does anybody recommend a decent headlamp that also has a red light option that can be easily used? A black light option would be nice also, but red light is the priority for me.

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This is a great question. The headlights have way too many absurdly unuseful features. Take strobe for example who the hell needs a strobe feature. Also if you used red light the last time, it should definitely turn on in red light. I believe Princeton tec makes a way over priced tactical headlamp that has a simple white light and switch to red light. Otherwise Coast makes a fairly good rechargeable/battery headlamp you can get in a three pack at Costco for around $30

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mcapello@reddit

My problem is that most white and red lights I've seen force you to cycle through the white option before getting to the red, which will both blind you and give you away in any application where you don't want to attract attention. I'd be curious if you find any that get around this problem.

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grm3@reddit

Princeton tec headlamps are red light first

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formyburn101010@reddit

I recommended the Sofrin one. If you keep the light turned all of the way to the right, it will always be on red.

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44r0n_10@reddit

My cheap Forclaz one has the red light first, then the white ones. There's other ones out there.

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

This has been a thought of mine for a long time, lol. I kind of just gave up on it.

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Financial_Resort6631@reddit

You can make any light a red light with a red sharpie… red lights are good for map reading. Blue is good for medics and hunters.

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etherlinkage@reddit

r/flashlight

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almondreaper@reddit

I am a part of this cult and have too may flashlights. Anyway get a sofirn hs21

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etherlinkage@reddit

Just a collection of like-minded individuals.

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GENERAT10N_D00M@reddit

the level of snobbery and ‘tism over on r/flashlight is astonishingly impressive.

that said, my EDC for flashlights is the Wuben G-5. It has a clip that you can mount on a hat, making it a headlamp. it has every color LED, a wheel to vary brightness, and up to 400 lumens. also, it’s about the size of a zippo lighter. For about $25 bucks, it’s worth a try.

keep an eye on it. due to its diminutive size, it can get lost easily.

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etherlinkage@reddit

Comment starts by mentioning the ‘tism at r/flashlight , goes on to extol the virtues of a favorite light 😂 Love it.

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GENERAT10N_D00M@reddit

Furthermore, if a lack of physical size is a concern, you might want to look at the G-5’s big brother, the Wuben X-4. While it is not a dedicated headlamp, you will appreciate the increase in lumens and battery life.

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BigSankey@reddit

OLIGHT OR NOTHING, REEEEEEEEEEEE!! ^sorry, ^had ^too

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GENERAT10N_D00M@reddit

Olight is also great. some of my rifles have Olights mounted!

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Remarkable_Chip_99@reddit

One does not simply explore this community and leave with just one light. Ask me how I know… 😆

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Sel_drawme@reddit

I just spent a half hour going through that sub and now I have a whole list of notes 😂

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Paranormal_Lemon@reddit

Soon you will have flow charts too.

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etherlinkage@reddit

Sir, that’s a feature, not a bug. Now go charge some 18650s 😂

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Agreed, lol!

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WorkingCollection562@reddit

Yes, don’t forget your wallet when you join that community. I have a flashlight for every day of the week now.

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Spiley_spile@reddit

I really like my Black Diamond 450 Storm. White, red, blue, green, and strobe. The blue and green lights arw great for reading maps at night, I can switch between the colors, instead of using the white light, to look for different features on the map without blinding myself. Took practice switching between the colors. Not going to lie. Practice makes perfect though and it's easy now. Water resistance level is ipv-whatever it's called 6 or 7. I think 6. Ive used it several times in the rain.

It has a lot of negative reviews regarding the latch breaking. I can guarantee almost 100% of those people did not read the instruction before attempting to open the battery hatch. I didnt when I first tried to open it. But when it was stubborn, I stopped trying to force it, read the instructions, and realized I was pushing it in the opposite direction I shoukd have been.

Lost my headlamp after 2 solid years of use. Liked it so much I bought 2 more of the same one.

You can buy a USB rechargable battery for it, or just use AAAs.

Im an Ultralight backpacker. But I love this headlamp enough that I use it for backpacking now, instead of the UL headlamps I own. I hope the brand doesnt ever discontinue this model.

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ihaveadogalso2@reddit

I’ve got an olight Array 2 which has the best red lamp of any light I’ve owned. It’s actually bright enough to be usable but still reserves night vision.

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ZzuAnimal@reddit

I use this. Is also a right angle light with a magnetic base. https://www.sofirnlight.com/products/sofirn-hs42-headlamp-2100-lumens

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Im just curious. Why do people like the right angled lights so much. Ive found that people either love them or dislike them, but if they are on the loving side, they are head over heels, with no turning back for them.

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ZzuAnimal@reddit

I guess I disagree with your binary, but but i am a frequent user of r/flashlight. I think right angle lights are often useful in a utility/worklight sense. I can put it down and angle toward something easily without the beam beingparyially blocked/reflected as with a regular light. I can use the magnet to do it at another angle. I can clip it in a pocket on my person or in a workbag and the light still faces forward when on. It can double as a headlamp. However most of my lights are not right angle lights and it is not my everyday carry light.

