I had the Crelant but it worked for a minute before quitting. A lot of people seem to like it, and it seems to be a decent light for the going rate of $25-30. The next would be the Skilhunt H02, at about $40 some places. This is a nice light too, I think I like it a bit better than the Crelant. I’ve had much more time to spend with it, it’s pretty high quality but the mode spacing isn’t great. I’ll have a video review of it up tonight or tomorrow, with a comparison to the wizard pro.
I usey ZL H52W when modding (pretty much daily, a few batteries a day). It makes it so much easier than a fixed overhead light (I have. 2’ 2x T5 fixture right above my work area but the headlamp is still needed).
I have diffuser film on the lens, plan to pickup a 502 at some point, or maybe a sparks headlamp.
First, a disclaimer: I’m photosensitive. What I find comfortable might not be the same as most people.
For modding purposes, I find the ZL H51w works well on M2 (7 lm) or M1 (26 lm). It’s a bit throwy though. For biking, it works well on M1 (26 lm) or H2 (86 lm). Or if I use the floodier H52Fw, I find the medium modes (11lm/27hr, 23 lm/12hr, 47 lm/7.5hr) are very comfortable levels while soldering (and other up-close work where I want to see very clearly). I don’t generally use that one for biking though, since I mostly switched to handlebar lights.
An adjustable desk lamp is also nice for modding, but has the issue of casting shadows since it comes from a different location than my eyes.
That brings to mind a potential issue on the CH10. Its business end sticks out, so it might also have shadow issues for up-close use. Ideally, a headlamp should emit light from directly between the eyes (or at least very close to there):
The product page didn’t really say anything about its lower modes, below 120 lumens. I’d be concerned about it being too bright. It also appears like it would need some diffuser film for up-close use. But it is rather nice that the emitter is in the center instead of off to one side.
This mostly solves the throwy issue and stick-out-y issue, but it’s still thicker than a 1xAA light:
As for having a middle strap on the headband, that’s just to support extra weight for heavier headlamps. I find it completely unnecessary on my ZL H5* lights since they’re so light. … and I haven’t tried a heavier headlamp, so I don’t know how that would go. I do find the ZL headband more comfortable than using a shoelace, but the shoelace can work in a pinch if I don’t mind having a line across my forehead for a while afterward. 
It’s really a pity that the more expensive headlamps aren’t moddable. I’ve been begging Zebralight for years to make a H5* model with a Nichia 219 inside, they refuse to do it, and I can’t just mod one.
In any case, this probably doesn’t provide any clear answers… sorry. You could always grab a cheapo headlamp for about the price of a SK-68, and use that to figure out if you personally like the idea. I bought and tested one which was basically like the front third of a SK-68 on my forehead before I decided to go ahead with buying a “real” headlamp. It was a good way to stick my foot in the water to decide if I wanted to jump in.
Oh, and I always forget since I don’t wear them… but many headlamps with rubber holders can have the rubber part routed through the back of a baseball cap, and that makes a nicer way of wearing it than the regular headband. If you wear a baseball cap a lot, it’s also a convenient place to store the light, so you merely need to flip the hat around backwards at night.
If you really needed one, you’d have one already. 
Decent place to start.
The Pezl Zipka -style headlamps are great imo.
They can easily be attached to almost anything (your head, wrist, handlebar, tool that is in use, or metal surfaces(if it has a magnet)). They are quite small, and there’s no headband to get tangled anywhere when storing it.
They are not as high tech or powerful as some other headlamps, but the retractable “headband” is really handy.
I like the Wizard Pro for reading, and I'd expect the Tiara to be just as good. What makes it so good is that the lens diffuses the emitter, which really helps when there's glare coming back from whatever you're looking at. That is, it's less blinding like how looking at a 2000 lumen fluorescent tube is less blinding than looking at a bare 2000 lumen LED. If I didn't have a Wizard Pro and H52, I'd probably be seriously considering a Tiara...and I might still get it if it really proves to put out 500 lumens with an AA battery, even if that's only possible with a lithium primary instead of an Eneloop like Armytek claims.
+1
I had that light in my signature until recently… had to get rid of my “old gems” section to make room for a “custom” section. But the Zipka was one of my favorite lights of all time before I discovered Cree, and it’s still a very convenient design.
Yes you need one. Get the AA Armytek Tiara in wide beam neutral or warm white.
I have a zebra h51w, a fenix hl21, and recently a crelant ch10, and like them all. I think I’m going to start buying headlamps instead of flashlights , I think there more usefull, they free up your hands
I thought the style of the Crelant CH10 was appealing, and at less than $30 I went ahead and gave it a shot. The Crelants I’ve seen have been well made lights, but I would really like an ArmyTek, they seem very tough made…haven’t seen one in person to date.
If the Crelant doesn’t work according to my needs, that will give me an excuse to try one of the others, or three. 
Shhhhh! This is NOT pre-meditated! 
I have two myself that I use interchangeably depending on the situation - a H502c and a H51c. Sometimes I need all flood and other times, I need the spot. I keep both at arms reach when I am modding.
IMO headlights are the most practical type of lights. They look a little funny to some people, but this is one of those things that you don’t think much of but then after you use it you can’t go back to not using it.
No long ago, I was doing some repair work inside my vehicle in the dark. I brought 2x 800 lumens flashlights, but they were almost useless as I could not get them to point at the position that I was working on. I could not rely on ceiling bounce as my car paint work was black. Flashlights are w/o lanyard, so hanging down was not possible too. That was when I realized that I should get a headlamp for this purpose.
I wanted to use headlamp for cycling as well, so I bought CH10 to try out. CH10 has custom super low mode (ramping). So low that you thought it is OFF mode. Haha.
Good Day,
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My favourity headlamp is the Nitecore HC90, because its infinitely variable brightness & high maximum output of 900 Lumens (ANSI/NEMA FL1) make it Extremely Useful even for use in the daytime (indoors & outdoors)…
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I have a few other headlamps (Zebralight, Armytek, Fenix, etc), but the Nitecore HC90 has become my favourite headlamp due to its flexibility, features, robustness, & quality build….
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Btw, Illumn (formerly Illumination Supply) currently has CODE: “WEEKLY” to get a Superb discount on both Armytek & Nitecore headlamps.
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Regards,
Roberta 0:)
Here you go with doit yourself style:
My eyes started to feel the pain in the middle of work with driver section so that’s was my fast solution to the problem (this photo doesn’t do justice by the way)
I bought this headlamp and wrote this review: http://club.dx.com/reviews/text/232948/489763
I had very specific requirements for this lamp and this model was at the time the only one I could find anywhere at any price that met my exact requirements (written in review). Since I wrote that review the durability has proven to be pretty good so far expect that a battery spring came off. That was an easy fix though. I use this light as a close to mid range headlamp for climbing, and also general camping activities.
It costs maybe too much to be considered a budget light but I’m very happy with it as it met my requirements. If the requirements I had make no difference, then there is really no point in buying this light.
Dale, How have you lived without a headlamp? I have one of the Zebra’s with an 18650 and find it to be one of the most useful tools I own. Spent several hours last weekend in a soffit that was very hard to access. Before entry I put a fresh NCRB in and had several hours of bright light! In my opinion the little added size of a 18650 light is well worth it for the extra run time over a 14500 light. I also prefer the way the Zebra’s sit more flush to my head versus the protruding style of several others. My $.02.
In terms of practicality for indoor and close-range, I find headlamps a lot more useful than hand-held, but I haven’t found any with good throw, so they aren’t much use outdoors for me.