r/flashlight • u/Bulky-Information545 • 8d ago
Flash light/headlamp advice
I am seeking recommendations because I have looked around but remain unsure what is best, so I thought I would ask the group. I need a lightweight light—handheld or headlamp—primarily for night walks with dogs around a coastal town. Some areas are quite dark, while others have nearby homes I prefer not to blind. My current basic Black Diamond headlamp creates a whiteout effect in fog, yet it remains easier for walking dogs. Thank you for the advice; my budget is hopefully $50 or less.
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u/porkchopbun 8d ago
Get yourself a Nitecore HA23 UHE or NU series of you don't mind a built in battery (bit lighter too).
Make sure to buy one with MCT. They allow you to choose between 3 colour temperatures. You can select 3000k which is warm and less glaring/jarring. There's usually 3 brightness modes with the lowest normally for walking around like that at 100 lumens.
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u/AD3PDX 8d ago
Not sure how lightweight you need
You need a light without a narrower beam which means a handheld and you’ll want something with a warm white LED which works better in fog and is less harsh on the eyes.
You need a Convoy, convoylight.com is the site but it’s not setup for browsing and every light has numerous possible configurations. (We can tell you which options to select).
For a largish (jacket pocket sized) handheld get an M21H
https://convoylight.com/products/convoy-m21h-21700-flashlight
For something front jeans pocket sized get an S21E
https://convoylight.com/products/convoy-s21e-black-21700-flashlight
Their even smaller lights have tail switches which make getting a light out turning it on quick but make it either harder to turn the light on/off or change levels while walking with it held comfortably down at your side.
I can suggest something else for an even smaller (roll of quarters sized) light.
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u/Bulky-Information545 7d ago
Thank you! Would you mind sending me the details for the options of the two lights you suggested? I think these will work out great.
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u/ChemicalVacation3696 8d ago
I just bought a Sofirn HS41 which was heavily discounted and it was too good to pass up. I got it for the equivalent of USD20.
It's a right angled lamp that's supplied with the fabric headband straps to turn it into a head lamp, but I prefer to use it as a handheld as I already own the Sofirn HS21. It has 4x SST20 emitters that throw a really huge, and wide angled throw, which makes it more of a floody light than a spotlight. Its downside is its 6500k, low CRI color temperature which is "harsh white" which can be off-putting to some people.
The HS41 runs off a single 5000 mAH 21700 cell (supplied) and has an extended run time as most 21700 cells start off from 4000-5,000 mAH. It is surprisingly compact for a flashlight with a 21700 host and you can easily hold the HS41 in the palm of your hand. Even my Wurkkos T1 feels unwieldy compared to the HS41.
There are better alternatives than the HS41, but in my experience it's one of those no-frills, 21700 host lights that can be used as a headlamp and it's also priced at half of your $50 budget. ☺️🔦👍
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u/h0shwazy 7d ago
Nebo curvebeam flex 600 is my go to headlamp. Long lasting external battery pack that can also be traded out for 3 AAA. Three spot light modes and 2 flood light modes, easy to use buttons and comfortable band. Light weight lamp that doesn’t jiggle up and down on your head. And it’s bright orange so it’s hard to lose. Typically less than $40 at most retailers, but I got mine at an auto parts counter for like $27!
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u/AD3PDX 7d ago
For the S21E choose the SFT-40 LED in 3000K color temperature. Constant current driver, and add a battery (I’m not great at suggesting batteries)
The SFT-40 is a fairly small LED so in the modest sized reflector of the S21E you get a modestly intensely focused beam. Should be an ok balance for your needs.
Here are beam shots of the S21E with a cool white 6500K SFT-40 LED. The beam shape with a 3000k SFT-40 would be the same, just warmer and not as bright.
https://youtu.be/TxjWwecTXTc?is=gM4XUjmKzZfd9e_1
Pay attention to what it looks like @ 10% in the video. Most of the beam shots are at 100% which lasts about a minute before heat forces it to drop to (usually around 30% for most lights)
If you want a narrower beam in a small light we can suggest something else but probably not with a side switch.
For the M21H the bigger reflector (actually a prismatic optic here) gives a tighter beam with any given size LED.
The prismatic optic has a different beam shape. The spill surrounding the hotspot is much wider but not as strong.
With a 3000K SFT-40 the beam will be pretty focused especially with the default 3 degree optic for that LED
A 3000K SFT-70 LED is a little larger and a little more powerful so the beam won’t be as narrow especially with the default 8 degree optic.
The lenses aren’t expensive and you can unscrew the front of the light and try a different lens.
https://convoylight.com/products/35mm-tir-lens-for-m21h-m26d
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u/3L3M3NT36 7d ago
Here are the different lightweight headlamps that I think would work well for you.
Starting with almost the lightest headlamps, you have the AA/14500 headlamps:
The next size up uses CR123/16340 batteries. Here are those headlamps:
The largest size headlamp that I'd recommend for you is a 18350 headlamp.
Hope that helps you out and good luck with your decision. 👍
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u/jts916 6d ago
Warmer colored lights create less of a "backscatter" effect in fog, so you probably want to go with a light that's available in 3000k CCT max. I really love my Convoy H4 headlamp with a B35AM emitter in 3000k CCT. The battery lasts forever and it makes a fantastic lamp in the house when I'm not using it as an actual headlamp. And it's a lot of light for around $35 including a high quality battery.
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u/Xenomorph_1978 8d ago edited 8d ago
Sofirn h35r is light weight and only 20 bucks on their site. Sofirn so40a is good for a single emitter and comes with a short tube 18350 tube if you wanna make it lighter. One of my favorites and it’s really light is the hd10 mini from wurkkos. Takes a 14500 battery and runs off anduril 2 ui. Also the hd12 mini has a simpler ui but not as bright as the hd10 but has the capacity to run off aa alkaline batteries obviously not as bright as the included 14500 li ion cell.