Looking for a Headlamp under $45

[Outback in Idaho]

The least expensive the better, $45 would be my limit since I don't need one as a profession.

Work around the car, underneath stuff, in & around tight areas, and on computers. Would use for leather & awl sewing, so a light that can be positioned accordingly would be useful. May use when riding my mountain bicycle. Could also be working around household plumbing, or in the snow or rain.

Would accept a rechargeable if it can be recharged in a car too, but it would have to be a universal recharge or would just stick with a standard battery version.

Know I do not want exotic battery types, like the expensive 123 batteries. Have a Leatherman Serac S3 that haven't used in over 2 years due to the 123 battery as its only power source. Much rather have something more like an AA or AAA - unless is a rechargeable.


This is not for an immediate purchase unless there's a sale. Have been wanting to pick one up for a year now. Tired of sticking my LED Lenser M5 in my mouth or clipping the Serac S2 to a cap bill. Of the facebook friends/contacts I have they are rather brand-specific users that follow the herd. Am looking for suggestions regardless of brand or popularity - if it does the job, is affordable, is of quality craftsmanship, then that is what I want.


LED Lenser are nice, but they too are very expensive. The warranty is good though, thanks to Leatherman.
LED Lenser are also allergic to water. Done ruined a P5 when it fell into a sink full of water. Got an M5 later but what good is a light that will fail when wet? Especially a headlamp. It should be durable & reliable.

[Landrew]

Gads, there are thousands of them out there I bet, and I can't recommend a headlamp because I don't use them.
But if you are interested however, here are some alternatives I have used:

• Clip-on caplights work OK, and they are usually very cheap. I can buy them for $3 each here.
• Mini flashlights (AAA or smaller) with a clip that is pointing backwards from the light, so it can be clipped on the brim of a cap.
• My favorite is a cap with the lights built into the brim itself. Hardly noticeable, if you don't like to go around with hardware on your head.
• The smaller ones use button batteries, which I buy at a dollar store, in a 5-pack for a buck.

[Inzelique]

I have a couple of the energizer head lights.  they are about 45 lumens and have about 4 settings.  They are under $20 and angle up and down securely.  I use them for sewing and around the house.  They are great!  They my not be my first choice for biking as they aren't the brightest things.  but they re fairly water resistant

[CMUtuba]

I have a fenix HL21 that I really like. I use it for backpacking and it has survived a few rainy nights. I try to not drop my stuff too often so I can't really say it will survive serious abuse. However, I don't worry too much if it gets dropped on occasion. I think it runs around $30, and I would buy another one if the current one disappeared. Runs off of a single AA battery which matches all of my other gear and is easy to find.

http://www.fenixlight.com/viewproduct.asp?id=144

I used to have a princeton tec fuel which I liked but after a year or two of sporadic use, the latch that holds the batteries broke. It was also a pain to open even when it was in working condition. The fenix has a screw cap with O-ring for waterproofing. There might be cheaper lights out there but these are two that I have used. Hope it helps!

[Gareth]

 Not that I have one myself but I was thinking the iTP H01 might be good for you.

[gregozedobe]

I have an ITP H01 and I wasn't very impressed with it.

If you want pure flood beam for close-up work a s'hand Zebralight H501 might be found for your price limit, or a new Ultrafire UF-H2B (if you are prepared to undo the tailcap when not in use, these have a parasitic drain issue),  Both will run an AA eneloops (the best choice for rechargeable NiMh batteries).

A cheaper option is an Icon Irix headlamp.

If you want more (much, much, more) info about headlamps head on over to cpf
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?6-Headlamps

[Outback in Idaho]

Awesome feedback folks. Thank you. 

Am going over the suggestions and making notes. Wanted to let you know I have been reading & searching. All the facebook friends would say was either 'LED Lenser" or "wtf you want a headlamp for?"

[gregozedobe]

Don't worry about your ignorant friends.  Once you have used a headlamp that is well suited to the task/s you are doing you will wonder how you ever managed without one.  Just remember, flood beams are much better for close-up work.  Most people find a hand held light better for throw (narrower beam that carries further)

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Awesome feedback folks. Thank you. 

Am going over the suggestions and making notes. Wanted to let you know I have been reading & searching. All the facebook friends would say was either 'LED Lenser" or "wtf you want a headlamp for?"

For what you're asking/needing, I'd suggest something like a Fuel or a Byte by Princeton Tec.  They're in the $25 - $35 range at most places.  They both use 2xAAA.  There are some other inexpensive ones by Brunton, and Black Diamond, but I've found that in the arena of cheap headlamps, PT usually does the best job. 

