I wouldn't trust anything with Alkaline batteries in it in a get home bag. At the very least I'd swap the alkaline cells in your maglites for lithium ones ASAP. Even if they aren't connected to anything, Alkalines can leak and ruin stuff at any time.
Personally if I were to put togeter a GHB I would include a right angle light that can be used as a headlamp, that will run on either rechargeable 18650 cells or CR123A cells. I'd probably choose a Sofirn SP40 because it's cheap, comes with a battery, and is USB rechargeable. Lithium ion batteries don't self discharge particularly fast so if you top it up every 6 months or so like you're doing now you shouldn't have any issues. The CR123A's are good as a backup too. The USB rechargeability means I could recharge if I came across any USB power sources.
I vote Sofirn SP40. Sofirn is a respected brand among enthusiasts and the SP40 is a deal.
It’s available with Prime and there’s a $2 Amazon coupon running right now.
It comes with a quality 3000mAh 18650, magnetic tailcap, and headband for just over $30.
Are you set on the CR123 or AA? We like rechargeable lithium-ion batteries around here. 😎
The Sofirn SP40 is on sale for $27 on Amazon. It comes with an 18650 battery and is USB rechargeable. It’s usually around $33, which is still a great price for a nice headlamp. Sofirn is a respected manufacturer and they make good stuff.
The headband is good, but I’ll say it is just a bit tight for my 24” noggin.
Personally I'm a fan of stepped modes. but that brightness dial is neat. That would be a cool feature to see on more headlamps.
Other than that feature the existing Maximus is WAY behind the rest of the headlamps on the market. Even inexpensive modern headlamps like the Sofirn SP40 use USB for recharging, is IPX8 rated, and can be used as a flashlight outside of the headband with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. Is there something I'm missing that makes the Maximus design great?
I'd love to see someone take that brightness dial and put it on a right and 18650 headlamp at a MUCH more reasonable price. Hopefully if Surefire does come out with a new version of this headlamp they do a lot more than just a lumen bump.
Depends on your needs and the kind of person you are. If you're happy with a functional, bright, no frills option, this might be good: https://www.amazon.com/Headlamp-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Inserted-Headlight/dp/B085VYS7KJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sofirn+sp40&qid=1598928738&sprefix=sofirn+&sr=8-1
Headlamps are just super useful. Plus you can remove the light so it can be used like a regular flashlight. You don't need to pay a lot of money for a great flashlight...
But if you're the kind of person who longs for that sweet spot between price and quality, I'd recommend a ZebraLight.
>This Nitecore headlamp is almost perfect for my tastes, except it uses an 18650, so I'd have to buy a battery and a charger setup. (Not to mention research it!)
How about a Sofirn SP40 then? Still an 18650 light but it comes with a battery and has built-in charging.
A couple of Sofirn SP40's might do the trick. They're about $5 over your budget but you can magnet them wherever you need in the truck. If they die, I believe you can use them while they're plugged in too so you can hook up a battery bank and keep working.
I would recommend that you check out the Sofirn SP40.
It comes with a headband so you can use it as a headlamp if you want to, has a magnetic base if you want to stick it on stuff, comes with a battery and has built-in Micro-USB charging. All for $30
The Sofirn SP40 is a cool right angle flashlight, you can use it as a headlamp or as a regular flashlight, it comes with a magnet in the tail cap so it makes it a little bit more versatile, it has a built in charger and comes with an 18650 battery and a 18350 tube in case you want a smaller flashlight. It goes from 5 lumens all the way up to 1200 and NO strobes. The best thing is its price which is unbeatable for what it gives.
I like my sofirn SP40 (and highly suggest it)! https://www.amazon.com/Headlamp-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Inserted-Headlight/dp/B085VYS7KJ
I have several other lights, including the most commonly used ones among members, D4V2, FW3A & E, etc. and while the Sofirn isn’t (technically) considered as bright as many others, I actually prefer to use the cheaper Sofirn bc of its ease of use, durability, and overall simplicity. And the fact that it’s actually (more often than not) as bright as my FW3A (due to the battery being less drained in the Sofirn and more drained in the FW3A) makes it my go-to our of all the ones I own In other words, when both fully charged the FW is brighter but it doesn’t have the USB adapter on the side, so I rarely fully charge it. The Sofirn, on the other hand, has a micro-USB on the side w/a removable rubber shield to protect it. The fact that the bottom is magnetic has come in handy more times than I can count. The clip has never come loose, and I’m frankly astonished at how much I’ve banged it up and it still works perfectly. Others will prob scoff at the limited (low-medium-high bright) settings, I have found it is WAY more efficient when under a car or just under the hood working on something, you don’t have to keep searching for the perfect setting, and the button is perfectly placed so that it doesn’t get pressed unless it is very intentional (as opposed to FW and others). Anyway, I hope this offers some insight!!
Does that help at all?
A right angled light like sofirn sp40 is what you want. Can be used as flashlight and headlamp and has a magnetic tail for another hands free option plus comes with a solid battery
Which light are you referring to? The green light coming off the kayak in the camp picture is just a glowstick I put on at night. I brought a headlamp as well and I've kayaked with that before.
A good headlamp using an 18650 battery (something like this) should be sufficient for nighttime paddling.
