Heads up about those cheap headlamps from the big box store

I mean, I bought a $15 generic one from the hardware aisle last fall and a Petzl Actik Core for a trip to the Smokies this spring. The cheap one died after maybe 4 hours on fresh batteries, leaving me in the dark trying to find the bear bag line. The Petzl just works, has a red light mode, and the battery lasts all weekend. Has anyone else had a generic headlamp totally fail on them?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathanburns1mo ago

My old Energizer headlamp died halfway through a crawl space. You really do get what you pay for with this gear. I won't buy the bargain bin ones anymore.

john_sullivan21mo ago

My buddy had a cheap headlamp die while he was cleaning out a flooded basement drain. He was left in the dark with ankle-deep water, @nathanburns. It was a no-name brand from a hardware store bargain bin. He said the silence and the cold water were way worse than the actual job.