View Full Version : What torch
Hi,
I was wondering what torch you think I should get? I don't want to spend loads but I do like surefire torches so could stretch, I need it also to have red filters or for there to be filters made for it. Also does anyone know of good retailers of the surefire torches?
Thanks.
It's a petzl every time for me (my headtorch 'collection' is almost as large as my knife! :o )
The new LED ones are ace - bright enough to see what you are doing and last aaaaaaaages! (you can also get red (and green) filters for most models I beleive
Once you have used a headtorch you will wonder why you ever bothered to put up with a hand out of action!!!
Spacemonkey
04-10-2005, 21:52
Petzl Tikka Plus everytime! Used mine sooo many times and it's ace. The batteries just refuse to die. Comes complete with built in flip down red filter and four white LEDs. And for abour £30 a bargain! You'll never want a hand held torch again.
Motorbike Man
04-10-2005, 22:01
Depends what you want it for really, the led ones are superb for close up stuff but just don't have the throw of an incandescant torch. I use a Petzl Zoom and it's a superb piece of kit. Mine is the older Bora model and runs on 4 C size cells on a belt mounted battery pack so run time is superb, however it's just too bright fpor close up work so I have a 2 CR123 cell Nuwai which has a two stage switch on it which makes it great for getting round camp and has that bit extra as well if you need it. As for red filters, I got some red gels (The stuff they use in lighting rigs) and made my own for the Petzl and it just so happens that once you scrape off the printing and pull out the pastic seal from the inside, a bottle top from a 500ml CocaCola bottle makes a superb red filter for the Nuwai and anything else that size, such as the Surefire KL1 head.
Torch, now THAT'S English! heheheh
We call it "flashlight" or a "headlamp". :D
In all seriousness though, go for a Petzl. I have one, been hellishly rough with it, it just doesn't want to break.
Also, I, of the 'old-school' crowd still prefer good old incandesent bulbs. I've never been a fan of LEDs, even if they do have a "150 hour battery life." They just don't do the trick in terms of illumination. (Even when they're grouped in multiples)Halogen is awesome, my headlamp normally runs on incandesent bulbs, with a 30 metre light range. Well, pop a halogen in there, that range is increased to 100 metres. But....it kills my batteries. Oh well, 11 hours from a a battery pack isn't TOO too bad.
My $0.02!
Adam
Motorbike Man
04-10-2005, 22:20
You could of course go for a Petzl Duo and get the best of both worlds in a head torch, halogen bulbs for long distance stuff and leds for close up work as well
For an led head torch it has to be the zipka, same head as the tikka, but with a nifty, compact, adaptable band.
mojofilter
04-10-2005, 22:44
Hi,
I was wondering what torch you think I should get? I don't want to spend loads but I do like surefire torches so could stretch, I need it also to have red filters or for there to be filters made for it. Also does anyone know of good retailers of the surefire torches?
Thanks.
Why not go for a Surefire A2 Aviator with red Leds? That will give you a good high beam with the red low level illumination.
I love torches! :rolleyes:
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/176298.jpg
Ah, Surefire A2 Aviator, that reminds me.
Whats the difference between http://www.supremeco.com.hk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_26_30&products_id=2787 which is seemingly <70 quid and a standard A2, which seems priced ~150quid over here?
Edit: Apart from the colour of couse :)
mojofilter
04-10-2005, 22:56
Ah, Surefire A2 Aviator, that reminds me.
Whats the difference between http://www.supremeco.com.hk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_26_30&products_id=2787 which is seemingly <70 quid and a standard A2, which seems priced ~150quid over here?
Edit: Apart from the colour of couse :)
No difference whatsoever, that is a hot deal which has set CPF alight :D
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=92307
Why not go for a Surefire A2 Aviator with red Leds? That will give you a good high beam with the red low level illumination.
I love torches! :rolleyes:
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/176298.jpg
That reminds me, I really must get round to taking a picture of all my torches ;)
If I were to recommend a headtorch then it would have to be the Princeton Tec Eos, absolutely brilliant.
For a handheld, like Mojo says, the Surefire A2 sounds ideal if you're after red light. Otherwise the E-series lights are always worth a look and have plenty of accessories. I love all me E-series lights to bits (E1, E1e, E2, E2e plus the LED heads KL1 and KL4. I've recently got a vital gear 1 cell body for my KL1, my new favourite!)
