Lighting when fishing is one of the main factors influencing getting a good catch, especially when fishing in the evening or at night. The use of various flashlights allows you to see gear regardless of environmental conditions, which minimizes the likelihood of missing an incipient bite.
However, every angler is faced with the question of proper organization of lighting, and many opt for head-mounted models, since they have the following advantages:
- Organization of high-quality lighting and simultaneous release of both hands , which does not interfere with the fishing itself.
- An impressive product range , which allows you to select the most suitable models with the required set of functions or characteristics.
- Affordability: there are models that any fisherman can afford to purchase, regardless of their budget.
- Spot lighting of local areas and zones where such a need arises.
- Compact size , no difficulties when using or transporting.
Choosing a flashlight
To obtain high-quality lighting, it is necessary to take the process of choosing a device seriously, so as not to regret the purchase in the future.
First of all, it is recommended to evaluate each model according to the following basic criteria:
- Functionality. Modern flashlights can have a number of different operating modes, and with their number, the cost usually increases. For many fishermen, one basic mode of operation is sufficient to illuminate gear, but if desired, more advanced options can be selected. However, it must be borne in mind that devices with too many additional functions are less reliable, since they are much more susceptible to various breakdowns.
- Dimensions and weight. Compactness and weight of the device are the main criteria, since flashlights that are too heavy or bulky can cause discomfort during use. It is better to try on the model you like first to make sure it is easy to use.
- Reliability. Based on this criterion, it can be quite difficult to evaluate the option you like, so it is recommended to purchase flashlights from well-known manufacturers who have already proven themselves on the positive side. You can first read reviews from independent experts or other fishermen to understand which models are the most successful and of high quality. Reliability is extremely important, since fishing can be carried out in different weather and climatic conditions: it is necessary that the device provides uninterrupted and good lighting even with strong gusts of wind, in low temperatures or with heavy precipitation.
- Sealing is one of the main characteristics of headlamps. You need to know that devices with water protection function only when raindrops or other small amounts of liquid fall on them, but if they fall into a body of water, they will stop working. For this reason, waterproof options are considered the most reliable: they usually cost more, but such flashlights continue to function even if dropped into water. The permissible degree of immersion has individual indicators for different models.
- Material. Devices with a plastic body are cheaper, but they have a shorter service life and cannot withstand significant loads; they are much easier to break. Modern flashlights with a metal body are more durable and can withstand even very high mechanical pressure.
- Power. This indicator should be at least 150 lumens, this is the minimum value that can provide high-quality lighting while fishing.
- Type of light supplied. To ensure good lighting in local areas, it is necessary to provide diffuse illumination, which is achieved using wide and narrow beams.
- Nutrition. In fact, all modern models are powered by batteries; the maximum operating life should be indicated in the attached instructions. Devices suitable for fishing must be able to provide uninterrupted lighting for 48 hours. There are also universal options that combine several different power sources at once.
How to choose the right headlamp (plus headlamp ratings for 2021)
Sellers of LED lights on Aliexpress love to deceive. Each headlamp is powerful and bright, each comes with the most capacious battery. That is, it seems easy to buy a good headlamp. And now the buyer wants to buy a headlamp on Aliexpress, looks at the specification, reads or sees on YouTube another under-review dripping with honey. Or he goes to the nearest store, listens to the nightingale trills of the seller and spends his labor ruble on something outright. So I will try to make sure that you have a normal, bright and reliable headlamp on your head.
my personal TOP 10 handheld LED flashlights for 2021 HERE
Content
- Frame. Size, weight and material. Monoblock
- Remote block
- AAA
- #10 Litwood Z30 (and it goes by a bunch of different names).
If you are reading this text, it means you are interested in buying a headlamp. I will try to explain all the basic nuances of the right choice and help with a model that is suitable for your needs, since quite a lot of them have passed through my hands.
important links:
- I highly, extremely strongly recommend that you read my guide to choosing LED flashlights before reading this text. There are a lot of interesting points that will intersect with the text of this article.
- how to choose an 18650 battery for a flashlight or headlamp
- choose chargers for Li-Ion batteries once and twice
- Of course, if you decide to buy an LED headlamp on Aliexpress, then here are some coupons for you to save on your purchase. if you decide to buy it (or something else) on aliexpress, here is my updated list of working coupons
Frame. Size, weight and material.
