Thread: Budget headlamp advice wanted!

After a headlamp to stick in the pack just in case I need it to get back to the car, hut or recover/butcher an animal in the dark. Looking to pay around $150 or less.

Any suggestions? Battery or rechargeable? Brands to use/avoid?

Cheers!

something with 18650 or similar that you can battery swap if required.

I have an excellent headlamp I got from Jacob at Piercingthedarkness. It cost around NZ$50 plus shipping. From memory I had to buy the battery separately, but he has some good ones. It has different levels of brightness and will glow red or white. I use it several times a week and it has never let me down. I think mine was called an H25LR and they appear to be out of stock currently, but perhaps he has some coming or he'll have something else. I've bought a lot of flashlights and headlamps and I resisted getting rechargeable batteries for a long time, but these latest models are excellent. I see Jacob has some Sofirn headlamps. I have one which I bought elsewhere and it, too, is very very good.

I really like the black diamond head lights. They take 3 AAA, are waterproof and last a long time. Not to dear either.

Sofirn H25LR off Ali Express.
Cheap as chips. Lasts and lasts.
Good battery life.
Has a red light too, which is good if you don't want the deer to see you.
$35

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...0aAgdQEALw_wcB

Jacob at Piercingthedarkness might have them too.

buy a decent light, try to get one with replaceable batteries even though it has a battery inside that is chargeable thru the torch. a battery or 2 in the pocket weighs nothing, skinning bambi when the light goes out is awful

Budget headlamps.

Find one of those battery displays at your nearest Warehouse / supermarket / Bunnings. Energizer do a range of budget headlamps. Cheap and work well for the money. You won't cry if you lose it or lend it to a family member and never get it back...

My favourite headlamps for use around the house or around camp are the small Black Diamond ones that run on AAAs. If I need more power (e.g. walking hills in the dark) I like the H25LR I got off AliExpress. Very good torch for the money.

I just use a cheap energiser one now. I think it was $15 or something like that. I like basic, like on off thats it I dont need 20 fukn modes to go through just to get some light.

Fenix HM23 or HM50

https://www.piercingthedarkness.co.nz/headlamps

Jacob is very good to deal with.

https://www.piercingthedarkness.co.n...ge/sofirn-hs21
This. Awesome headlamp. Replaced a more expensive Nitecore and it's way better.
Definitely go rechargeable. That way you always know you have a fully charged light rather than some half spent AAA's.
Jacob at Piercing the Darkness also come highly regarded by many on here, nice to support local.

We have two Black Diamond Storm 500-R's which have done us well so far. Not the brightest lamps compared to what's out there, but very reliable

+1 for Piercing the Darkness. There will be something good in your price range.

I'm actually happy I can't find my head torch because it means I have an excuse to browse the site again, it's that good.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by blip

I just use a cheap energiser one now. I think it was $15 or something like that. I like basic, like on off thats it I dont need 20 fukn modes to go through just to get some light.

Exactly. I only want light to see by. Not at all interested in strobes or sos signals.

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/led...H23131-1M.html hands down best cheap head lamp I have ever had and can change battery's, even use it to spotlight racoons .