MTBMaven

Hi there folks. I'm looking for recommendations on how to attach a hiking style headlamp to me bike helmet. I have a Petzel headlamp already, just looking for a good way to attach to my helmet.

Why? I'm not looking for anything to light the road just something to see queue sheets, look down at my gears, shine a non-blinding light at a car, etc.

znomit

I use zip ties. Currently using a black diamond spot which works really well.

Machka 

Yep ... zip ties work.

MTBMaven

Anything a little less permanent? I guess maybe a Velcro strap could work.

zandoval 

Note that you are looking for at least 120 lumens - Anything less just won't give you the distance...

Chris_W

When we went fully-loaded touring on our tandem last summer, I tried to minimize our gear as much as possible. I wanted to have a flashing headlight in addition to our dynamo-powered front light. Since we were already going to be taking Petzl headlamps for camping, I attached one of the plastic mounting brackets from a Petzl Tikka light to the top of my helmet using zip-ties. I could then switch the light between the headband for camping and the helmet for low-light riding by just unclipping it from one and clipping it into the other. The Petzl also acted as a backup for our main headlight if something went wrong with that, but I wouldn't plan to use it as my main light source.

I also got the USB-rechargeable battery pack that fits in the Tikka so that we had no need for spare batteries. We were already carrying a USB charger and cables for our other devices, so that added no more weight, and we had a USB converter hooked up to the dynamo hub, so were entirely self-sufficient when needed.

bmike

if you take off the head strap, you can use a velcro strap:


Fenix HP15 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

i've done this with my new fenix, as well as with the petrel e+lite and others.

unterhausen

a petzel e-lite would probably stay on pretty well with double sided velcro. I am not a big fan of it because I can never get the switching right, but it works for reading cue sheets and street signs

antimonysarah

Zip ties are pretty easy to cut, and pretty light to carry more of them. Doesn't make them reusable, though. Long metal-and-plastic twist ties, like come on some electronics, might do the trick too.

MTBMaven

Thanks all. I think I will give bmike's velco or antimonysarah's twist ties a try.

StephenH

This is the Black Diamond Gizmo headlight.
Features:
Cheap, it's $20 at REI.
"Stormproof", not "dunkproof", though.
Uses just 2 AAA's, so it's lighter than the ones that use 3 AAA's.
Turns on/off/on/off, unlike a lot of lamps that make you cycle through multiple modes to turn on and off.
Dimmable, just hold the button down and it slowly dims and then rebrightens, just stop when it gets where you want it, and then it will stay there when turned off and on.
Note that this is great for use as a cue-sheet reading or flat-fixing helmet light. For use as an auxilary headlight while riding, more power would be useful.
The strap is just folded cloth with velcro sewed on. The velcro is available in sewing departments at Walmart or your local fabric store. The strap is actually a little too long; I made this for a different helmet and never shortened it for this helmet.
It IS handy to be able to take it off the helmet. The light is not heavy, but noticeable, and it's nice to leave it off for a daytime ride.

Oh, note that the Gizmo won't bend 90 degrees, so you can't attach it to the top of your helmet- if you do, it won't shine horizontal- so it has to go on the front of the helmet.

unterhausen

when you turn of the gizmo, does it turn back on at the same brightness?

znomit

This was a dealbreaker for me. Its a great general purpose light though.

Unterhausen they come back on at max brightness.

StephenH

No, they come back on at the reduced brightness where you left it, not at max brightness.

znomit

Are you sure? All of my Black Diamond lights come on at max, which is annoying.
I see the new spot has a "power tap" feature which instantly toggles between your set dim level and high which would be very vey handy.

RoadTire 

Addendum: we started by just putting our small headlamps under the helmet visor, upside down to get the angle right, and running the strap under the visor to the back of the helmet. The visor acted as an anchor for the headlamp. I forgot about that.

Now, without the visor, I use paperclips bent into hooks and regular rubber bands. On my Petzl Myo XP (3AA battery pack on the strap, back of my head) I loosen the strap all the way so I don't stretch it out. Then I had put bent paperclips into a couple of holes that are already in the headlamp and on the battery pack. Rubber band under the headlamp mount, around the front of the helmet, and hook onto the paperclip.

The battery pack catches on the back of the helmet, and a looped rubber band / paper clip hook keeps it from bouncing loose.

I use the headlamp as designed and it takes a couple minutes to rubber band it to my helmet. Velcro straps just didnt' work - needed narrower and stretchy.

I bet a band made out of an innertube and those small helmet chin strap snaps would be perfect. Hmmm...have to try that.

StephenH

I had to try it, and found I was remembering wrong- it does come back on at full power. (Which, on the Gizmo, is okay, as it's not blindingly bright anyway.)

bmike

moved my light over to my bern helmet. going to be -9dF tomorrow morning.


Bern with Fenix HP15 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

The foam piece helps snug it up. It is some left over garage door sealing foam.