Petzl duo 5?

[paul]

Personally I prefer a more robust way of attaching a lamp to my helmet. I have caved with others using lights with elastic headbands and clips on their helmet and they seem to be prone to slippage, usually at the most inconvenient moments. Just my opinion.

Also be wary of power outputs and LED lights. Just because a light is quoted as having X lumens output, it isn't much use of it won't last the trip underground while running at that output unless you have spare batteries and don't mind having to keep swapping used batteries for old. In other words, check the run times of any lamp you are interested in as well as output.

 

[zomjon]

As Paul says, it is much more reassuring to have your light securely fixed rather than fearing it being knocked off on some big pitch and it's not too difficult to secure one of these head torches. As for looking like the newby, is that a prob? I will happily use the clips as long as I know the light also has another attachment such as a rope tie.

 

[PaulW]

you can get new 14 led fixo duos to mount direct on to your helmet for ?80 on the net, is worth spending a bitmore rather that spending twice when what you get cheaper isn't really the one you want

 

[dunc]

I've just recently started using a lamp attached via elastic, purely because my other lamp had issues, not through choice. I keep the band tight and use the four clips that were on my helmet and I can't say I've had any real issues with slippage. So my experience is not as bad as anticipated and I might continue to use it that way!

And in the unlikely scenario of it coming off completely, you, of course, have a backup light..

 

[TheVicar]

Thanks all. I think with all that I can make a decent decision, much appreciated

 

[tim.rose2]

These are cheap (?25) and well worth considering as well:
http://clulite.cluson.co.uk/headlights/287-super-beam-led-headalite-with-cree-technology.html

 

[Uamhair]

I had a Fixed Duo but the screw into the helmet obviously got knocked which cracked open the plastic battery pack, making it useless for wet caves.  Past the three year guarantee now and Petzl got back to me saying it would be cheaper buying a new one than the faff of playing around with a new battery pack.

My query though:  seeing as I have a redundant lamp with a perfectly fine 14 LED bulb, should I be able to buy a new (cheaper) 5 LED Duo and transfer the 14 bulb into it?  I can only presume it should work fine but knowing my luck just now they'll have different connections or something.  Could anyone with a 5 confirm it also has two thin bits of wire which stick into a little hole.  I'll be buying the elastic version this time though even if there is a ?20 difference though!  At least I can easily use it outside of the world of caving that way.