Good LED headlamp for night hunting, or whatever?

[rcmodel]

+1

Nobody who ever used a modern LED TAC light ever accused the dark of sucking them up.

I have a little Streamlight Strion HPL that's like somebody turned the sun on at midnight 100 yards away!!

rc

 

[Tac. Gunner]

I agree with you guys about LED lights. Take a look at a TK75VNQ70, it is a custom modded Fenix TK75 putting out 15,000 lumens. If you think LED lights don't "shine as far" then take a look at the Olight M3XS-UT, stock it's 250k candela for a 1000 yard throw. The TM36VN is a modded Nitecore TM36 and it's over 900k candela. Leds are far from weak. There are lights now the size of a pop can making 8,000 lumen.

 

[rondog]

I need me one o' these things. I bet it'd be just the ticket for when I'm still picking up brass at the club after sundown.

Yes, I do that! I don't have a brass problem.....

 

[macgrumpy]

LED lights don't get sucked up by the dark unless yours is a cheap wanna be version of the real thing. I carry a Streamlight Stylus Pro all the time (it's about 5 years old and still working well) and I use it for close work and maneuvering around my property at night (I live on a remote mountain property with the closest artificial lighting many miles away). The newer LED technology has resulted in small light packages that run cool and are very bright.

 

[AnselHazen]

Things have changed a whole lot. I have Black Diamond Storms

My original one was a 100 lumen headlamp that used 4 aaa batteries and I chose it for that very reason. What charger only charges 3 batteries? I promptly set up a system where a set was in a charger and I rotated them out as fresh ones were needed. From the moment I got it I began to use it. A LOT. At work, then at home doing livestock, later walking the dog. Even later if I'm last to bed putting "the hardware" on the nightstand. Maybe a year or two later it was so good I got one for the wife. She might do the livestock on occasion.They are to me simply essential to do anything at night when you live where there are no streetlights within miles. My original headlamp lasted something like 5 years, hers is still going fine. Late last year when I could tell mine was getting tired I purchased the latest model, now at 160 lumens in full bore mode. Price was just under $50. It's latest technology is that it has a pad on the side that you can tap with your finger to cycle between the level of brightness you have it set for and full 160 lumen bright. Very handy for making coffee in the morning without waking up the house.

My newest purchase experienced some catastrophic failure about a month into owning it. Black Diamond sent me a new one sight unseen and told me to keep the other for parts.

It's rugged enough that mine may get used up to 10 hrs a day between work and home. I have 6 sets of aaa at this point because I also use a luxpro flashlight sometimes, and it was also chosen because it uses 4 aaa batteries. The Storm is about to get strapped to my head for the last spin around the house with the dog and then put on the nightstand.

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/headlamps-and-lanterns/storm-BD620611VBORALL1.html

 

[Tac. Gunner]

What charger only charges 3 batteries?

Actually several lol. Most of your cheap ones that come with rechargeable batteries are considered "dumb" chargers because they will only charge in pairs of two and do not charge the batteries based on voltage or amperage but on a set time frame. For instance the 15 minute quick chargers do not care whether a battery is fully charged or dead when when you put it on the charger, it is going to usually charge the battery at 1 amp for 15 minutes and then be done. This will lead to shortening of the battery's useful life, how long it will hold a charge, as well as not keep all the batteries balanced.

To get the most out of a set of rechargeable batteries a good charger is a must. Chargers from Nitecore, Xtar, and La-Crosse will all charger any number or combination of cells from 1-4. These chargers have a lot better charging parameters than the little chargers from Walmart and will monitor both the voltage and charge current required. Each slot is treated as a separate charger and the charger will do what is needed for that one battery. Below are links to three chargers worth looking into. Starting with cheapest and most basic going to most expensive and complex:

-Nitecore D4. Simple charger you put the battery in and wait for it to be done. I use mine quite oftem because its just so dang handy and does a great job. Will charge lithium/NIMH/NiCad batteries:
--Info http://charger.nitecore.com/product/digicharger-d4
--Purchase http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/chargers/nitecore-d4-digicharger.html

-La-Crosse BC-700. The Cadillac of battery chargers for AA/AAA rechargeables. This charger can act as a simple put the batteries in and let them charge or you can get more advanced with it and select individual charge currents for each slot or a different function. This is the charger I recommend if you only need to charge AA or AAA batteries and nothing else. I have one and wouldn't trade it for anything.
--Info
https://www.lacrossetechnology.com/bc700/
--Purchase http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000RSOV50/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1458823019&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=lacrosse+bc-700&dpPl=1&dpID=41gJ5-yLA2L&ref=plSrch

-Xtar VP4. This is the best charger available if you need to charge any size of NIMH or NiCad batteries such as AAA/AA/C/D or any size lithium battery. Mutual charging options available. This will be my next purchase and it will replace y other two.
--Info http://www.xtarlight.com/05-chanpin/p-001-1.asp?styleid=322
--Purchase http://www.illumn.com/batteries-chargers-and-powerpax-carriers/chargers/xtar-vp4-li-ion-charger.html

I also highly recommend Eneloop rechargeable AA and AAA batteries. They are THE best rechargeable batteries available in those sizes and outperform any other other brand. They hold a charge longer, have more charging cycles and do not take a memory like others.

I hope this didn't come off as insulting as I was only trying to provide more information about available chargers. Flashlights, batteries, and chargers are my main hobby so sometimes I get carried away.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, I ordered one of these tonight.

They made me an offer I couldn't refuse!!
($19.99 with free shipping, and 15% off my next order!!)

http://www.dorcydirect.com/p-736-41-2104-3-aaa-motion-switch-headlight.aspx

rc

 

[Tac. Gunner]

Good luck with it, hope it works well!

 

[rcmodel]

Got the Dorcy today.
http://www.dorcydirect.com/p-736-41-2104-3-aaa-motion-switch-headlight.aspx

It’s a great $19.99 light!!

HIGH = 120 Lumen (Its way brighter than my Pelican & Streamlight pocket lights,, but not nearly as bright as my Streamlight STRON flame thrower!)
LOW = 40 Lumen

Range:
High = 130 yards.
Low = 115 yards

Runtime:
High = 4 hours.
Low = 10 Hours.

Batteries = 3 AAA.

Angle adjustment = 7 Clicks from straight ahead to Straight down.

Switch = High – Low – Strobe – Off

Motion Sensor Mode = A swipe of the hand in front of it turns it on High. Second swipe turns it Off.
(Might be a problem if you are swatting bugs in front of your face! But it sure is handy)


High to stop sign 140 yards at end of street:



Low to stop sign 140 yards at end of street:



High = 40 Yards to neighbors house across the street:



Low = 40 Yards to neighbors house across the street:


rc

 

[AnselHazen]

I hope this didn't come off as insulting as I was only trying to provide more information about available chargers. Flashlights, batteries, and chargers are my main hobby so sometimes I get carried away.

Good lord no. That's like a wealth of info. Maybe my wallet won't be happy with you in the future but hey no worries, I came here to learn things.

 

[Tac. Gunner]

RCmodel looks like a nice little headlamp for the money, hope it's working out for ya!

Ansel you have no idea how unhappy your wallet will get if you catch the light and battery bug. It's somewhat of a cheaper hobby but when you factor in how quickly new lights are released and how big of a jump light technology can take at a time, it results in either a whole of want or an empty wallet.