Camping headlamps?

[oboeguy]

I'm hoping to choose from this list because I can stop by EMS on my way home from work. I don't expect to do much hiking into the night, but I'm tired of having a Maglite gripped by my teeth at camp.

 

[SWScorch]

I like the Petzl Tikka Plus; it's nice and excruciatingly bright

 

[oboeguy]

I almost got that one in store a couple of weeks ago but decided to do some research first. I'm thinking the XP is a nice step-up for only $12 more. It's still super-light (haha) at 3.5oz.

 

[BuckNaked]

I have a Petzl Tikka, Petzl Zoom, and a Black Diamond Nightray. For me the Black Diamond wins hands down. Dual brightness, you can adjust the angle of the beam, a much more rugged construction, and a better suspension than either of the Petzls. I live in the middle of nowhere, and use these all the time. BD all the way...

Backyard

 

[0roo0roo]

whatever has a luxeon star led.

 

[oboeguy]

Question: just how waterproof are these things? (are they at all?)

 

[Bolvangar]

I have a couple Black diamond and a couple petzl's. I just got back from climbing kilimanjaro and elbrus with my BD and I wasn't too impressed with it. Construction didn't seem too great, the mechanism that holds the light in place broke on elbrus. Battery life was good, I think I'll be going with petzl from now on though.

As far as waterproof goes, I've had my BD and petzl out in some pretty bad climbing conditons, blizards, rain, etc and never had a problem with them getting wet. I've never completely submerged them either though.

Edit: As far as your list to choose from, I'd definatly go with one that has the LED and regular beam. If you ever plan on doing any serious mountaineering this will come in handy big time.

 

[Eli]

Whatever you do, don't be afraid to spend a little more on a quality one.

Cheap headlamps suck.

 

[Subterranean Homesick Alien]

I don't see it in that link, but I use the BlackDiamond Gemini Hybrid. You can switch between halogin and LED.

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: Bolvangar
I have a couple Black diamond and a couple petzl's. I just got back from climbing kilimanjaro and elbrus with my BD and I wasn't too impressed with it. Construction didn't seem too great, the mechanism that holds the light in place broke on elbrus. Battery life was good, I think I'll be going with petzl from now on though.

As far as waterproof goes, I've had my BD and petzl out in some pretty bad climbing conditons, blizards, rain, etc and never had a problem with them getting wet. I've never completely submerged them either though.

Edit: As far as your list to choose from, I'd definatly go with one that has the LED and regular beam. If you ever plan on doing any serious mountaineering this will come in handy big time.

Wow, a real mountaneer! It may sound cheesy, but I'm a fan of Joe Simpson's books (I'm reading "The Beckoning Silence" right now). However, that's as close as I ever expect to get to genuine mountaneering. I'm more of a AT section-hiker type. The wife and I have an annoying habit, though, of getting to campsites as night falls, so I've decided before our LD weekend trip to finally get a decent headlamp.

Yeah, I'm not afraid to spend some dough on a decent headlamp. Heck, for my bike commute I just bought a $200 light system (but after some Ferengi-isms it was closer to $100 ).

Edit: Yeah I heard about the Gemini at the store. The guy didn't have one to show me.

 

[Bolvangar]

Originally posted by: oboeguy

Originally posted by: Bolvangar
I have a couple Black diamond and a couple petzl's. I just got back from climbing kilimanjaro and elbrus with my BD and I wasn't too impressed with it. Construction didn't seem too great, the mechanism that holds the light in place broke on elbrus. Battery life was good, I think I'll be going with petzl from now on though.

As far as waterproof goes, I've had my BD and petzl out in some pretty bad climbing conditons, blizards, rain, etc and never had a problem with them getting wet. I've never completely submerged them either though.

Edit: As far as your list to choose from, I'd definatly go with one that has the LED and regular beam. If you ever plan on doing any serious mountaineering this will come in handy big time.

Wow, a real mountaneer! It may sound cheesy, but I'm a fan of Joe Simpson's books (I'm reading "The Beckoning Silence" right now). However, that's as close as I ever expect to get to genuine mountaneering. I'm more of a AT section-hiker type. The wife and I have an annoying habit, though, of getting to campsites as night falls, so I've decided before our LD weekend trip to finally get a decent headlamp.

Yeah, I'm not afraid to spend some dough on a decent headlamp. Heck, for my bike commute I just bought a $200 light system (but after some Ferengi-isms it was closer to $100 ).

Edit: Yeah I heard about the Gemini at the store. The guy didn't have one to show me.

John Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" is also another good book on mountaineering, its about the everest disaster of 96 where some of the world's best climbers died. There's also another good book about 1 of the disasters on K2, I'll find it for ya if your interested. Hopefully the same wont happen to me when I'm there in 2 years

 

[oboeguy]

I ended-up with the $50 XP model after managing to blind some guys across the store floor with it. I like how these lights have a little diffusion filter for up-close work like cooking in the dark and such. I also picked-up a Camelbak UnBottle -- a strapless, insulated 3 liter Camelbak. My 2l model wasn't cutting it, so now combined I have 5 liters capacity without having to refill. I bet I could ride a century on a cool day with that (I have a fancy bike backpack that could take both -- plus my hiking pack certainly could).

 

[dug777]

Petzl>j00, try getting a LED one

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: dug777
Petzl>j00, try getting a LED one

Heh, yeah that's what I did.

I guess my only concern is that with a single LED you're screwed if it burns out.