Zebralight

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Hi there.

Looking at getting myself one of these:

http://www.zebralight.com/H501-Headlamp ... _p_11.html

Including a lithium AA battery, comes to less than 60 grams!

I've had enough of headlamps requiring 3 AAAs (because then I need three spares), or cheap/heavy lights, and this one seems to have 3.5 days continuous use on a single AA at the light level I use.

I've found a lot of information on candlepowerforums.com, but does anyone on BWT have any experience with their products?

Cheers

[Nuts]

Ive got the H51, i like it so far. Tough little things, high beam is like a car headlight....

[Capt DropBear]

savenger goes into a bit of detail about the H51in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6576&p=80637&hilit=zebralight#p80637

It's got me interested in the Zebralight range actually - I've had my eye on the Black Diamond Spot, (~$85 before club discounts) but when you realise you have to fork out another ~$20 to get the waterproof Storm version - these waterproof and apparently sturdy Zebralights look increddibly good at ~$60.

The range seems a bit confusing though - the different flavours of white, and different battery versions.. makes the decision process a bit trickier.

Nuts, which version of H51 is yours?

Whats

[Nuts]

I'd want to have used it for a year or two to be as hopeful as savenger but yer, same model h51, though i think mine has the standard globe.

The neutral might be powerful enough tbh i cant see the high beam being that practical, maybe for frying a noisy possum. If i can figure out the settings, something at 3/4 burn would be fine (as an immediate alternate to low beam on the first available settings)

Someone mentioned them slipping in their headbands (pivoting), i havent found this, the bands pretty tight and there isnt much (unbalanced ) weight in the light unit. Simple, efficient, tough.... still, until it gets enough use, its 4 stars from me

[Capt DropBear]

Having never used a headlamp before, and seeing the obvious benefits - I've been looking a bit more into these Zebralights, comparing specs between the different H51 models - but I've noticed that compared to something like the Black Diamond Spot (which was my other option), the Zebralight's seem to have very short battery life at comparable Lm settings. For example:

Zebralight H51: 82Lm for 2.4 hours (at H2 setting)
Black Diamond Spot: 75Lm for 50 hours

Now this obviously has to do with the Spot using 3xAAA batteries, and the H51 only using a single AA battery - but is this of concern out in the field?

Apart from this one sticking point, these Zebralight's seem perfect - waterproof, light, sturdy and versatile. Is the seemingly short battery life an issue? Or is it just case of, take spares...?

[corvus]

BD takes 3 Zebra takes 1

[Earthling]

I've had enough of headlamps requiring 3 AAAs (because then I need three spares),

Hi, not sure why you carry spare batteries with headlamps. I never have.
The Petzl Tikka range last many weeks on the trail (completed Bibbulmun Track on one set of batteries-2 months).
I have lately switched over to the Princton Tec range of torches as of there ruggedness and also long battery life (Ive killed two Petzl's).
Petzl have good light for a while and then dim out, not the PTec. PTec have a solid light level and then my Quad has a red light that flashes when battery low. Has been flashing for the last 6 weeks, but still works good on the lower settings. The Fuel looks like a good light.

[Nuts]

Hi Dropbear, on the BD site the specs look even more impressive, good find. In practice (and it hasnt had a lot) i just used one high and one low setting. Whatever setting the low was, it was a good gp light and lasted the five nights without drama. Maybe i was dazzled by the high beam... the main thought was that the thing is 'rugged' and simple (and it is ultimately, in this use, likely a bit 'lighter'). Ive been through a few more complex modern headlamps, including a princeton tec whose brittle, poorly designed, battery compartment snapped on first change..

[Earthling]

Ive been through a few more complex modern headlamps, including a princeton tec whose brittle, poorly designed, battery compartment snapped on first change..

Strange that. I find them quite rugged. However, the Petzls that Ive owned I had to repair the battery compartment after breaking it twice...

[Nuts]

Cant remember the model (without searching), it had a slide out carrier with a lip that clicked into place once locked. To open the slide involved pressing the lip in to release from the compartment. It took enough pressure to snap the side out of the compartment. The last petzl i tried was the zipka, as mentioned, it has a drain hole, great for water resistance (somewhere where it doesnt Really rain...)

[Earthling]

Cant remember the model (without searching), it had a slide out carrier with a lip that clicked into place once locked. To open the slide involved pressing the lip in to release from the compartment. It took enough pressure to snap the side out of the compartment. The last petzl i tried was the zipka, as mentioned, it has a drain hole, great for water resistance (somewhere where it doesnt Really rain...)

Yeah the PTec Quad is not like that. It has a plastic thumb screw that holds the back on thats hinged at the bottom...pretty basic setup but works well.
PTec Fuel looks a bit more complicated though...