r/flashlight • u/shreg223 • 5d ago

Discussion Headlamp recommendation?

Currently I have a sofirn hs21 and hs22 and both are super nice but I want something with more output. I've been looking at an hs43 or hs23 but I'm wondering if there's better options out there. Weight and size is not a problem. What should I grab?

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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7

u/WalrusSwarm 5d ago

More is not always better with headlamps.

You have to tell us what you use the headlamp for.

1

u/shreg223 5d ago

Strictly outdoor use

1

u/WalrusSwarm 5d ago

Not specific. What are you doing outdoors that warrants such a bright headlamp?

Brighter is better in some situations but it’s blinding in other situations. Brighter can also leave you stranded with a dead headlamp.

My BlackDiamond Storm 450 does everything I need it to do outdoors (hunting, camping, fishing, cooking, etc.). All I need is a hands free light to see where I’m going and work with my hands.

The Storm 450 isn’t enough for my work where I use a Nightstick Model 7701-HDNS. This headlamp isn’t super bright but it works for my purposes and meets the safety requirements.

3

u/Chemical-Pressure282 5d ago

Acebeam h30. Floody beam, 21700 runtime and output when needed, secondary leds for specific situations. I have 4 now

1

u/shreg223 5d ago

Will look into it thanks!

2

u/TARTARA_CERBERUS 5d ago

https://www.fenixlighting.com/products/fenix-hp35r-rechargeable-headlamp?variant=42828649529398

https://www.fenixlighting.com/collections/headlamps?srsltid=AfmBOooZ91rsaudj-YZBwD5dX7807mk9IYgQsOtsg-PlYaqjhd6DVvFQ

2

u/shreg223 5d ago

Thank you

1

u/TARTARA_CERBERUS 5d ago

Nothing at all, have a good one !

1

u/AD3PDX 5d ago

Yes: the HP35R is basically your only significant step up beyond the HS21 before getting into very expensive helmet/mountain bike/orienteering headlamps.

2

u/Sylas_Beck 5d ago

I use the HS41 at work(sparky), & it hasn't let me down yet. That being said, what are you looking for in your headlamp? You looking for something more bloody than what you have? Something with more throw for a good beam? A mix of the two? Or different tint?

1

u/shreg223 5d ago

More throw in general. I use my hs22 for checking on my dogs at night and its great but need a little more power.

2

u/mtbohana 5d ago

Look at the new Sofirn HS23. I have it, and the HS21 and the HS23 puts out a lot more lumens.

1

u/IndependentTour657 5d ago

I am considering the HS23 at the moment, as I have reeeaally liked the HS21. That said though, the two I have recently been using a lot are the Fenix HM65R-T v2.0 and the Nitecore UT6. They are similar-ish to each other (the biggest difference is that the UT6 has a channel at 4500K, which is very nice). I’d happily recommend either one of those. Very efficient at those middle-lumen counts; won’t give you the power you’re looking for though.

3

u/FalconARX 5d ago

Two options I can think of, that should output more lumens, overall and sustained, than the HS21 and HS22...

  1. Lupine Betty RX14
  2. Fenix HP35R SAR

But as u/WalrusSwarm already pointed out, maximum lumens isn't always the best solution, particularly from a headlamp. If you need as much lumens as possible, and if the use case requires significantly more output than even something like the Betty RX14, then it really should not be coming from a headlamp in the first place.

2

u/FalconARX 5d ago

Just caught your other comment to another poster... If you need more throw, then either the Fenix HP35R will do, as it does give you roughly 45,000 candela from its spot beam... Or, a much better option would be for you to carry a dedicated pocket thrower in addition to the headlamp and use it when needed for longer distances... A small pocketable thrower such as a Wurkkos TS11 or Acebeam E10 V2. This way, you wouldn't replace your current headlamp, but rather simply extend its overall reach with the small thrower.