My new torch

[Private Pile]

FIF, thank you. That was the exact torch I had. I'll get a new one ordered tonight when I get home. Thanks again

[aberdeeneuan]

FiF said:

The mother in law lost her torch, it was one of those cheapie that cost about a fiver. Got her a lenser L7, runs off 3xAAA, polycarbonate body as opposed to aluminium. For a really lightweight torch have been impressed. 19.98 on Amazon.

Personally don't need any more torches.

Bought one of these to replace my L7 that was aluminum. While it doesn't have the feel of solidity, I've been really happy with it.

[Mothersruin]

Looking to upgrade my head torch this winter as it will get heavy use. Looking at a Led Lenser h14.2 rechargeable.

Any experiences from you guys? I've only heard good things and a number of mates use Led Lenser stuff and like them.

[chasingracecars]

Got one of these from CEF the other day £25 or so really good build and blinding!

https://www.nebotools.com/prod_details.php?id=407&...

[Hainey]

chasingracecars said:

Got one of these from CEF the other day £25 or so really good build and blinding!

https://www.nebotools.com/prod_details.php?id=407&...

Not knocking it but 330 lumens is less than half the output of the PD35 which is similar size.

So if you think that's bright...

[nigelpugh7]

Mothersruin said:

Looking to upgrade my head torch this winter as it will get heavy use. Looking at a Led Lenser h14.2 rechargeable.

Any experiences from you guys? I've only heard good things and a number of mates use Led Lenser stuff and like them.

Just bought one for my Rally weekends away, I love it!

Will try to post some pictures for you tomorrow .

[tenohfive]

Mothersruin said:

Looking to upgrade my head torch this winter as it will get heavy use. Looking at a Led Lenser h14.2 rechargeable.

Any experiences from you guys? I've only heard good things and a number of mates use Led Lenser stuff and like them.

I've got an H7.2. Fiddly to zoom, big artifacts in the beam, plasticy and easily broken. My last Lenser purchase - it's just nowhere near as durable as their hand torches. And I found it inconvenient having either a narrow beam or something wider - despite liking zoomies previously.

I swapped it for a Nitecore HC30 and I'm very happy with it for my needs (trail running, wild camping, round the house use.) Money no object I'd have been looking at a Zebralight H600 Mk II but the HC30 offered 80% of the performance at half the price.

The H14.2 may well be a different beast but it's AA based, running lower voltages so you're unlikely to be looking at big output - 320 lumens apparently.

But I can rattle on about how I'd avoid it for my needs - what will you be doing with it?

[300bhp/ton]

Mothersruin said:

Looking to upgrade my head torch this winter as it will get heavy use. Looking at a Led Lenser h14.2 rechargeable.

Any experiences from you guys? I've only heard good things and a number of mates use Led Lenser stuff and like them.

I'd go for a Skilhunt H03:
http://www.banggood.com/search/skilhunt-h03.html

They do it in several flavours depending on the type of beam you are after. And you can get it in neutral white.

[Mothersruin]

tenohfive said:

Mothersruin said:

Looking to upgrade my head torch this winter as it will get heavy use. Looking at a Led Lenser h14.2 rechargeable.

Any experiences from you guys? I've only heard good things and a number of mates use Led Lenser stuff and like them.

I've got an H7.2. Fiddly to zoom, big artifacts in the beam, plasticy and easily broken. My last Lenser purchase - it's just nowhere near as durable as their hand torches. And I found it inconvenient having either a narrow beam or something wider - despite liking zoomies previously.

I swapped it for a Nitecore HC30 and I'm very happy with it for my needs (trail running, wild camping, round the house use.) Money no object I'd have been looking at a Zebralight H600 Mk II but the HC30 offered 80% of the performance at half the price.

The H14.2 may well be a different beast but it's AA based, running lower voltages so you're unlikely to be looking at big output - 320 lumens apparently.

But I can rattle on about how I'd avoid it for my needs - what will you be doing with it?

Mooching about on mountains, hills and moors in pants conditions. The zoom on the h14 seems to be very simple and it's vital I can quickly change it. I'll also have a large handheld as well but that will get ditched once we've found what we're looking for. Actual strength isn't as important as rechargeable battery life that I can back up with cells and is reliable and simple to use.

From all reviews it seems to tick the boxes.

[tenohfive]

Mothersruin said:

Mooching about on mountains, hills and moors in pants conditions. The zoom on the h14 seems to be very simple and it's vital I can quickly change it. I'll also have a large handheld as well but that will get ditched once we've found what we're looking for. Actual strength isn't as important as rechargeable battery life that I can back up with cells and is reliable and simple to use.

