Red light head torch

[richy3333]

Hi all and a happy new year.

Please could somebody recommend a head torch with good red light colour output. I’ve a very old (about 20 years) petzl that I’d like to retire and upgrade. Our animals object to the white light of a normal head torch but don’t with the red filter/light.

Many thanks.
R

 

[Herman30]

Fenix HM65R Särmä TST Headlamp

HM65R Särmä TST is as near to a perfect headlamp as it gets.

www.varusteleka.com

 

[Broch]

I'm curious; if you've been happy with the quality and performance of a Petzl for twenty years, why swap to a different make at risk? Has the quality of Petzl dropped in that time?

 

[Jared]

Sofirn S25LR is probably cheapest, $21.

D25LR Rechargeable Headlamp, with LH351D 5000K White Led and SST20 DR 660 nm Red LED, Micro USB Charging Port

Character: 1. High CRI White Deep Red Emitters: The D25LR headlamp utilizes dual LED Emitters. One of which is the LH351D 5000K CRI 90 High for a nice comfortable white beam. The other LED Emitter is the SST20-DR Red LED, which produces red light in the wavelength of 660nms which helps to...

www.sofirnlight.com

 

[bearbait]

I have the Petzl Tactikka +RGB that I'm pleased with. If that is too many colours for you they do a Tactikka which just has White and Red lights. I also have one of their Noctilights that diffuses the beam. Quite useful in tent or car and may be of use in a barn or shed with the critters.

 

[TLM]

Our animals object to the white light of a normal head torch but don’t with the red filter/light.

Being curious here, which animals?

 

[demographic]

After having a few Tikkas over the years and being unimpressed with them long term* I got a Black Diamond Storm. Think its a 375.
It's got two buttons and a lot of modes, takes a little time to get used to the number of modes but personally I cant see me going back to Petzl again now, I really like it.




*the LEDs dimmed over time, even with fresh batteries it was noticable.

 

[Kav]

Blue lights are also livestock friendly and less visible to human observers. An odd fact: flashing lights found in many headlamps can trigger epileptic seizures and blue the worst.

 

[richy3333]

I'm curious; if you've been happy with the quality and performance of a Petzl for twenty years, why swap to a different make at risk? Has the quality of Petzl dropped in that time?

Its non LED and I think there are modern, brighter options now.

 

[richy3333]

Being curious here, which animals?

Mainly the horses, 5 of them. The bright white of an LED head torch is a bit too shocking to them. Also the wife keeps blinding me with her torch!

 

[Broch]

Its non LED and I think there are modern, brighter options now.

The new ones are, models such as the Tikka Core are definitely LED and have a red light. I really meant if you were happy with the brand rather than your old torch. There are cheaper ones for sure.

 

[SaraR]

I got the Sunblesa H11 after seeing the review here on BCUK. It's got one red and two green brightness levels, plus a bunch of different white lights. I used the red light in work over several days and it worked really well.

 

[Erbswurst]

Around the own house a rechargeable head lamp is the better choice in my opinion. There are some models that work with rechargeable batteries as well as disposable ones.

 

[baggins]

+1 for the fenix. The red light has been fabulous for watching our resident hedgehog. That is until he decided to move in, making the torch irrelivent, lol!

 

[TLM]

I have tried red ones a few times but for forest it is a no go while leaves are in trees. Green foliage sucks the red light very efficiently and one does not see all that much. Blue-green works well. In winter both work, a matter of taste. The main problem is that some maps look very strange. For farm work I don't think the color matters that much, just remembered that most farm animals apparently do not see red at all so that is the more likely not to spook them.

 

[Erbswurst]

If you give your horses everytime when you switch on your white lamp a piece of sugar they will surely love that lamp pretty soon. The pure brightness may be a problem though.

I currently look myself for a stronger lamp and find the NiteCore HC 65 V2 and the HC 68 pretty interesting because that are rechargeable models but can also be used with the winter proof disposable CR 123 batteries.
The Fenix lamp above offers that option too so far I see.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Red does not attract night flying insects. White does, and blue most of all.

 

[Erbswurst]

And if @TLM is right with his opinion that the leaves suck red light, you can see your way but the enemy can't see you.

The land owner for example.
Or the illegal wild camper.

 

[sidpost]

Deep Red is your friend. The SST-20 Deep Red emitters for me work extremely well. I will second that Sofirn headlamp above as well.

 

[Herman30]

Green foliage sucks the red light very efficiently and one does not see all that much.

That is the whole point of red light. Not to be seen by others.