Here is a video I made that shows you some of the diffeences in technology when it comes ot outdoor lighting. Everyone that hunts needs to have a couple good lights with them. There are so many great options out there I thought i put something together that explains those options and benifits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6tqsFW4Gj0
Jason....great podcast! A lot of info there. I guess I should have taken notes. What was the one headlamp you talked about the most?
Thanks
zebralight! that is the name of the headlamp i rave about. If you go to their site right now all of thier headlamps are in the "discontinued" section as thier new line up comes out in september (probably early sept im guessing). I can not wait to see thier new lights. the one i have is the h31 and love it. The rep told me the new ones will blow that one out of the water performance wise.
Nice video. Very informative. Never heard of Zebralight before that and am now looking at their H600 MKII headlights so thanks. Have a couple questions that maybe you can answer that I don't see on their site-
1- The 18650 battery is rechargeable but what do you recharge it with? I see no mention of a charger on their site at all and the battery they list for sale is $19 so not sure if that comes with a charger or not.
2- What is the difference between the normal light, the "Floody", and the other flood style they show? I figure the normal one has a tight beam but curious of the difference between the other two and which you recommend for walking into and out of stand and also for tracking given a choice between the three.
dcphotog, I would wait and see what else they have coming out as they are releasing thier new line up this little by little over the next few weeks. This h600 mk2 is a great light but has some disadvantages for us bowhunters. The light for whatever reason i can figure out is missing a ver important brightness setting in the 150ish lumen range. it goes from 1020lumens, to 330lumens, to 65lumens. it needs something between the 330 and 65 range.
Also the rechageable 18650 batteries i personally dont have any experience with and dont thin you need that big of a light. the single cr123 cell headlamps should be out soon and are much better suited for what we do. they are also lighter, smaller, and have a better range of brightness levels we use. So i would wait it out for a week or 2 or 3 and see what they release. Even if you bought the h600 mk2 it would not ship until mid september.
Zebralights are amaizng lights and in my opinion the best headlamp made. so its worth the wait. but wait for the single cell cr123 to come out. the new single cell cr123 model will be similar to the 502 aa model on teh site but even more compact and brighter (cr123 lights are always brighter than thier respective aa models).
The floody models are very wide angle beams spreading the light really fast and not shining out as far. the regular models are a happy mix of wide and throw in my opinion. so i would say with the non-floddy models. the floody ones are great for right in front of your face work light electricians, plumbers, etc. the colors like nw (netraul white) give a more yellow tint closer to the color of a minimag light or other "bulb" light. the normal or cool color has the classic slight blue tint of most led lights.
this is the one i have and love. This is also the one Im waiting for the new model of to come out. ITs the best headlamp for what we do i have ever seen in my opinion. thought this link would show you the light model and the specs so you can see when the newones come out.
http://www.zebralight.com/H31-Headlamp-CR123-220Lm_p_25.html
Thanks L_B
I bought a real nice headlamp at Lowes the other day made by Coast Products. It's got an adjustable beam and puts out 196 lumens, pretty danged bright and only weighs 4.4oz. It's called the HL7. Not bad for $40
Headlamps and flashlights are changing and progressing faster than cell phones. 800 lumen (remember those things called watts and candle power?) hand torches..."torches"? C'mon...
I have an array of nice lights, and something good to say about each of them. I like my Fenix PD32 which will knock your eyes out at 200 yards. Just 2 CR batts. Princeton Tec Remix, EOS and Vizz are outstanding headlamps running on AAAs. Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern is one of the finest camp lanterns ever devised.
Picking a good light is akin to a good bow. Many, many choices.
That was unexpectedly great! I'm still packing the mag light daily on my hunts. I did buy a kit to upgrade the bulb for improved performance but wow those lights perform! Thanks Jason.
The Petzel Ultra is my top choice for hunting light. I have many but hard to top the Ultra 375 lumen on high with lithium rechargable cell. It is a very bright white light not the blue that manyn cheaper lights throw. I find the blue light useless when looking for blood at night.
Just got a 100lumon from walmart, for 10.99, I almost got the 500 lumon, for 50$, but the wife may have killed me
I have several 1wt led head lamps, they cost 20$, from rayovac, and take one AA.
QuoteOriginally posted by r-man:
I have several 1wt led head lamps, they cost 20$, from rayovac, and take one AA.