The body is made of plastic or aluminum. Plastic reduces cost and weight, but eliminates heat dissipation from the LED. And even if they put something bright in a plastic case, in reality you shouldn’t count on a constant brightness of more than something on the order of 150 lumens and a maximum of 300 lumens. In a few top-end, expensive branded rechargeable headbands with a plastic case, there can be about 500 lumens of a short turbo mode.
However, I’ll tell you straight out that 150 lumens is more than enough to light your feet and at arm’s length.
For the most part, plastic headbands are powered by AAA/AA or a built-in battery.
However, on Aliexpress you can buy a headlamp with a plastic body and 18650 power supply. It will be discussed in the list of headbands at the end of this comparison.
The aluminum body is more durable and reliable. There are 2 formats.
Monoblock
| T-shaped Classic shape. Shorter length, often better heat dissipation, keeps maximum brightness longer. It's easier to integrate charging. You can play with optics by installing additional LEDs and control buttons.
| L-shaped Longer. Often easier. A huge advantage is the ability to use such a headlamp as a hand-held one. The second plus is that there is often a magnet in the battery compartment cover. This is extremely convenient in a home or car repair situation.
|
Remote block
This design allows you to significantly reduce the weight and size of the head unit, as well as place 2 batteries in the battery compartment, which will significantly increase the operating time in all modes except turbo. Why? Because the compact remote unit is forced to deal with the heat generated by the LED alone.
The second plus is that you can keep the battery pack in your pocket in winter, they won’t freeze.
A great example of such a flashlight is the Nitecore HC70. Models from Fenix (HP25\30) have proven to be structurally less reliable (the wire does not withstand frost well, the fastening of the cover in the battery block breaks out).
The second version of the remote block is extremely, extremely common in the basement and low-quality segment. It is in it that the most popular headlamp on Aliexpress is made (the one with zoom, with a lens and T6 LED).
There are almost no headlamps on the market with a remote battery pack in this form, which is a pity. Among the modern ones I can name only a couple of olight models, for example Olight Array
A
There are a lot of such headlamps on Aliexpress and they differ only in the greed of the seller and the degree of lies about the brightness.
| + price (main plus) + ease of repair + built-in charging + the ability to at least somehow illuminate a hundred meters +reliability (lottery - depending on your luck). My father’s headband of this type worked for about 4 years under intense load. It might have worked longer, but he had no time to repair it, he just took a spare one | - disgusting light distribution: either a circle, outside of which there is darkness, or a square with veins. Although, of course, this is a matter of taste. — no stabilization, brightness drops sharply as it discharges — PWM flicker (strobe effect when lighting fast moving objects) — low brightness, no more than 300-400 lumens. - nasty bluish light - moisture protection at rain level - due to the basement mongrel, 100% lottery with quality. — There is no protection against overdischarge; if you don’t turn it off in time, it will kill the batteries. |
Brightness
What many stubbornly chase after... And in vain, often.
As a rule, the maximum brightness for a classic 1x18650 headlamp is now about 1000 lumens. This is absolutely enough for the typical needs of using a headlamp - to shine light under your feet or a little to the sides along the bushes. The same dacha will be illuminated entirely. Here, for example, is how the best, in my opinion, inexpensive headlamp from aliexpress shines - Sofirn SP40
But! Now there are several models with XHP70.2 LEDs that can produce more. As an example, Olight Perun on the right with its 2000 lumens in turbo.
And here is the most, most important point , which many are unaware of or do not take into account. The higher the brightness, the greater the heat generation. For this simple reason, a good regular-sized headlamp will only be able to handle and deliver 400-500 lumens of brightness over a long period of time. The maximum brightness, be it the now common 1000 lumens or something higher, is limited to something like 1 minute before the case heats up and the thermal cutoff is triggered. There is no thermal cut-off in a cheap headband for a simple reason - the primitiveness of the circuitry. But there is no reason to worry about this. No matter how many thousands of lumens the seller writes, the brightness there simply does not reach the level at which the thermal cutoff would work.
Here are the Skilhunt and Olight specifications.
But this is what Led Lenser promises.
