Thanks for sharing , RaceR86 .
I have that 2nd one in 4AA version. Never tore it apart, but it will run on high just fine without burning anything up (though my pill could be different). I do like it, mainly due to the 4AA setup.
The 3rd one I have as well, but bought only as a mod host. See this thread from post#37 down concerning making it a great cheap flooder. I haven't got around to doing the mod myself (story of my life).
I've always been curious about the headlamps like the 1st one. Wondered if they would make great wide flooders. Would be cool to see some comparable beamshots from each one.
-Garry
I just noticed that the second light is reviewed here by djozz. But its got a different pill/head design that is far better. That is the issue with some of these budget lights... Lack of consistency in parts. Im not worried about the emitter, its just not suitable for increasing the current to a level I would desire... :p There could be differences in headband and other things too. I would prefer the AA versions of these lights too..
The 3rd one is not the same light as the one you are linking too. But there are some similarities...
Im not even sure Ill bother assembling the "sipik headlamp". Im tempted to try and rebuild it into a triple XP-G2 with TIR at some point. If not, driver and emitter swap would be easy. Im certainly not putting it together with the stock emitter and driver..
Are you sure? It's not the Dongrui that the thread is about, but the Ebay Q5 headlamp in post #37. Your pic looks identical to mine.
-Garry
Thanks for the review! I just bought my first headlamp, a Nitecore HC50 and it’s impressive. I thought that an 18650-based headlamp might be too clunky, but it’s perfect.
Oh sorry. I did not click on the link in post #37. Yeah, its the same light..
Thanks for the review RaceR. I am still planning on buying one of the cheap headlights and build it into something great, but also found that none of them have the basics that are good enough to be a suitable start for such a mod. I like the form factor of the last best, I don't want batteries on the back of my head.
Nice summary/comparison. I have the big lens light, but rigged for 3AA. I do find myself grabbing quite a bit when just working around in the yard and shed. Nice big even light in flood. It's a little frustrating when using for doing close up work like using a drill press. I lights up everything nearby and makes focusing on the piece harder for some reason. I tend to use reflector or multi-5mm LED headlights for that specific kind of work. I think this big lens light zooms well too, but I could be wrong as I haven't used that feature more than a couple times.
Like the look of the sipik-type light.
Yeah, I think that is the main issue with most of the cheap budget headlamps... Many are just not that great as a host...
I have tried this headlamp:
I was not able to do a full teardown, but it was an interesting and bright light.. Although a bit large..
I have been thinking about making a super lightweight and bright headlamp that have battery/batteries, switch and driver in the pocket and only LEDs and stuff on the head....
Where does one buy the third light?
Search Ebay for "CREE Q5 300LM LED 3 Mode Zoomable Headlight". Don't mix it up with the "other" wrong light which has a black body. Sells for $9.00 and up, some ship from the US too.
EDIT - there used to be some from US sellers. None in that link I just provided though. User millerman bought one from a US Seller and modded it as in the link I provided. Yo, speakup millerman, it's Miller time!
-Garry
i prefer to avoid fleabay but i had put in a fasttech product request for that type of light but with a bike mount on the bottom, but i think they forgot about getting it
thats a great price though, under $10!
Bort is obviously very blind, he spent over an hour searching for those on fasttech unless they have been posted since his request (that will be his story, so keep it straight people)
i have the dual battery one, and i thought its pretty damn bright for a headlamp.
its brighter than a 18650 sipik zoomie. heatsinking is ok too. doesnt get hot or warm fast.
maybe i have a good one or your standards are just higher than mine.
but after reading your review, temps me to buy that big lens headlamp.
Thanks for a great review! :) :)
Yeah I bought no2 and one of these too… just added a resistor on it to give it just a little bump in output but not too much.
There’s no point making these headlamp as bright as regular flashlight.
it’s just annoying to the eyes if you’re not using baseball cap.
but it is just nice to use this as a flood light if you’re working outside in the dark such as setting up tent , BBQ at night 
but since I got Nitecore HC50… I never use these lights anymore… they’re just sitting pretty in the trunk of my car for emergency uses only 
but still, for regular ordinary people whose not into flashlight… these headlamp output is a big deal compare o something they normally buy from Home Depot
Yours might be brighter.. The sipik SK98 I used to have was around 2 amp on high. This dual battery headlamp was around 1,2A based on a quick measurement with a single cell. The stock Sipik SK98 I had would have been brighter...
If your headlamp is driven at around 1,2A I would not consider that "pretty damn bright". And if its driven at 2 amp or harder, it should get hot or warm fast, if the heatsinking is decent. A bright light that does not get warm quick is a bad thing..
There are many small reasons why I have given low ratings that I have not gone in detail on too. Just to add some info on the dual batttery light on top of some of the mentioned stuff.
No attempts at even making it waterproof (around the button as an example). Put the battery-box in water and it would get wet inside quite soon.
Does not fit the longest green NCR18650 (slightly shorter keeppower does fit).
Broken threads on one of the screw holes.
Zoom mechanism was pretty bad (due to the stock O-ring). Even when it was improved its quite crappy.
UI where you have to cycle through strobe every time in order to turn it off.
Quite bulky for such a small lens light.
Mediocre output.
The headstrap that should have been less tight/more flexible..
The horrible heatsinking and lack of thermal paste...
Not sure if it was broken, or should look broken, but if you look at the first picture of the light you can see a spring inside it due to some plastic that looks broken... ??
....
The sipik headlamp seems to be fairly popular. Kinda... Maybe I should reconsider the mod rating. Ive actually been enjoying the light. Its a keeper.
The other two lights were donated to some people that just needed some headlamps. I did not bother modding them.
I just gave away my “Sipik”, or something of that stile, to a night runner. I ordered an other from the same place, which is http://www.ebay.com/itm/121161815800 . It was only $10 with shipping, but I am not sure about the quality. Where have others been getting them?