My father usually cleans up his small garden (picking up slugs & dog poo) after sundown and he uses an unbelievably shoddy cheapo multi-LED headlamp in the process. It does function but my flash-o-pride tells me I should get him a more quality piece for Christmas.
Here is what I need:
* floody; effective range of 20-30 feet should be plenty enough
* rugged and reliable
* easy operation, push rather than twist UI (he is 71 y.o.), no strobe, just high and low, but single output level is also acceptable
* reliable
* should run on AA or AAA eneloops, no Lithium Ions
Get a Sipik SK68 clone - most are 1 mode, like the original. Couple of recommended ebay sources for $6 w/shipping. Gotta order a few myself - think I saw an ebay site shipping from NJ, was recommended. If a find it, I'll post here. The clones are brighter I believe, seem just as good/better. I got an orginal from DX.
OP WAS asking about a headlight… Any of the Zebralight AA models will be excellent. Never mind all the settings, just pick one he likes and it’s 1-click on and off from then on.
Now this seller (campingsurvivals) has been used for other BLF guys here without issues, so he should not be a high risk. This is his complete listing: Here. There are a couple of others, but the one above uses the same LED the SK68 clones use, and has a zoom, so should be a decent flood.
Just an idea - I haven't bought one, or dealt with the seller myself.
At $9.99 and less this is a real budget light but it’s been very reliable for me. I’ve been using it when fishing for a couple of years now. Also around the garden and walking the dog. It does have a strobe setting though. Other settings are just full and medium. Similar light is on ebay often even cheaper. The zoom goes from tight throw to wide flood.
my prime candidate was the UF H-2 to begin wit, glad to see positive input on that one (isn't it funny that the ZL clone is now itself being copied :) )
I think I'll give that a try, run it in and if everything is fine... er.... buy another one for dad? :D