In one case I say theatrically “I don’t believe it!” In the other I see the truth and a normal, convenient selection of modes. Which one? decide for yourself -)
The only headlamp I know of that actually delivers 1000 lumens is the Acebeam H30. This is a very expensive, very bright and very good model. An uncompromising choice for those who are looking for the very best and are willing to spend money on it. Due to the capacious 21700 power supply, its T-shaped case is slightly larger than usual, and this excess metal removes all the excess heat. If they show you some other headlamp and say that it constantly holds 1000 lumens without subsidence, they are blatantly lying to you. If they convince you otherwise, ask for confirmation in the form of a graph.
I have a lot of real work schedules for headbands that have been reviewed, so I can speak with complete confidence about what brightness you should expect and for how long.
Perhaps, only when fishing does a headlamp require such brightness; in all other outdoor situations, a seemingly inconspicuous 200-300 lumens will be enough for you (or even they will be excessive), where are those 4000 lumens from the GIF below?
Here is a graph of the same H30.
But what about the freaks with 3, 5, 7 LEDs? A striking (only in the figurative sense) example is Litwood, disgusting in all its characteristics. However, in Aliexpress and other stores there is a lot of such constructive burp, with the only difference being the logo and the degree of lies in the specification. I've held these headlamps in my hands - they are terrible .
Why are they made if they are so bad? Elementary - the abundance of LEDs will impress the inexperienced buyer, he begins to feverishly calculate that they say one (two or three) thousand lumens from the main one, and even half of the additional ones, wow, what brightness comes out in the end! But in reality, the tiny current is distributed between them all, and only on fully charged batteries will it, in an exceptionally short time, approach its maximum brightness to normal for ordinary headbands. Then the brightness will begin to rapidly decrease as the discharge progresses.
The point of all this:
- Even in the top bright models of normal brands, 1000 lumens will be 1-2 minutes at most, even if they can give out greater brightness in turbo mode. In the vast majority of headbands, 1000 lumens is the maximum brightness limit, and you shouldn’t wait more than one minute. Then the case warms up and the thermal cutoff is triggered, which reduces the brightness to a level of about 400-500 lumens.
- Zoom, T6 LED, plastic case, powered by 2 or three AA - all this clearly tells you that they are lying to you, promising something higher in brightness than 300-500 lumens.
Nutrition
There are 4 options. Let's look at each one.
AAA
The vast majority of headlamps with AAA power will be plastic, low-power and lightweight. In the best case, it will produce more than 80-100 lumens for at least a long time and the maximum real brightness will be no more than 200 for a simple reason - the power supply is not powerful enough for higher brightness. Of course, I’m talking about its normal duration, and not a flash that drains batteries in a few seconds.
Of course, this doesn’t stop sellers on Aliexpress from promising the same 1000 lumens. Well, for example, Litwood, again well-known among ultra-budget fans
Only once have I seen a microscopic (and really cool) headband with 1xAAA power. Lumintop HL AAA
As a rule, this is 2xAA or 3xAAA.
AA\14500
Before the advent of 18650 batteries, this was the only standard size. Currently it is used only for a small number of lightweight and compact headlamps. 14500 - the same size, but with Li-Ion chemistry and a voltage of 3.7V, which allows for higher maximum brightness.
As an example of a good, high-quality headlamp in this category - Acebeam H40
Options with 2xAA are still justified; these can be good and lightweight plastic headbands. Children's, for example. Options with 3xAAA are already too large and most likely it is some kind of game with incredibly inflated characteristics.
18650
The most common battery, Li-Ion in 18650 format, has dominated the lighting market for many years, but I am sure it will significantly lose its position under the pressure of 21700. The latter allows you to achieve a much larger capacity with virtually the same size and weight.
I have a fairly detailed text on how to choose an 18650 battery, I advise you to read it.
Virtually all headlamps (and regular ones) are powered by batteries of this size. I will not add anything new to what has already been said. A headlamp with a 1x18650 battery, simply due to its size, is not able to handle brightness greater than 1000 lumens. And 2x18650 means a remote unit, and then the unit on the head becomes even smaller and it becomes even more difficult for it to transfer heat into the metal of the body. In short, again - if you are promised more than 1000 lumens, this is a lie. Well, the head unit cannot withstand the heat of such brightness.
