looking for a head-torch

[ryan1835]

Hi guys, im after a headtorch/torch (preferably head torch but don't mind a torch with head-strap) i want to use it mainly for walking in the middle of the country at night- only other source of light will be the moon as ill be in the middle of no where.

i need to to have good battery life and be fairly bright so i don't trip over anything!

so far im thinking a zebra light of some sort?

i do not mind what sort of battery as im planning to go rechargeable anyway

[nuphoria]

If you can find a Zebralight H501 (older model) they are excellent. Loads of flood, great life on a AA.

[ryan1835]

is the 51 any good then? only reason i ask is i dont see the point in buying old tech if its the same price as new 

[AimlessWanderer]

I've got a Silva Ninox and it's BRILLIANT!

Two old school LED's give flood while an emitter gives throw, various light levels, good battery life, red LED, and the best bit .... the stuffsack it's kept in is part of the head band. Standard batteries and easy to change too. Definitely worth a look mate

[AimlessWanderer]

I've got a Silva Ninox and it's BRILLIANT!

Two old school LED's give flood while an emitter gives throw, various light levels, good battery life, red LED, and the best bit .... the stuffsack it's kept in is part of the head band. Standard batteries and easy to change too. Definitely worth a look mate

Actually, looking at it I'm not sure the thrower is an emitter or just a very well focussed LED. Forgot to mention there is strobe function on both white and red too if that makes a difference. It's 3x AAA which actually has surprised a couple of people as it doesn't look that big. The only thing I'd change (if I could) is the fact that it comes on high/med/low, and I'd prefer that the other way round

[nuphoria]

is the 51 any good then? only reason i ask is i dont see the point in buying old tech if its the same price as new 

Good but different - there's reviews at CPF I think, just remember people saying the preferred the older model.

[Neil]

I'm still using the modified Princeton Tec I got from Terry (nutsak) a couple of years back.

Not that my Zebra was a bad torch, just that I found I stopped using it and always went for the PT, so I sold it.

Here's the web page.  Terry upgraded the emitter in mine and added a stippled reflector.

[ryan1835]

would it be good for walking in the pitch black where there are lots of trip hazards? ie railway sleepers...

dont worry im not going trespassing!

[cerbera147]

If you have a couple of small decent lights already I'd recommend a cheap headband 

I've got the Nitecore one but the new Fenix one looks alright. With the Nitecore I could have 3 lights on my head [think space alien  ] I normally stick one in the middle band.

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/nitecore/nitecore-headband.html
http://www.heinnie.com/Flashlights/-Accessories/Fenix-Accessories/Fenix-Flashlights-Headband-MC10/p-97-538-404-6828/

I've also got one of the Energiser headlights that works quite well but must get one of these from Alpkit; only £12.50 

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16345&category_id=253

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've got a Zebralight H50 and it's a cracking light

Very short ranged even on full power, but it's pure flood with no hotspots

[ryan1835]

so they're floody but not long range?

i did have some lights but they went walkies :/

[Styerman]

I have a Petzel TakTikka and a Surefire Saint Minimus ( much prefer the Surefire) . Tommorow , I'm spending a lot of time in an attic , I'll carry both .

Chris

[ryan1835]

currently looking at this one http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/zebralight/zebralight-h31.html

or been recommended this too http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/zebralight/zebralight-h51fw.html

for the same price this looks fairly good too?

http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix-hp11.html

[Neil]

would it be good for walking in the pitch black where there are lots of trip hazards? ie railway sleepers...

dont worry im not going trespassing!

Yes.

When I'm camping I keep a normal torch in my pocket for backup and the PT is my main torch.  Thoroughly recommend it.

[Gareth]

Am I the only one so cheap that i just made my own headband to fit any of my AAA or AA lights?   Actually works quite well.

[jzmtl]

Out of the lightweight ones Princeton Tec EOS is still my favorite, it throw a giant hotspot that's perfect for upclose work but will also light up some distance away. I think the newer version is 70 lumen, mine has been upgraded twice so I don't know how many lumen does it make anymore.

For heavier weight, I have a Princeton Tec APEX extreme, probably pushing 300 lumen now, and will run literally all night on 8 AA battery pack.

Most if not all PT lamps are regulated to run a flat output, unlike Petzl with no regulation (which is touted as a "feature"  ).

[ryan1835]

my finger just slipped on the buy button for a zerbralight h51fw ....

[Neil]

How clumsy of you

[ryan1835]

hopefully it will do what i require of it

[ryan1835]

well for a torch thats the size of my thumb it half puts out some nice floody light!

only disappointment is that the clip scratched the anodizing but that's nothing to get too upset about

[Gareth]

Any pics mate? 

 

[ryan1835]

Not yet I'm afraid, hopefully tomorrow - I did however just use it to cycle home from the pub. It performed the task wonderfully

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

my finger just slipped on the buy button for a zerbralight h51fw ....

Excellent choice.  How is it?

Spark makes awfully nice ones too.  I have both an H51w that I put diffusion film on, and a Spark ST5-190nw.  I like them both for different reasons, but generally, my go-to headlamp is now the Spark.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Although after perusing the zebra site I may still have some shopping to do...

Check out the Sparks, they're great headlamps.

If you want something that will double as an EDC light too, the Zebra is a better choice, as you can take it out of the head strap and use the clip for pocket carry and the like.  It's just like having one of the old angle-head military lights, just a lot smaller (and brighter).

If you want a dedicated headlamp, a Spark is a better choice because they work much better when wearing a hat or a hood.  They have a three strap headband which is more secure than the single band Zebralight headbands.  They also come with an optional frosted lens which makes them very floody, which is nice for camping, hiking, etc.