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Best rechargeable headlamp batteries?

Original Post
Ricky Harline · · Angel's Camp, CA · Joined Nov 2016 · Points: 147

I feel bad about creating waste and don't like using single use alkaline batteries. I've tried use normal rechargeable NICAD batteries but they don't last nearly as long as alkaline. Trying to circumvent this issue I bought these fancy, expensive lithium batteries which supposedly have very high capacity, but they seem to have less than half the capacity of normal NICADs and instead of slowly dying cause the headlamp to blink when they get low, which happens after just an hour or two of use. I see USB rechargeable lithium battery headlamps, but I quite like being able to swap out my AAAs and have a fresh set when my old ones die out. 

Doing some reading it looks like most rechargeable batteries put out 1.2 volts instead of 1.5 like alkalines, and so aren't as suitable for more power-hungry applications like headlamps. Has anyone found a good solution to this? Are there some lithium batteries that actually work? Should I just get one of those lithium battery USB rechargeable battery headlamps? What solutions have y'all come up with?

Dave Dave · · Dave, Namur, BE · Joined May 2016 · Points: 5

Recently changed to 18650 battery based headlamps (usb rechargable-in headlamp lithium) after years bitching about AAA based headlamps which were either not bright enough or insufficiently long lived. Theyre quite heavy, get quite hot, but you can actually see (especially when theyre on high).I got a spare cheapie instead of carrying spare batteries.

There may be a middle ground system based on batteries smaller than the 18650s, but Ive no experience.

K C · · NC · Joined Dec 2021 · Points: 61

I really like this one-


https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hm50r-rechargeable-headlamp

Kai Larson · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 441
K C wrote:

I really like this one-


https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hm50r-rechargeable-headlamp

That is an outstanding headlamp.  My go-to for backpacking.  

For route finding on alpine climbs, I prefer the slightly larger version:

https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hm61r-multi-use-headlamp

For cold conditions, a battery is available that is made for very cold temperatures.

https://www.nitecorestore.com/NITECORE-NL1835LTHP-18650-Battery-p/bat-nite-18650-nl1835lthp.htm

climber pat · · Las Cruces NM · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 301

I am very pleased with the black diamond on-sight with their rechargeable battery. 

Ricky Harline · · Angel's Camp, CA · Joined Nov 2016 · Points: 147
climber pat wrote:

I am very pleased with the black diamond on-sight with their rechargeable battery. 

Looks like the onsight can also take AAAs. Huh, that's an interesting solution! I might go that route. 

ddriver · · SLC · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 2,084
Ricky Harline wrote:

Looks like the onsight can also take AAAs. Huh, that's an interesting solution! I might go that route. 

Petzl offers the same.

Nick Niebuhr · · CO · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 465

I tried rechargeable batteries a couple years ago and they were total garbage. I think your best bet is to use your current headlamp with regular batteries until it needs to be replaced and then go for a rechargeable headlamp.

Also if you have a petzl headlamp, I believe they make a removable rechargeable battery pack that’s supposed to be pretty good, but I recall it being pricey. 

Nolan Nolan · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2022 · Points: 0

18650 Zebralight gang, all headlamps made by climbing companies should be thrown away.

James W · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2021 · Points: 0

I’ve been using quite a few Panasonic Eneloop Pro batteries for a few years now.  Most of my headlamp use is just hiking, routine training runs or evening chores around the house.  Rechargeables are great for this.  

However good, they’re still not as good as a fresh alkaline - I don’t think any rechargeable is - so that’s what I use when it’s more important.  

A significant problem with these rechargables is cold weather - which is just how things are at dark-thirty in the AM at altitude - something also to keep in mind.  A fully charged battery might only last 1/2 hour before going quite dim.  Keeping the spare set in a supposedly warm pocket seems not much different - so I stopped trying after getting burned a few times and just use alkaline for real climbing objectives.

Austin Donisan · · San Mateo, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 669

Have you tried using modern NiMH batteries (Eneloop or even the Amazon-branded ones)? I think you're underestimating them.

How long are you expecting these batteries to last? Because while for low-load applications alkalines might have up to 50% more capacity, they suck for higher currents. Generally the breakeven point seems to be around 4 hours (if you're draining them faster than that then NiMH will be better).

The 1.5 vs 1.2 voltage really doesn't matter unless you're using a non-voltage-regulated headlamp and want max brightness. But alkalines would suck for that because their voltage drops quickly (and the max brightness implies a high current).

Some charts if you're that kind of person. First lower currents (x-axis in hours):

Alkaline:


NiMH: 

Lithium:

Higher currents (x-axis in minutes):

Alkaline:

NiMH:

Lithium:

Alex Fischer · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Jun 2018 · Points: 772

I echo all the above comments that say use an 18650 compatible headlamp. That's the standard that all cavers use, and they depend on their headlamps as critical life safety gear. The headlamps that climbing gear companies make are toys and should not be used anywhere you really need to count on them.

Zebralights (as mentioned above) are great headlamps, if a little expensive. Recently I've been using this headlamp https://www.amazon.com/WOWTAC-Headlight-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Headlamps/dp/B075ZN5LJY/ref=asc_df_B075ZN5LJY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309849971681&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16679432799983778257&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1022494&hvtargid=pla-469804510277&psc=1

It's a zebralight copycat. I've heavily abused it in caves and it's held up great without issue. I also use it climbing and it's great; slightly heavier than your average climbing toy headlamp but very worth it for the way increased brightness and battery life. $27 on Amazon. It takes a special 18650 battery with a built in charging port (included), or you can use it with a standard 18650 by stretching the internal spring in order to shorten the battery compartment.

