Originally Posted By: chaosmagnet
Good analysis.

I like looking at a number of factors in a headlamp:

  • Is this for regular use or going to be squirreled away in a kit? For regular use headlamps I really like either onboard USB-rechargeable or a commonly sized rechargeable LiIon cell. For kit headlamps, I prefer a common primary cell available in lithium (there's the now-discontinued Fenix HL50 that takes either 1xAA or 1xCR123A).
  • Size and weight.
  • Mode spacing and UI.
  • Minimum output (very useful for not waking up Mrs. Magnet).
  • Max output.
  • Runtime, particularly at what is likely to be the most common output levels.



If it's for a kit, also a mechanical lockout. Though believe most aluminium bodied lights have it, just by unscrewing battery cap a half-twist to break the connection.

That first point was why like AA/14500 lights. 14500 with onboard USB for regular times, but can have AA lithium primaries on hand when that runs out and can't recharge.

Noticed Zebralight dropped 14500 support in the H53, pretty sure they had it in the H52.