Hi All,
A good friend of mine is a civil engineer and he requires a headlamps to inspect railways at night, which would entail features no more than a few metres in front of him. He has a budget of £20 to £30. My question is what are the best headlamps available? I’m seeing a few Skilhunts, but I’m wondering what else there is.
Thanks in advance.
Skillhunt H03/H03R are the best budget headlamps, you can also try Xtar H3 and Nitecore HC30, but I had those and still preferred the H03R. The new HC60 is also pretty good but some reported that it isn’t entirely water resistant…
The only thing lacking in the Skillhunt is a compact headband, but you can always get a zebralight headband which is the best.
I'm a Civil Engineer too :-D and depending how close he's really getting, Nitecore HC30 is what I'd recommend for walking around but I'd recommend Nitecore HC50 for up-close inspection, as it has a wider beam spread. I've reviewed the HC30 here on BLF and the HC50 is on my blog. But anyways, both sound out of the price range. I don't have too much experience with of other brands yet, but I'd also suggest checking out NItecore's new NU series, perhaps the NU20 as I think you can operate it with a power bank plugged in for extra long runtime. Hope this helps :-)
Just get one of those cheap 18650 xml t6 headlight on eBay for about less than $10Headlamp and then open the bezel and add some wax paper to act as diffuser and you have a nice and bright headlamp that can last for few hours too on two batteries
For near field work i wouldn’t recommend a reflector light, unless it would have some kind of diffuser.
Thanks, guys.
Cheers, will34. It looks he’ll settle on the H03. I wonder if there are any codes available.
M4D M4X has codes for it.
There are codes avialiabe
For H03 NW LSFDMR 30$
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_391921.html?lkid=10316648
That’s a good deal, Lexel :+1:
What about Imalent HR20? With coupon it costs less than 30$. It has built in micro USB charging and 2600mAh battery is included.
http://www.gearbest.com/headlights/pp_428912.html
Hey mate i have coupon codes for both the HR20 and the H03 here is my review of the Skilhunt H03. Both these lights are worth a look at.
I also have a coupon for the HR20 but i am yet to review it. They are both 30USD right now so under your budget. I love the H03 but the HR20 comes in a pack with the battery included and it has a built in USB charger. I will add for every day use go with the skilhunt over any other headlamps. Just because of the headband is leaps ahead in quality. My Nitecore HC30 band is cruddy but its lasted over a year and half now i think but the Skilhunt is better.
I’m also looking for a headlamp.
Is anyone with first hand experience able to compare/contrast the Skillhunt H03 and the Armtek Wizard Pro v3?
Thanks
I love my Nitecore HC30 and Skilhunt H15, but that being said, I think if you could find a coupon for a Skilhunt H03F, you’d have the best of both worlds. Out of the box, the built-in diffuser provides wide-angled flood. Flip the diffuser out of the way, and the OP reflector throws light out to 145m (according to their web page). I don’t have one yet, but if I find a decent coupon, well, then I can’t be responsible for my actions. 
Crelant ch10 is my favorite inexpensive headlamp and I’ve got a lot of headlamps
i never owned a headlight before? other than a couple built-into-ball-cap ones. Whichj i liked the green ones for close up and walking? just no runtime or real power from the button cells.
I’m not a railway guy? But i am a certified RN engineer. this past summer? I found I wanted a real headlight on this jobsite… some runtime and a little but of power, nothing major.
1) for only a couple bucks? first i picked up a “dollar store junk 3xAAA zoomie”, which PREDICTABLY was “wonderful” for all of 15 minutes on its maiden voyage. I say wonderful because i never owned a full size headlight before? So the novelty made it seem decent. I say 15 minutes? Because THATS how long it “worked” before becoming “possessed” and i had to insert batteries to turn it on, and take batteries out to shut it off, lmFao… (what did i expect? truth is, i figured i might get 15 DAYS out of the junk, sadly I got 15 minutes instead)
2) NEXT!!! so within 48 hours, i owned my SECOND headlight. Me and the site owner, both got “battery brand headlights”. MAYbe he got “energizer” and i got “duracell”, whatever… ok for close up? but, replacing 3xAAA gets old. No power, reflector looks like silver painted paper, LMAO, all plastic, complete junk… but? I will admit it “worked”. WAY overpriced retail, I was an idiot… so another 15 dollars down the tubes. (I am a glutton for punishment. I must like it.) Fortunately I am a flashlight dude, so, I HAVE rechargeable AAA batteries? But… using one set of AAA while charging the OTHER set of AAA? That got O-L-D too, real quick. Although this headlight “works”, its flimsy and i am afraid if i FART on it, its toast. Switch doesnt feel much better on EITHER of our headlights.