21700
Now, in mid-2021, there are a few models on the market with such power supply. But I am sure that everything will change in the near future. A headlamp with a 21700 battery will be only symbolically larger than an 18650 battery, but the increase in operating time will be colossal. If you enlarge the case even more, as is the case with the Acebeam H30, then you can take full advantage of all the advantages of this battery: the ability to last for a long time at high brightness and for a very long time at normal brightness.
UPD. So, it is now possible to buy such a powerful and inexpensive headlamp on Aliexpress.
Sofirn (aka Wurrkos) HD20. full review here
Separate beam (low / high / both), type-c charging with the ability to work in power bank mode, a magnet at the end, flexible control, capacious 21700 power supply and all this for quite reasonable money. If you need everything at once, and for about half the price of the Acebeam H30, then this is your case.
LEDs
If we are talking about cheap junk typical of Aliexpress, then this is the well-known T6 LED (bluish game of unknown origin). Next comes the equally well-known Cree XML-2, which for the last 5 years has been the de facto standard in all flashlights up to 1000 lumens.
Now, most modern models of headlamps use more energy-efficient and slightly brighter XPL-HD.
You can achieve greater brightness either by installing a brighter LED such as XHP50.2 as in Olight Perun (about 2000 lumens) or XHP70.2 (about 4000 lumens) as in the same acebeam H30. As I mentioned, there are only a few such models, as time has shown, even 1000 lumens is already an excess
The second method is used much less frequently; it is an array of 3-4 LEDs of standard brightness, the same XPL-HD.
Do you agree that there is a difference between how several LEDs look in the normal model below and in the big-eyed squalor for 10 bucks?
Less bright headlamps with a built-in battery or AA power supply use XPG \ XPE LEDs.
Important. No XHP90.2 exists in nature, this is a mongrel invention of sellers from Ali. Accordingly, what is in the headbands, where this LED is indicated, one can only guess
Do you need a zoom?
Retractable optics are a matter of taste. Personally, I'm a big opponent. If you need diffused light for close-up work, then shooting range optics will provide it perfectly; there are plenty of headlamps with shooting range optics, and often it can be easily and cheaply replaced, having achieved the desired dispersion. This will be better than a uniformly flooded circle of bluish light.
Shooting Optics is an array of lenses that redirect light in a certain way, focusing or blurring it.
Here's a common example.
There is an option with a combination of short-range and long-range optics. A great example of this is the Panda Bright Beam. You can also consider a number of Phoenix models, for example HM65R
As for the high beam, yes, the zoom system will somehow focus the beam into a square with veins and allow you to look fifty meters away. The question is that headlamps don’t need to shine at such distances, so they don’t make them.
If you are a big fan of zoom systems, then you can vote with your labor ruble for something like Led Lenser, and get rid of these veins in the distant position. You will also get rid of stabilization, normal selection of modes and convenient controls. But you will have a beautiful, expensive headlamp.
Control
An important point that many people neglect when looking at brightness.
What should happen here? Ideally, of course. An ideal that is quite achievable in a number of models. Most of the models are Olight, all Skilhunt and it seems all Acebeam. Sofirn SP40, Lumintop HL18, Bright Beam Panda again show that convenient control can be achieved.
a) Hidden, taken out separately from the general line of “firefly” modes with something like 0.5 lumens. This is very, very convenient for turning it on at night and not going blind, for working in a tent. As a rule, you just need to hold down the button from OFF to start this mode. And then, as your eyes get used to it, you can gradually switch to higher brightness.
b) Hidden, placed separately and in the general line of Turbo modes. Why do you need to hit yourself in the eyes every time you rewind? It is much more important to be able to instantly launch this mode when the need arises. Usually it's 2 clicks from any state.
c) Mode memory. It is definitely nice and convenient to turn on the headlamp in the same mode as you used before. Will it be comfortable for eyes accustomed to the dark if you turn it off at 70 lumens and turn it on again at the next 300 lumens?
d) blocking. It's not that important, but it's better when it's there. Some models (Lumintop HL18) have a nice feature where, in locked mode, pressing the button turns on the minimum brightness. This allows you to use the headband for an emergency without having to unlock it. I released the button and the light disappeared.
Typically, the L-shaped headband can be locked by simply unscrewing the battery cover slightly and breaking the contact.
