Headlamps - Good? Bad? Ugly?

[Ed Carlson]

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.

I have had excellent luck with my Princeton Tec Quad Headlamps. I prefer this model because it takes the 3 triple-A batteries that are easily found when needed, and no exotic and expensive flat batteries. I often use it all evening continuously while ice fishing, and get may evenings use from a set of batteries. They have Hi-Med-Low beams, and a flashing mode. They are frugal in power drain but good batteries are always a plus for longevity of use.

What I also found handy with this model is I can easily remove the head strap, and rig the light on my strap on my ice bibs or Velcro trap it on a bar in a ice house as needed. This has proven very convenient and also gets it off my head when I would wish to avoid that.

They will run you about $30 to $35.

[g_anoka]

Like most people here, I have a collection of lights. My best advice would be avoid the cap lights, especially if you wear bifocals.

[Jim Almquist]

I really like my Princeton tec 3 led and I believe they have a lifetime warranty.

Ed I have not seen that 4 led version but I will have to find one and take a look.

[OnAFly]

I've got both Princeton Tech and Petzl. Both are good. I think the PT is a little brighter.

One suggestion is to use lithium batteries. The performance in cold weather and overall life is much much better. I tried going the rechargeable route but it never panned out, even with the highest amp-minute ratings.

EDIT - I run the same PT as Ed. I would have bought another one of those when I bought the Petzl, but they were out. I would buy another in a heartbeat if I needed another.

[herefish101]

I too own the Princeton Tech Quad and love it, i'm on my second one as my first went to the bottom of Mille Lacs. I hit the BWCAW a few times every summer and I would'nt be cuaght dead without my head lamp, i'v been with guys that bought the cheaper ones and when the weather hit the fan and mother nature tries to kill you(or so it seems) their lamps have failed, they were able to dry them out and get them working again but when your running around camp while tornadic like winds are slapping your canoes against a tree, thats whem I want a lamp that'll work. Good luck and big fish.

[JimBuck]

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.

+1 for the Energizers. I've had mine for 5 years now and she's handled many adventures in the boat, on the ice and in the woods. Still kickin' out good light. I really enjoy the red light option as well.

[DTro]

A few things to consider about the Energizer lamps (since I have about 6 or 7 of them).

-The 6 LED option is nice, but it costs more, and if you are turning it on and off quite a bit, you have to cycle through all different lighting option combonations just to turn it off and gets to be a pain.

-The 3 LED is cheaper and I like the option of a basic on off switch, but the little slider tends to turn on by itself when being carried around in a pocket, I’ve found dead batteries more than once.

-The price of the 3 LED is fair enough so that you can purchase a handful and not only have a backup, but a spare for a friend and a spare backup for a friend.

[swmndeerhunter]

In my experience with headlights you usually get what you pay for. I've used some cheap ones in the past, but they just don't last. 3 years ago I decided to pay a little for one and got a Petzl TacTikka and love it. I use it duck hunting, deer hunting and ice fishing. Works great, is bright enough for what you need. Can use it as a safety light if deer hunting on public land as it has green attachments. And runs of 3 AAA batteries which last forever.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I've had a Browning headlamp for 6 or 7 years. It works great and is good on batteries. Options are either 1LED, 3LEDs, or 1 Halogen. It was around $40-50, but I bet they've come down in price.

[BLACKJACK]

I love it, the old argument between cheap/functional and 'you get what you pay for'.

I also vote for the cheap energizer ones, I have one in my truck, and the other is the main goto one and is either in the boat, bowhunting clothes, or camper, depending upon the season. Buy a 24 pack of 'AAA' batteries and you're good to go. And if I lose it or break it, I'm not out an arm and a leg. They also sell them at Menards if you have Walmart phobia.

[Duffman]

I used to be a big Petzl fan back in the day when they were pretty much the only headlamp makers, then LED's came along. I held off buying one for a few years, because they seemed to be good for only eating outdoors or tying on a jig. Those old Petzl Zooms could throw out a beam 100 yds.

When I finally broke down and decided to get out of the dinosaur age, I liked the designs and functions of the Black Diamond headlamps over Petzl. Now I'm a huge fan of Black Diamond outdoor lighting products, nothing against Petzl, but I'm on my third BD headlamp. And not because the first two broke, I gave my first one to the Mrs., and the second one I still carry with and use at times.

That BD Icon is a great headlamp and I've been using it for the last six months. It throws a great beam, like the ol' Petzls did, yet with the "dimmer" and smaller watt LEDs you can tone it down. I've always brought one of my old Petzl's with for those times when I needed some real light, they have now been offically retired.