Led Headlamp, Sofirn SP40 Rechargeable 1200 Lumen Bright Head Flashlight with 18650 battery (Inserted), Right Angle Headlight for Outdoor Running Camping https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085VYS7KJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_T8CQWHSV6XXM9GMHKK94?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
The Wurkkos FC11 others have mentioned is really excellent. The Sofirn SP40 is pretty similar in a lot of ways but is a right angle light and can be used as a headlamp too. That would be my choice for camping because of the headlamp functionality.
Lots of other users already suggested the Wurkkos FC11 which I think is a fantastic option. I'll also throw in a vote for the Sofirn SP40 too because I find walking around with a headlamp to be a lot better than with a handheld. The SP40 works well in both use cases though since it can be removed from the headband and has a pocket clip. It's got the same magnetic tailcap from the FC11 so if you're camping or something you can stick a knife in a tree and magnet the light to it.
I purchased a Sofirn SP40 for this years hunting season. Very reasonably priced, 3 light modes, can be removed from head strap to use as normal flashlight, water resistant. Good stuff!
Edit: also it’s rechargeable.
Led Headlamp, Sofirn SP40... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085VYS7KJ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The Sofirn is about half the price of the TH10 V2 on Amazon in the US. If you don't absolutely need the throw or moonlight mode of the TH10 V2 then the SP40 is a much better value and it has a magnetic tailcap which the TH10 V2 doesn't have.
The Sofirn SP40 is super popular and is a really high value option. It's a headlamp that comes with a battery and it had a usb charging port on the head of it which is super convenient. It also can come out of the headband and it has a magnet on the tailcap so you can magnet it to stuff which is super handy too. The basic UI is just click for on and off, and hold down the button to change modes which is super easy.
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It comes with an 18650 cell but can accept an 18350 or one or two CR123A's in a pinch. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight H600w Mk IV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-04-07, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
> Ideally at least an hour on full brightness
Modern flashlights pretty much all have a turbo mode (max brightness) that pushes the LED much brighter than the light can sustain. It's designed to give you some extra brightness for a minute or two in a pinch rather than capping the brightness at a level the light can sustain thermally. Pretty much every light also has a "high" mode that's right around the max brightness the light can thermally sustain (so it doesn't overheat). So, you won't be able to get an hour on full (turbo) brightness but you can definitely get an hour on high brightness.
See my headlamp guide below for some options.
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the Wowtac H01 I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above, but it uses a larger, brighter LED for more output and more flood. It pushes over 3000 lumens on turbo, will sustain over 1000 lumens on high mode, runs off a single 18650, and goes for $70. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: If you plan on using your light in cold weather (below freezing) for more than a couple minutes at a time, consider a light that accepts CR123A cells. Lithium ion cells (like 18650's) don't like cold very much and can be damaged if they are used (or especially recharged) while cold. CR123A's are a much more cold resistant alternative, and many 1x18650 lights can also accept 2xCR123A's. The Skilhunt H04 series (listed in the "$50-ish" section) supports CR123A's and is my cold environment recomendation.
Red Light/Night Vision: If you're looking for something with a red light to preserve night vision, consider going with a white light that has a good sublumen (also called moonlight or firefly) mode. It'll still retain your night vision almost as well, but it doesn't require the added complexity of a secondary emitter and more complicated UI, not to mention how many more options there are with just a white light. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Meat Tenderizer: There is only one option: the Astrolux HL01
This kit has everything he would need. It highly recommended as a great value around this sub. I have one and it's a really nice setup for the price.
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the Wowtac H01 I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above, but it uses a larger, brighter LED for more output and more flood. It pushes over 3000 lumens on turbo, will sustain over 1000 lumens on high mode, runs off a single 18650, and goes for $70. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: If you plan on using your light in cold weather (below freezing) for more than a couple minutes at a time, consider a light that accepts CR123A cells. Lithium ion cells (like 18650's) don't like cold very much and can be damaged if they are used (or especially recharged) while cold. CR123A's are a much more cold resistant alternative, and many 1x18650 lights can also accept 2xCR123A's. The Skilhunt H04 series (listed in the "$50-ish" section) supports CR123A's and is my cold environment recomendation.
Red Light/Night Vision: If you're looking for something with a red light to preserve night vision, consider going with a white light that has a good sublumen (also called moonlight or firefly) mode. It'll still retain your night vision almost as well, but it doesn't require the added complexity of a secondary emitter and more complicated UI, not to mention how many more options there are with just a white light. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Meat Tenderizer: There is only one option: the Astrolux HL01
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the Wowtac H01 I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above, but it uses a larger, brighter LED for more output and more flood. It pushes over 3000 lumens on turbo, will sustain over 1000 lumens on high mode, runs off a single 18650, and goes for $70. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: If you plan on using your light in cold weather (below freezing) for more than a couple minutes at a time, consider a light that accepts CR123A cells. Lithium ion cells (like 18650's) don't like cold very much and can be damaged if they are used (or especially recharged) while cold. CR123A's are a much more cold resistant alternative, and many 1x18650 lights can also accept 2xCR123A's. The Skilhunt H04 series (listed in the "$50-ish" section) supports CR123A's and is my cold environment recomendation.
Red Light/Night Vision: If you're looking for something with a red light to preserve night vision, consider going with a white light that has a good sublumen (also called moonlight or firefly) mode. It'll still retain your night vision almost as well, but it doesn't require the added complexity of a secondary emitter and more complicated UI, not to mention how many more options there are with just a white light. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Meat Tenderizer: There is only one option: the Astrolux HL01
Integrated USB-C charging will be your limiting factor.
