sorry, no recommendations for a new one- everything seems to need 600 different functions now and an engineering degree to work it, but I do have one suggestion though- pick up some electronic cleaner, pop the case apart, give it a good soaking, and let it dry- that's kept my "vintage" 30+ year old Petzl Tikka+ working fine.

+ 1 on Nitecore have a few of theirs. Yes they have extra functions but I find the buttons intuitive.

https://www.flashlightworld.ca/products/nitecore-nu21-rechargeable-running-headlamp?_pos=49&_sid=137f5e8ef&_ss=r&_fid=8504b52a0

I use an older version of this Petzl from MEC.  It's just got 1 button for high/medium/low/off.  Strap is adjustable and tight.  It's big enough to not get lost in my bag, but small enough to eventually forget it's on your head and start looking around for it, using the flashlight while you do it because it's so dark out.

Mine is just high/low/off with the button.  Been going strong for about 10 years now, and batteries need changing every 2-3 years.

If you're used to a very bright flashlight, this one will seem dim, but it's good enough to get around the site after dark.  Wouldn't use it for like, night hiking or caving.

Could always go carbide!  Those are on/off!

I really like my Petzl E-Lite.  Small, fits into a little plastic egg, I carry it in a zippered pants pocket all day.  Weighs nothing, has been reliable for me. (I did have one that started getting intermittent after I beat it up enough, so I replaced it).  It only provides 50 lumens, but I don't need to illuminate the entire outdoors like a prison yard.  It has a lever switch - dim, bright, strobe, red, something else I can't remember, but all I ever use is "bright", and it has an "emergency whistle" on the cord, which is comically useless.  I hang it in the tent and it lights up what I need.  It is easy to carry two if you want redundancy.

The only downside I have with it is I wear a broadbrimmed hat, and the brim of the hat interferes with the light beam.  I think that would happen with a lot of headband-style lamps.  Not problematic enough for me to want to change, I use it every trip.

thanks for taking the time to reply,,  i have some good ideas from the responses,, 
  my first light was a petzel , it just wore out over time,, especially the head band,,  my second light is a black diamond ,, great light until it stopped working when i need it work,, now i do not trust that head light,
   thanks

Last edited by swedish pimple (3/08/2024 11:10 am)

I like the ThruNite TH20 that I bought several years ago. It has some drawbacks in that it is a little heavy and it may now be discontinued, but there is lots to like:
-Single AA battery
-Single large button on side
-Minimal functions: on, off, and hold to change brightness
-Turn back on at brightness you had previously
-Two quick presses and you get full brightness when needed
-Rugged metal case
-Lowest setting is fairly low, which is useful

For me less is more. I don't want 10,000 lumens. I would prefer a better CRI (color rendition index) lamp such as a Nichia 219B but that seems impossible to find in a headlamp. I prefer a low lumen "moonlight" mode rather than red because you can actually make out the color of things. Recently my head strap broke so if someone can suggest a better model then I'm all ears.
 

Petzl Bindi for something that's just basic and works around camp. Not sure if I would trust it for wayfinding in the dark in an emergency...