Little tricks.
I have Petzl’s and I also have Cree head lamps. The Cree’s run 300 Lumen and programable down to 60 lumen.
More light is better but programming for lower and more appropriate lighting is better for me and gives me the ability to conserve battery.
The other thing I’ve done is taped a piece of Velcro to my Cree 900 lumens and another piece on my hats, shirts and the straps of my packs.
Gives me the advantage of carrying a great lighting system that can be attached for hands free where I need them and is less confusing (for me) in terms of working.
Drawback: my lights use the 18650 batteries which are recharchable but can also two 123’s for each battery bay. I have a ton of 123’s and couldn’t care less if I burn through them.
I also have ten 18650’s for each light tool. My main lighting uses only one 18650 and produces 700 lumen, even though the manufactuerer says it produces 900. I tested them against a major brand name and deduced they produce slightly less than the major brand, who claims 900 lumen.
So I have ten 501 Cree, which take only battery.
two Fenix TK35(900 lumen, or their claim 860 lumen)
and I have two Cree 3800 lumen lights. Great lights if you need to find someone, blind someone or just need to show off but, not really usuable. 3800 lumen is like holding a headlight in your hand and if you shine it on something close you will go blind from the throw back of the light bouncing back. You can lower it to 120 lumen or something like that but, at this point I like it for just showing off)
I know 18650 batteries are new to a lot of people but you need them and they are rechargable, so buy extra and keep em charged, even for the lower lumen lights.
Nothing like running around in the dark, suddenly losing your massive light tool and having backup power.
If anyone wants direction on these lights, feel free to ping me.
I won’t say the “Best part of” of these lights is just how in inexpensive they are compared to major brands and the amount of power you get proprotionaly ....Wait, I will.
They are better than major brands in terms of output.
I mean, if you want to buy a major brand like Fenix that’s fine. Hell, I have several and rely on them but, if you want more bang for you buck buy the Cree off brands.
Fenix 860 lumen is $100 bucks +.
The Cree’s are $13.00 bucks and deliver only slightly less light. The footprint is also completely and totally smaller.
If you take the Fenix it has a terrific feel and will blind everything but a zombie.
It’s slightly less than the size of a bottle of Coke.
The Cree, however, is slightly smaller than a candy bar. Think “Rolo’s”. Puts out amazing light.
I’ve also tested these “junky things”. I’ve dropped them, thrown them and dropped em in H2O”.
They work great and are 10% of the cost of a similarly performing light.
In terms of charging the batteries I have a cheap ass household charger and works just fine with my “mobile” solar charging system by “Goal Zero” solar charger.
The Cree
I have the little AA charger and have been unimpressed because it was so expensive for what it does. I was also a bit annoyed that they didn't send along a AAA adaptor like most other rechargeable sets include. And they're not easy to find for this unit. I was going to go for the larger teardrop unit, but am rethinking that, especially since I found an inverter that can be plugged into a car battery charger and has both USB and regular household plug.