Here’s a list of 11 headlamps with it on Parametrek. Cheapest is $40 and they increase in price quickly.
Instead, I’d recommend the Sofirn SP40. It’s currently only about $30 on Amazon including a quality 18650 battery. You could save a few bucks ordering directly from Sofirn, but shipping will take longer.
You might also message u/Sofirn here. They were giving out Amazon codes to save a few more bucks last week, but I’m not sure if the promo is still active.
It has integrated USB-micro charging, but carrying a short (included) cable beats carrying a charger, right?
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Headlamps
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
I'm very pleased with Skilhunt H04 RC. It's a right angle light that comes with a headband, pocket clip, and magnetic tailcap. The headband is great because you can remove the top strap if you want to and you can clip the light into it without removing the pocket clip, which is a big deal to me convenience-wise. Since it has a pocket clip you can also easily clip it to your pocket or onto a backpack strap to light your way if you don't feel like having it on your head. The high CRI 4000K version I linked to produced a really nice light that's perfect for a headlamp. Killzone flashlights carries a few other versions too. If I had my money back I'd definitely buy it again, but I think I'd get the regular H04 because I don't really use the magnetic recharging feature on the "RC" version.
If you want something a little bit cheaper, the Sofirn SP40 is a pretty fantastic value with most of the same features. It's just missing a nice LED, the ability to leave the pocket clip on the light when you clip it in the headband, and a sublumen mode.
I hope this helps!
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Thanks for the shout-out!
Here's the guide if you're interested, OP.
Headlamps
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Just saw you may be interested in a headlamp as an alternative to the floodlight. I think that's a great idea.
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the Wowtac H01 I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above, but it uses a larger, brighter LED for more output and more flood. It pushes over 3000 lumens on turbo, will sustain over 1000 lumens on high mode, runs off a single 18650, and goes for $70. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: If you plan on using your light in cold weather (below freezing) for more than a couple minutes at a time, consider a light that accepts CR123A cells. Lithium ion cells (like 18650's) don't like cold very much and can be damaged if they are used (or especially recharged) while cold. CR123A's are a much more cold resistant alternative, and many 1x18650 lights can also accept 2xCR123A's. The Skilhunt H04 series (listed in the "$50-ish" section) supports CR123A's and is my cold environment recomendation.
Red Light/Night Vision: If you're looking for something with a red light to preserve night vision, consider going with a white light that has a good sublumen (also called moonlight or firefly) mode. It'll still retain your night vision almost as well, but it doesn't require the added complexity of a secondary emitter and more complicated UI, not to mention how many more options there are with just a white light. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Meat Tenderizer: There is only one option: the Astrolux HL01
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the Wowtac H01 I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above, but it uses a larger, brighter LED for more output and more flood. It pushes over 3000 lumens on turbo, will sustain over 1000 lumens on high mode, runs off a single 18650, and goes for $70. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: If you plan on using your light in cold weather (below freezing) for more than a couple minutes at a time, consider a light that accepts CR123A cells. Lithium ion cells (like 18650's) don't like cold very much and can be damaged if they are used (or especially recharged) while cold. CR123A's are a much more cold resistant alternative, and many 1x18650 lights can also accept 2xCR123A's. The Skilhunt H04 series (listed in the "$50-ish" section) supports CR123A's and is my cold environment recomendation.
Red Light/Night Vision: If you're looking for something with a red light to preserve night vision, consider going with a white light that has a good sublumen (also called moonlight or firefly) mode. It'll still retain your night vision almost as well, but it doesn't require the added complexity of a secondary emitter and more complicated UI, not to mention how many more options there are with just a white light. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Meat Tenderizer: There is only one option: the Astrolux HL01
The SP40 is really hard to beat at its price point.
You can also consider the Wowtac A2S, but I think the SP40 is better overall. With the A2S you give up the magnetic tailcap, pocket clip, and the charging port on the outside of the light. You do save $5 and you get a sublumen mode which is very useful for rummaging around in the middle of the night without disrupting your "night vision" or bothering others.
The Wowtac H01 may also be worth considering. It's basically a mini A2S with a couple changes. It's smaller, lighter, doesn't have a top strap, has a lower turbo output, and has the charge port on the outside of the light (as opposed to the A2S which has it on the battery).
There are a couple good options in the $30 range (not including the helmet mount). One is the Sofirn SP40 ($33) and the other is the Wowtac A2S ($30). I would choose the Sofirn because it comes with a magnetic tailcap and a detachable pocket clip which are both super handy for if you need to use the light off of the headband.
For your helmet mount, what I'd do is try and get a spare headband for whatever light you choose (or any 18650 headlamp because they're all pretty much the same size and all use the same basic headband design so they're pretty much all intercompatable). You can cut the straps off of it and adhere the front part with the loops for the light to the front of your helmet. Thrunite actually includes an extra headband front piece with their TH30 presumably exactly for this reason. You might be able to reach out to them and see if they'll send you just one of those pieces.
Hope this is helpful!
It will do 90 lumen for 15 hours.
These were going to be my recomendations as well. Just for OP's convenience, SP40 Amazon link, A2S Amazon link. My pick would be the SP40 because it has charging built into the body rather than the cell as well as a pocket clip and magnet.
