two.
I know the probability of venting a properly handled and protected cell is very low. I'd also bet that it is a higher than the probability of winning the powerball lotto - but millions of people buy tickets anyway, and a few of them win ;)
garrybunk: Not only was the light still running after 4 hours on one battery, it still tested 3.58 volts. I could have run this light for 2 or 3 hours longer before the battery shut down. And this on a TF Flame 2400. Imagine what an AW, Redilast or Callie Kustoms 3100 would have done?
This light isn't nearly as bright as my Zebralight H51, at least it doesn't look anywhere as bright. The beam is so pleasing to the eyes, I always grab it before the H51.
I took the clip off as it doesn't work well in the headband. It's not a very good clip anyway. I put the screws back in because I was worried about water proofing the light. The screw holes go all the way through the body into the head of the light. I may remove them and put some silicone in the holes.
Not used a h2 but my h3 has bad pwm when ramped down, it's the biggest downfall for this light, also the little copper tab at the positive terminal has come off but it still works on the remaining solder blob ATM. Bar those points this is a excellent light, my current EDC.
Yeah, I understood that. That’s why I said “over 4 hours”. Even with bad PWM (which I have yet to experience) I’d be ok running on high with that kind of runtime!