From all reviews it seems to tick the boxes.

The H7.2 - at 70 lumens less - just doesn't cut it, and having a scary moment where I became briefly lost whilst only a couple of hundred metres from my tent whilst wild camping in the mountains I came home and started shopping for something better.
For a point of reference, the H14.2R - the rechargable version, which runs off a li-ion power source - can punch out 850 lumens on turbo, and a CPF review reckons it'll throw 200m at that brightness. I can't see the non-rechargeable version doing similar with that much less output.

One thing I'd say is that if it's a twist zoom don't even bother, with gloves on it'll be too fiddly. If it's a simple push/pull then less so.

May be a factor for you, but if you intend to adjust flood to throw when you're on the move you have to make a choice:
1. Be able to see where you want to go.
2. Be able to see where you're putting your feet.
You just can't have both at the same time with a zoomie like the Lenser.

Hence why I won't use it for trail running any more. Much easier to hit one big button and stick with a decent hotspot into turbo to pick out features ahead/navigate, whilst still getting the flood that keeps you upright.

For what you're describing (and similar money) I'd consider the Zebralight H600 mk2. Don't be put off by non-zoomies, something like the H600 or the HC30 will have both flood and throw but all in one beam.





Beam to the right is the one I'm referring to here.



I'm not anti-Lenser for the record, I own a couple and my old T7 still gets occasional use but for serious use they aren't my go-to any more.

Oh, and in the spirit of fairness I should point out that when wild camping in the mountains I'll also take a Manker T01 - the HC30 is a great balanced light with good throw, but the T01 (a hand torch) is purely a thrower and will do 300m off a 14500 battery (li-ion AA) - so it weighs nothing and comes in handy for navigation.

Edited by tenohfive on Tuesday 1st November 22:13

[Mothersruin]

Thanks for the reply - appreciated.

It's a push/pull zoom and I'd get the rechargable if I go down that road.

On the go - I'll have a large handheld, will be with others, and will use the headlamp for pinpoint. When not on the move it will be wide throw for full hands free, with others too.

Edited by Mothersruin on Tuesday 1st November 22:17

[Pesty]

Right before I start my annual rant now I'm walking out every night in the dark. Let's get this straight I'm not normally an angry man but this time of year I want to kill people.

AM I the only person. Don't answer that because I must be otherwise there would be more of it

I fking hate scrolling through levels. Only me?

I want this.

A power button. ( may also on long press be strobe)

A level button that crucially has momentary turbo. I.e I want to set it at a comfortable walking level and occasionally I need to scan the fields for other dogs so I just want to press and hold get turbo and when I release goes back to how it was.

I have one torch that does that, the fenix but it just doesn't quite have the throw to scan the larger fields. Just took the tm out and instantly wanted to kill people.
Is that turbo!yes oh no that's turbo, is that where I was, no oh yes it was now I'm on high. Scroll round again wait now I don't have all the levels oh fk this one has that temporary memory thing. fk me murder everybody.

Just me? Reall?

[FiF]

Another Fenix user here, and your reasons for choosing it are exactly mine. Tbh I don't know how big the fields are that you walk as it's plenty powerful to scan right over open common land and then drop back to normal walking level, just as you say with one push and hold of a button. Wish the button was bigger for gloved fingers, but other than that.

I can see why people want the programmable stuff, and can see why the programming of the blf thing has been made complicated to access so the selected mode set is easily done, but you still have to piss about scrolling through levels.

Edited by FiF on Wednesday 2nd November 22:47

[leglessAlex]

Pesty said:

Right before I start my annual rant now I'm walking out every night in the dark. Let's get this straight I'm not normally an angry man but this time of year I want to kill people.

AM I the only person. Don't answer that because I must be otherwise there would be more of it

I fking hate scrolling through levels. Only me?

I want this.

A power button. ( may also on long press be strobe)

A level button that crucially has momentary turbo. I.e I want to set it at a comfortable walking level and occasionally I need to scan the fields for other dogs so I just want to press and hold get turbo and when I release goes back to how it was.

I have one torch that does that, the fenix but it just doesn't quite have the throw to scan the larger fields. Just took the tm out and instantly wanted to kill people.
Is that turbo!yes oh no that's turbo, is that where I was, no oh yes it was now I'm on high. Scroll round again wait now I don't have all the levels oh fk this one has that temporary memory thing. fk me murder everybody.

