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Best rechargeable headlamp batteries?

Max G · · France · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 15

Try Pale Blue Earth batteries, micro usb rechargeable and extremely good life

Eli W · · Oregon · Joined Aug 2021 · Points: 0
RandyLee wrote:

I had an older Fenix 18650 headlamp and loved it, so I bought 2 more - one headlamp and one hand held. Both of them have had weird electronics issues. One basically never worked and I spent hours on the phone with someone in India who just repeated the same troubleshooting step over and over before I gave up, the other I have to loosen and re-tighten the battery cap basically any time I want to use it. I’m going to try a different brand and hope someone else’s QC is better. 2 of 3 Fenix lights I wouldn’t trust when I *need* a light. 

That sucks. I only have the one, it’s seen about 3 years of straight up abuse, and aside from the headband elastic starting to wear out I haven’t had any issues.

Desert Rock Sports · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Aug 2019 · Points: 2

I just used the Zebralight H604d on my Grand Canyon Rim2Rim2Rim. That is the absolutely pure flood, no hotspot model, high CRI. I used it as a waist light by zip tying it to a piece of plastic/foam and slipping it into a slot on a FlipBelt, pretty similar to FlipBelt's own light mounting solution. Since it is pure flood, there is no distracting hot spot bouncing around. Since it is mounted at your waist it casts shadows better giving you better depth perception than a headlamp. Bugs don't go to your face. Only downside is you don't really see animal eyes shining back at you much. For any runners I'd strongly suggest you look into waist lights, you probably wont go back. I used it on medium-high / M1, which they say is 147 lumens, but I swear it seems more like 250 somehow, visually significantly more than enough light for trail running on well defined trails. I started at 2:30am and finished around 6am the next day (foot injury early on slowed me down considerably). It would have lasted all the night time bits if I had not gotten injured, but ended up dying like 1h from the end, where I swapped to a spare batt. I use the red Sanyo batts Zebralight sells.

I also used a Nitecore NU25 with ultralight headband mod (ie: https://www.litesmith.com/nitecore-nu25-triple-output-usb-rechargeable-headlamp/ ) on my head that I mostly left off, but turned on low if I wanted to catch reflections from the eyes of animals or medium or high if I wanted to look further down the trail. This light is all I bring in my chalkbag pocket for standard multipitch climbing. I don't worry about it dying. You can lock it out to prevent accidentally turning it on. MicroUSB recharging. Brighter and better than Petzl Bindi. Also no bounce, stupid light and compact.

Note: Nitecore just released a new NU25 like light, that comes with a UL strap option model. I'd look into that for a chalkbag light. As light as it is, you could bring a whole second one and still be much lighter than bringing a 3xAAA light and a set of spare batts.

For climbing helmet usage its tricky... Either you have something so small and light up front that the weight doesn't bother you, but then you have lower runtimes and brightness... Or you get something brighter and longer lasting and the weight is an issue... Or you get something brighter and longer lasting with the battery compartment at the back of the helmet, but then the total weight is even higher, even though it is distributed better.

Also... When I'm climbing multipitch I often turn it off when I really don't need it. I notice a lot of people just leave their lights on the whole time once they have turned them on. I don't need it on to lead or top belay. I don't need it on after having rapped down and now tethered into the next anchor and waiting on my partner, etc...

Edit: and its worth wondering why climbing gear companies basically never mention the LED brand and model they use in their headlamps. Probably because its something they are trying to hide.

Terry Parker · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined May 2006 · Points: 0

@Max G...thank you for the recommendation. I have been following this thread and did not know about Blue Earth batteries. Like their technology and their company. Just upgraded all my NiMH rechargeables that were on their last legs. 

Fishy Boi · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2021 · Points: 0

Hello,

Ikea Ladda NiMH are Eneloops for much cheaper. Made in Japan.

However, I bought a H05B headlamp recommended on the now locked D25 headlamp thread. It is the best climbing headlamp I have owned. It blows any Petzl or Black Diamond out of the water, and is as good for climbing purposes as my partners Zebralight.

Best of all it costs $20 including battery!

Thank you


 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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