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Do u know if they have adjustable right angle lights, where u can adjust the angle of the light head itself? I think that would be a good 1 to have also.

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ZzuAnimal@reddit

Many of your walmart amazon costco brands have that kinda thing with crap emitters and questionable durability of the hinge at best. Some of the brands I like have started doing more of those things, but for me the durability is yet to be seen. This one for example https://www.sofirnlight.com/products/sofirn-st2-3000lm-3-in-1-rotatable-flashlight

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tamum1@reddit

I have a princetontec Fred that I like. Always turns on red first.

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Psycrotes@reddit

Nitecore NU-20 Classic has the best red light interface I have found and it is inexpensive. It has two buttons. Short press one and it turns on red at the lowest output setting (1 lumen), short press the other and it turns on white at the lowest output setting (1 lumen). Their choice to start at the lowest setting means that you don’t blind yourself even if you accidentally hit the white light button in the dark. The head strap looks uncomfortable but trust me that it is totally fine even for long periods. https://www.nitecore.com/product/nu20Classic

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Im surprised the band is comfortable.

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dingetjesdinges@reddit

I recently bought the Olight Perun 3 and I really like it, haven’t gone camping with it though.

It is a bit on the heavier side, but I like the 21700 battery in it, so I can quickly get it running again, or replace a faulty battery (not that I ever had one with Olight)

And it has the red light function

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

What do u mean u can replace the battery? I thought everything with olight had proprietary batteries? They are making lights with batteries we can buy in regular stores now???

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SheistyPenguin@reddit

Almost any big-box hardware store will sell headlamps with red and white modes, as well as spot vs. flood. Look wherever they have safety gear and flashlights. I would get something basic and inexpensive until you get a feel for what matters most you you.

If you want to get REALLY nerdy, explore this site and filter yourself into flashlight Nirvana:

http://flashlights.parametrek.com/index.html

Personally, I like the Petzl Actik headamp. It comes with a USB-rechargeable battery, cell, but will also work with regular AAA batteries- so you get the best of both worlds. It also has a very simple interface: low, medium, high, red, off.

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rbprepin@reddit

I really love olights. They do make headlamps and they come in UV (black light), red light and regular white light.

For tactical purposes, I like Oclips. They are small, durable and bright.

Pro Tip: get some UV markers and keep them in your kit. You can write notes on things for your team to read with their black lights, but anyone else won't be able to see them without a black light.

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Lmaooooo, im going to go around tagging random walls with haunting ghost messeges everywhere i go now, lololololol! You shouldnt have told me about those markers!

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rbprepin@reddit

Haha. I have the markers. Trust me, you’ll spend the whole day just walking around your garage looking to put your initials on every tool you own.

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Where do u get those markers?

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Anonymo123@reddit

damnit..just bought one of the clip ones... i don't need more flashlights...

but i need more flashlights lol

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assistantpigkeeper@reddit

I have two Fenix headlamps, and am a big fan. They will be continuing to get most of my lighting purchases.

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Queasy_Collection127@reddit

Just bought a PHILLIPS from B & M , only £ 6.00 a great and simple head lamp.. 2 white & 2. Red modes carry this now in my EDC chest rig

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

NICE!!!

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formyburn101010@reddit

Sofrin makes on. I love it

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DayManFOTNightMan@reddit

I’ve been happy with the o-light prerun 3. I’ve only had it a few months, so I can’t speak to longevity, but the UI is pretty intuitive. It doubles as a 90 degree handheld/clip, so the versatility is great.

I also have a black diamond storm that I’ve had for years and has held up great. It has blue and green in addition to red which is great for hunting.

Both default to the last setting, so you don’t have to worry about blinding yourself turning them on.

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Which 1 do u prefer?

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DayManFOTNightMan@reddit

The prerun is more versatile, and I prefer rechargeable to batteries at this point, so for day-to-day, it’s definitely taken over from the storm.

For hunting, or a long night hike where I might need to switch batteries, I’d obviously stick with the storm.

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DeFiClark@reddit

Petzl actik remembers last mode so you can default red. Does not have black light. Great light.

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

So just turn it off with the red light on, and itll be red light when i turn it back on?

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Own-Locksmith7607@reddit

Yes

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Glass_Raisin7939@reddit (OP)

Oooo, i might get that then. Its perfect!

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link3347@reddit

I'm thinking about buying WUBEN H1 Pro, 25€ right now at amazon. I carry WUBEN E7 for 1,5 years and big fan off that lamp, E1 has a headband too, but no red light.

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SatansMoisture@reddit

I like nitecore

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44r0n_10@reddit

Depends on where you are. Europe? Check Decathlon, specifically the Forclaz headlamps. There's a rechargable 15€ blue one that got me through basic training and now lives as a trustworthy backup in my EDC bag.

If you want a great one, there's a 40€\~ one from Petzl or something like that that is just a beast. Overheats easy though, but you can swap a rechargable battery or some normal alkaline batteries in there.

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