Re: headlamps

There are a number of LED headlamps that have have multiple brightness levels, blinking modes, and red modes. It has been the "latest fashion" in headlamps for a couple of years now. Black Diamond, maker of your Spot, has several like this, as does Petzl, among the better names in climbing and hiking oriented gear makers. But some more general light manufacturers have them, too - Princeton Tec, RayOVac, etc etc

Despite what 300winmag says, I have used Petzl headlamps (and other Petzl gear) for many years and found them to be extremely reliable. OTOH, every Princeton Tec flashlight or headlamp I have had has developed problems by the 2nd or 3rd set of batteries. "Regulated" is one of the latest buzzwords - all LED lamps have some electronic circuitry (besides the LED), and many manufacturers are calling that "regulated" (that's the way the various light levels and switching combinations of LEDs is done).

Just go to a REI or EMS and peruse their headlamp displays. You will have several choices of multiple light level, color of light, and blinker settings with choices among AA, AAA, and "coin" batteries in several different brands.

There are also a number of industrial brands out there, some of which get up to "super-torch" brightness, and the orienteering supply companies have very specialized headlamps (Silva Sweden, Suunto). Caving (spelunking, potholing) and SCUBA supply shops also have some very good lamps that are very waterproof.