Also, are you more interested in flood, or throw, in the beam profile?  For most purposes you'd be using a headlamp for, flood is more suitable, but there are uses where throw is helpful too.  Once you've decided that, I can give you a better recommendation.

If you're willing to step up your budget a bit, into the $75 range, you can get a sweet Zebralight from Travis.  They're one of, if not the best, headlamps on the market right now.  (And I should know... at last count I had close to a dozen different ones...    )

[Outback in Idaho]

From what knowledge I have gained here, flood is definite better so as not to blind one area and/or my eyes. Seen a few headlamps with a peripheral flood which for night or tight areas that would be better visually and for safety.

Will probably end up getting or making a flashlight handlebar mount for cycling. That is rather easy to fashion.

[Wheeljack]

I can't say enough good things about my Petzl Tikka XP. It's since been re-named the TacTikka XP, but it's basically the same headlamp. Here's a link to one on fleabay (no affiliation) that's within your range:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PETZL-TACTIKKA-XP-HEADLAMP-/261159940652?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cce58722c

It's got some cool features, including a battery health indicator lamp (it uses normal AAA batteries), a wide angle lens that can be slid out of the way for a nice spot beam, three brightness levels plus strobe, and the one in the link has interchangeable colored filters. It also has a "boost" mode for a nice surge of light when needed.

It may not be their latest and greatest or even their brightest model, but its solid and reliable and has a weatherseal around the battery compartment. I've worn mine out in the rain numerous times with no issue. It's my go-to headlamp when I need one for just about anything.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

That's a good price for a Tactikka XP.  They usually run close to $60 at most places, even online.  Petzl also makes a nice little accessory package you can get for it, with a blue filter, red filter, and a few other things.

Here's a few links to Campmor... I've had good service from them and they have good prices on most things, although their prices on SAKs, MTs, and the like can be inflated sometimes.

Here's a PT Fuel, good cheap light with a floody beam profile.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___55601

This is a Byte; decent little light, more throwy than floody though.  I picked one up as an impulse buy when I was at my local REI a couple years ago.  Quickly relegated it to my toolbox, until my daughter wanted a camping headlamp, so now it's hers.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___57093

This is an EOS, probably one of the best overall cheap headlamps for the money, but is saddled with a throwy beam.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___55943

Here's a BD Storm; generally well regarded, and notable for its weatherproofness.  Just a bit more than you were budgeting though.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___82640

This is a BD Spot, also well regarded, and right at your budget limit, though it has a throwy beam.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___82641

One thing you can do if you want is get some diffusion film and cut a piece to cover the emitter which will spread the light more evenly in the beam.  It won't change the width of the beam though.  I'm fond of frosted/diffused lenses on top of a reflector in a headlamp; they give a center weighted beam where the center spot is spread very widely so you get a large bright spot in the middle that dims toward the edges of the beam profile.  I find it much more useful than even the headlamps that come with diffusers built into them, because they tend to spread the light a little too much for my tastes.

[Cupboard]

I don't know how much they'd be over there, but if you use the usual MT/torch UK price conversion ratios the Petzl Pixa range might be of interest.

They are big but pretty indestructible and the light rotates back inside itself when not in use to lock it off and protect the lens. I've got the 2 which is a floody light but still has a decent enough through for walking etc.

I used to have a cheapy Energiser which was OK but no more. Ran on 3*AAA batteries and was fairly bright when they were fresh but didn't stay bright for very long. It also had a nasty habit of turning itself on in my bag and after about 2 years of ownership including 6 months of heavy use just became too unreliable to carry.

My Pixa 2 has survived a year of heavy use and is still in top condition. It uses 2*AA batteries and I seem to be changing them about a third as often as the Energiser's. I think that's a mixture of the fact it doesn't come on when I don't want it and the fact that it stays bright for a long time due to having regulated LEDs

[jzmtl]

Princeton Tec EOS, I think I paid $40 for it, it's my most used headlamp.

[CHEFonDRZSM]

I've been using a Browning Night Seeker Pro for about 4 years now. Mostly for walking the dog, fishing, camping, hunting. Works great for simple tasks. I have the older version which had red & white leds, the newer ones have green & white leds. It uses 1 AAA battery.

You can look it up here:

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/flashlights/detail.asp?fid=017H&cid=371&tid=5099

[Gareth]

Welcome to the forum.   I'd not seen that Browning before.