Current recommendations in waterproof headlights?

[BrianBM]

Not even for me.

 

My wife likes an annual trip to Sanibel Island, Fla., to hunt for seashells. The enthusiasts start in low light, with lights. I'd like to give her a headlamp that will survive the inevitable dunking. Current recommendations?

[changed]

Black Diamond Storm. Waterproof/dustproof 400 lumens, red/green/blue settings. Under $50

[MattieG]

29 mins ago, changed said:

Black Diamond Storm. Waterproof/dustproof 400 lumens, red/green/blue settings. Under $50

Yep. I’ve had one these a few years now. Put rechargeable AAA’s in it. Far superior to the Energizer headlamps.

[Thumb-Burner]

if you are going to Sanibel I certainly hope you're taking a rod and some small poppers to get some giant trout and snook off the beach

[Otony]

We’ve been to Sanibel on three separate trips. I have never gotten there early enough to beat the true fanatics, but I’ve been there at zero:dark thirty a few times. 

 

It is an amazing place, and by all means, take a rod. You will regret it strongly if you don’t.

[DZ]

Underwater Kinitics Vizion 

I found my first one about 8 years ago in the surf on Block.  It was still on from the previous night when someone must have lost it.  Still have it and works great.  

[Pistol Pete]

Underwater Kinetics Vizion  is the ONLY headlamp I have evert found to be waterproof.

Fully submergible 

 

All others have failed . 

[Lou T]

1 hour ago, DZ said:

Underwater Kinitics Vizion 

I found my first one about 8 years ago in the surf on Block.  It was still on from the previous night when someone must have lost it.  Still have it and works great.  

 

15 mins ago, Pistol Pete said:

Underwater Kinetics Vizion  is the ONLY headlamp I have evert found to be waterproof.

Fully submergible 

 

All others have failed . 

Great light !!!!

 

The only thing I found that will destroy one is;  battery acid bleed..... 

 

Had two one for back up. Forgot to take the old batteries out of the back up.... 

 

Enjoy your vacation @BrianBM

Lou T

[BrianBM]

11 hours ago, Thumb-Burner said:

if you are going to Sanibel I certainly hope you're taking a rod and some small poppers to get some giant trout and snook off the beach

This will be for next year, probably October-November.  We've had our annual trip.

 

Normally I take a fly rod, visit Norm's Fly Shop, chew the fat, hire a guide for a day or two.  This trip just past, I couldn't swing a flyrod due to shoulder issues that will probably have to be resolved by surgery, Norm's is closed and gone, and the one guided trip I'd arranged was blown out by heavy wind. C'est la vie, and so on. I hung around the beach, eyed some pretty things, and read. She was happy with her shell collecting, I was happy she was happy, and we visited with a retired colleague who lives next door on Pine Island.

 

Thank you all.

[hobobob]

45 mins ago, Lou T said:

 

Great light !!!!

 

The only thing I found that will destroy one is;  battery acid bleed..... 

 

Had two one for back up. Forgot to take the old batteries out of the back up.... 

 

Enjoy your vacation @BrianBM

Lou T

Those battery leaks have eaten quite a few of my headlamp and flashlights. 

[Lou T]

3 mins ago, hobobob said:

Those battery leaks have eaten quite a few of my headlamp and flashlights. 

Tell me about it. Best to store the back up empty... 

[lazzyone]

I've used the Underwater Kinitics for a while now..its the only light that has last me a full season but that's about all I get out of them. This season I decided to spend a little more and hope for the best. So far I really like it it's rechargeable and really well sealed. Got it on Amazon for around $45.  I don't like the white light so I covered the lens with tail light repair tape so its now a red light.

Coast XPH30R

 

[scoobydoo]

On 11/18/2021 at 7:27 PM, changed said:

Black Diamond Storm. Waterproof/dustproof 400 lumens, red/green/blue settings. Under $50

Since it's a utility light not a fishing light... Get a portable sun generator.... 

Olight perun 2 is excellent... And it has a strong magnet to stick to things when not in headlamp mode... Great charger huge battery capacity.. 1 color.. 

Nitecore hc65v2 looks really good.. 

 

I still never leave home in the dark without my nitecore hc90

 

My nite fishing involves wading swift rivers or backpacking with gear.... I don't want shadows.. I want daylight... And dim red or green when on the water... 

 

I also don't like aa or aaa batteries... The 1.5 volt lithiums are sketchy... And go bad after a few recharges for some reason.... And rechargeable nmh aa batteries can dip below min voltages of many lights. 

 

That and standard chemistry batteries kill lights when not in use. 

So I'm a 18650 or larger only users anymore. 

[BrianBM]

She'll only make use of it for an hour a day, at most. And if it's at all bulky, she won't wear it when walking along a Sanibel beach, nose down. (It wouldn't look appropriately girly).  We'll get her a small unit and see if she'll wear the darn thing.

[hobobob]

Go checkout coast led headlamps at home depot. 2 for $20, Cheap, light, good enough.