I like the 6 led Rayovac with red lights. I have three. I think they take 3 AAA. I don't have to change them much. Great budget light. My first is like 10 years old and has really been through it. Push button rubber thing fell out, and the elastic has failed in the band, but still working. It is my power out light for setting on a counter to light a room or point at an area. They run like mid 50's lumens with 4 led on and like 16 hr run time. They are not high end, but great for the money when you want a basic work light.
I have a 4sevens Quark AA flashlight and an inexpensive Ray-O-Vac headlamp......without a doubt, I prefer the Ray-O-Vac, both in terms of versatility and light. I only wish that either one had a red lens.
YMMV
homebru
Very good stuff. Been thinking about a good headlamp.
Just an FYI. Zebra light single cell cr123 lights won't be available till end of November.
They have a new version coming out with the latest and created led but won't be avail until end of Nov.
Knowing this and just cause I wanted to try a new light I bought a new eagle tac single cell 123 d25c clicky with neutral white led and put it in the fenix clamp headband. Really liking this combo. Been using it all season so far and love it.
I like either AAA or AA batts on my lights and for one reason, pretty much all my electronic gidgetts use them so I only have to carry one type of spare batts,
I like the OTC batteries. Never have ponied up for a "special" battery lite. Wonder how much "better" they are.
I saw a re-chargable battery/lite this past week in deer camp that looked pretty darn good. It was an 18650 I think.
Anybody fool with them yet? seemed pretty nice
Pretty hard to beat a Petzel Ultra for a head lamp for the money. I have used to high dollar ones and for as often as I loose them I do not find them to be of a greater value to me.
Where do you find the Petzels?
I used to run them with my dogsled teams but that was years ago. They were pretty much top of the line then.
Any body use a colored lens filter to track blood with?
QuoteOriginally posted by Two Tracks:
Any body use a colored lens filter to track blood with?
I never used colored filters. But the neutral white led works great. Nothing beats a lantern with A tin foil reflector on the back for making blood glow.
The lantern or peroxide are my go to items for hard to follow blood trails.
For most trails neutral white led works great and the standard cool white led work pretty good as well.
I actually prefer the cool white for daytime blood trails in shady areas as it makes the blood shine really well andeasy to see.
I honestly use all three types a lot. Cool white always on my key ring and often used during the day. Natural white in my headlamp. A 2 cell neutral white in my pack and a lantern in my truck.
i lose too many flashlights to pay $60. $20 is plenty for a device that is doomed to be lost. i must say I still have a maglite from my Marine Corps days, and cannot explain its longevity.....
Will the pd32ue fit in the fenix headband just wanted to make sure I like tu use a headband when climbing in my treestand
Babs,
It should, but maybe LB-hntr will reply. I don't have that model, but I do have their headband and it comes with two clamps for different diameters, as well as a battery holder for spare 123's.
Babs,
I don't own a fenix light personally. Bit dimensionally should work great in the headband strap.
That strap system is awesome. I have 5 of them now with different lights for different things.
The position of the light off to the side is great for cold weather as you breath fog doesnt block the light and reflect like center headlamps. And for bow fishing its awesome as you can angle the light so that it shines where you shoot and your bow doesn't block the beam.
As backup light or as piece in one survival kit, the Petz E+lite is great. It weights nothing, not powerful but enough to walk by the woods or other tasks. And is not expensive.
(http://tomskit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/elite.jpg)
Cool,
Thank you
Love Petzl. Have used the same one (think XP2) for 3 years - has low and high setting, a diffuser, and a low red led for trying to be sneaky. Will use till dead or lost. Kinda brand loyal from hiking days and still have one that is probably 20 years old or so that is cracked but still works.
Yes Will, My wife still uses hers from the early to mid-90's. it is ruff but still works.
I will be checking into some new ones this year I think.
The Petzl e+LITE is a wonderful emergency and backup headlamp. Mine is now 4 or 5 years old, and it is always in my pack. I probably will get another one for my truck.
Yes, for me is a must have, always in my arrowmaster quiver or around the neck at nights. The low volume of the batteries is perfect to carry extra ones.
Zebralight is another great product.
Do you all find the e+lite in stores or online?
What stores?
Available both ways. Better sporting goods stores have them, as does REI, Cabela's, Bass Pro, Gander, etc.