3) NEXT!!! okay, so, like… NOW i am “moderately serious” about my “headlight quest”. I happen to be in HOME DEPOT, and i sort of like the HUSKY brand headlight. Looks S-O-L-I-D. Package claims a few lumens… and around the CORNER? is “last years model” of this SAME husky brand headlight?? on CLEARANCE for like 7 bucks (this years model was, like, 17 or something).
Believe it or not? I was actually “happy” with this headlight. Used it and liked it for a number of weeks. FINALLY I have a decent switch,that doesnt feel like an eggshell .I accidentally kicked it across a cement floor several times like a hockey puck? Built like a TANK. Dropped it about 10 feet high several times like an idjit, no problems. Low mode is great for close up work or walking, high mode? is actually a little bit powerful. I can scan the property on the jobsite at nght, no problem on high. BRIGHT as heck out to 25 yards, useful illumination a little further, its floody with a little throw.
still 3xAAA, but… this is a battery carrier! I thought since i was moderately HAPPY with this thing, i am gonna get a 18650 in it, and i can run forever on LO mode, you know? 18650 will NOT fit, i am screwed. SO, i actually like this light, but… i want rechargeable now…
SO, i am NOW trying to save my relationship with this light i like? and i am pondering ideas like maybe soldering wires inside the headlight, and, making a “remote battery pack”, into which i can put ANY rechargeables I WANT TO, and i can even make different size packs for myself.
I should point out? The plastic body, while strong, would probably “limit” modding opportunities.
INSTEAD? I decided to “treat” myself… to a “real” chinese knockoff light…
4) NEXT!!! I poked around this site, and asked… which is of course what i SHOULD have done FIRST of all. The BORUIT RJ-02 was being praised by multiple members. It was said to be the “value leader”, not the “premium headlight”. I was told i would have to spend 2x or 3x as much, to get a significantly better light that i would notice the diff.
http://www.gearbest.com/headlights/pp_251155.html
=
ALL metal construction. Built like a metal tank, instead of a plastic tank on the HUSKY. (I should point out? I was more than happy with the thick plastic husky). All my 18650’s fit fine. Recharges like a cell phone. NO MODES? It has INFINITELY ADJUSTABLE from super low to HIGH. You can set the infrared so it will go “on and off” by swiping your hand in front of your face… it works fine except for the hands free mode is only ON_OFF on highest brightness, which is fine with me because i dont use that feature anyways, but it DOES work reliably just without the infinite adjustability.
I use decent 18650 “new laptop battery pulls” as my workhorse sets of 18650s… they seem to last “forever” on the LOW end of the adjust, and the top end? if i need it? its there. Way brighter than the husky i was more than happy with, so, i am positively thrilled now.
the all metal construction and 18650 battery? simply cant disobey the laws of physics, so, its a little heavier than the featherlight dollar store headlight and energizer/duracell/whoever overpriced consumer junk.
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for 8 bucks and change? I am in love with this thing… I actually use it so much, i am thinking about getting a second identical one, just so i have a backup if i lose mine or the headband dies. And to open the possibility of modding the second one. This thing doesnt APPEAR to be mod friendly, I am having issues in that the battery thing might be glued in, i dont know how to disassemble this thing.
(and quite frankly? I am afraid to even TRY, if i break it without a backup? I would possibly cry, LMAO)
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If this light had costed 20 bucks? I wouldnt be complaining… heck, I had a “20 and under” budget in mind when this light was recommended? Couple of guys still recommended THIS one.
I mean, if i can do BETTER for 8 bucks, someone tell me.
That's funny, "real Chinese knock off" , that Boruit RJ - 02 R5 does look like a knock off of Nitecore's HC50 lol and I love it so maybe I should also get a Boruit too. Thanks for your story :-)
Some member posted shots of the wiring in this one. Rat infested thread-nest comes to mind:
http://i.imgur.com/BxLVBfY.jpg
^I will be buying a headlamp soon, im choosing between skilhunt h03,h03f, and nitecore hc60. any suggestion among the three? I will be mounting it to a helmet (rock climbing/rescue).
I have a budget of $30-$40. the skilhunt are the budget ones, but given that it has no included battery inside, I have to purchase one so it make the cost (discounted) the same as the nitecore h60. Any opinion guys?
Wow. That is painful to read. What’s with all the question marks?
maybe it should have a “tl;dr” or a one-liner summary. 