Just me? Really?

By the sounds of it the Convoy C8 setting 11 on the previous page is sort of what you're looking for? Ok, it'll take a couple of minutes to set it up first but it sounds like 100%-20%-Strobe is almost what you're looking for.

But no, not just you. When my C8 arrives I'll be putting it to setting 6 or 12 and I'll forget about it.

[Pesty]

leglessAlex said:

By the sounds of it the Convoy C8 setting 11 on the previous page is sort of what you're looking for? Ok, it'll take a couple of minutes to set it up first but it sounds like 100%-20%-Strobe is almost what you're looking for.

But no, not just you. When my C8 arrives I'll be putting it to setting 6 or 12 and I'll forget about it.

Sounds good I've just ordered the l6 I'm hoping I can set it the same as that otherwise it's going to be murder. Don't even start me on the torch I have in my winter coat that works backwards to every other torch and short press and long press opposite etc.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Can anyone recommend a head-torch that's switchable between white and red? Does such a thing exist?

I had a lovely night flying session last night - first time in many years that I've flown at night. A head-torch is an ideal piece of equipment for if the panel lighting should fail (or the instructor has switched it off to make you cope without it). I used my usual one, which was okay, but I had to be very careful not to look directly at the instructor otherwise I'd have instantly wrecked his dark adaptation.

So a red one would be good - but you also need white for looking at the map because any red markings will disappear under red light. Hence my desire for one that's switchable between white and red. Variable brightness would be a good feature as well.

I've looked on the usual pilot supplies shops (Transair etc), but didn't see what I was looking for and of course they all apply the "aviation tax". I'm not keen to pay £70+.

[300bhp/ton]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Can anyone recommend a head-torch that's switchable between white and red? Does such a thing exist?

I had a lovely night flying session last night - first time in many years that I've flown at night. A head-torch is an ideal piece of equipment for if the panel lighting should fail (or the instructor has switched it off to make you cope without it). I used my usual one, which was okay, but I had to be very careful not to look directly at the instructor otherwise I'd have instantly wrecked his dark adaptation.

So a red one would be good - but you also need white for looking at the map because any red markings will disappear under red light. Hence my desire for one that's switchable between white and red. Variable brightness would be a good feature as well.

I've looked on the usual pilot supplies shops (Transair etc), but didn't see what I was looking for and of course they all apply the "aviation tax". I'm not keen to pay £70+.

Not sure if it's still available or if there is a newer variant, but the Fenix HP05 has a normal white reflector light with 3 or 4 modes and a red LED (single mode) too.

Review here:
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/28674#node-28674

[nigelpugh7]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Can anyone recommend a head-torch that's switchable between white and red? Does such a thing exist?

I had a lovely night flying session last night - first time in many years that I've flown at night. A head-torch is an ideal piece of equipment for if the panel lighting should fail (or the instructor has switched it off to make you cope without it). I used my usual one, which was okay, but I had to be very careful not to look directly at the instructor otherwise I'd have instantly wrecked his dark adaptation.

So a red one would be good - but you also need white for looking at the map because any red markings will disappear under red light. Hence my desire for one that's switchable between white and red. Variable brightness would be a good feature as well.

I've looked on the usual pilot supplies shops (Transair etc), but didn't see what I was looking for and of course they all apply the "aviation tax". I'm not keen to pay £70+.

Is green light acceptable for use in the cockpit?

I bought one of these years ago, admittedly in the US from a Bass Pro Shop, it was on offer at the time so was only $29.99.

It has two switchable levels of low level green light, and the main white high bram too,

Primarily intended for night hunting, hence the reason it in orange realtree effect.

It's been flawless and runs for ever on 3 AAA cells.

I couldn't find one in the uk with a quick search, but seems they are still only $27 on Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-61070-BuckMaste...

Here's mine, I still think it's cool, but then I am a sad nerd!

[aberdeeneuan]

I have a headtorch from Alpkit that switches white, green and red, not sure they still make it though. Wasn't pricey, runs on AAA, would benefit from a band over the head though for more comfort.

I rarely get to use it now as the kids prefer it for the disco effect ;-)

Actually, just checked - they do two now, both have over head bands, one does just red and white, the other green too. Both under £35.

[Hainey]

Alpkit Gamma has the red feature and is very cheap. I think mine was about £15. My LED Lenser also has a red light but was a little more expensive.

Wearing a Headtorch would be a faff with the headset though. I just carry a small torch with a red filter when I night fly.