I get why strobes are useful in certain situations, but they’re hopefully a feature that’s rarely used. Maybe the exception would be night cycling. Low modes I use quite often. I just got a Zebralight yesterday… but also have an Armytek Tiara and Predator Pro, which all have awesome firefly modes. They’re useful when your eyes are already adjusted to the dark. With the efficiency of some lights, you could even leave them on all night for a gentle night light. Lighting the trail in front of you is probably not the intended use for a firefly mode. Some moonlight modes fare better for this. I always find these questions odd. I can get a particular user not getting much out of either of these modes. What I don’t get are people who think the modes are useless or stupid, and who don’t get why other people like them. I don’t like strobe, but I get why people like them.
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts on this. That a strobe might be useful for attracting the attention of workmates, or as an animal repellent (I’ll have to test that one on the local sheep), had not occurred to me. I now have to concede that there are some valid reasons for wanting a strobe, even though these reasons are not relevant to my own needs.
There are some special modes that I can see a point in having. I have never needed an SOS mode, and hopefully never will. However in the unlikely event that I do find myself needing an SOS, I’m sure I will be extremely grateful to the person who decided to include it in the lamp. Some seem to imply that a strobe in some way substitutes for an SOS mode. Personally, I would be inclined to stay away from anyone who is using a strobe (might be Rambo), but would always see an SOS as a call for help. I can also see that a beacon mode might have its uses. Personally I still have absolutely no interest in a strobe mode.
Moonlight or “spouse” mode still has no attraction for me either. The reason I have a headlamp is so that I don’t need to depend on my night vision. But we all have different wants and needs. The “best” headlamp is the one that suits your requirements. For me that means IPX6, a long throw, well spaced modes suited to cross-country hiking, and a flip-up diffuser. But if moonlight or strobes are your thing, then I hope you find a lamp that suits.
@ Leif,
Quote: “An ultra bright mode that lasts only 3 minutes annoys me, it means yet one more mode to switch through, and as it lasts only 3 minutes it is of little practical use to me. Many like it though.”
Each to their own tastes, but what you said is opposite to my opinion. I do very much want that ultra-bright or “burst” mode. For me it is one of the most import features when choosing a headlamp. When I’m half way up a mountain I want to be able to spot hazards and obstructions well in advance, in order to avoid the need for backtracking. Also, trails can can become indistinct for long stretches, and being able to pick up a trail in the distance is very important to me. After water resistance, beam distance is the most important thing to me. But, I might only need that long throw for two minutes out of six hours. Most of the time 50 lumen’s is more than enough, and often 10 lumen’s is adequate.
This Is where I think headlight manufacturers are going wrong. They are putting in too many high modes and ultra-low modes, and neglecting the low to medium ranges. Yes I want that 750 lumen burst with an FL1 throw of 160 meters - for a few seconds out of every hour -, but that does not mean I then want to march through the night on 500 lumen’s. For 95% of the time a choice between 12, 50, and 200, lumen’s is what I want. 50 lumen’s is probably what I’m going to use most when walking, 200 for really challenging terrain. 12 lumen’s around a camp site, or reading. And that 750 lumen burst there for when I need a quick peek into the distance. Of course the exact choice of lumen values will depend on the beam characteristics. I’m imagining a tight hot spot with a relatively weak spill of perhaps 80 or 90 degrees. A beam similar to a Fenix HL21 or HP11.
Why not? I think most of us BLF members wanted this ‘wife’ mode or ‘spouse’ mode because we love our spouses. 
I do see use for moon mode on headlamp(my personal opinions intended for my own use, wont neccessarily apply to someone else):
-preserving night vision
-reading books, maps, whatever at arms length
-navigating around obstacles while walking to avoind disturbance of someone nearby
-usable light for days or even weeks in emergency
-simply being visible by other people around you when outdoors in the dark without turning on strobe or higher modes and disrupting night time experience with bright lights
-and as mentioned - opening doors with keys in the dark
Discos - beacon and irregular strobe good for being visible, either put beacon and leave the light at the camp or turn on some of the advanced-irregular strobe modes when cycling.
I use super low modes to look inside shiny parts, like the tiny venturi in chainsaw carburetors. Even 5 lumens shadow the bottom of the hole, due to reflection.
Also when I get up at night, I don’t bother anyone else and at the same time don’t break an ankle on dog toys 
Curiously lots of people say that strobe is good for defense and yet I’ve never come across an example, or that SOS could save your life, and yet I have never seen an example, and assume it must be very very rare. An article on CPF by a Dutch cop suggests that a flashlight or torch is not good for self defence. Maybe we could have survival torches, for those who walk in the wilderness. Or keep the disco modes present but hidden, which is a new welcome trend.
If you want strobe or moon modes making it hard to reach is less than ideal. If you don’t like them don’t buy them. It’s like the discussion of start on high or start on low. There isn’t a right answer, just preference. What precipitates arguments over this is a demand that one justify a preference and offer proof to back it up. It’s not necessary to do so. If you don’t see a need for someone else’s preference then please don’t seek to invalidate their choice. Instead work harder on your sense of empathy.
When I’m out and about walking at night, I run across a lot of mean dogs. A good strobe is a surprisingly effective deterrent. As long as the dog isn’t old and blind. 
But I do insist that the strobe be somewhat hidden so I don’t access it by accident, but at the same time I like to be able to reach it without jumping through too many hoops. I think my preferred mode setup is a double-click on a soft switch to reach the strobe.
As for the ultra-low modes, something about the survivalist in me likes to know that my light can run for 200 hours on a single AA. Also sometimes you don’t want to ruin your night-vision but do need a bit of light.
I use ML mode in a small light so i can go grab my search and blind light ;)
I have long thought that Moon mode would be better lablelled as toilet mode or possibly kindle mode as that is how so many of us ending up using the sub 3 lumen setting.