head torch recommendation

[icenian]

Anyone fanciy a head torch? Excellent when camping, almost essential if you break down in the dark, also great when working in a dimly lit garage.

The Silva L3 is pretty good. We've had a wee bit of snow, so this has been getting me home from the bus stop. That doesn't sound like a big deal, but it's 30 minutes through fields and woodland in the dark, hopping over fences and climbing up walls. (Yeah well I could walk down the road but the cross country route is direct and way more fun than getting drenched in salty slush than the passing traffic is spraying at head height). Hardly Ray Mears territory, but enough to figure out if it works properly.

It's as effective as a conventional head torch (i.e. my venerable Petzl Zoom) but the LEDs are more reliable than bulbs and it carries 4 AA batteries so it does 85 hours on maximum power, 150 hours low power. It's not as small as some but unless you need something miniature then I reckon the brightness and burn time are worth the extra couple of cubic inches.

Anyway, I thought I'd let you guys know that you can get one at the moment for 24 pounds, which is excellent value for a LED head torch that really works. http://www.aboveandbeyond.co.uk/shop...mp-p-9481.html

[Wee Jack]

I got myself a cheapo (£9.99) recently, from an outdoor shop in Perth , and noticed Woolies doing simmilar spec.

3 white LEDs and 2 red leds (to preserve night vision) Works off of 3 AAs.

Replaced the front brake pads on my mate's Kawa on sunday night using it - fine and useful in an emergency.

[stageonesimmo]

We get issued an elasticated headband with loops in it in a fetching olive green color that turns your (again, issued) mini-maglight, (2 AA cell type), into a head torch. I bought an LED conversion for my maglight and I just use that now, but I do have a cheapo from a camping shop but it's only got white so its no good at work - the mini-mag also has a filter adapter fitted. I find the maglight is way more flexible than a head torch, but thats just cos I'm not supposed to spray light all over the hooloo at work, its also more compact and tougher especially with the LED conversion.......

Later

[davsato]

someone on here will say its trash (and it is!) but i got a tiny little plastic crappy headtorch from the chinese woman at the BMF show (you know the one i mean, shes always in the cowshed doing rip-off ting tong copies of leathermen and electronic gear) for about £4 a few years ago its never let me down, still on the original battery too. it only has 4 LEDs so its not going to light a soccer pitch but its plenty good enough round camp or hiking, and it has a magnet in the back so you can plonk it on any handy lump of steel.

[StumpyFingers]

I just use my 1,000,000 candle power torch.

[Zenarchy]

someone on here will say its trash (and it is!) but i got a tiny little plastic crappy headtorch from the chinese woman at the BMF show (you know the one i mean, shes always in the cowshed doing rip-off ting tong copies of leathermen and electronic gear) for about £4 a few years ago its never let me down, still on the original battery too. it only has 4 LEDs so its not going to light a soccer pitch but its plenty good enough round camp or hiking, and it has a magnet in the back so you can plonk it on any handy lump of steel.

I got a cheapo one from ebay for about that price (had 27 LEDs or something silly in though). Mine lasted literally about 5 minutes before it broke. Tried fixing it to no avail. Shame as it was really good while it was working.

Either I've been unlucky and heavy handed, or you've been lucky and got a good one. Don't think I would touch those cheapo ones on ebay again though.

When it was working it was really handy so I might try to get a better one in the summer to go camping with and to stick on the bike incase I get stuck anywhere in the dark.

[icenian]

I just use my 1,000,000 candle power torch.

Remember, children, don't strap a 1,000,000 candle power torch to your head. Or you end up looking like this:

[piguglyshandydrinker]

We get issued an elasticated headband with loops in it in a fetching olive green color that turns your (again, issued) mini-maglight, (2 AA cell type), into a head torch. I bought an LED conversion for my maglight and I just use that now, but I do have a cheapo from a camping shop but it's only got white so its no good at work - the mini-mag also has a filter adapter fitted. I find the maglight is way more flexible than a head torch, but thats just cos I'm not supposed to spray light all over the hooloo at work, its also more compact and tougher especially with the LED conversion.......

Later

I like the idea of this....
Anyone know where you can buy the elasticated headband???

Phil

[Wee Jack]

I like the idea of this....
Anyone know where you can buy the elasticated headband???

Phil

I got one in an outdoor shop (Blacks) it has two elastic loops - one inside the other - the larger loop takes the AA maglite and the smaller loop takes the AAA maglite. Very handy, it packs small and that was all I used till I got my cheapo headtorch. Mine is a maglite branded accessory so if you find a good maglite stockist they should have them or be able to get you one.

[icenian]

I like the idea of this....
Anyone know where you can buy the elasticated headband???

Phil

£6.99 from Jackson Sports
http://www.jackson-sports.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1297

(These guys are very fast and the free postage makes them a good place to buy outdoor gear online).