Headlamps - Good? Bad? Ugly?

[MikeH55343]

Just curious what is the most useful Headlamps for ice fishing. I've been shopping for a while and just can't decide on which to buy. There seems to be too many different models and brands. Let's hear you opinions.

[Esox_Magnum]

I use cheap wal mart energizer brand, prefer the 5 postition ones but the 2 works. I use them year round on the boat, ice and carry one on the snowmobile.

[LOTWSvirgin]

Just make sure to buy a headlamp that takes regular batterys and not the watch like batterys

[croixflats]

+1 n the energizer. The cheaper ones give you great up close brightness for tying jigs with a long battery use while using it as a decent flashlight down the trail. The more focused you get the less battery time you get but you get a longer and more focused beam and cost more which I dont understand, Marketing I guess .

[vman11]

I have an Energizer as well, a little black and green one with options for either a clear and red light. Takes AAA batteries.

[croixflats]

Invest in Double A rechargeable's and a charger they will pay for themselves. Rechargeabble's I keep going back to rayovac hybrids. Dont discount them, seriously. Not to name drop Ditro introduced them to me and HSO/FM and I have been trying to find something comparable with no success.

[Slabasaurus]

I bought a cheaper model on sale online last year... and learned some things. I used this one all open water season last year, and when working on remodeling the house.

Most important, make sure it's bright enough. Mine works well for tying jigs, but its range is limited. It works, but not as well all my friends' do, which is why I am pickin up a new one tomorrow.

I have a headband for mine, but it has a hat clip too. I only used the headband at the end of open water with my stocking cap... otherwise I clipped it onto my baseball cap.

I'm going to look for one that has multiple color settings as well (hopefully help pickin crawlers), but make sure it has high and low settings at least. The push button models work a lot better with a fish on... some folks don't like the dials as much.

Like I said, the cheaper one will work well. Depends on how much you're going to use it, and what for.

[Eelpout08]

i have a couple of the black and green energizer ones also. they seen to do the job just fine. im sure there are better ones out there but i figured its like sunglasses- the more i spend the faster it gets lost or broken.

[LipRipper!!]

I use cheap wal mart energizer brand, prefer the 5 postition ones but the 2 works. I use them year round on the boat, ice and carry one on the snowmobile.

I have the same one ( 5 position) and would be lost without it!!!!

[caseymcq]

I bought a couple of cheap ones off that auction web site and they weren't too durable. Then I got a Stream Light Argo, well worth the extra money. It is a L-E-D that runs on 3-AAA's and has three settings. It isn't big and bulky and fairly light weight. I would reccomend these for any activity that a headlamp would be useful for.

[picksbigwagon]

I have owned a few of them over the past years, one of the first ones I got was a princetec with three led lights in a triangle formation. WOrked great until the push button fell out. I then went with a "cheap" energizer model from walmart with 5 LED lights. I got it for a hunting trip up north, I forgot my old trusty pricetec at home. Well, later that winter I bought a 4 light petzel head lamp and while it is super bright and is great on longer ranges, I kept going back to that energizer one. I have a head lamp in my truck (petzel one) one in my boat (a xmas gift, it sucks down the batteries quickly) and 3 energizer ones. One is my reading lamp, one is in my camping cooking box and the other is in my ice house.

Go with the 3 AAA models, don't get the ones with 3 or 4 straps and the big battery pack on the back of your head, they are heavy and uncomfortable

[LMITOUT]

I've been using a Princeton Tec for years and bought another last year that I found on sale. Nice little units for the price.

[magicstix]

Well i haven't tried the energizer one because I avoid walmart as much as possible but maybe I'll have to go check it out. I'm to also looking and gave up for a while because I'm overwhehled with the choices. I currently have a cheapo from 20yrs ago that the red is great, weak on the white. I bought a cheapo from Dick's and the white is good for working in your area but no distance and the red bites!! The others I liked but am having a hard time spending the money is princeton revo? and Browning nitro but one takes camera batts. and the batt life is not great on either one. The Nitro was my first choice cause a buddy has one and it is bright. good luck . if any one has other suggestions throw em out here.