I would go with a Sofirn SP40 because it can be used as a headlamp, but it also comes with a pocket clip and a magnetic tailcap for pocket carry or sticking to ferrous surfaces. Plus it's USB rechargeable and priced really well at $33 on Amazon.
If you want a traditional flashlight, the Wurkkos FC11 is a very popular option with similar features (usb-c charging built in, magnetic tailcap). They even share the same threads so the body tubes are interchangeable. Availability through Amazon has been a little spotty for the past couple weeks but this would be a fantastic option for $30.The Sofirn SC31B would be a good alternative without a magnetic tailcap for $25. That's DEFINITELY in "no big deal if I lose it" price territory.
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It comes with an 18650 cell but can accept an 18350 or one or two CR123A's in a pinch. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight H600w Mk IV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-04-07, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It comes with an 18650 cell but can accept an 18350 or one or two CR123A's in a pinch. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight H600w Mk IV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-04-07, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It comes with an 18650 cell but can accept an 18350 or one or two CR123A's in a pinch. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight H600w Mk IV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-04-07, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
I would actually keep things simple and go with a light that has a balanced beam profile as opposed to one that has two separate settings. I find that a second emitter just adds complexity, particularly to the user interface, and really doesn't add much benefit over a single, balanced emitter. I also suggest going with something with a relatively simple user interface like a simple one click on/off and hold to change modes.
Right angle style headlamps are becoming very popular because you can remove the light from the headband and use it as a handheld light. Some models even come with pocket clips and magnetic tail caps for even more versatility.
The Sofirn SP40 that u/sunset_hiker mentioned is a particularly excellent and high value example. It's availible through Amazon if you want fast shipping or from Sofirn if you want to save some cash. It includes a battery, micro usb recharging, an easy UI, a headband, a pocket clip, and a magnetic tailcap.
If you want to spend a little bit more money, the Skilhunt H04F RC that u/Zak mentioned has all the great features of the Skilhunt and a few more. It adds the flood or focused feature you were wanting but without adding any complexity to the UI since the flood is just a diffuser you flip down over the reflector. It also upgrades the charger to a really convenient magnetic USB cable and upgrades the LED with a high CRI option that makes colors very vivid and accurate. It comes with a best in class headband where you can remove the top strap if you don't need it (I prefer to leave it off my H04 RC) and you can leave the pocket clip attached while it's in the headband. Lastly it includes a more advanced UI. Basic operation is just as easy, but it allows you to select from one of two mode groups and even lets you add and remove modes as you please. If you choose this light, I would open it up and put it in mode group 2 before giving it to your mother in law. It's the easier of the two to use and that way she doesn't have to even think about it. For what it's worth, I have an H04 RC (same light with a TIR optic instead of the reflector+diffuser combo) and I love it. It's availible direct from Skilhunt or from a community favorite dealer, Killzone Flashlights (they're wonderful people and I highly recommend buying from them).
I hope you find this helpful! Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions!
The Skilhunt H04 RC is a very popular headlamp around here. It has a really excellent headband, is small and lightweight, (the version I linked to) has a really nice LED with great color rendering and color temperature, has a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap for use outside of the headband, and has magnetic USB recharging. This would be my top choice if budget isn't a concern. It's around $65 with a battery.
For a cheaper option, check out the Sofirn SP40. It's also very popular around here and is a great value. It retains the pocket clip and magnet for use outside the headband, but uses micro-usb for charging and doesn't have as nice of an LED. It's $35.
Lastly, if you just want something small and basic, look at the Wowtac H01. It's a super simple, lightweight headlamp with micro usb recharging for just $20.
Color temperature is a personal choice. Some people have a strong preference for either warm, neutral, or cool tints. FWIW, an incandescent lightbulb is about 2700K, midday sun is about 5000K, and cheapie ‘bluish’ LED flashlights are 6500K or higher.
The Sofirn SP40 is a great headlamp for the price. Amazon has a $2 coupon now, making it $31 including a quality battery.
You could save a few more bucks if you order directly from Sofirn, but it will ship from China. They also offer three different tints on their site. I think the Amazon model is 5000K but the listing doesn’t specify. I’d recommend not ordering from China if you will need the light at the beginning of November, in case it encounters delays during shipping.
Sofirn is a respected brand among enthusiasts and makes several excellent lights.
The SP40 has a decent headband, built-in USB charging, and a removable pocket clip if you choose to use it without the headband. It also has a magnet inside the tailcap.
You can add a piece of adhesive diffusion material like d-c-fix to soften the beam a bit, but the old trick of using a piece of frosted Scotch tape is surprisingly effective.
FWIW, I remove the top strap that comes with most headbands. The Sofirn’s top strap isn’t removable without cutting it.
I also own several ZebraLight headlamps that cost much more than the Sofirn SP40. They have a customizable user interface and more robust build quality, but the SP40 is a great light.
I have several headlamps, and the Sofirn SP40 is great for the price.
Amazon has a $2 coupon now, making it $31 including a quality battery.
You could save a few more bucks if you order directly from Sofirn, but it will ship from China.
Sofirn is a respected brand among enthusiasts and makes several excellent lights.
The SP40 has a decent headband, built-in USB charging, and a removable pocket clip if you choose to use it without the headband. It also has a magnet inside the tailcap.
The Sofirn SP40 Is a SUPER popular and really high value option. It's got built in micro usb charging, a magnetic tailcap, and a pocket clip. The lowest mode is 5 lumens which is too high for some.