It's early, I'm rambling...
:rolleyes:
Hellz
Listen Mojo, you can’t just keep posting that picture, wily nily - it hurts me. So many things I covert in one picture!
I’m using satellite triangulation to position your backyard and I’m coming to get one of them, if you don’t stop flaunting them!
;o)
Torches with filters on them are good as they save your night vision, pupil dialtion..., a softer light will stop that so you dont have to adjust as much
Ed, if you are after a Surefire then Lighthound (http://www.lighthound.com/) is definitely worth a look. Great service and turnaround.
If you're going to spend Surefire sort of money [I have several, but not as many as mojo] and it's for bushcrafty activities, can I speak up for the Petzl Myo XP?
I use one, and am quite taken with it.
I wibbled on about it in another place (http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12353) .
CM Burns
05-10-2005, 12:35
best value Surefire is the Nitrolon model - $34 (but typically around £28 in UK) uses CR123s which can be ordered from batterystation in USA at $1.25 a piece and ony around $8 postage for up to 40 cells!
the A2 is superb, if i only carry one light it is always the A2, but its relatively expensive.
as for headtorches, sorry if i offend some here but petzel headtorches have been left way behind by the offerings from princton tec etc - as hellz mentioned the EOS is quite superb and is considered by all who have used it to be by far the best 3xAAA headlamp on the market. fantastic vaule at $40, ripoff at £40
mojofilter
05-10-2005, 23:50
Listen Mojo, you can’t just keep posting that picture, wily nily - it hurts me. So many things I covert in one picture!
I’m using satellite triangulation to position your backyard and I’m coming to get one of them, if you don’t stop flaunting them!
;o)
Sorry mate, I won't post that one again, but I thought you might like these! :D
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/183361.jpg
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/196288.jpg
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/201928.jpg
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/201929.jpg
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/176740.jpg
Oh, I’m going to have to go and have a good think about those!
mojofilter
06-10-2005, 14:03
:D
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/202040.jpg
Stop it, stop it, stop it :D
CM Burns
07-10-2005, 12:30
no means to post photo as I'm at work but I've just checked my backpack (I cycle to work) and have discovered that I have got the following items with me today (most of which I'd forgotten were still in the bag after a weekend trip...)
M6 (with MN21)
M3 (with MN11)
A2
ARC LSHF
Peak Solutions Matterhorn (not quite the build quality of an ARC AAA but superior output)
Leatherman Wave
SOG Crosscut
Large Sebenza
Lone Wolf Jeff Angelo Fluted Folder
AW Tamarack
Bisonbushcraft Woodcraft (with sumptuous curly birch handle)
:D
piccie to follow.... :p
steven andrews
07-10-2005, 12:48
For bushcraft I find that I rarely need much throw, so I favour LED lights with a good flood and a long runtime.
I use a Petzl Tikka Plus headtorch and usually have an MiniMag fitted with an Opalec Newbeam LED conversion as back-up, and an Arc AAA to back that up.
My Surefires stay at home/work.
Personally i always carry a petzl zipka, had the same batteries in it for longer than i can remember, stunning! Otherwise it's my black diamond headtorch, can't remember the name of it but it's got a xenon bulb for the distance work and 2 led's for the close up work, runs on three AA's, more comfortable on the head than the bigger petzl's but at the best part of £50 i'm glad i got a 40% discount :D
CM Burns
07-10-2005, 13:00
Personally i always carry a petzl zipka, had the same batteries in it for longer than i can remember, stunning! Otherwise it's my black diamond headtorch, can't remember the name of it but it's got a xenon bulb for the distance work and 2 led's for the close up work, runs on three AA's, more comfortable on the head than the bigger petzl's but at the best part of £50 i'm glad i got a 40% discount :D
i've got a BD with single xenon and LED - runs off 4 AA's. Not over impressed with the xenon but often use it on LED around camp. being a larger unit than is usual on a headlamp it has a decent reflector which works well with the LED. Heavy & bulky though!
For bushcraft I find low level illumination much better for finding stuff as it leaves your night vision reasonably intact.