DabbyCrimps · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 0

I have a petzl swift rl which I love. The build quality seems solid and it's held up to long alpine stuff with the occasional ice chunks and spindrift coming down onto it. It's also good enough (900lm) for backcountry skiing when you just need to get down (not good enough to be a dedicated headlamp). I did get an extra battery pack but i rarely need it unless I'm out for multiple days with heavy nighttime use. Though I do trust the swift, For really serious stuff in bad and cold weather I would consider something the other guys here have mentioned, or possibly something that takes normal batteries in addition to being rechargeable. A company in Norway called moonlight mountain gear makes some really quality headlamps I would recommend checking out as well.

Mitch L · · Seattle, WA · Joined Feb 2020 · Points: 0

Another vote for any 18650 battery headlamp. Easy to carry and swap spares, inexpensive, and pretty heroic batterylife and power. Getting one felt like stepping out of the dark ages

Ackley The Improved · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2020 · Points: 0

Spare 18650 batteries can be used in a power bank/charger shell to charge your phone or for use in lamp.

Franck Vee · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 260

I like the BD sprinter. I use it for trail running, but it has a decent rechargeable, which actually lasts a tad longer than the AAA ones that you can also use it with. ~80$

Ricky Harline · · Angel's Camp, CA · Joined Nov 2016 · Points: 147
Austin Donisan wrote:

Have you tried using modern NiMH batteries (Eneloop or even the Amazon-branded ones)? I think you're underestimating them.

How long are you expecting these batteries to last? Because while for low-load applications alkalines might have up to 50% more capacity, they suck for higher currents. Generally the breakeven point seems to be around 4 hours (if you're draining them faster than that then NiMH will be better).

The 1.5 vs 1.2 voltage really doesn't matter unless you're using a non-voltage-regulated headlamp and want max brightness. But alkalines would suck for that because their voltage drops quickly (and the max brightness implies a high current).

Some charts if you're that kind of person. First lower currents (x-axis in hours):

Alkaline:


NiMH: 

Lithium:

Higher currents (x-axis in minutes):

Alkaline:

NiMH:

Lithium:

Well this is where I'm starting then! 

Thanks for the great comments all. I'll try the Eneloop Pros I guess and if those don't work out too well I'll try the 18650 headlamps. Very helpful thread! Thanks, guys!

climber pat · · Las Cruces NM · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 301

Some observations.  

My black diamond on-sight has a battery charge meter, it is calibrated for the lithium battery and says the AAA alkaline battery is weak very early.  It seems pretty accurate for the lithium battery.  I think I observed the same with petzl headlamp years ago.

The quality (energy capacity) of 18650 batteries varies greatly.  Be picky about which one you order if you go that route and get a charger that will indicate a bad battery and tell you the battery capacity.  The 18650 battery is much bigger than AAA batteries, that is why they have more energy.  But the bigger battery makes for a clunkier headlamp.  

NiMH suffer from the memory effect which can be reversed if you try.  The current generation claims to not have the memory effect.  I tried NiMH batteries 15-20 years ago and they were disappointing (energy per charge and number of charge cycles) in practice.  Perhaps they would be better today with LED lights because of the lower current demand.  

The black diamond li-ion has an energy capacity of 6.84 Wh.  The AAA eneloop pro battery has a 950 mah at 1.2 volts for an energy capacity of 0.960 Wh/battery.  The on-sight would hold 3 of the batteries for a energy capacity of 3.4 Wh so even of the light was happy with the lower voltage the NiMH battery would die in about 1/2 the time of the Li-ion battery.  A set of 4 eneloop pro batteries runs about $15 plus a charger for $50 (panasonic's charger. i suspect cheaper ones are available)  sets you back $65.  The black diamond battery and charger is $30.  

There is a reason all cell phones and most light manufactures are going with lithium batteries, they are better.

Pierre Proulx · · Montreal, Quebec, CA · Joined Mar 2019 · Points: 10
Franck Vee wrote:

I like the BD sprinter. I use it for trail running, but it has a decent rechargeable, which actually lasts a tad longer than the AAA ones that you can also use it with. ~80$

I used a BD sprinter for trail running for the past year, but after having it replaced 3 times on warranty by BD I switched to the Fenix HM65R-T. BD’s warranty is great, but it’s not enough to make up for a clearly faulty design.

For rock climbing the standard HM65R might be better than the trail version since the wider headband is not really required. 

Kai Larson · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 441
Pierre Proulx wrote:

I used a BD sprinter for trail running for the past year, but after having it replaced 3 times on warranty by BD I switched to the Fenix HM65R-T. BD’s warranty is great, but it’s not enough to make up for a clearly faulty design.

For rock climbing the standard HM65R might be better than the trail version since the wider headband is not really required. 

I've had 4 BD headlamps.  Every one of them has failed on me.  

I won't buy another BD headlamp ever.  

that guy named seb · · Britland · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 236

I have been using the sofirn D25s since that thread convinced me to buy one, recently been using it heavily for some fairly complex descents in the alps and dolomites. It has worked exceptionally.

I should add, my friend (who I also convinced to get one) used his for the first time on these alpine routes and he was very impressed and he was coming from a rechargeable petzl head torch. His only complaint was that it's kinda heavy. But he did also say after the battery life and performance he doesn't even think he'd feel the need to carry a spare headtorch or battery. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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