FYI, I have three Coast LED headlamps, one I use for running early in dark mornings. These each were only $24 at Home Depot, and each have over 450 lumens on brightest setting. 3 AAA batteries, all in just the lamp unit (not in separate battery pack in back). They are light, the headband has reflector diamond shapes on it (safety), and they are durable as heck. I run 3-4 marathons a year, and log about 1,200 running miles annually too, nearly all of that in dark at like 4:30AM or 5:00AM before work.
These things will throw a beam a LONG ways, and will light up coon eyes 1/4 mile away, seriously. I did it just this very morning...running on county road at 5:00AM getting nine miles in before the monsoons hit here. Small group of "eyes" on the road 1/4 mile ahead of me at the bridge...when I got there they were all up in the nearby cottonwood. This headlamp is BRIGHT and takes back the night!
So, Coast brand with the 450+ lumens is the ONLY light I will use for running and trapping now. Have used them for the last 3 years straight. They are light weight, they take quite a jarring, the beam can be wide and bright, or narrow and LONG distance. There are three brightness settings plus you can twist the front for focused beam. And for only $24 bucks a pop its way cheaper than most high end head lamps. I've tried a zillion other makes and models, and put out a lot of cash for high end models as well as lower end models. This model is the ONLY one I will use and I will rely on. My kids love them for trapping, literally like having the light ability of a high beam car light in a small compact LED headlamp. I need to see dog crap on the running trails ahead of me, plus rocks, sticks, walnuts, whatever may cause me injury if I step on them just wrong. (the dog poo is important to see because, well, running shoes are expensive and nobody likes to clean that crud off of any shoe).
Just my experience, folks.
Lumens are important, but how far or how wide that beam throws is also very important, as well as how long they will last on highest setting without chewing through a bucket of expensive batteries. Read the labels, read the reviews. Above is mine for Coast headlamps.
For $24 I bought three (one for me and one each for my two sons) and have never looked at another brand again.
Jim
