Need/want headlamp

So.. the only headlamp I own is an dontaskmehowold-old thing thats pulling 0.08A from 3AAA.. and not more from an 18650. Its a Petzl TIKKA XP and it even contains a pretty much modern LED with dome and so on giving a very decent runtime. But I kinda need (yeah, its more of wanting than needing) something newer.. better.

I think I prefer 18650 as they rule and maybe a magnet in the tailcap.. like the Trustfire Z1 or so. Just with some good headstrap. I also saw some XM-L 18650 headlights on ebay for about 20$ but I'm not sure those would be good.. but yeah, I dont really know. So I'm posting here hoping someone who knows more will help me to spend even more money on flashlights. :D

Thanks

If you want a floody one for close-up stuff then you want to look at the UltrafireUF-H3 (which is around half the price of the alternative) or the Zebralights.

If you want throw - you are looking at a Spark. Until I bought the Spark I couldn't see what it'd be for. It is brilliant for spotting a black dog at distance in the dark. I don't know of another throwy 18650 headlamp.

Yup, I'm looking for floody. The UF-H3 seems to be really really nice..

Don, are you using it regularly? Comments on MF say that the elastic headband might wear out.. ever went running with it?

I gave up on running about thirty years ago. I imagine if well tightened it'd stay on in all but the worst stresses. I use it at a desk mostly for more light while repairing fiddly stuff. The light with an 18650 and the headband only weighs 110g so it is not as if there is a huge weight slopping around your head.

My only caveat is that the H3 is very picky about the 18650s it'll take. It really dislikes long cells (Like every protected one I've ever tried in it). I actually use a very, very nasty fake Trustfire flame in it.

Get a horribly cheap plastic headlamp with an over the head strap and use the H3 holder if you don't trust the Ultrafire one. My Zebralight's (H50) headband is now around 6 years old and has never given any trouble. It seems to be of much the same quality as the UF one to me.

I use my headlamps probably more than any other sort of light. Since the Spark is the most recent one, it tends to get used most. The H3 still sees use every week. And will run for around a week on the lowest level I can set mine to.

I think the UF-H3 got me..

In your big pic of all the flashlights, is that a UF-H3 or H2? That black plastic thing around the head is confusing me.

That's an original Zebralight H50 - which is an AA light. Best light I ever bought.

Here's the H3 next to an AA and the Zebralight.

I have the Ultrafire UF-H3 (thanks to Don's review) and absolutely love it.

So.. where do I buy it? Any good offers?

Manafont would be ~24,1€ (MF points) and DD ~22,7€ (coupon)..

Are you in the UK?

I don't want to sell mine but I'll lend you it to play with if you are in the UK.

Me to thanks Don, I actually bought 3 gave one to my dad and kept 2 of them. They are some of my most used lights.

Actually I'm from germany. We brought you pretzels and weißwurst!

Never had a weisswurst.

PM me your address and I'll lend you my H3 to play with. Test it till you're sure and then send it back. Postage to Germany is very little more than postage within the UK.

I'm impressed that I couldn't tell that you weren't a native English speaker.

For running, you shouldn't exceed 1400 lumens. It turns out that you see way too much wildlife and it's distracting.

(The other night: heron, deer, two frogs, and ... an owl! I was very excited at that.)

Seriously, though, what kind of running?

Don, re: your comment about native English speaker... I was visiting family in Germany as a child. The kids my age were doing more sophisticated English grammar than I was. Which might just have been a sad statement about the Canadian education system at the time, but I doubt it.

@Don: I'm sending you a PM. Weißwürste are great btw. :)

@ruffles: Just exercise.. some jogging.

I dont think the german education system is that good. Compared to other european countries, we are at the lower-mid of the statistics. But I'm not really representative. I'm studying international management and my english is far better than that of most of the other students. Thats somehow great and sad at the same time.

And on top its even OT. :D

you'll definitely want a firmer head band for jogging. the regular setup will bounce around a bit when you run. 1 inch tubular webbing works great for making a running head band.

FYI: I just ordered the UF-H3 from MF. Couldnt resist..^^

@robostud: And then just make a knot at the back end of the head?

sew a 1 inch plastic slide buckle at one end of the webbing and make a small belt. sort of like this. or you can buy a pre-made strap with velcro adjustment like the Nite Ize. or you can make something more complex with webbing and bungee like this.

these are just ideas. i think you can run with the regular UF-H3 headband just fine if you don't mind cinching it tight and having it flop a little. it's not necessarily a big deal.

it's just that if you are used to the stability of something like a Petzl Tikka XP, the floppiness of the UF-H3 might take a bit of getting used to.

Nice ideas, I just dont think in such complex ways.. :D

Thanks for your input, I will try running when I get it and then eventually build my own head band.