Personally I'm really drawn to the Lumintop HL3A because it's available with Luminus SST-20 4000K emitters and Anduril UI, both of which I really really like. No integrated charging though.
For more options, here is a list of headlamps with pocket clips. Most are right angle lights like you're wanting. I encourage you to use the filters on that site to see what else is out there and maybe find some other options.
Hope this helps!
The Sofirn SP40 is recommended here a lot as a fantastic budget option at $32. It has a magnetic tailcap and a pocket clip, but no sublumen mode.
A great alternative would be the Wowtac A1S which has a 0.3 lumen firefly mode which would be perfect for you. It doesn't have a pocket clip or tailcap magnet though, so it's JUST a headlamp. The H01 is a smaller version for $10 less that has about 1/4 the battery capacity.
For more options, check out this Parametrek list. It's filtered for headlamps using one 18650 cell with a mode producing less than 1 lumen. There are a LOT of options as most good quality flashlights/headlamps now come with a sublumen mode.
Consider a headlamp. This one has both a 18650 and 18350 tube included. I have one and for the $ spent I'd say it's the best value light I have.
Well where I am in the pictures there aren't any big boats on this river. I would for sure recommend having two lights for that case a headlamp which is great for close up but also make you much more visible. I still think I would put some sort of red light on the boat if you are dealing with tides and big boats. Worse case it would help you recover if you flip or something.
I have three lights here my headlamp which for this was a SP40, the bigger thrower like the one showing the bridge is my Sofirn C8G not the most impressive but a good budget light that I could get quickly from Bezos Bazaar. It is a great light and has pretty good runtime with a 21700. The tighter beam light is the MC13 a TIR optic light more of a fun light but a sweet compact thrower.
Convoy C8+ is a great budget item for a thrower and their are a lot of emitter options. Acebeam is a great brand if you want to step up in price. Make a post with what you are looking for and some of the fine folks here will help you narrow a good one down.
If you are going to be around salt water, may want something in the dive light category just for some peace of mind they have better water resistant.
If you'd want something to put on your board, check out https://shredlights.com/ in the skateboard category . I heard pretty good things about their stuff and it's quite popular around the e-board community.
You could also consider wearing a headlamp on your head, so you don't need ot have it in your hand while you ride. For that, you can check out the Sofirn SP40, it should suffice.
As a handheld flashlight, I vote for the Sofirn SP35.
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It comes with an 18650 cell but can accept an 18350 or one or two CR123A's in a pinch. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight H600w Mk IV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-04-07, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It comes with an 18650 cell but can accept an 18350 or one or two CR123A's in a pinch. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight H600w Mk IV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-04-07, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It comes with an 18650 cell but can accept an 18350 or one or two CR123A's in a pinch. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight H600w Mk IV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-04-07, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube. It's even availible with a high CRI emitter now. The only thing it really lacks is a sublumen mode and good regulation. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, nor high CRI emitter. It puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible. The Thrunite TH10 V2 was dominant here for a long time, but it's been discontinued. If you're on a budget, the WOwtac A2S mentioned in the "$20-30" section has a relatively tight beam for a headlamp. If you have a bigger budget, the Zebralight SC600w MKIV is a big step up in almost every way.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness available, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-03-29, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 5000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12, if you have any suggestions for changes to this entry please don't hesitate to send me a message)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. There are two ways to achieve cold resistance with a headlamp. The first is to choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) because CR123A's are cold resistant. The other is to use a headlamp with an external battery pack that you can keep inside your clothing so it stays warm. The Nitecore HU60 is a phenomenal choice for such a headlamp (thanks to Simon_Elliott for the suggestion. It runs off any USB power source (18W quick charge capable recommended for max output). You can buy it with Nitecore's 5000mah pack which happens to be water resistant, which is nice. Or you can buy it separately and use your own power bank. I would recomend buying it separately and using an XTAR PB2S which can take virtually any 18650 cell or flat top unprotected 21700 cell. I'd buy two Samsung 50E's for 10,000mah of capacity. It features four spot emitters and one flood emitter with 5 blended steps so you can choose the right amount of throw/flood for you. It has an excellent headband that allows you to remove the top strap. It also includes a wireless remote wristband. Just about the only thing this light lacks is high CRI emitters. The Fenix HP30R is a decent alternative if the HU60 is unavailable.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red light is not the way to protect your night vision, low levels of light are. If you really need that red light for other applications, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
Max Runtime: See the Nitecore HU60 from the "Cold Environment" section. It is USB powered so you can use as large of a USB power source as you like if you want to get crazy. Zebralights are very efficient and get unusually dim so they have solid runtimes as well if you need something self-contained on your head.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-02-12)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
(written by u/tactical_grizzly, updated 2021-01-31)
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: Zebralight is renown for making excellent headlamps within this price range. They are relatively light, remarkably durable, extremely efficient, and have a unique UI that a lot of users really like. They offer a large variety but the H600Fc MK IV is the one I would choose if I were looking for a right angle headlamp in this price range for its floody beam and 4000K high CRI emitter. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket as well.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning here with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options for white light with a secondary red. If you want just red, the Zebralight H502pr is pretty good. It has a very deep red emitter designed for use while developing photos and runs on AA's.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet. Beamshots
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful! If you have any suggestions for additions to this guide please let me know! - u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
BY PRICE
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging, and an extra 18350 body tube, but no sublumen/moonlight mode. The Wowtac A2S has a sublumen mode but no pocket clip or magnetic tailcap and it puts the micro usb port on the battery. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. Non "RC" models don't have integrated charging and come with a more common rubber loop headband. "R" models have a reflector for a little extra throw. "F" models have a reflector with a flip-down diffuser. The "Mini" versions are shorter, lighter, and use an 18350 instead of an 18650.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
FEATURES/USE CASE
Lightweight/Running: If you want the absolute lightest and best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. Otherwise consider the Skilhunt H04 Mini's for around $50 or the Wowtac H01 for around $20.