All my headlamps still work, even the one that's twenty years old. They make this stuff to survive the toughest elements out there, like climbing the worlds tallest mountains. Like others have said, you get what you pay for, and needing light at a crucial moment can be priceless.

My AAA battery Black Diamond is nice for the ice house, but when I want some real light I break out the AA Icon... (It's cool to see some other Icon fans on HSO)

[svonasek]

I have some baseball style hats with leds built into the brim and one below the brim that shines down at an angle. I love these and I think I only pay like $13 for the hats.

[pureinsanity]

To be honest one of my favorite LED Headlamps came from fleet farm. A rayovac cheapie (14$). It runs on triple A's. Has a single led that puts out as much light in my opinion as one of my head lamps with 3 LED's that cost 40 dollars are REI.

it has a high, low, and strobe setting. along with a red, blue, green led. and even in the back where the batteries go has a light so if people are following you when you are out in the woods they can see the back of your head.

[bikeoutback]

I have had multiple energizer one's including the 3 led one and the 5 led along with a black diamond I got at REI scratch and dent sale cheap. Black diamond has the battery pack behind the head, I don't use it anymore. The energizers I use, have 3 of them like everyone else they are placed in convenient spots. By the way you can get the energizer one's at more places than just wally world like Menards, Target, Fleet Farm.... they are all over the place.

My suggestion: Go buy 1 energizer and try it. If it works then great your all set. If it does not fill the bill then go get any of the other more expensive one's at any of the major outdoor specific stores. Your out at most $15 and you'll find somewhere (truck, ice house, boat) or some other use for the energizer (around the house). I keep one of my energizers hanging on my coat hook at my front door for whenever I just need it around the house but then again I also have no idea where we have a regular old flashlight around here.

[CraigM]

I have a Remington brand that was about $24.00 at Menards. It's the kind with the battery pack on the back of your head. Has 2 levels of white light, spot or diffused and a blue and red light for blood tracking. It is by far the brightest I have used. Great for the fish house, tree stand or boat.

[jdsmi]

I have a few headlamps myself. All serve their specific purpose.

The one I currently use for fishing is a 3 led PT Fuel. Used to have a similar PT Aroura but it walked away this summer. This light lasts forever and lights up my fishhouse just fine.

I have a Browning Black Ice led/Xenon that I've used for years and is the most "multi-purpose" light I have. Xenon for longer range and led's for close up however I'm displeased with the shape of the beam that the Xenon setting casts and I'm being converted to the nice, bright, whiteness of led's. It's also al little big to pack compared to the new stuff. My plan is to replace this one with a multi setting PT EOS or equivalent.

I use the single AA battery Ray-o-vac one mentioned above for hunting but would never use it for fishing. It takes up little or no room to carry or wear and it casts an awsome beam for finding your way through the woods. The drawback is the battery will only last an hour or two and when it goes, you have no warning and you're left in the dark with only the use of the single red or blue led. Been there more than once. I always have a spare battery on hand when using this one and have a back-up light in the vehicle for tracking. I still like it for the purpose I use it for though.

[AndRo]

I am also a fan of the energizer 3 led headlamp. 3 AAA batteries seem to last for ever, and it is bright as heck. Get em at lowes for 10$.

[nate larson]

Do you wear this one on your head??? Or is this more of a thong style light for the ladies?

[AndRo]

Do you wear this one on your head??? Or is this more of a thong style light for the ladies?

Ahahahah, that is awesome. Then we would truely be like deer in the headlights...

[LightningBG]

+1 for energizer

[PierBridge]

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.

I'm strictly Prince-Tec now after trial and error. I'm just to hard on my stuff and the energizers weren't lasting me a year fishing and hunting. Currently on my 4th year with the Princeton-Tec with no problems.

[fire29]

Walmart. Energizer $14.99. I have had mine for 5 years still works great.

[BriGuy88]

Best bang for the buck I've ever seen is the 4-pack you can get at Home Depot for $10 including the AA batteries! They have a tilt mechanism on the light and have both white and red led's. Not the brightest bulbs under the tree, but at that price, wear all 4 of them!

[fishwater]

Fenix makes some sweet headlamps.

[Long Gray Line]

Do a search for Coast H7 head lamp. Runs on 3 AAA batteries. By far the brightest headlamp I've ever seen. You can do a wide or narrow focus, dim or hyper bright. I can light up objects 100yds out with mine. I've used to navigate around the bouys on Mille Lacs. Same goes true for their flashlights. I have a couple and won't even consider an overpriced Surefire ever again. BTW, beware of cheap Chinese copies/knockoffs you can find on HSO-Classifieds. Buy 'em from a reputable source!