What should not happen:
a) strobe and SOS in the general range of modes. Who needs this flickering in the eyes every time?
b) only 3 brightness modes. The maximum, as a rule, will be too bright and quickly drain the battery. And minimal again is either useless outdoors (too dim) or too bright (for a tent)
Ideally, as for me, when there are 3-4 main modes and the firefly and turbo that frame them in a hidden form with instant access.
Well, that's probably all. And now my rating of headlamps. It is quite arbitrary, since a forehead protector suitable for some requirements will not be of interest to others. Naturally, it is subjective and I compiled it based on my personal experience of testing and using headlamps. I fully understand that the proud owner of some Ferei will be indignant at why his favorite headlamp, so powerful and bright, is not at the top of this TOP.
My rating of LED headlamps for 2021
#10 Litwood Z30 (and it goes by a bunch of different names).
Of course, the brightness and workmanship are not good here. But the penny price tag and the unexpectedly good combination of diffused light, convenient for close-up work, and relatively tolerable long-range light make it a justifiable purchase for the most undemanding client. There is a built-in charger. The light is bluish, with wild PWM flickering at low brightnesses. It is quite suitable for throwing in the glove compartment or on a country shelf for rare needs. The included 6000mah battery is, of course, complete rubbish and is absolutely not worth purchasing.
| + price (!) + two types of light + built-in charging + light weight | — maximum brightness is about 300 lumens — the brightness is not stabilized, as the discharge progresses it will drop - bluish light — PWM flickering in lower modes (it is absolutely impossible to use it as a work light next to something fast moving, relatively speaking, the same cutter) - poor workmanship and cheap plastic - moisture protection no higher than rain |
No. 9 Cheap rechargeable headlamp for the car/dacha
review here
Again, an excellent example of deception with a monstrous overestimation of real characteristics. The headlamp shines with a rather nasty bluish color and is made cheaply from cheap plastic.
But it has a good operating time from a fairly capacious built-in battery and built-in charging. With an abundance of good headbands, this one has helped me out more than once at the dacha, and the drivers I know couldn’t be happier with it in a repair situation.
The GIF perfectly shows what this supposedly 3000-lumen headlamp is capable of, in comparison with others. And this is still the maximum brightness, which will soon drop. But for work at arm's length, even less brightness is enough.
In short, it's rubbish, but at its price it's not that bad.
No. 8 The most popular headlamp on Aliexpress
buy here
Why is this cheap forehead protector here, which personifies everything that I’ve been complaining about so much? Yes, very simple. Again, it is very cheap and when running on a pair of 2x18650 it will work for quite a long time. I would also call it reliable, after all, my father worked on something similar for 5 years. It's just something like that. Everyone is riveting such monsters and this guarantees a lottery with quality.
Except for the price and 2x18650 power supply, everything here is terrible. Bluish light with disgusting light distribution, complete lack of stabilization... But if you need an ultra-cheap 18650 LED headlamp for the kill, this is your happiness. Just take normal batteries, and not a complete candy made of sand and tin.
No. 7 Nitecore HC70 more or less long-range flashlight
A specific thing, both in terms of the form factor of a headlamp with an external battery pack, and due to the relatively deep, smooth reflector. The first allows you to count on a longer operating time, the second allows you to count on at least some range. For a forehead gun, range is far from being so important, but there are people who are looking for it and are looking for it without success, in general. Here you can at least somehow illuminate the distance. For close work, this model is much less convenient than many of its competitors.
#6 Rechargeable headlamp Nitecore Nu32
full review here
I hesitated for a long time whether to place the significantly less bright and tiny Nu25 here, but I decided that the Nitecore Nu32 would be more justified due to its popularity. This headlamp has excellent battery capacity, a main light sufficient for most everyday needs, and additional red and diffuse white LEDs.
The model is light, small and comfortable. Not cheap, however. But out of the mass of rechargeable headbands, this one is the most powerful and brightest. I actually liked everything about it except for the lack of stabilization at high.
№5 Acebeam H40
full review here
This model is very specific, but excellent in terms of convenience and light for its size. The tiny headlamp with 14500\AA power supply has smooth brightness adjustment, is not felt on the head at all, looks stylish and shines quite comfortably.
If you specifically want to buy an LED headlamp with exactly this type of power supply, this is what you need.