Throw/Riding: If I rode a bike or skated often I would want as much throw as possible and the Thrunite TH10 V2 is the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, a pocket clip, a headband of course, and an extra mount you can permanently affix to your helmet.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above but with more output and a wider hotspot. 3000lm on turbo and over 1000lm sustained. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: Lithium ion rechargeable batteries don't like cold temperatures below -10°C/14°F. Choose a light that can accept CR123A's (like the Skilhunt H04 series) for temperatures below that limit.
Night Vision Preservation/Red Light: Red preserves night vision better than white light, but white light below 1 lumen does a pretty great job too and it's simpler and doesn't add complexity. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
I hope you find this helpful!
Originally written by u/tactical_grizzly
^(I AM A BOT. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SEE MY) ^(WIKI) ^(FOR USE.)
You may find this helpful
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the Wowtac H01 I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above, but it uses a larger, brighter LED for more output and more flood. It pushes over 3000 lumens on turbo, will sustain over 1000 lumens on high mode, runs off a single 18650, and goes for $70. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: If you plan on using your light in cold weather (below freezing) for more than a couple minutes at a time, consider a light that accepts CR123A cells. Lithium ion cells (like 18650's) don't like cold very much and can be damaged if they are used (or especially recharged) while cold. CR123A's are a much more cold resistant alternative, and many 1x18650 lights can also accept 2xCR123A's. The Skilhunt H04 series (listed in the "$50-ish" section) supports CR123A's and is my cold environment recomendation.
Red Light/Night Vision: If you're looking for something with a red light to preserve night vision, consider going with a white light that has a good sublumen (also called moonlight or firefly) mode. It'll still retain your night vision almost as well, but it doesn't require the added complexity of a secondary emitter and more complicated UI, not to mention how many more options there are with just a white light. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Meat Tenderizer: There is only one option: the Astrolux HL01
I really love it. Even at the medium setting it puts out more than enough light to see my dogs from across the yard (~50 yards). In turbo mode (double click the button) it puts out ~1200 lumens and is like a wedge of daylight in the dark. The 18650 Li-ion battery lasts for about two weeks of nightly use (~30 min total per day) before I have to charge it (micro USB). It comes with a harness to wear it as a headlamp, and a removable pocket clip, and has a strong magnet in the base to stick it to your ferrous object of choice. And it isn't even very expensive ($35 USD). No regrets.
https://www.amazon.com/Headlamp-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Inserted-Headlight/dp/B085VYS7KJ
Lol no worries. Here's a couple suggestions
Headlamp - ~$31 after coupon
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B085VYS7KJ/
Lumintop fw3el torch -$43 after coupon
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08L9GCGYK/
Diffuser for flashlight, turns the fw3 into a lantern $10
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07DBP4W3W/
Both lights come with everything you need for charging. Depending on how long you plan on being out there, you might want to bring extra 18650 batteries or a power bank for recharging.
Merry Cristmas!
​
I would love a code for SP40 Headlamp Kit, SP36 Andruil With Batteries (5000k/4000K), and LT1 with Batteries. Thanks!
I don't think the D4V2 would be a good fit. You've already got something floody and the D4V2 is floody too.
You may find this helpful. It's a couple excerpts from my headlamp buying guide.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
I'm not sure exactly what the availability of these will be like in the UK, but you may find this helpful.
Headlamps
Tl;dr: Get a Skilhunt H04 RC
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish: A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+: I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. The Acebeam H30 down in the "Max Brightness" section would fit well in this price bracket too.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the Wowtac H01 I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Skating: I don't skate, but if I did I think I would want as much throw as possible so I could see far ahead of me while going relatively fast. With that in mind I think the best option is the Thrunite TH10 V2 because it's the throwiest 1x18650 headlamp availible. It still has plenty of spill too for seeing your surroundings. It comes with an extra mount so you can permanently attach the mount to a helmet and you still have the standard headband for when you aren't skating. It has a relatively high sustained output of about 650 lumens, included a battery, micro USB recharging, and a pocket clip, all for $60.
Max Brightness: If all you care about is having the highest turbo or sustainable brightness availible, these are your lights. First up is the Thrunite TH30. It's virtually identical to the TH10 V2 I recommended above, but it uses a larger, brighter LED for more output and more flood. It pushes over 3000 lumens on turbo, will sustain over 1000 lumens on high mode, runs off a single 18650, and goes for $70. The Acebeam H30 is also worth mentioning herr with about 4000 lumens on turbo and about 1000 lumens sustained. It's pricier and doesn't offer the flexibility of a right angle headlamp, but it includes secondary emitters in a few varieties (the high CRI Nichia 219C and red combo is probably best), USB-C charging, and a high capacity 21700 battery.
