Best Headlamp For Under $20 ?

ActiveAl · 2018-10-30T03:16:54.000Z

202bigmike:

Besides myself looking for a pretty good under $20 headlamp , I’m basically also looking for someone who’s afraid of the head mounted battery holders , because of hearing about battery explosions.

Why don't you just go with a headlamp that uses Ni-MH or primary AA/AAA cells instead of Li-ion? Wouldn't that alleviate the fear of explosion? Of course, there would probably be a trade-off with brightness.

My concern with L-Shaped headlamps is that it seems that the light would be skewed at close range. That is to say, half of what you are looking would be darker than the other half when working up close and personal. Has anyone experienced this? Just my thoughts.

Update:

202BigMike, how many lumens do you need? What will the headlamp be used for? What about waterproof rating? Thanks!

Here is a highly rated basic headlamp on Amazon with an A Fakespot rating. Would something like this work?

aswang · 2018-10-30T02:44:24.000Z

ActiveAl:

My concern with L-Shaped headlamps is that it seems that the light would be skewed at close range. That is to say, half of what you are looking would be darker than the other half when working up close and personal. Has anyone experienced this? Just my thoughts.

With with reflector based throwy headlamps, maybe. But I never had this problem with H03 or armyteks which use floody TIR. I don’t even notice that its not centered.

Unless “up close and personal” means right in your face like making out with someone. Then you have a problem. :heart_eyes:

ActiveAl · 2018-10-30T03:03:38.000Z

aswang:

ActiveAl:

My concern with L-Shaped headlamps is that it seems that the light would be skewed at close range. That is to say, half of what you are looking would be darker than the other half when working up close and personal. Has anyone experienced this? Just my thoughts.

With with reflector based throwy headlamps, maybe. But I never had this problem with H03 or armyteks which use floody TIR. I don’t even notice that its not centered. Unless “up close and personal” means right in your face like making out with someone. Then you have a problem. :heart_eyes:

I was thinking about reading distance. I probably wouldn't be happy with an L-shaped headlamp without a TIR lense then.Thanks!.

aswang · 2018-10-30T03:33:06.000Z

ActiveAl:

I was thinking about reading distance. I probably wouldn’t be happy with an L-shaped headlamp without a TIR lense then.Thanks!

Reading distance is no problem with floody l-shaped headlamps. I use my H03 (albeit heavily modded) as my camp and bedtime reading light all the time. Warmer CCTs, nice tints and nice low modes (around 1 to 5 lumens for me) are also important for these types of activities for less glare and less strain on the eyes.

Lightbringer · 2018-10-30T04:37:23.000Z

freeme:

I remembered Boruit RJ-02 (HC50 clone) was quite popular at one time.

Still one-a my faves. I shouldda gotten a commission for as many times as I hawked ’em…

202bigmike · 2018-10-31T06:27:03.000Z

[quote=ActiveAl]

202bigmike:

Besides myself looking for a pretty good under $20 headlamp , I’m basically also looking for someone who’s afraid of the head mounted battery holders , because of hearing about battery explosions.

Why don’t you just go with a headlamp that uses Ni-MH or primary AA/AAA cells instead of Li-ion? Wouldn’t that alleviate the fear of explosion? Of course, there would probably be a trade-off with brightness.

202BigMike, how many lumens do you need? What will the headlamp be used for? What about waterproof rating? Thanks!

The person that I’m looking for the headlamp , will use it to do electronic work mostly inside and some outside.
He needs a pretty fair amount of lumens because he works in some dark places at times and the cells should have
more power , thus the Li-ions. In his thoughts that’s the reason for a belt mounted battery pack/holder versus a
head mounted holder.

lohtse · 2018-10-31T06:40:28.000Z

freeme:

I remembered Boruit RJ-02 (HC50 clone) was quite popular at one time.

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/40951

https://www.gearbest.com/headlights/pp_009215193625.html

I can second that about those RJ-02 used as client headlamps for some time when caving(still do) all survived water mud etc… About 300lm brightness and with a good battery cell would run 12 hours plus at around the Mid brightness setting which is a round 120lm(uses ramping so is an approx) Best of all they cast less the £10(aliexpress) with battery and has USB charging (I sealed the charging port and use a nitecore charger for the batteries)

If you wnat cheap they are worth the money

sedstar · 2018-11-01T03:17:21.000Z

I had several “below budget” chinatastic excuses? then settled on the BORUIT RJ-02

I’ve had it what? couple years now? its my goto light when I am working and need light… and I wouldn’t want to be without the thing.

I guess i’m with LIGHTBRINGER… I just think they are womnderful.

Sofirn · 2018-11-01T03:48:48.000Z

It’s not easy to make a high quality headlamp with battery under $20, but we can try. A good budget headlamp is our plan. We would love to listen.

wstrachan · 2018-11-01T04:07:25.000Z

1st choice is Wowtac A2. 1000+ lumens. Comes with a nice cell with built in charging circuit.
2nd choice is Boruit EHL0628. Built in charging. 1000lm, probably about 750 true OTFL.