[jwmiller33]

the energizer ones from walmart have been the best headlamps i have found to date, and i have tried about 5 different ones. battery life and durability is great

[bobbymalone]

A friend of mine turned me on to headlamps about 15 years ago when they weren't all the rage and they weren't cheap. My first one had a big bulky 4AA battery pack on the back of my head and a wire running around to the big reflector in the front. Like a coal miner head lamp. I've been through a lot of headlamps since then but I've settled on the energizer style. Best bang for your buck, batteries last almost forever, and I haven't ever had quality issues. I am not sure about spending the cash on a fancy one since I have a habit of losing them.

[BartmanMN]

Energizer ones for me. Work excellent and are cheap.

[croixflats]

As these lights make our life so much easier. For those that still need help threading the line buy the 3 pack reading glasses rather than the individual.. More help? Frabile line cutter with light helps and it cuts everything with precision.

I'm not getting old I just didn't get enough sleep.

[FrontenacPike]

I have been using a "black diamond icon" for about 3 years after reading a top gear review in Outdoor life.

It has a high-powered 3-watt LED with a technical reflector for a single, ultrabright beam; or the other setting a four super-bright, energy-conserving LED lights. (sorry if that sounds like a sales pitch, I had to copy and paste so I didn't have to make words up)

I also bought my brother one a couple years ago for Christmas. This year while we were out tracking a blood trail at night my dad seen how powerful the searchlight was and said he wanted one (he has a walmart). The ambient setting is perfect for a flood light that lights up everything within 6 feet. The search light goes out about 20 feet. I use mine for everything, camping, boat fishing, deer hunting, ice fishing..ect ect and have only changed the batteries 2 times in 3 years. Granted they aren't the cheapest but very reliable and easy on the batteries. Cableas sells them for $65, but you can find them for $50 by doing a little internet shopping.

[skolfoppa]

Petzl retractable. Not made in china. Skol.

[Lunker]

I second the cheap energizer. It is easy to use, takes regular batteries, isn't fragile, and is easily replaced if lost or broken. I see people lose and break expensive headlamps all the time. Not worth it. And for a cheap headlamp, the energizer kind is pretty durable. Mine has survived a summer at ranger school and a duck season so far and is still kickin.

[mainbutter]

I have a Petzl and a Black Diamond

The Petzl is super great quality and worth every penny. I never go fishing or hiking without it.

I haven't had a chance to try out the Black Diamond which was a Christmas present. I'm going snowshoeing and perhaps camp overnight outside, so I'll get to give it a try. The thing I like about the black diamond is that it's got a dimming function on the LEDs, so if I'm with a partner I'm not constantly blinding them should we be sitting opposite each other. Full power seems great, and will be wonderful to have trekking through the woods after dark.

I don't see how someone could spend 5 figures on a boat, 4 figures on rods and reels, 3 figures on a vexilar, but when it comes to quality lighting skimp on an extra $20. A good flashlight or headlamp is invaluable to me in the outdoors.

[slipperybob]

Cyclops and Princeton Tec are wonderful and waterproof. I have lousy run with cheap Energizers but they've got some nice ones out there now.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Do yourself a big favor and get the Energizer ones that have been mentioned. They are by far the best headlamp for how great of a price they are. I've spent double on a headlamp before and got half the headlamp that the Energizer gave me.

[Reservoir Dawg]

Another vote for the cheapo's I have a Ray-O-Vac that uses one AA battery. It has a single real bright bulb and a little flip up thingie that will diffuse the light. I have tried a lot of more expensive lights but this is the one I like best

[cm1977]

I also use the Black Diamond Icon. I have used it for a few years and got my brother and Dad one last year. Walking back from our stands one night they could not believe the difference from their Petzels to my Black Diamond. For the amount of time it is on my head the extra money is well worth it.