Need a headlamp recommendation - open to battery types

LED Flashlights – General Info
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Hi everyone! Haven’t been in this forum in years, and it’s good to see this awesome community still going strong. I haven’t kept up with the latest and greatest in quite a while so I need some help from you all. Here’s what I’m looking for in order of highest priority to lowest.
A headlamp with:

  • Fixed position, don’t want it to pivot up and down. Too many of the hinges of my other headlamps have broken/worn out which then makes the lamp useless and it falls down the the lowest angle. Just want a straight shooter. :slightly_smiling_face:
  • Preferably uses 18650s, but I’m fine with AAs since I have eneloops. Just don’t want the typical AAA.
  • More floody than spot since it will be used for light work around the house

I’ve looked through Amazon and I just can’t tell what’s legit and good anymore with the way the reviews are sorted and incentivized. I need the experts of this forum to help! Thanks in advance everyone!

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Skilhunt H04; H300; H150; Zebralight

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Welcome back. Do you have a budget for this light? Some of the less expensive (than those mentioned above) Sofirn Headlamps seem to be well received.

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The best headlamps in terms of building quality and LED options are the Hanks: there’s the DW4 for 18650s (and it has single and dual channels – with the dual channel version, you can put red LEDs, or a different tint of white for tint-ramping, on the 2nd channel), or the dual channel D2 for 14500s.

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Thanks for the recommendations! The skilhunts and zebralights are definitely on the high end of the budget. Interestingly, some of the skilhunts models look like Olight batons.

I think under 30 would be desirable since this was not intended to be an EDC for me. I have plenty of those. This would be more specific to just small jobs around the house.

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https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Headlamp-Flashlight-Running-Backpacking/dp/B095WH2V3W/ref=asc_df_B095WH2V3W?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80333185695345&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583932714156933&psc=1

Sofirn D25L Battery included. I have one. It seems to me that it would fit your requirements. ~$27
Apparently you can get the D25LR (with red led) cheaper from Sofirn.

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With a $30 budget I would recommend a Wurkkos HD15R if a red LED mode is important for you, or an HD20 if you prefer separate flood/throw optics:

The HD20 is a 21700 light but also takes 18650 batteries, ships from the US and has a special “relocating the US storehouse” 40%coupon that brings the price down to under $20 – unbeatable value IMO.

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You are killing me here… I ordered one HD20. But it was ~$22.50 all said and done.

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“The Sofirn D25LR is by far the best value for money headlamp I’ve tested. The combination of 500 lumen high-CRI white light, 200 lumen deep red light, moonlight mode, internal USB charging, easy to use user interface, and budget price, ticks all the right boxes.” — review by blf member @stephenk

right now, it’s $15.74 on sofirn with a coupon code.

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Not a bad price, considering. And the “relocation” promo is a recent thing.

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I for one wouldn’t buy a dedicated headlamp – IMO an angled light that can be head-mounted buys a lot of extra flexibility.

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I didn’t see a “relocation” promo… but there was a 40% coupon…I used it.

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These are all great recommendations! I think I’ll check out the Wurkkos. Seems like good value.

I don’t mind having a dedicated headlamp, especially if it’s under the $30 price range. I have so many other flashlights: shorties, throwers, pop can style, but nothing that I can mount to my head that allows my hands to be free but also move the direction of light to what I’m working on. Thus the search for a cheap headlamp.

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That’s the one: 【Wurkkos discount update】Christmas deal now and blink boxes available~ - #225 by Wurkkos

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I love Wurkkos, it’s the only brand I have more than 1 flashlight from. They have good quality, good prices, good shipping, great CS right here in BLF, and have very nice and innovative products like the TS10 (which is for me the best general-use light ever).

One thing I do here is to use this “straight light” headband to mount my TS10 and FC13 to my head: Amazon.com

Acommodates either of these lights easily; what I do is to put the light in to top loop, then move it up and down the curve of my head to adjust the angle. Works very well for me.

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Seriously can’t go wrong with the D25LR at this price. Still my most used headlamp.

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How does it keep from spinning around? From the photos, it looks like it just snaps in, but I can’t tell where there would be grooves to keep it stable. I also like that there’s an Amazon buying option.

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Convoy H1?

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My headlamp of choice is the Sofirn HS20.
It’s mostly floody, but it has a bit of throw.
It has two emitters that can be operated independently, so you can just use one if you want.
It pivots up and down, but the way it pivots up and down will not break or wear out.

I’m waiting for the Convoy H3 to be released with the XHP70.3 HI emitter, but the Convoy H3 uses a 21700 cell.
You could wait for the Convoy H4, which should use an 18650 cell.

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Ended up getting the Sofirn D25LR. Couldn’t pass up the deal even if it has to ship from China. Thanks again everyone for all the input. Couldn’t have done it without this awesome community.

On a separate note, what are the better budget brands nowadays? When I was active on this forum, Convoy was pretty much hands down the best budget brand, and brands like Skilhunt were just coming into play. I also remember Lumintop, Thrunite…

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