Browning 5 LED head lamp?

[Spazzums08]

Hey guys, I'm looking at one with 5 LEDs, it's about the size of a silver dollar, any experience with these? Any reccomended head lamps?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Try the camping forum also. Might find some users there also.

[DTro]

I really like the cheap Energizer headlamps. I'm basically lost without a headlamp in the summer. I've found that you really don't get anything more with the extra you spend on higher end headlamps.

They all use LEDs and they all are battery powered, and they all have switches.

I prefer the 3 LED Energizer due to switch design. With the 5 LED, it's a push button and you have to cycle through all the functions to turn it off. I just wish the detents were a little more aggressive. I find sometimes that if I have it in my pocket, it will accidentally turn on.

For example, you push it on to red, then again for flood, then again for spot, then again for flood and spot, then again for off.

It gets very irritating.

So I would suggest a simple on and off.

Seriously, one does not need all those options. Just a little light.

[JohnMickish]

I have the browning and don't really like it. I don't like having to toggle thru the selections to get to the setting I want, plus I don't feel the light is all the bright. I now use a 5 LED cap light for $5. The energizer setup is a better headlamp but for me its the cap lights until the dead of winter.

[DTro]

yeah, I guess it's personal preference. I tried using the cap lights, but they seemed to interfere with my line of sight, and I also prefer the standard AAA battery vs the button style.

[Down Deep]

I've got a Princeton TEC that I got at Gander Mtn. It is the three light version. I've had it for about 5 years and use it regularly. It is my main light for ice fishing, camping, fishing, home & car repairs, etc. Its been workhorse for me. I think I paid around $25 for it.

[Bigeye30"]

Here's a post from the South Central forumn we had a few months ago talking about the same thing, lots of good info

Headlamp Info

[slipperybob]

Browning equipment are premium price tagged...becuase it comes with innovative quality and design. Head straps that actually work. Electronic circuitry that regulates power level. Plastic parts that won't snap off as easily as some other headlamps in cold weather. However, it can still be made in China and it's like just rubber stamping a Browning loggo on anything.

The lights aren't that bright, standard LED's. It's good for personal use when you need to see things close that you wont be easily blinded. It no good for trail walking or seeing more than what's by your feet, it's too dim for that.

The button is way too easily pushed on, which is good for cold fingers or wearing gloves/mittens; bad for putting in pocket and having it accidentally turned on. It's smaller package design is fault for making it too easy to put in pocket.

It's not waterproof O ring sealed, so it's not a storm light.

Anyone can wire a battery, a switch, and an led light, but you have to look at the wires, the switch, and the actual led light quality connected to the circuit board to notice the difference. You need to ask yourself if a homemade science light wire kit is better than what you're paying for when it comes to Browning. Sometimes it is, most times it isn't.

[DTro]

I'm confused.

Are you saying the Browning is good or bad?

[CrappieAttitude]

I have a browning headlamp and I like it. It doesn't have the red light option, but has three different settings to cycle through. The only downer I have noticed with the push buttons is in really cold weather, the button has stuck on me a few times.

Other than that it has been great. I use headlamps all the time. The one I had before had the red light, and that was nice at times where I didn't want to show everything around me where I was. One think I like about it is the AAA batteries. I always have them on hand. Very light weight and the head straps adjust really well.

There's my .02 (for what it's worth)

CA

[slipperybob]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

I'm confused.

Are you saying the Browning is good or bad?

LOL's...I didn't give my opinion as much as a neutral ananlysis.

I'm saying Browning is good but can be bad. Just like Shimano or like Diawa.

If you buy the low end stuff...In general, stuff that's not made in Japan. You could get some stuff that's not the quality that you normally expect.

I have some of the Browning black ice lights and they perform with far superior quality compared to other flash lights with similar feature. Cost a lot less then an Streamlight, Pelican, or Surefire tactical lights.

[Diago]

I have the three light model and use it for duck hunting. When I am putting out decoys in cold weather the light goes dim after a short period of time. I am looking for one that will hold up during cold weather.

Jim

[slipperybob]

 Originally Posted By: Diago

I have the three light model and use it for duck hunting. When I am putting out decoys in cold weather the light goes dim after a short period of time. I am looking for one that will hold up during cold weather.

Jim

That's where you'll want a digital control circuitry that regulates steady power to your LED's. LED's are no exception to standard bulbs that when the batteries are losing capacity to operate at optimum, the light gets a dimmer. The ones that will hold up better during cold weather comes with O-ring seals.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

I really like the cheap Energizer headlamps.

I like them also.

BYW, I saw a new model of the Energizer at Menards last week. I think it had 5 lights instead of 3. They still had the 3 light version also. I will get a better look at it next time I go there.