I hate head torches because they blind you to everything outside the illuminated area.
I hate them even more on other people as they inevitably shine the things straight into your dark adapted eyes :twak:
Why people want to light up the wilderness like a football ground defeats me.
What's wrong with a campfire and a candle lantern?
steven andrews
07-10-2005, 16:53
I hate head torches because they blind you to everything outside the illuminated area.
Lost me there..
Doesn't any torch do that?
mojofilter
07-10-2005, 18:48
no means to post photo as I'm at work but I've just checked my backpack (I cycle to work) and have discovered that I have got the following items with me today (most of which I'd forgotten were still in the bag after a weekend trip...)
M6 (with MN21)
M3 (with MN11)
A2
ARC LSHF
Peak Solutions Matterhorn (not quite the build quality of an ARC AAA but superior output)
Leatherman Wave
SOG Crosscut
Large Sebenza
Lone Wolf Jeff Angelo Fluted Folder
AW Tamarack
Bisonbushcraft Woodcraft (with sumptuous curly birch handle)
:D
piccie to follow.... :p
:lmao: You are certainly well prepared! :You_Rock_
Please post a pic :red:
CM Burns
09-10-2005, 13:41
OK!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/cmburns777/IMG_01351.jpg
:D
CM Burns
09-10-2005, 13:46
and here's my pride and joy...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/cmburns777/IMG_0136.jpg
the M6 not Homer!
hmm... must clean that screen
CM Burns
09-10-2005, 13:51
forgot to mention that i slagged off Petzl headlamps earlier...
the new issue of TGO (the great outdoors...) (Nov 2005) has a review of headlamps - the Tikka XP gets the "best buy" award and the Myo XP "recommended"!
my Princton Tec EOS also gets a "recommended" but the Petzls are rated better in the writeup.
Note that this is an excellent issue - includes reveiws on GPSs and large backpacks too! Highly recommended!!
(edited to add full title of magazine...)
Lost me there..
Doesn't any torch do that?
The problem with head torches is that they constantly illuminate an area in the centre of your field of vision.
A normal torch that is used to do something and then turned off allows your night vision to recover much faster.
I use torches for a bare minimum of time, usually just to find something I cannot find by feel or night vision. Even when I do that I keep my dominant eye closed while the light is on.
Of course what then happens is someone with a searchlight strapped to their head will blind me completely by having a chat with me and wondering why I'm scowling.... :banghead:
steven andrews
10-10-2005, 21:39
Wayland, I think you are being a little unfair on the headtorch! A headtorch can be turned off just as easily as a hand-held torch and you can get headtorches with low output options.
You don't have to leave your headtorch turned on all the time, but when you do need a little light it is great to have two hands free.
I understand that you hate unnecessarily large light outputs and people shining lights in your face. I couldn't agree with you more.
But it's not really the fault of the headtorch.
Carcajou Garou
11-10-2005, 03:30
I carry a mini mag with a red filter when hunting and going to an area or stand, and have a compact 2-c cell krypton bulb flashlight for other uses. In my pack and clothing are a few photon tube lights for E use.
Exploriment
11-10-2005, 19:54
German site, so the text is probably a no go for most of you, but the pictures are very interesting. Comparison of various Sure-Fire (as well as a few other) lights. The picture of the L4 in the parking garage left me slackjawed.
Sure-Fire comparison photos (http://www.messerforum.net/showthread.php?t=15783)
Ok then does anyone know of a good site to get either an L1 or an E1 with LED head.
Thanks.
running bare
12-10-2005, 20:02
i agree with wayland, a small maglite can be aimed at the ground instead of at someones eyes and is small enuf to hold in the teeth keeping your hands free.
all these fancy torches are ok but you gotta admit you cud spend the money on other kit,surely.? or a right angled mil.torch can be clipped to your clothing plus it has filters. :)
tom
mojofilter
12-10-2005, 20:26
Ok then does anyone know of a good site to get either an L1 or an E1 with LED head.
Thanks.
You can get an L1 here http://www.tacticaltorches.com/torches.htm
Or a KL1 head and VG 1 cell body here http://www.lighthound.com/
The VG body and the KL1 head looks like this and is about 92mm long!
