Alpkit Gamma Headtorch

[Improviser]

http://www.alpkit.com/gamma/

Check this out,absolutely the best headtorch ive tried up too now -1 watt main led high low output,3 small led's in white (i find this ample for reading/bimbling around camp) red & green all modes can be strobed.Theres even a red rear strip light on the back of the battery box so others can keep tabs on you if in a group.

Came highly recommended from a few outdoorsey types i know. Its even better when it costs only £15 delivered with 3 duracell batteries as well !!

The only gripe is it can only run on alkaline 1.5v cells (rechargable no use as only 1.2volt & lithium not recommended as discharge rate too high) but i can live with that as above users state excellent battery life even after numerous bursts with the main 1 watt beam on high.

Deffo worth a gander if only for backup/spare although its my main torch now.

 

[Shewie]

I've seen a couple of these now and they're on my list for my next replacement when the time comes.

 

[verloc]

Yeah Ive got one of these and its cracking. Very bright main lamp - the only complaint I have is the same as most users is that the white lamp cycles on first when scrolling through the LEDs and can naff up your night vision, but as my night vision is primarily used to stare at the fire and snaffle hooch then I suppose its not important

Great headlamp for the price.
Tom

 

[Muddy Boots]

Can't rate these head torches highly enough.

Great head torch, great price loads of features. Worth buying two - one for the car and one to keep in the ruck sack.

 

[fredster]

They look a bit clumsy/fiddly to me. Whats with the separate battery back with the nice dangly wire going to the front? Fussy on the battery front too. Petzl tikka so much simpler in design.

 

[Ratbag]

IMO the Alpkit Gamma knocks spots off a bog-standard Tikka in terms of performance, if perhaps not quality of construction. The Tikka plus 2 and XP2 offer performance improvements over the standard Tikka but then they cost 2-3 times as much as the Gamma. You pay your money and take your choice...

And those "fiddly" wires? Check out all the other Petzl headlamps with a battery at the back, they really aren't that hard to get along with.

For me the only real problem with the Gamma, all things considered, is that its currently sold out and I can't order some more just yet My brother borrowed mine and won't give it back....

Must be popular for some reason, eh?

Rat

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Very happy with mine

 

[Nat]

The gamma knocks spots off the Tikka. I've got both and much prefer the Gamma. Easier to change batteries, the red led at the back of the gamma is handy when out in the dark woods and the light options on the gamma just urinates over the tikka.
However i use the tikka when out on ex as fits over the helmet easier.

 

[jonnno]

I have a Gamma and it's great. Only issue is it's very easy for it to turn on accidently in your pack. Also, it has a red light mode but you have to switch on the white light first to. Doh!

 

[EdS]

great back up lamp / pottering around lamp. Pity they don't like rechagable batteries though.

For best (and expensive) headtorches check out Hope. The Adventure 1 is around £80 but much better than my Petzl Duo.

http://www.vision-adventure.co.uk/

The 4 LED is awesome but near £300 - alot of cavers I know are now using these Hope lamps.

THey where orginally desgined as bike lamps - the headtorches come with bike fittings as well.

 

[Shewie]

The 4 LED is awesome but near £300 - alot of cavers I know are now using these Hope lamps.

960 lumens should be fairly bright

 

[Nice65]

http://www.alpkit.com/gamma/

Theres even a red rear strip light on the back of the battery box so others can keep tabs on you if in a group.

Came highly recommended from a few outdoorsey types i know. Its even better when it costs only £15 delivered with 3 duracell batteries as well !!

Excellent battery life even after numerous bursts with the main 1 watt beam on high.

Deffo worth a gander if only for backup/spare although its my main torch now.

You said it! A superb, all-round headtorch for £15 posted. Mine arrived the next day with a handwritten thankyou note! For the money they're incredibly good value. The red strip on the battery pack is a stroke of genius, flashing or static it isn't blinding so you can easily follow or locate someone without squinting. It isn't designed as a bike rear lamp or warning light, just a locator.

The single button is very easy to use even with gloves, much easier than a Petzl (only tried a Myo XP). It always comes on at main high beam, but if you don't want to be blinded simply use one of the secondary LEDs, the torch remembers the settings for these, so white, green or red. A 5 second press of the button changes back to the main LED.

3 x AAA Duracells have done 2 good long camping nights including midnight wood gathering missions, tree climbs, chalk scree surfing ( dangerous fun,except for brambles!) etc most of which used the high setting, I haven't needed to change the batteries yet.

I like mine, I've got loads of torches but this is hands down the most useful. I woudn't go caving or night biking with it because it doesn't claim to be a specialised light, but I definitely take it camping and in the meantime it lives in the car. There is good reason why Alpkit are often out of stock of their products.

 

[Nonsuch]

They're brilliant. The advantage over a Petzl Tikka or similar is that you have a searchlight for when you need it. I find that I can't sometimes find my tent in the dark when leaving the group shelter without it, and walking at night if route finding is involved is made much easier with the beam. Proved pretty tough so far as well. Just close your eyes while cycling through the white light to get to the red

NS

 

[Morning Fox]

I can highly recommend this too, have had one for self since christmas and its superb for the price, I have since bought 3 of my friends one and they are all happy with theirs too. Great product, Alpkit are good guys to deal with too.

 

[Neumo]

Sounds like a good torch, so has been added to my ever expanding toy list...

 

[Morning Fox]

When I bought my first one, it came with batteries which was nice... but then about a week later I got another set of batteries through the post from alpkit! Top notch

 

[GoatBoy666]

Yup another vote for the gamma, I have a peltz tikka plus to but the gamma is by far the superior kit.

Goat

 

[Shewie]

They're out of stock at the moment and folk are paying £30+ for them on ebay

 

[Lasse]

Does anyone know if the cable to the battery pack is long enough to store the pack inside a jacket where it's warmer so the battery lasts longer?
Or would this be unneeded, at fe -10°C ? Or is the cable easily replaceable?

Am interested in buying one, but find it too heavy for summer use when there's plenty of light most of the time. Would probably only take it in winter when it's cold...

 

[Wallenstein]

My only reservation for these is the "over the head" strap - are they wearable with just the side straps, or do you need all three?

For some reason I just don't get on with wearing the extra strap over the top