Thank you Kevin
Jason, I just wanted to saw thank you for posting the video that shows you some of the differences in technology with flashlights... I had no idea. I have a new Eagle Tac on the way to the house as I post. I've been carrying around a few mag lights for years. I do have some good head lamps buy am excited to update my daily hunting carry light... thanks for your informative post! Jim
Because of this thread I just bought the fenix 25 flashlight and wow this has some power, great light. I stuck with the AA batts account availability
Looks like zebra light came out with a few new lights but there on backorder already
My two best flashlights are a head lamp that uses 3 AAA's that I charge every night..it's a soft white zoom good to about 80yds on zoom. The other my favorite light is a hand held or belt clip little 3-3/4"L x 1" dia. that is a strong white light good out to at least 75 to 80yds on zoom..uses one 1A battery..I charge it every night too. Bought two of these. Paid $6.50 a piece for both handheld and headlamp including shipping.
I've got two strong flash lights one uses two 18650 batteries..it's too heavy for me to pack around (I'm very picky on weight in my back pack) so use it around house..battery life is bad also. The other uses two cr123a lithium batteries..I pack it for blood trailing..it lights up the woods..battery life is bad with it also. Paid under $25 for it shipped and $16 for the other one shipped.
the new single cell cr123 zebra light headlamp wont be available until mid december. I called them on it about a month ago. Then the kicker is there are so many people that love zebra light (millions of non hunters love these lights fir not only outdoors stuff but also plumbers, electricians, etc) that the new ones will be probably not available until after the first of the year unless you preorder the as soon as they release them.
I will buy one so i have it for next season. I just cant say enough great things about zebralight!
Some of my most frustrating times hunting were with the old mini mags. They would die after 1.5 hrs and leave you in the dark in a wilderness trying to change the batteries.
I don't think a g can beat those 120 lumen Ray O Vac mini flashlights at HD for $20.
I like the light headlamps without that big battery pack on the bk of your head- not needed with today's tech. I like the Princeton Tech or similar models with the small wide angle LEDs and also one high output spot for about $35. The single spot LED headlamps make me a bit woosy for some reason during a long hike in or out in the dark- the wide angle lights don't.
The small and light headlamps with 3 AAA batteries are so light you hardly know you have them on, you can carry a backup even on a UL backpack trip, and they will last for a 10 day trip with 2 hour hike in and outs in the dark no problem, probably more but I usually change the batteries every trip.
In one of the many flashlight threads recently, Somebody posted a site to buy batteries from.
My search function is monkied up so,,, could somebody help a brother out??
dcphotog,
you can find the 18650 batteries on Amazon for much cheaper. A lot of them come with mutiple batteries and a charger for under $20. I am pretty sure the 18650 will replace the 3 AAA pack that is common in most smaller lights. I bought a headlight for my mt. bike that had the option for a 3xAAA or 1 lithium 18650.
QuoteOriginally posted by Two Tracks:
In one of the many flashlight threads recently, Somebody posted a site to buy batteries from.
My search function is monkied up so,,, could somebody help a brother out??
Battery junction.com. best place I found to get cr123 or 18650 batteries.
:thumbsup:
This is a good thread. I'm constantly ordering led flashlights lights. They seem to get better every day.
Anyone considered how to mount a light on a bow for frog hunting or bow fishing? I made up an attachment recently that worked well using our Talon grip. I don't have any photos but I'll post something if anyone is interested.
Just ordered me a fenix pd32ue and a zebra h602w l2 neutral white light should be all I need and cover all my light needs. Thanks for all the tips on these lights and great reviews.
Here is a photo of our flashlight attachment. I haven't been frog hunting or bowfishing with it yet but it didn't move a bit while testing it in the shop. Sure beats the heck out of trying to hold a flashlight and bow in the same hand while taking a shot. It's sucure and doesn't affect the shot.
(http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n64/2fletch/DSCN2448.jpg) (http://s109.photobucket.com/user/2fletch/media/DSCN2448.jpg.html)
That's pretty slick Don.
I know some of the die-hard pig hunters have some pretty fancy light set ups, with switches/triggers and all. They mount to an adapter hole.
Yours looks real simple and universal. Nice
What is the largest diameter of light that will fit in the slot?
Two Tracks, it will hold at least a 1" diameter flashlight. I prefer a small LED flashlight like this little raschal. It runs on one AA battery and gives off a lot of light.
Thanks Don.