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/196288.jpg
Lighthound are very good to deal with :)
The KL1 + VG1 body is a lovely combo with approx 1 hour burn time, if you go for a two cell body this jumps to about 4 hours.
This is my experience with the older style KL1's so not sure if it's still relevant. :rolleyes:
Hellz
I'd add another possibility if you are going to Lighthound: A KL1 head with an Aleph 1x123 body and a two stage tailcap. cheaper and so very much cooler than an L1.
edit: Okay, it's the same price as an L1 ($120ish) but ten times cooler.
Excellent link by the way Exploriment :cool:
Thanks mojofilter I think I'll go for the Vg 1 body with Kl 1 head. It is the Vg Fb 1 isn't it?
Alchemist
13-10-2005, 18:01
I am in the Army and need to use my torch for all sorts. Low level tactical light, red filter, area light for writing orders, head light, guiding vehicles, but most importantly I use batteries I can get free from the Quartermaster. The mini mag takes the right batteries (AA) and you can buy all sorts of bits for it. If you put black tape over the spare clear lense then you have a tactical light that you can see contour lines with. You can also buy a head strap which you can discard if you dont need it. You can turn it into a candle and hang it from the hatch handles of your armoured vehicle. Jack of all trades and master of none? Well it has done me well for a very good price.
Then again, you might want something completely different. You might even be American; in which case buy a spotlight, fix it to the top of your Humvee and hunt with a huge rifle, top to tail camo Ghillie and a flourescent vest.
steven andrews
13-10-2005, 20:37
Alchemist I can highly recommend an Opalec Newbeam LED conversion for your MiniMag. You won't regret it. Read this review (http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/opalec_newbeam.htm) from FlashlightReviews.com.
The Opalec is very robust, I've dropped my minimag onto concrete and the Opalec keeps going. I used to get through loads of incandescent bulbs when I was in the army.
By the way what are you in?
mojofilter
14-10-2005, 10:13
Thanks mojofilter I think I'll go for the Vg 1 body with Kl 1 head. It is the Vg Fb 1 isn't it?
Thats right :D
One thing that the Opalec gives me that I wish I had had whilst I was on ex - no flipping bulbs to change on the mini-Maglite. Had a few times where I swapped out the bulb by touch in the middle of nowhere...
The Terralux conversion is much brighter, but has shorter runtimes accordingly.
Alchemist
16-10-2005, 16:53
Fantastic. The versatility of the minimag strikes again!
I am a Royal Engineer at the moment but will be posted to 1 UK Civ Div before Christmas. So I need desparately to get my outdoor fix on a regular basis. This will prove hard with a 2 week old baby and a move to the midlands.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get that fix with a little nipper around?
Carcajou Garou
16-10-2005, 17:04
Bring him/her along :D
Alchemist I can highly recommend an Opalec Newbeam LED conversion for your MiniMag. You won't regret it. Read this review (http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/opalec_newbeam.htm) from FlashlightReviews.com.
The Opalec is very robust, I've dropped my minimag onto concrete and the Opalec keeps going. I used to get through loads of incandescent bulbs when I was in the army.
By the way what are you in?
Just read the article on their website, what a great idea, got one on order myself now
running bare
16-10-2005, 20:16
go first nation and put him/her in a papous ( is that the right name ) where ever you go they will follow :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :D :D :D
tom
they'llnot see where your going but can see where you've been :D
Alchemist I can highly recommend an Opalec Newbeam LED conversion for your MiniMag. You won't regret it. Read this review (http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/opalec_newbeam.htm) from FlashlightReviews.com.
The Opalec is very robust, I've dropped my minimag onto concrete and the Opalec keeps going. I used to get through loads of incandescent bulbs when I was in the army.
By the way what are you in?
Got my conversion kit on Friday, what a great bit of technology, incredibly bright, well worth the money IMO, took about 30 seconds to change the Minimag over from a bulb to the LED's. Well chuffed :)
I have the terralux conversion and it is fantastic, have not checked the runtimes but it is a much smoother brighter beam, I use a petzl tikka XP as well which has a good range but for around camp it is not a good as the tikka plus.
mojofilter
26-10-2005, 19:18
I recently aquired a Silva L1 headtorch which is rather impressive.
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13233