I am shopping for a headlamp for hiking, and was surprised how the market is now dominated by products that have an internal battery you can recharge via USB-C, instead of a bunch of AA or AAA batteries.
Yes, I get it, higher energy density, you can find an USB-C cable everywhere, etc, etc, but at the same time I can get AA/AAA batteries pretty much anywhere on the planet, put a bunch of extras in my backpack, and I am safe for even a long hiking trip.
With a lithium battery, I cannot assess its state, and it may just give up the ghost unexpectedly when I really need it. This happened to me multiple times (not with headlamps, and no dire outcomes, just minor inconveniences), so I am an not inclined to trust them in situations where a working headlamp means so much. Am I old-fashioned?
Petzl makes lamps that are hybrid, which means that it has a lithium battery but it also takes 3xAAA, but it is really pricey, especially with the battery. Which probably goes to show how bad the cheapo Chinese USB-C headlamps are under 15 EUR.
Decathlon now only sells rechargeable lamps in my area.
I like the idea of USB-C rechargeable. A power bank can be a handy item on a long hike as it can charge your phone, your headlamp and other devices. I recently did a camping safari in Africa and the power bank was just brilliant for charging my camera batteries and other devices. BTW, if anyone is doing domestic train or plane travel in China the power bank must be CCC certified or it will be confiscated.
Well, personally I hate it. Lithium batteries need constant pampering (not good to store it discharged, but also not fully charged), degrade seriously within a few years of usage, and then you have an expensive paperweight. Or, with the cheaper knock-offs, a device that can decide to go Klingon any moment (“This is a good day to die”).
I am OK with camera batteries dying, but not headlamps. I usually carry a spare too, or multiple ones if going with a group. Finding trails in the dark is not fun, especially if they are unmarked.
Sounds interesting, especially the AA power, but indeed they are pricey, especially since I am in the EU. I am wondering if there is anything similar from around here.
Yeah, I just checked, I bought mine from flashaholics in the UK about 7 years ago, before brexit. They don’t ship to the EU anymore. Doesn’t look like there are any resellers in the EU.
They are good lamps, though I’ve used mine for winter commuting on bike every year plus as my work lamp. I seldom leave home without it, it just lives in my bike bag.
Enough with the fanboyism already
Good luck with the rabbithole
I am out of it already, ordered 3x Black Diamond Spot 400’s, each around 33 EUR. Mainly because I have Black Diamond headlamps from 10 years ago and they still work fine; they will be serving as backups from now on.
(I am somewhat paranoid but I have been on hikes where 1 headlamp failed which then slowed down the descent for the whole group on rough terrain. So now I carry extras.)
This is a problem with LLM results, they mainly scrape sites like Amazon and regurgitate what they find. For circumstances where going without a headlamp can be a major inconvenience (eg hike goes slower than expected, night falls, you are stuck in a valley with no signal, you will have to spend the night there), you really want at least IPX4 rating, preferably higher. Many of these lamps claim to be “waterproof”, but without am IP rating, no one knows that that actually means. I usually go for IPX8.
They seem to be the bigger brothers of this one of 200lm: Black Diamond Unisex Spot Light Dark Olive One Size : Amazon.de: Sports & Outdoors , wich I bought almost ten years ago and is still going strong. One interesting point mine has is that the waterproof rating is for the lamp itself, not for the battery compartment wich can be flooded while still working. I guess this is only a problem if you want to use it under very salty water…
I have a Petzl Actik Core since 2017, I’m mostly using the lithium battery. I don’t even remember a time when I had to rely on AAA batteries.
Even when almost discharged, it goes to a low consumption mode and you still have a bit of light.
Compatible with 3 AAA batteries (included) or rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery (sold separately). I use it with AAA batteries, and have a spare set in my pack. Works great.
Yes, those are the ones I have already. They work great. But 2x the light will come handy.
Yes, that is still their guarantee. It works fine. Even if the batteries got shorted somehow (which does not easily happen, you do need to submerge the lamp to do that, in a simple storm or similar batteries remain dry), I have plenty of spares in a watertight zip-loc bag.
Sure, it uses lithium batteries, but they are rechargeable, you can carry spares, 21700 and 18650 are everywhere, you can get a 1 battery charger that can store one spare battery and be used with USB-C (XTAR MC1), etc.
You speak of longevity, but lithium lasts longer than NiMH which is what most rechargeable AA’s use (1000 vs 500-800 cycles). IMO it makes no sense to avoid tried and tested formats like 18650 or 21700.
Edit: Convoy also has small and powerful handheld flashlights that you could carry as a backup, using the same batteries as the headlamp. A good way to store and carry a spare battery too I’d say, as the flashlight is only slightly bigger than the battery
Yes, if you are ordering online. But if you are on the road, in a foreign country, and you are happy to find a gas station, they are not. AAA batteries are truly everywhere.
Also, lithium batteries are a nuisance generally when travelling, they can only go in carry-on, etc.
I care mostly about the longevity/durability of the lamp. As long as I can replace batteries, and they are available everywhere, I am fine. I am using alkaline AAA for headlamps, not NiMH, I travel light and don’t carry a charger for the latter. An AAA battery usually lasts a two-week trip, it’s not like I am hiking all night, just need 2–3 hours max every day. I don’t even bring those from home, just get them at the destination.
I agree. I carry spare batteries in spare headlamps They are tiny and lightweight.
That is one argument for lithium batteries. If the flight attendant wants to put your bag in the cargo hold, you can argue that all your camera gear has lithium batteries. They might move on to target someone else’s bag.
I’ve used mine for winter commuting on bike every year plus as my work lamp. I seldom leave home without it, it just lives in my bike bag.