Headlight

“Hi guys, again.

I was recommended this Petzl Tikka Plus.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=36956&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=3907&cat4=1101&shop_method=pp&feat=

I have never used LED light before. But after some reviews it seems to be very efficent light device.

How is your experience?”

“No way I would ever use incandescent lighting for backcountry use. LED's are bright, efficient, and you don't have to worry about busting em.”

“LEDs rock. The bulbs virtually last forever, and the battery life is fantastic.”

“I just ordered one from REI. I got it with my refund and %20 off. I didn't buy that much from them last year. I guess I got everything I need......NOT!”

“I have a Tikka Plus. It's a great little light for around camp and all -- batteries last for what seems like forever, but it's kinda weak when it comes to night hiking. The LEDs in the Tikka and Tikka Plus are just not bright enough to illuminate a dark trail...”

“phantom... is completely impossible to walk with that? or you need extra caution?”

“I've got a Black Diamond Moonlight... Great for route finding and night hiking. Three settings for battery saving. Complaints? Perhaps a bit too bright. Kills your night vision. A wee bit heavy at 5 ounces with batteries.”

“I have night hiked with a regular Tikka. I wouldn't recommend using it at night over rough terrain though.

If I were getting a new headlamp right now, I would pick up the Princeton Tec EOS. It's new to the market and backpackinglight and backpackgeartest both think it's the bomb.

http://www.backcountry.com/store/PRT0009/c5/s22/Princeton-Tec-Eos-Headlamp.html”

“i have the zipka or zipka plus. i like that the head band zips back into the main compartment”

“I really liked my Petzl I bought 7 years ago. Then we bought an additional headlamp called Moonlight and had to bring it back for another one because it had wiring that came from the back to the front and was defective. We should have traded up.

For Christmas, I bought my mom a headlamp. She likes to read in her bedroom in the dark, so I got her one witout a freakin large pack in the back and w/o wiring and it was a Petzl, but I don't know the brand. It was a L.E.D.

I felt my original Petzel with the more of a headlamp type light illuminated more of the trail in the dark than the L.E.D.

The L.E.D. has a nice white light for reading and does not cast a shadow or yellow light of a circlular pattern on your book, but it may not be best for trails.”

“i love the LED lights - super light and brighter than a normal bulb. plus, you don't have to worry about shaking in the pack ruining the bulb - they last longer (forever) and use less battery power. The ones with an array of three LED bulbs should be bright enough for any night hikeing.”

“The Zipka lamps seem to have flimsy head straps. Great for weight reduction, I suppose. But then, have to try one. My Tikka still seems to do quite well around the house.

For peak-bagging, and trips, I switched to the BD Ion lamp.

”

“I like my lightweigh Moonlight for backpacking and my Petzl Myo 5 for more intense stuff.”

“I have a cheap $12 Energizer LED headlamp. light enough for me...has three bulbs plenty bright enough and also a red bulb for around fire or in tent etc. Its been on three trips and I haven't changed the batteries yet. Works for me so for, but then I've not used the others so I don't know what I'm missing?”

“I agree with John. I got the same one at Wal-Mart and have had no problems with it. Besides that the reb light makes for interesting viewing of the mice crawling over your bunkmates in the shelters at nite.”

“I have and use two LED headlamps, a Princeton Tec Aurora and a Black Diamond Ion. Both lights work fine for me when night hiking. They throw enough light that I can see everything directly in front of me. I prefer the Ion to the Aurora due to its size and weight. When it’s on my head I can’t even tell it’s there except for the light it’s emitting. My only complaint with it is it isn’t waterproof.”

“I've used the BD Ion, but I reckon the battery life is pretty ordinary, about 4 hours then a noticeable drop in light output. My petzl myo is heavy but I like to flick over to the xenon bulb when I'm looking ahead, generally i leave it on the leds (5) which are more then bright enough for most situations.”

“I have a Princeton Tec Aurora (LED), and a Petzl Zoom (Incandescent)

The LED is OK for defined trails and around cap. Not good for trail finding where you are relying on blazes to find the trail as the light has no distance. The Aurora also has nice features like a strobe which is great for signalling.

Zoom is great, but the batteries do not last a fraction of the time LED batteries do.

When I need to see at a distance, I just have to trade a 4 hour battery life for the 140 hour life.”

“I have a Princeton Tec Aurora that is okay for walking around camp or reading at night, but I don't think it provides enough light for night hiking.

I now use a Black Diamond Zenix most of the time. It offers a brighter LED setting for night hiking, and a lower setting for camp work. REI has it on sale at the moment.”

“Energizer 3LED headlamp. 2.7oz $12. Wal Mart.”

“I have the

Petzel Duo
Petzl Tikka Plus

Depending where I am, I use both. If I know there will be nighttime hiking, then I go with the Duo. It has 2 bulbs; LED's and a spot. Very bright!”

“Princeton Tec Aurora”

“DDX, you have the Wally World Energizer? How do you like it. Looks like Clubber is going to give me his. He only bought it as a temporary cause he forgot his headlamp on the coast trip and I told him about it.”

“Yes I have the Wal Mart energizer headlamp. It's about half as fabulous as you are... which makes it pretty darned fabulous. I like the way the LED's tilt because you can set it in the ground and aim the LED's wherever you want. Only problem I've had with it is that the on/off switch can be easy to slide on and off so you just need to be a bit more careful when you stash it in your pack so you don't accidentally trip it on and walk around with a headlamp on all day.”

“I've got a BD Ion too - love that little light. I think I'd like at least three bulbs for any night hiking though, unless there's a decent moon.”

“Have used the Zipka for years and loved it. Switch started to get funky on me so I swapped it out for a Zipka Plus and love it even more. The switch problem DeoreDX reports is solved with the Zipka Plus.

Never had an issue with head "band". Bright enough for late-night trips to near-by trees, but not really for hiking on trails.”