petzl
It was advertised as weaher-resistant. It is now making it’s way through a third season of snowshoeing and skiing after finishing a second season of camping. I keep a spare in my glove box.
Petzl.
I have an old school Petzl Zoom that still works fine. It is a bit bulky but has never let me down. Used to use it back packing. I guess it is about 20 years old or so.
Black Diamond Storm
The best headlamp I’ve ever owned is the Black Diamond Storm. Very bright on the highest setting and tbhe batteries last practically forever on the lowest.
Waterproof lights
Not usually. So far I have not found anything, including two brands of waterproof headlamps and two other brands of waterproof stick-on-deck white lights, that actually stand up to getting regularly wet (headlamps from still being on head when dunking for a roll). I have pretty much given up on that one. I just try and hang onto my receipts to return it.
The little lights that are meant to clip to a PFD have performed well for me though - the C-light, the orange strobe, those guys. Salt water, rain, fresh water, nothing seems to bother them.
I have had less good luck with laser flares living in the pocket of my PFD than my husband.
It is possible I am not cranking things down as hard as the folks who test these things. But I am getting them screwed down as tight as I can. So this may be a form of failure of the equipment specs.
Fenix HL 21 is my current fav
In the past I used the Zebralight H31 Headlamp (CR123 battery, 220 lumens) but during the 300 mile Everglades Challenge last year, it died on only the second night. My backup H31 died just before the EC started. In both cases the electronic switch leaked, both died from just operating with wet hands and being in a damp PFD pocket.
Since then I have been using a Fenix HL 21 headlamp ( http://www.amazon.com/Fenix-Flashlights-HL21-Headlamp-Black/dp/B004XN5MBW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391528063&sr=8-1&keywords=Fenix+HL+21+headlamp ) and have been impressed. I regularly wash it/dunk it and it has held up very well.
The Fenix is not as bright as the Zebralight, at 90 lumens, but has better waterproofing (IPX-8 versus IPX-7 for the Zebralight), is less expensive, uses a single AA, and has good throw (nice for finding channel markers at a distance, not as nice for doing close work where a more floody light is best).
I much prefer the single battery lights to the common three AAA types. The design of the single-battery lights are easier to make waterproof.
Greg Stamer
I’m aware of that
its also listed as waterproof.
Real Life situations
– Last Updated: Feb-04-14 11:44 AM EST –
Thanks for the response - beats the hell out of
any marketing hype on the package or via store rep.
Paddling spring or fall; when the daylight seems
to dwindle oh so quickly, practically demands some
sort of illumination, to get back to the start spot.
Then there is the strapping down of the boat,
putting away gear, sweeping the area for dropped items,
helping others load, etc.
Equipment has to work, reliably, week after week.