Best Headtorch?

[Garnett]

I'm after an all-rounder headtorch mainly for a 24hr walk in December.

It'll be possibly be used continuously for 10 hours to see the terrain in front of us - so low power, floody, lightweight (or battery pack not worn on the head).

It also needs a bit of throw to help pick out features for navigation.

I was about to pick up a Fenix HP30R, but then I thought I'd check in here for advice. Any reason not to go with the Fenix?

Thanks a lot for any help.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Look no further:
http://www.snipersystems.co.uk/id70.html
K

 

[JohnC]

i have a reactik +

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Petzl-Reac...e=UTF8&qid=1502042643&sr=8-1&keywords=reactik

I used it on a West Highland Way overnight run and it was fine.. Lasted for the run and later at the campsite.

 

[brambles]

Alpkit Gamma. Then buy a spare. And still have £40 left over from the budget for either of the 2 above.

 

[Nice65]

Look no further:
http://www.snipersystems.co.uk/id70.html
K

2 x 18650 batteries isn't lightweight.

And these head torches are available for $6 - $10 posted from China.

https://m.aliexpress.com/s/item/32309308273.html?spm=a2g0n.search-cache.0.0.3d2c41ca5XAfEx

Maybe look at the Petzl range?

 

[mikehill]

2 x 18650 batteries isn't lightweight.

And these head torches are available for $6 - $10 posted from China.

https://m.aliexpress.com/s/item/32309308273.html?spm=a2g0n.search-cache.0.0.3d2c41ca5XAfEx

But surely the "Sniper Systems" version couldn't be the same ???

The Alpkit mentioned would do the job fine

 

[Marshall]

I have a Fenix HL50.
3 years with me on the terrain, forests, canoeing, etc. It's very good equipment. I recomend it!

 

[richy3333]

We've had 4 alpkit headtorches and all have died after a couple of years. We think it's the connections between the battery and torch part. Personally I'd stay clear of them. Never tried a Fenix torch but they do seem to get good reviews.

 

[Gaudette]

Seem to remember Paul Kirtley did a whole piece on Head torches. Might be worth having a look at his site. He's a very knowledgeable guy who talks a lot of sense.

 

[Garnett]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm an idiot, I meant that I was looking at the HP25R, not the HP30R. It only has one 18650, and seems to produce more "lumen-minutes" out of the battery than its bigger, more expense counterpart.

What's the deal with the recommendation for the Snipersystems torch? The website does inspire confidence, and there's nothing about durability/waterproofing or warranty... It does look a lot like the one from AliExpress.

I'd be pretty disappointed to spent £75 on a £7 torch...

 

[Klenchblaize]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm an idiot, I meant that I was looking at the HP25R, not the HP30R. It only has one 18650, and seems to produce more "lumen-minutes" out of the battery than its bigger, more expense counterpart.

What's the deal with the recommendation for the Snipersystems torch? The website does inspire confidence, and there's nothing about durability/waterproofing or warranty... It does look a lot like the one from AliExpress.

I'd be pretty disappointed to spent £75 on a £7 torch...

It does look similar!

If I find time today I'll contact them and send the link to assist their reply but expect something along the lines of lesser quality components.

I'm sure even a Ray Mears knife can be bought for £10 from China.

K

 

[artschool]

I have one of these.

https://www.ledlenser.com/uk/products/head-torches/h-series/h14r2/

I like the ability to recharge or use normal batteries.

 

[Garnett]

I have one of these.

https://www.ledlenser.com/uk/products/head-torches/h-series/h14r2/

I like the ability to recharge or use normal batteries.

That looks good. IIRC LEDlenser gets good feedback regarding durability too.

I'm put off by the lack of data on run times, and the Fenix HP25R seems (compared to the slightly dubious data I've been able to find on the LEDLenser) to have more efficient lumen-minute performance.

 

[forestwalker]

I have abused a HC50 from Nitecore for about a year now. It actually appears to hold up fairly well! Not lightweight, in particular not when batteries are added, not terribly cheap (cost me about SEK 5-600, say £50?). But it just works, and does the main things I want:

1. red light option
2. waterproof to some reasonable degree
3. variable light output to save batteries
4. can be "locked" (HS50: unscrew the battery compartment 1/4 turn, I think it will still be fairly water resistant)

 

[Tonyuk]

Best headtorch i've had is the petzl e-lite. Tiny package and takes a flat coin battery so easy to carry a few spares. Bright but not as much reach as a larger light but petzl themselves are a well liked brand so if the e-lite doesn't suit i would recommend something from them.

Larger petzl's have been coming through the system for a number of years now and they're also very good, i think they might be this model;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/petzl-tactikkar?sku=100303596&source=igodigital

Tonyuk

 

[Highbinder]

I can't believe no one has recommended Zebralight yet.

I use their H602 headtorch which is 1x18650. Sublumen to just over a 1000 lumen output, a visual check of battery level (unlike most other torches), and the ability to use it both as a torch and a headtorch. Yes it's a little expensive, but you have choice in LED and reflector, build quality is top notch, they're properly waterproof, the circuitry is well optimised and the runtimes compared to other torches are great.

Personally if I were doing a 24 hr hike I would go for a 1xAA headtorch, maybe even one with a mule (flood) beam pattern, and then suppliment it with a handheld 18650 torch for spotting and navigation when needed.

/e: I wouldn't recommend Petzl or any of the pleb-tier torches, not unless you like cool white output and pulse width modulated brightness (think of that sort of uneasy almost strobe like ower outputs on petzls).

I'd also say disregard lights with a secondary red led. Now that torches can achieve sublumen output from their primary (white) led there is very little need (other than preference) to have a red light on the torch. Sublumen will not ruin your nightvision but will give enough illumination to map read, with the benefit of white light and thus true representation of the maps colours.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I think the red light feature was that found as a separate module at the back of the head torch and for the benefit of approaching traffic?

K

 

[hughlle1]

I took a petzl rgb+ on my recent trip, worked a charm.

 

[Squidders]

I have a Fenix HL50.
3 years with me on the terrain, forests, canoeing, etc. It's very good equipment. I recomend it!

Same here... it's brilliant.

 

[petrochemicals]

Best headtorch i've had is the petzl e-lite. Tiny package and takes a flat coin battery so easy to carry a few spares. Bright but not as much reach as a larger light but petzl themselves are a well liked brand so if the e-lite doesn't suit i would recommend something from them.

Larger petzl's have been coming through the system for a number of years now and they're also very good, i think they might be this model;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/petzl-tactikkar?sku=100303596&source=igodigital

Tonyuk

You can't have lightweight/10 hours/throw all in one. A lightweight head torch such as this coupled with a good hand torcheck not only will solve your problem but will stop you haveing to wave your head aroundown to see things, a lot easier that way. Even throwy lithium torches only last a couple of hours on high.