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While we're on the topic, any good recommendations for a decent headlight? I have a cheap-ish Energizer one that I got at Lowe's. It's OK but I find the spotlight mode is too focused for cleaning the stove and the flood setting diffuses the light to the point of being a little too dim. I'm looking for one with a flood setting that has better output. Not looking to break the bank but I don't mind paying a little more for quality. Also don't like that I have to cycle through all 4 settings each time I use it (low spot, high spot, flood, night mode). Would prefer a one-touch with a separate mode switch if there is such a thing.
While we're on the topic, any good recommendations for a decent headlight? I have a cheap-ish Energizer one that I got at Lowe's. It's OK but I find the spotlight mode is too focused for cleaning the stove and the flood setting diffuses the light to the point of being a little too dim. I'm looking for one with a flood setting that has better output. Not looking to break the bank but I don't mind paying a little more for quality. Also don't like that I have to cycle through all 4 settings each time I use it (low spot, high spot, flood, night mode). Would prefer a one-touch with a separate mode switch if there is such a thing.
If you wanna spend the money check "Surefire", I have several Surefire weapon mounted lights, tac/flash lights and a headlight and they are absolutely unstoppable !!
It WILL BE the last light you ever buy..........
(broken link removed to http://www.surefire.com/illumination/headlamps.html)
I have experimented with EBAY lights, and %75 of them are actually quite impressive if you go the cheap route just make sure it has "CREE" LED as a bulb and accepts a common battery. I have a light I bought on EBAY for $12 shipped from china and I use it all the time for the past 3 years its rated 200 Lumen and (from our math) its probably closer to 100 but is very bright for around the house purpose, clean and uses 3 "AAA".
I use my "third" eye when I walk my dog at night - Energizer brand. Only complaint I have is when it's snowing - too much glare. It came in handy when we had to put a temporary waterline in and we were finishing up insulating it late at night (in-line heat trace died on the buried line).
Stores with climbing equipment would be another place to check for a decent light ... Mountain Equipment in Canada. Cabela's too.
My kids were all given LED headlamps by my sister as one of their presents this past Christmas. Since we are a 'camping' family, it was a good choice, but they have already been used for many other things since then (including snow blowing after dark!) Never thought to use one for the stove cleaning.. but I think I'll expropriate one for that purpose next weekend!
While we're on the topic, any good recommendations for a decent headlight? I have a cheap-ish Energizer one that I got at Lowe's. It's OK but I find the spotlight mode is too focused for cleaning the stove and the flood setting diffuses the light to the point of being a little too dim. I'm looking for one with a flood setting that has better output. Not looking to break the bank but I don't mind paying a little more for quality. Also don't like that I have to cycle through all 4 settings each time I use it (low spot, high spot, flood, night mode). Would prefer a one-touch with a separate mode switch if there is such a thing.
LL Bean makes a decent reasonably priced headlamp, though I would recommend the Trailblazer XR version vs the cheaper Trailblazer base model, which is made of cheaper plastic and has a history of the battery closure latch breaking off, which makes the headlamp unusable. I had 3 latches on 3 headlamps fail within a year, all replaced by LL with their excellent return / replacement policy, but haven't had any problems since I up-scaled to the XR model.
Petzl, like several other outdoor equipment manufacturers, make very good headlamps also, but considerably more $$'s.