Hello !
I’m looking for the best headlamp for night hiking. I have somes requirements:
I’m hesitating between 3 models:
Skilhunt H200
Skilhunt H04RC
ARMYTEK WIZARD C2
Which one has the most comfortable headband? And practical if I have to unclip the torch.
Which one has the best build quality and durability?
Do you have any other models to suggest?
Thanks
Ain’t got many headlamps, so I just grab what I got and I’m fine with it.
Headbands… some people like the single strap that goes around, others like the one with the additional strap that goes over the top of the head. Me, I like the stability of the extra strap. Plus, I got too many single-strap headbands where the clippy-things that adjust the band just get loose and I’ve literally had to staple the f’er into place to keep the bands from slipping and having me wear the headlamp like a necklace.
Clamps… I like the rubbery rings that you push the light into, as they never break, always hold their position, and are just better in my opinion. Others insist on the plastic C-type clamps, which I hate. Any of the 4 prongs snaps off, and it’s useless. The clamps bend, stretch, or just randomly get loose, and your light will always drop down and light up your sneakers and little else.
Given the choice between a good headlamp and POS strap, or a POS headlamp with a good strap, I’ll take the latter all the time. Don’t underestimate what’s usually just an afterthought to most people looking at what to buy.
Zebralight number 1
Armytek number 2
Get both if you can.
Also get the Borout for $8 on sale. A favorite on BLF.
Sofirn D25LR Too expensive on Amz but cheaper on Ali
Skilhunt has the most comfortable headband in my opinion. Armytek has better mechanical durability, but their quality control may be questionable.
The H04 RC has been a community favorite for years, and the Nichia 519A LED option makes it even better. For cold tolerance however, I would suggest a model with a boost driver. That’s not the H04 RC, H200, or standard model Wizard.
It is the Skilhunt H300 or Armytek Wizard Pro. I’d suggest the Nichia 144A LED in either case. The Zebralight H600 series is likely a step above either in terms of quality and durability, but it costs more and does not have onboard charging. I’d also probably buy a Skilhunt headband separately for the Zebralight as I don’t share Lightbringer’s fondness for the rubber loop style headbands.
Unno. Literally every single headband I had with the clamps turned to shiite.
At best, they started out snug and then just got ridiculously loose, or at worst, just bent, snapped, or lost all grip entirely.
Still got the original Boruit straps with the rubber, and every single one is as good as the day I got 'em.
And coincidentally, all the ones I had to staple also had the clamps.
Soooo, yeah I’m biased. From experience, granted, but still biased.
What is the cold weather / boost driver connection? I generally prefer boost drivers for efficiency but haven’t discovered this aspect.
Just a few thoughts:
Some of the newer Skilhunts come with rotating brackets, and it looks like the center of gravity is closer to the head (better). I’m not sure what ships with what, or if you can buy them separately now.
My main thing is being able to replace the headband, since they stretch it happens about once a year.
Welcome back, BatPower!
I’ve owned my Skilhunt H04RC for just over 3 years now - with daily use on a farm. I’m really pleased with the headband, it’s held up wonderfully over these last 3 years with daily use and I don’t really detect much if any ‘sag’ or stretch. I’m not sure why other people’s bands seem to stretch out, I’ve found my band to be very sturdy and has held up remarkably well considering how old it is and how much I use it. Maybe others just have larger heads or are constantly adjusting the band.
The quick-release snap-in clip bracket thing that skilhunt has is also excellent. I find it disappointing that more manufacturers aren’t designing something similar. Unless skilhunt have some sort of patent on it. It’s got a great ‘detent’ and the light is very secure when clipped-in. I have and have continually had 100% faith in it to hold the headlamp unit.
Cold temperature increases the internal resistance of batteries resulting in a larger voltage sag under load. In single-cell lights with non-boost drivers, this can result in a decrease in output.
A boost driver will draw more current as the battery voltage decreases. Both the load and the heat from the LED will warm the battery and improve its performance. The advantage over buck and linear drivers may be smaller with modern low-Vf LEDs like the 519A. With direct drive, of course voltage always affects output.
I generally prefer boost drivers for efficiency
Buck drivers are also good for efficiency.
Hello,
Thanks for your reply!
You’re right, it’s important to have a comfortable, strong headband.
Which strap model is the best? Which brand do you recommend ?
Is there a brand where every detail, whether it’s the headband or the lamp, is meticulously thought out, or at least a brand that comes closest to this idea?
Hi and thanks for your reply !
What is Borout ?
Hello,
Thanks for your reply !
Which model have a boost driver ? Is it important to have a boost driver? I will use it in negative temperatures.
I thought all the lamp were equipped with a buck boost like the Convoy haha.
I was interested in this model, but it only ships to the US 
Thanks for the tips !
Are there headbands whose quality doesn’t change over time? Do they need to be replaced often?
Thanks !
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Read his entire review. Any of the armytek wizards except for the newest Max LR will have a wider smooth beam than almost any other light out there. I find that very important but not everybody does. The C2 WR has four levels of red which I don’t think anybody else does but it also only has four levels of white light. All of the C2 pro models give you more mode level options. And I find you need a cushion or pad where it rests on the forehead on every strap system out there. So there is no one perfect light for everybody. I am going to create a post soon to show how I pad various headband systems out there.
Also see this post.What is your favorite headlamp?
Skilhunt H300, Armytek Wizard Pro, Zebralight H600 series.
In my experience, yes, boost driver lights perform better in extreme cold than single-cell lights with other driver types.
I’m hesitating between the Wizard C2 Warm light and the Armytek Wizard Pro. The Wizard Warm has the advantage of the red light, which can be really useful for my hiking and shooting Northern Lights pictures. However, on the other hand, I’m wondering if the red light can be replaced with a very low white light?
I’ve read somewhere that red light is best for preserving night vision. In my usage, I was primarily thinking of hiking with low/medium light and stopping at spots to take photos, using the red light for adjustments.