No. 4 Skilhunt H03 \ Skilhunt H04
full review here
For a long time Skilhunt H03 was the undisputed leader among popular branded flashlights. The hellish, colossal markup on flashlights allowed Gearbest and Banggood to sell them for only $29 instead of the usual $50.
The headlamp impressed with its convenient controls with a proprietary choice between sub-modes (de facto there were twice as many modes as usual). It had a magnet at the end and diffused neutral light. With the announcement of Skilhunt H04, the freebie is over, now the new version is on par with other branded headbands. Skilhunt H04 has been symbolically updated in design and significantly updated in management, adding an additional interface. The disadvantage remains the same - the forehead protector does not withstand falls. I myself was faced with the need to send one to China as part of the warranty, they fixed it without problems, but my neighbor didn’t have a headband for a month and a half.
#3 Acebeam H30 is the brightest in the world
review here
The model I talked about a lot in this text. Exceptional brightness in turbo and the ability to fully maintain 1000 lumens without a drop in brightness. Additional LEDs with different colors. fast charging Type-C and the ability to charge the phone back.
This is an expensive headlamp with no compromise in brightness for those who are looking for the very best.
No. 2 Bright beam Panda 3.0
review here
A headlamp that I use myself and which a couple of other people bought at my suggestion and were very, very happy with this purchase.
Not the easiest, I’ll tell you straight - the same sophirn and skillhunt will be easier. But it doesn’t bother me in any way, and I’ve been using it for the second season since fall 2021.
The headlamp has two LEDs with low and high neutral beams and clever controls that allow you to quickly set them up, even in combination with each other. There is a built-in charger. The development is domestic, so you can buy a headlamp Bright Beam Panda 3.0 in a lot of stores around, which closes the issue with the guarantee.
№1 Sofirn SP40
review here
Even though this headlamp is not particularly bright, I rank it first. Why? Purely due to the price-functionality ratio. For $25 you get a complete set of a good headlamp and a 3000mAh battery. It is quite possible that even with delivery from the Russian warehouse.
The headband itself is frankly not bad for its price, and the same Phoenix/Nightor, having released something similar, would have stated a price tag of at least $50. sofirn CP40 has convenient light with a temperature of 5000K, built-in charging, pleasant appearance and neat assembly. The controls are convenient, at the level of significantly more expensive models. There is a built-in magnet. There is even an optional handset for 18350 power supply!
There is only one obvious disadvantage - there is no complete stabilization. And at this price it’s ridiculous to even talk about it. ( upd, and as a rule indicated below fnksb, there is no instant access to the minimum brightness)
But precisely because of its price, it is the minimum cost option for a really decent, reliable, bright and comfortable headlamp. You can get something better only by significantly overpaying, almost the second price from above. From the standpoint of everyday use, this is the best you can buy.
Actually, that's all.
The text will be supplemented if something else comes to mind (or if you help and send me a personal note, which point I forgot to cover in the review). If you have questions about choosing a forehead protector, write in the comments, I will advise you.
Below in the “about the author” block there are selections of other flashlights, there you can also find something useful for yourself. If the topic of lanterns is interesting to you, subscribe to my channel.
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Popular models
To facilitate the selection process, below we will consider some popular models of headlamps for fishing, which have managed to prove themselves on the positive side:
LH-170 “Bright Beam” with a power of 170 lumens is well suited for situations where you do not plan to fish in the dark, but a flashlight is needed for safety. This is due to the short operating time even in saving mode, but according to other characteristics, this model is excellent for fishing and other types of outdoor activities. Tests have shown that the device is resistant to mechanical damage and can even withstand falls from a height of four meters. It also has impressive tightness: the flashlight is not only resistant to splashes, but also continues to work when immersed in water up to one meter.
The approximate cost is only about 700 rubles.
The ZebraLight H520W works no longer than one hour at maximum beam output, but such output is not required for fishing, since its power is 260 lumens. The flashlight has several operating modes, so the power from 260 to 2.7 lumens is user adjustable; The maximum duration of work is from 1 hour to 4 days. There is also a beacon operating mode, in which the device functions even in the absence of a charge. Its main advantage is its water resistance: this model can be immersed in water several meters and remain there for half an hour, which will not affect its operation or cause any damage.
The approximate cost is 4000-4500 rubles.