ActiveAl · 2018-11-01T15:12:13.000Z

Sofirn:

It’s not easy to make a high quality headlamp with battery under $20, but we can try. A good budget headlamp is our plan. We would love to listen.

You may have just started a feeding frenzy.

I agree with Lightbringer that a headlamp like the BORUIT RJ-02 would be a good starting point. Perhaps make it lighter and more comfortable to wear. I prefer the T-shape as opposed to an L-shape in a headlamp for close-in work. Unless you use a TIR lense, an L-shaped headlamp has parallax (shading on one side) at reading distance. Thanks for asking.

Lightbringer · 2018-11-01T04:19:32.000Z

sedstar:

I had several “below budget” chinatastic excuses? then settled on the BORUIT RJ-02

I’ve had it what? couple years now? its my goto light when I am working and need light… and I wouldn’t want to be without the thing.

I guess i’m with LIGHTBRINGER… I just think they are womnderful.

Yep. I keep mine hanging on my doorknob so I always know where it is when I need it. Even if I don’t stick it on my head, I palm it and use it as a regular light, as long as the headband doesn’t dangle in front of the LED. :laughing:

lohtse · 2018-11-01T07:07:19.000Z

Sofirn:

It’s not easy to make a high quality headlamp with battery under $20, but we can try. A good budget headlamp is our plan. We would love to listen.

happy to help with testing if you want it put through caving,climbing and bad weather…drop me a pm

lohtse · 2018-11-01T07:09:35.000Z

Lightbringer:

sedstar:

I had several “below budget” chinatastic excuses? then settled on the BORUIT RJ-02

I’ve had it what? couple years now? its my goto light when I am working and need light… and I wouldn’t want to be without the thing.

I guess i’m with LIGHTBRINGER… I just think they are womnderful.

Yep. I keep mine hanging on my doorknob so I always know where it is when I need it. Even if I don’t stick it on my head, I palm it and use it as a regular light, as long as the headband doesn’t dangle in front of the LED. :laughing:

They pretty damn good and muggle proof too…the amount of times the ones I have have been under a water fall(on a clients helmet) is far too many to count and yet they still keep going on….They are far better that brands such as Black Diamond, petzl etc.

puglife2 · 2018-11-01T08:34:35.000Z

Sofirn:

It’s not easy to make a high quality headlamp with battery under $20, but we can try. A good budget headlamp is our plan. We would love to listen.

Can you do this but cheaper :sunglasses:

skinny_tie · 2018-11-01T09:11:19.000Z

Sofirn:

It’s not easy to make a high quality headlamp with battery under $20, but we can try. A good budget headlamp is our plan. We would love to listen.

Go Sofirn!

I’d love a right-angle light with interchangeable 18650 and 18350 tubes, easily replaceable TIR optic so users can choose the beam that suits them, and a UI based on Andúril or Narsil. An option for a reflector and Manker E03 style diffuser would be a bonus.

I’d be happy to pay $20 for that without a cell, but if you can do a package with a USB-rechargeable cell that would be great.

Agro · 2018-11-01T10:40:48.000Z

skinny_tie:

Sofirn:

It’s not easy to make a high quality headlamp with battery under $20, but we can try. A good budget headlamp is our plan. We would love to listen.

Go Sofirn!

I’d love a right-angle light with interchangeable 18650 and 18350 tubes, easily replaceable TIR optic so users can choose the beam that suits them, and a UI based on Andúril or Narsil.

If that was built lightweight like Skilhunt H03(or lighter), I would absolutely love a light like that. Actually I would pay $40 for it even if it had a simple linear driver, not-great-but-ok led and no lightened switch. I would pay a little extra for either buck+LH351D or boost+xhp35 because efficacy is very important for my headlamp uses.
That’s because low weight, great ui, 18700+18350 combo simply doesn’t exist on the market. Modding allows that, but for ~$40 and with extra effort.
I would typically use Folomov 18700 battery-powerbank or Aspire 18350 with it.

joechina · 2018-11-01T14:33:25.000Z

Two different Tir optics.

- Flood with pebbles

one with tight beam

and 4500K or warmer

lohtse · 2018-11-01T15:00:13.000Z

why don’t you takes the requests over to my thread about a BLF headlamp so this thread can stay about recommendations

ActiveAl · 2018-11-01T15:23:40.000Z

skinny_tie:

Sofirn:

It’s not easy to make a high quality headlamp with battery under $20, but we can try. A good budget headlamp is our plan. We would love to listen.

Go Sofirn! I’d love a right-angle light with interchangeable 18650 and 18350 tubes, easily replaceable TIR optic so users can choose the beam that suits them, and a UI based on Andúril or Narsil. An option for a reflector and Manker E03 style diffuser would be a bonus. I’d be happy to pay $20 for that without a cell, but if you can do a package with a USB-rechargeable cell that would be great.

What is the big deal about L-shaped headlamps? What can an L-shaped headlamp do that a T-shaped can't do plus avoid parallax.

I'm here to learn. Thanks.