Let’s say you decide to go minimal and decide to strip down your entire collection to only two lights.
They have to cover these use cases:
At least one headlamp for use in camping/hiking and around the house. Should be lightweight for travel and backpacking purposes with a lot of runtime.
One alternative light of your choosing that is practical (thrower? lantern? other?) This one doesn’t have a weight limitation since it would be used around the house only.
Your budget is $150, bonus points if you can get it under $100.
My thoughts:
Headlamp: Either Zebra H53Fc or Nitecore NU25 because it’s so light, but I don’t like that the battery is no-replaceable. Wish they would at least make a version of the nitecore that had a bigger batter for 0.5 to 1oz heavier.
Thrower: Unsure. Would want something that’s throwy, but still has useful spill within 200 ranges. Something like the Sofirn C8A that uses the xp-l2 instead of the xp-l hi. Or maybe a slightly bigger light with the XHP35 / 50?
Other light would be the Olight S1A. It has some quirks, but for me is a very practical light. It can use a 14500 or Alkaline/NiMH/Lithium Primary AA cell.
Armytek Prime Pro A1 used with 18350 body as AC light. Also have AA body and 18650 body. Skilhunt clip for deeper pocket carry and still use the tail magnet, clip had magnets epoxied to it but I lost the last one a few days ago. Dang now I got something to do. Used it today while adding water tank drain to camper. This light has been on a 40 day run, would of been much longer but I carried a Armytek partner for a few days.
Armytek Wizard Pro headlamp. Older one with XPL. Use it almost daily. Did today while I hacked a thermo electric cooler.
Both lights are a warmish tint.
These 2 lights could easily be my only 2 lights. But what fun would that be???
Edit- Adding both of these lights were bought on sale. I am under $100 including the extra bodies, cells and a charger.
my Maratacs, Tools, and Olight Minis have hat compatible clips. as does my aspheric lensed Utorch
Klarus makes a more reliable version than the Utorch, still with aspheric lens, like the McGizmo Sundrop. Aspherics have really useful beams, to see my hands and what Im doing at arms length, with an indoor headlamp. It is the most amazing alternative to a hot spot and spill, for close use.
here is another pairing… stock 6000k Cool White (Cool Green) magnetic rotary with infinite adjustment of super low lows… very efficient and still able to reach out with 600 lumens… plus the modded Warm White 2000k Utorch Aspheric S1 Mini, as a battery backup, and headlamp… I recommend the Klarus version instead since its medium is 45 lumens instead of 100, so 6 hour battery life around camp with a headlamp
I don’t consider a 2000k flashlight in my “only two” and I also don’t consider a mega thrower in my “only two”. So I will have to pick just good all around lights that just plain work. Out of the ones I own would be either a Lumintop Tool AA or Ultratac A1 and a BLF A6 or a Sofirn C8F. If I am in desperate need of a headlamp I will duct tape one of them to my head.