Cold Environment: If you plan on using your light in cold weather (below freezing) for more than a couple minutes at a time, consider a light that accepts CR123A cells. Lithium ion cells (like 18650's) don't like cold very much and can be damaged if they are used (or especially recharged) while cold. CR123A's are a much more cold resistant alternative, and many 1x18650 lights can also accept 2xCR123A's. The Skilhunt H04 series (listed in the "$50-ish" section) supports CR123A's and is my cold environment recomendation.
Red Light/Night Vision: If you're looking for something with a red light to preserve night vision, consider going with a white light that has a good sublumen (also called moonlight or firefly) mode. It'll still retain your night vision almost as well, but it doesn't require the added complexity of a secondary emitter and more complicated UI, not to mention how many more options there are with just a white light. If you really need that red light, the Acebeam H30 mentioned in the "Max Brightness" section and the Armytek Wizard WR are going to be your best options.
Meat Tenderizer: There is only one option: the Astrolux HL01
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+ I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. I'll also mention the Acebeam H30 if you want the best traditional headlamp. It's got three emitters: one for lots of brightness and throw, one for close up work with good color rendering, and one red for "preserving night vision" and not disturbing others around you. It runs on a 21700 cell so it may be a bit heavy but it provides excellent runtime and brightness in exchange.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the H01 Mini I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with, so most of these recommendations will be from that category.
$20-35$: The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It has a straight forward UI, good color temperature, a pocket clip, a magnetic tailcap, micro-usb recharging on the outside of the light. It includes an 18650 battery as well as a shorter 18350 body tube if you ever feel like buying an 18350 to shorten the light a bit. Its one downside is it doesn't have a sublumen mode. If you want a sublumen mode and don't mind giving up the pocket clip, magnetic tailcap, and more accessible recharging port, go with the Wowtac A2S. If you want something small and lightweight, the Wowtac H01 is basically a mini A2S.
$50-ish A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but adds a few too. The magnet in the tailcap is removable if you don't want it. The headband is improved because you can remove the top strap, and you can leave the pocket clip on the light while it's in the headband. It has an improved UI with a sublumen mode, and you can add/remove modes as you please. It ditches micro USB recharging for Skilhunt's cool magnetic USB recharging which I really like. It also includes a really nice 4000K high CRI samsung LED that produces a wonderful light. There are several other variants of the H04 available here. The variations include two sizes, three reflector/optic configurations, and with or without integrated charging. If you choose one of these lights, when you get it you'll want to switch it to mode group B. It's easy and the manual explains it well.
$75+ I'm less familiar with this market segment at the time of writing, but Zebralight makes several excellent models so if you're after the best of the best, check them out. I'll also mention the Acebeam H30 if you want the best traditional headlamp. It's got three emitters: one for lots of brightness and throw, one for close up work with good color rendering, and one red for "preserving night vision" and not disturbing others around you. It runs on a 21700 cell so it may be a bit heavy but it provides excellent runtime and brightness in exchange.
Running: I see people ask about running headlamps relatively frequently so I decided to include a small section here about them. If you want the absolute best headlamp for just running, check out the Petzl Iko Core. If you want something that is great for general use but is lightweight enough for running, consider the mini version of the H04 RC in the "$50-ish" section. If you want something inexpensive, consider the H01 Mini I mentioned in the "$20-35" section.
Running Headlamp
For running I'd want something nice and lightweight. I know u/barry_baltimore loves the Petxl Iko Core. It's a little pricey, but I tried one out in an REI the other day and it was really cool and crazy comfortable. It's not the brightest thing out there and doesn't have particularly nice emitters but dang is it light and comfortable. If I were to get a headlamp specifically for running that would probably be it.
If I were to get one that was lightweight enough for running but also really good for other things (and a little cheaper), I'd seriously consider the Skilhunt H04 RC Mini. I have the full size 18650 version and it's really fantastic, but a bit too heavy for running I imagine. The Mini version is a fair bit lighter since it uses an 18350 battery. It's got a really nice emitter and will sustain about 400 lumens or so which should be plenty for running I imagine. It's got a really great headband that allows you to keep the pocket clip attached, a magnetic tailcap, and a solid and customizable UI. It's pretty floody, so if you want something with a little bit more throw there's the H04R RC Mini which has a reflector for a little bit more throw.
To save some more money you could jump down to the Sofirn SP40 but you'd have to get an 18350 separately if you wanted it to be lightweight enough for running, and that would being you up to about $45. At that point I'd spend the extra $20 on the H04 Mini RC for the better LED, headband, and UI.
That brings us to the cheapest option, the Wowtac H01. This thing is an incredibly value at $20. It doesn't come with a clip or magnet like the last two so it's relegated just to headlamp use, and it doesn't use particularly nice emitter, but it's only $20 so who cares.
Headlamp: There are lots of great headlamps on the market right now and the most versatile are called "right angle" lights where the light can be removed from the headband and used as a standalone flashlight, often with a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. I find these to be the most versatile and they're what I'm the most familiar with so I'll stick to them.
If you want to avoid being blinded by the mail, the obvious solution is to turn down the brightness on your headlamp. Any headlamp (or flashlight) worth buying will have different brightness levels to avoid problems exactly like this.
The Sofirn SP40 is an excellent and very high value option that's extremely popular right now. It's lowest mode is 5 lumens which should be plenty dim enough that you don't blind yourself by looking at mail. It includes a battery and has a micro usb recharging port on the light so it's a complete package. It includes a headband, pocket clip, and magnetic tailcap.
