Any opinions on what head lamps (as in the kind you wear on your head, not in the front of your car) are the best? I find them very useful when working on the boat or other things.
I use
these cap lights and passed out about 10 as gifts to TFers at the 2018 TF get together. I like that they fit on a ball cap and not a head strap.
They are inexpensive, run on 3 AAA batteries and are easily donned and turned ON/OFF. Before I upgraded my ER lighting, I always wore my cap light to check oil. I normally buy a bunch on Amazon for under $10 each. The Achilles heel of this style is the clip that will break over time if frequently moved on and off the hat. I solved this by dedicating one ball cap as the cap light cap. I find them great for task lighting onboard including night fishing.
My custom made LED Super light sounds much like CarlF's Marinebeam light. It was built for me by a good friend in the CalTrans Road lighting department. He's a lighting and solar expert in highway lights and signage.
It started life as a Maglite but all parts beside the case were changed out. New super powerful LED, reflector, convex glass lens, switching and rechargeable battery pack.
Its tight but powerful beam has minimal near field scatter and a 50-60 ft tight pattern at ~200 yards. I can clearly see the diode's profile in trees at the distant shore. I can easily illuminate a buoy at 1/2 mile in good visibility.
Interestingly, it's a square light beam matching the single high intensity diode. When he gave it to me, it was with a warning NEVER to shine it directly into someone's eyes...it's THAT powerful.
I'd love to measure the lumens somehow but have never had the opportunity. Anyone know how to test a light's lumens?