The LH-190 Cobra has three operating modes that provide varying degrees of illumination; The maximum duration of operation is 55 hours. The basic package includes a battery that can be recharged via a USB port. The material used was a modern type of plastic, characterized by an increased degree of strength.
The cost is 1500 rubles.
Fenix HL25 is a multifunctional modern headlamp, the lighting power is manually adjusted by the user and can range from 3 to 280 lumens; The maximum operating time varies from 4 to 140 hours. Sputtering on glass provides high quality light; The beam does not blink even when the battery level is low. The case is made of high-quality aluminum, which ensures reliability and protection from mechanical damage. A convenient mechanism has been added to the design, which allows you to change the position of the flashlight and tilt it by 60°.
The approximate cost is 3000-3500 rubles.
The LED Lenser H2 is a headlamp that is ideal for fishing in any conditions thanks to its impressive performance. The lighting power is adjustable by the user and can range from 60 to 350 lumens, depending on it, the beam range varies from 100 to 260 meters. The duration of operation depends on the selected operating mode, on average it is 40-60 hours.
The cost is about 5000-5500 rubles.
Reviews
Below are some reviews where anglers share their experiences with different headlamp options:
Vitaly: “I recently purchased a Fenix HL25 headlamp; so far I’ve only been able to test it in action once, but the experience was positive. It functioned properly throughout the night without any visible changes; there was enough power to illuminate three rods.”
Alexander: “Recently, my headlamp, which I used while fishing, failed, and I had to look for a replacement. I decided not to save money and purchase the most modern option; the choice fell on the LED Lenser H2. I have already managed to go fishing with it three times, and all three times I was pleased with the purchase I made. I liked the quick transition to the operating mode and turning on all the diodes at once with one click of a button, switching between different modes is also very well thought out, the transition to a different type of lighting occurs smoothly.”
Sergey: “I’ve been using the LH-170 headlamp for almost two years now, and it has never let me down. The device is very convenient and irreplaceable: when fishing, my hands are always free, any places where I turn my head are illuminated. It is no less useful when repairing a car, if you need to highlight some hard-to-reach area.”
Michael:
“I had never used headlamps before, even when fishing at night, but I recently switched to donkey and feeder rods, and it became clear to me that I couldn’t do without such a device in the dark. For now I’m using a cheap Chinese model for 140 rubles, I took it for an experiment, and in the near future I’m thinking of purchasing some more powerful and reliable model.”
Dmitry: “As for headlamps, I like the LH-170: good quality at a relatively low cost. The device only lasted 5 months, but it was my own fault: when assembling it, I applied too much force and turned something in the wrong direction. I decided not to repair it, but just buy a new flashlight, it cost only 650 rubles. I took the LH-170 again, it has been serving me faithfully for more than a year.”
Battery or batteries?
Some hand-held electric flashlights are powered by regular batteries, while others draw their energy from a battery. It is difficult to say which type of devices is better, since in this case efficiency and convenience directly depend on the specific needs of the owner. The best option is to buy a flashlight that can operate on both batteries and a special battery.
If you use a flashlight very often, then you should take a closer look at battery-powered flashlights, since batteries will cost a pretty penny over the course of a year.
But on the other hand, the flashlight needs to be recharged, which wastes time. But this is not so critical, since you can charge the flashlight in your free time.
Ideally, it would be nice to have two batteries at once, one in use, the other charged. And on long hikes, a spare battery will be very useful.
In the category of battery-powered flashlights, devices from the Chinese company Fenix are good: flashlights of the LD20 series can work non-stop for more than 70 hours, and PD30 devices allow you to use the 9-lumen mode in continuous operation for 65 hours.
Blitz tips
To summarize, we can give the following recommendations that will be useful in the process of choosing and using headlamps for fishing:
- You should not try to save on the cost of a headlamp, since this device is of great importance when fishing in the evening, night or morning. Cheap devices can fail at the most inopportune moment, ruining your entire vacation.
- You should not rely only on the advice of a seller in a fishing store ; it is better to first consult with professional or experienced fishermen who will suggest the best quality and reliable options.
- It is not recommended to use flashlights with alkaline power sources, especially when fishing in low temperatures. At sub-zero temperatures, lithium batteries are best because they are unpretentious to the conditions. However, you must first read the instructions, which should list acceptable power sources.