A more premium option that's also very popular is the Skilhunt H04 RC. I have one of these and I love it. It has all the same features of the SP40, but includes a better headband, pocket clip, LED (better color rendering), and UI (you can add/remove modes). It also exchanges the micro usb charging port with a rubber cover flap for a magnetic USB charging cable that just magnetically snaps onto the end of the light when you want to recharge.
Flashlight: The default recommendation for delivery people looking for house numbers are one of the three compact TIR optic throwers on the market: the Acebeam L17, Acebeam E10, and Manker MC13. They all have a beam that's super tight with no spill, so you can put it on a low mode and have a bright spot that you can shine at house numbers without bothering people by flooding their windows with light. All three of these options come with a battery that has a USB port built into it for recharging so you don't need to buy a battery or charger separately. The MC13 is the smallest with the least runtime, the L17 is the largest with the most runtime. The L17 would be my choice because it uses the same 18650 type batteries that the headlamps I recommended use, so you'll have some battery intercompatibility which is nice.
I believe they all the headlamps and flashlights I've mentioned have a very similar click once for on/off and hold while on to change modes type of UI that's very easy to use and includes mode memory so it turns on to the mode you last used, eliminating the "clicking through modes" thing you mentioned.
I hope you find this helpful! Don't hesitate to reach out with questions!
The Skilhunt H04 RC is a very popular headlamp around here. It has a really excellent headband, is small and lightweight, (the version I linked to) has a really nice LED with great color rendering and color temperature, has a pocket clip and magnetic tailcap for use outside of the headband, and has magnetic USB recharging. This would be my top choice if budget isn't a concern. It's around $65 with a battery.
For a cheaper option, check out the Sofirn SP40. It's also very popular around here and is a great value. It retains the pocket clip and magnet for use outside the headband, but uses micro-usb for charging and doesn't have as nice of an LED. It's $35.
Lastly, if you just want something small and basic, look at the Wowtac H01. It's a super simple headlamp with micro usb recharging on the battery. Normally it's $20 but right now it's on sale for $13 which is just an unheard of value. The H01 is a smaller, lighter version.
I work in property management and do a lot of home inspections, including crawlspaces and foundations. A right-angle light with a tailcap magnet is the right tool for the job.
$$$: A Zebralight H600F model - I use the H600Fd. Most people prefer the Fc, which has slightly warmer light color. Efficient, powerful, indestructible, very lightweight. You add a magnet using the method described in this post. You'll need to buy separate batteries and a charger. I can give you recommendations on those too.
$$: Skilhunt H04 RC with LH351D LED and battery. Comes with more accessories than the Zebralight, and has built-in magnetic charging. It's about as small and light. It isn't as powerful, efficient,, tough or sophisticated though.
$: Sofirn SP40: not fancy, but it'll do what you want. It has built-in USB charging, which might be more convenient for you. A little larger than the other two.
I second this recommendation. Sofirn is a respected brand and makes good stuff.
The Sofirn SP40 is currently about $31 on Amazon, including a quality battery.
Welcome! You’ll find lots of friendly folks here with suggestions and guidance.
The form factor you‘re describing in 2 and 3 is what we call a ‘right angle light.’ Most of them are sold as headlamps with a removable headband. Many will include a removable clip to allow attaching to a backpack, chest pocket, etc.
This list of recommended lights is a good place to start. Scroll down to ‘right angle lights and headlamps.’ One inexpensive but high quality choice that doesn’t seem to have made the list is the Sofirn SP40, available on sale at Amazon for $26. It’s a great value for the price and includes a rechargeable battery, which can be charged by the light via USB.
Parametrek’s flashlight database is also a great resource. You can select different parameters and scroll through a list of lights that match your search.
The Sofirn SP40 that u/Nelson_uk recomended is a super high value option that also works really well as a right-angle pocket flashlight and a magnetic work light. The only significant downside to is it lacks a sub-lumen mode which may or may not be important to you.
The Wowtac A2S is another solid option in the same price range. It moves the USB recharging port to the battery and gives up the pocket clip and magnetic tailcap. Though it does have a sublumen mode and it's arguably more water resistant.
> It's a Lumintop HL3A
How would that compare to this one: https://www.amazon.com/Headlamp-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Inserted-Headlight/dp/B085VYS7KJ?th=1
A right angle light with a clip can be clipped to a pocket, shoulder, or strap. You won't need a zip tie if you have a good clip. Depending on your preferences and budget, there are many good options listed here.
If you want to try one out at a reasonable price, you can't go wrong with a Sofirn SP40. You can message Sofirn here or via Facebook to see if they have any discount codes going.
That's a nice budget and if you want something simple to use that doesn't have a crazy amount of settings with an advanced user interface check out the Sofirn SP40. It's a headlamp and gets a lot of praise here. If you're looking for a regular handheld light the Wurkkos FC11 is also a good option. It's got a magnetic tailcap which may come in handy when working on your truck. We could recommend a nice Zebralight or Armytek Wizard Pro which will be pretty much maxing out your budget but I honestly feel it's not necessary.
If you're not really into flashlights like some of us on here something simple might be best for you. Sofirn and Wowtac lights are good value for the money and a lot of them can be found on Amazon. I would suggest checking out the two I recommended and going from there. Others will chime in with their recommendations so just choose which one you feel might be best for you. Both are also rechargeable and include the battery. Links to both lights are below.