Looking for a quality AA headlamp that's not too bulky

I'm thinking I might be in the market for a new headlamp (got a $75 gift certificate I need to use before it expires).

For the last 6 years I've had the Petzl Tikka Plus. Great light I only have two complaints. Its a bit on the dim side and it runs off of AAA's. Everything else in my pack runs off of AA batteries, so it's a bit of a pain to pack extra batteries for this one device.

The Petzl Tikka XP would be my top pick if It ran off of AA batteries and I still might pick one up, but I'd like to find something similar that does not use AAA.
http://www.rei.com/product/751760

Basically I'm looking for a AA headlamp that isn't much bulkier than the Tikka (the 4 AA models are too big). It has to be rugged and water resistant as well as bright. The ability to switch between a floodlight for camp and a beam for hiking is also a plus. The Mammut Lucido TX1 seems to meet these criteria, but I've never seen one before so don't know anything other than it doesn't look too big and it runs off of AA. http://www.rei.com/product/775033

WISam -
The newer LED lamps use AAA in many cases, while being much brighter than the Tikka and longer battery life. The Tikka is a fairly old generation at this point (I have had mine for over 5 years now and almost never use it any more). That's the thing about electronics - pick it up, walk to the cashier, run your credit card through, turn to head for the door, and 2 new generations of the widget have appeared, each 2 or 3 times better. So don't let the now-ancient design of the Tikka put you off AAAs. Remember that the Tikka can not be aimed, where virtually all the current generation of headlamps can be.

My Black Diamond Spot, for example, is now over 2 years old, uses AAA, still on only the second set of batteries (used it on Kilimanjaro for the midnight start of the summit day), and is far far brighter than the Tikka (besides having a choice of 2 levels of brightness for the spotlight beam and 2 for the 3 LED diffuse beam, plus blinking for both beams). Since it is 2 years old, I would suggest looking at the ones that have come out in the past 6 months. The Spot is brighter than my old MYO 5 (Petzl) in its halogen bulb setting, though it does not have the focus/spread capability.

Big advantage of AAA is the much lighter weight (makes a big difference when you have to climb, hike, or ski for 5 or 6 hours on an alpine start or make your way back to camp when you somehow misjudged how long the hike would take, or, as I sometimes do, set out intentionally to do a 24 hour hike or a climb that will require a bivouac). That's lighter weight both for the headlamp and the spare battery set.

I have several AA headlamps as well, but almost never use them anymore, due to the heavy weight, compared to the AAA ones. Like several others on this board, I also keep a Petzl eLite in the pack - just a couple of ounces, uses the "button" batteries (2x CR2032, which matches several other small battery-powered widgets I always have along), and is far brighter than the Tikka - 2 levels of light (kind of a fuzzy spot), 2 levels of white blinking, 1 red blinking, and one red steady (for dark adaption). The button batteries are also very long life, and are very tiny and low weight. The battery life of the eLite is undetermined at this point, but I have several hundred hours on it already, trying to push it to find out (it seems longer than the spec).

I understand your desire to carry only one type of spare battery. Generally that's a good idea. But, given the much longer battery life of LED lamps these days, you need a smaller number of spares than you did even a couple of years ago.

I'm a member of a flashlight forum also, and everyone on there seems to swear by Zebralight. Check out Fenixstore.com On the left side it gives light manufactures, you can buy zebralights there.

flashlight forum? haha. im sorry that made me laugh though. what do you do at the flashlight forum? lol

Can you post the link to your flashlight forum sba.
Do you guys discuss UV headlamps?

Thanks

Bill you just might convince me to continue the use of AAA for headlamps. If I do that I might consider the TacTikka XP Headlamp or the standard Tikka Xp. Seems like a brighter better version of the Tikka. Anyone have any experience with one of these?

Keep the suggestions for AA lamps coming as I'd still prefer one of them if I can find one small enough. Like I said, my headlamp is probably the only thing I own these days that dosn't use AA. sevenbridgesangler I'll definately check out the Zebra light, haven't gotten my hands on one in the store yet.

I have found that having two headlamps suits my needs. One is the ultra small Petzl Zipka, slips unnoticed into any pocket, gives ok light for campsite use. OK it has AAA batteries, but for the small size i'll accept that.

For skiing and walking I need a much stronger light. Running down a slope on skis goes so fast that a good light is necessary. I've found the Pezl MyoXP a good choice. More bulky, but still goes into a decent pocket. The battery consumption is so small that I only charge batteries twice a year. Mind I live north of the polar circle, an in winter it is dark almost the whole day.

Decent batteries are also a pro, and I've found the Eneloop from Sanyo to be the best so far. Never lets me down i cold weather, an stays fully loaded even if not used. I dont mind the warning of not using rechargable batteries on Pezl lamps. As there is a 99,9996% chance of nothing going to happen. It's more dangerous to cross the street.

donkeypunch85. I know it sounds weird but i like flashlights, just like people like knives alot or what ever else it might be. But on there it's anything lights people make custom mag lights that will light paper on fire in seconds. Some of the stuff is pretty cool.

The website is candlepowerforums.com.

Trouthunter they discuss uv's also any light you can think of from key chain leds to the $7,000 surefire hellfighter. or even the 60" carbon arc millitary lights

http://www.feedthehabit.com/gear-reviews/uk-vizion-3aaa-eled-headlamp-review/

This light is supposed to be really good. completley water proof. it is still AAA (3) but check it out.

Thanks for the web address and the link sba!
My hiking buddy, Lighthouse, has a modified headlamp with an external battery pack that will light dry leaves, HaHa.
I don't like it myself, but he does a fair amount of caving, in fact he is one of a handful of people that knows Pettijohns and Ellison's caves in GA. inside and out. That's supposed to be a cavers joke somehow. Ellison's has a drop of over 500'.

I use UV headlights for night fishing in NC, it is legal there.
Also have come to like them equally as much as red LEDs for night trekking. Generally speaking, the less light you have at night, the better you can see. IMO.
I know that defies logic, but I have summit-ed both Grandfather and Pinnacle mountains in the dark.
Bright lights blind you to anything outside of your dome of illumination which makes me uneasy about finding a good route when off trail. It takes about 30 min. for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and the more you do it the better they adjust, to a point. Most people just immediately turn on their light and head off. If I am on an established trail I don't mind a little more light since it makes it easier to find blazes.
In Ottos case, skiing in the dark, I would also want a lot of light.

Seems like the trend is toward headlamps that run on AAA's , photo lithium's, or coin type batteries. My personal preference right now is AAA recharge-ables.

Thanks again for the heads up sba.

sevenbridgesangler is right, Candlepowerforums.com is an excellent site for the "Flashaholic" like myself. But there are tons of people there who are very well versed on flashlights and the corresponding technologies. A have learned a ton about lights there.

Careful MTB416,
Next you'll get sucked into building your own headlamp from parts bought at Radio Shack. Or you could go to the stoves forum and start building alcohol stoves from Heineken beer cans, if you haven't already!
It's a slippery slope man!

Actually I have been to the sight, there is a lot of info there.

Princeton Tec's QUAD is a REGULATED headlamp and the lightest regulated one on the market. Mine is great for many types of uses including night XC skiing.
I'd never buy another unregulated headlamp. The difference in performance is too great.

Eric