Best Head Flashlight recommendation

[Pelagic]

The worst part about being based in the Philippines with its small yachting community, is that you get limited exposure to the better brands of marine equipment and the local chandler stocks very limited items to choose from.

Looking for the best quality headband light that has both red and white working light, comfortable to wear and is well built.
What brand and model do you like best and why?

[MarkSF]

Mines an Energizer. Works fine and only cost $10.

[CaptTom]

I'm pretty rough on those things. Instead of looking for the "best" I go for quantity over quality. I buy them for a buck or two at WalMart or the dollar store, and have a bunch of them around the boat in various tool boxes and drawers. No red ones though.

My point is, sometimes it's better to go for quantity over quality. If I'm going to break it, misplace it, or drop it over the side anyway, might as well get the cheapest one that'll work, and buy a bunch of them.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

I'm pretty rough on those things. Instead of looking for the "best" I go for quantity over quality. I buy them for a buck or two at WalMart or the dollar store, and have a bunch of them around the boat in various tool boxes and drawers. No red ones though.

My point is, sometimes it's better to go for quantity over quality. If I'm going to break it, misplace it, or drop it over the side anyway, might as well get the cheapest one that'll work, and buy a bunch of them.

Ditto. I'm more concerned with an LED model that has both white and red.

[sailah]

Not sure what is available elsewhere, but I think most are.

I've been a bit of a flashlight geek for awhile.

Some of the new innovations are pretty awesome for boating. I love high powered Li Ion batteries but dislike specialized chargers. Everything I have now runs off USB so I installed multiple USB outlets on boat to charge phones, iPads etc.

These new flashlights are USB chargeable which is just awesome to never run out of batteries. I tend to charge stuff like this when motoring.


My favorite hand held flashlight for the boat is this: It's incredibly powerful, waterproof, and can adjust beam down to almost nothing.

https://www.batteryjunction.com/jetb...lashlight.html

My pick (although I do not own this one) would probably be something like this:

https://www.batteryjunction.com/nite...-headlamp.html

Has USB charging, high power LED (adjustable), red, close up white LED.


The really cheap headlamps just don't do it for me. I tend to buy things that last and take care to not lose it.

[J.Kitchens]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

Mines an Energizer. Works fine and only cost $10.

I also have a bunch of these. Some of them I have owned for 10+ years. I pick them up at garage sales for a buck all the time.

[belizesailor]

Ive become a fan of Foxelli products recently (not just their head lamps). Reasonably priced (compared to some of the stoopid expensive big name headlamps) with good functionality. I have one of their USB rechargeable headlamps...just took it on a trek to Everest Base Camp...lasted the whole 3 weeks on one charge with light daily use.

Like others I also have a collection of cheap headlamps too. Moslty promotional items from battery manuafacturers. Some of which I like quite a lot and have had for many years.

[J.Kitchens]

Here you go. Maybe it will help.

Last year the Coast HL7 was their top pick. I purchased one and it is bad*** but it's white light only. It doesn't typically get used on the boat.

[HankOnthewater]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

Looking for the best quality headband light that has both red and white working light, comfortable to wear and is well built.
What brand and model do you like best and why?

Apart from red and white lights, I believe there is another feature for me to make a headlight a good headlight: not having to cycle though different lights to get to the one you want. And for me flashing lights are not necessary. USB or batteries: either way will do for me, but separate battery packs are out for me, takes too long to fit and another thing to catch or snag.

So for me the requirements are:
- white high beam
- white low/wide beam
- red light (low beam)
- one button for each function
- reasonable in price
- reasonable in quality
- no separate battery packs
- if not waterproof, at least to IP 64 (OK for splashing water)

I have not found the above yet, so reading this thread with interest.
In the meantime I have 3 of these (the 4th one died since purchase 3 years ago). Brand is SolutionX, white high and low, and red light, but quality is mediocre, price $50 (but was on special for $30) and purchased in Oz from BCF.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by HankOnthewater

Apart from red and white lights, I believe there is another feature for me to make a headlight a good headlight: not having to cycle though different lights to get to the one you want. And for me flashing lights are not necessary. USB or batteries: either way will do for me, but separate battery packs are out for me, takes too long to fit and another thing to catch or snag.

So for me the requirements are:
- white high beam
- white low/wide beam
- red light (low beam)
- one button for each function
- reasonable in price
- reasonable in quality
- no separate battery packs
- if not waterproof, at least to IP 64 (OK for splashing water)

I have not found the above yet, so reading this thread with interest.
In the meantime I have 3 of these (the 4th one died since purchase 3 years ago). Brand is SolutionX, white high and low, and red light, but quality is mediocre, price $50 (but was on special for $30) and purchased in Oz from BCF.

Re not cycling thru functions. A couple I have do this w one button in a convenient way. First click when off then it comes on in mode last used. If you dont click the button again for 5 seconds then it stays in that mode and short buttom clicks just turn it on/off in that mode. To change mode, long press, then chose mode by short clicks.

Foxelli, and a few others, make IPX7 (wp to 1m) lights which are just a few $s more.

[HankOnthewater]

In the end I settled for a couple of these:
https://offroadliving.com.au/product...torch-cree-led

Happy with it, the marketing blurb is all correct, and I can add that on low beam the battery lasts in excess of 40 hours (that was when I switched it off).
My son has one too for a few years, and after his son did an experiment with it (swinging round on a string, above his head), it hit a metal pole and plastic clip broke.... supplier replaced that free of charge.

I have no connection with the supplier other than being a customer.

[kev_rm]

I have this one and its amazing. The battery literally lasts 24hrs on the lower setting.

[Privleoplag]

I'll say it again as I've said it before, these are great.https://www.nitecorestore.com/Produc...hoCc1QQAvD_BwE

[Mr B]

I have two led headlights,
One with one light and one with five lights,
Both have different settings for beam strength, or the lights you have on,
Gives off about 100 yards of spotlight, Very bright,
I dont know how long the battery actually lasts, But I have had them on my head for a few hours, Supposed to be 10 hours,
I just recharge them when the are laying around so I always have full batterys,
They are both USB from 240 or 110 Volts, Come with chargers,

They do have red and yellow lights on the site, But I didnt want red lights,
For about $15-00 each with free delivery, It dont really matter if you lose it into the drink,
Fleabay.com, From China,

Cheers, Brian,

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by kev_rm

I have this one and its amazing. The battery literally lasts 24hrs on the lower setting.

Ive got a couple nearly identical to this one (just different no-name brands). Great headlamp for the $s. Downsides: not waterproof and use a pin style connector (rather than usb) for charging.