The Best Head Torch

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Halfdevil333

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Sep 3, 2006
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On the Banks of Loch Lomond
Right i'm on the search for a good headtorch. So what do you use? and what do you use it for?
I need mine for general fireside stuff and also for my work (Inspecting the inside of industrial boilers etc).

Cheers
Scott ( Halfdevil333) :)
 
i use a zipka plus

was going to go for the e lite but its a back up light. the zipka plus is tiny, you can always pack it with you, its a proper light, it takes 3 aaa's, has a VERY long runtime, and is excellent. same as the tikka plus. has 3 levels and a flashing mode for use while cycling etc. Can attach it to anything, including toggles in your tent

Highly recommended
 
I'm another for the e-lite, it weighs nothing and has some really nice design features that show someone thought about it.

Low power setting
Red light option
strobe
fabric clip for fastening onto tent/whatever
can be rotated to protect leds when not in use
toggle on headband acts as key for opening battery compartment.

I've ditched the pointless plastic carry case though.

Scoops
 
Used to use the petzl zoom and it was the bees knees a few years ago. Then got a zipka which was v lightweight but not too bright, great around camp though. Just recently got a myo xp......WOW...Its amazing, even on the low setting its brighter than the zipka. I used it for moth trapping last night and could not believe how bright it was. Its a bit heavy, but no way as much as the old zoom and was not uncomfortable to have on my head last night, from about 9pm to 1am...
 
I'm a big fan of Princeton Tec. Heinnie sells the full range I believe. The Aurora model is my favourite - really tough, light, comfortable, waterproof, etc. I much prefer it to a similar Petzl I also had for a while.
Chris
 
Used to use the petzl zoom and it was the bees knees a few years ago. Then got a zipka which was v lightweight but not too bright, great around camp though. Just recently got a myo xp......WOW...Its amazing, even on the low setting its brighter than the zipka. I used it for moth trapping last night and could not believe how bright it was. Its a bit heavy, but no way as much as the old zoom and was not uncomfortable to have on my head last night, from about 9pm to 1am...
+1 on the Myo XP. I use mine for night wanders and any night "hands free" work. It has the huge advantage of taking AA batteries. I'm trying to ensure all my field gear takes the same batteries and given AAs are what both my pocket camera and radio use, plus they are the most widely available batteries, it works for me. I love the diffuser / beam option on the XP and, as Jon says, its very, very bright. Not the lightest but worth the extra few ounces in my book

Red
 
I keep meaning to ask this question?

I currently use a 2.99 headlight from Aldi or Lidl, they had it back last week and was going to get another one. Why pay more, is the question?

I use a nite ize head band with either a AA Maglite that has the LED conversion and the clicky tail switch or a Inova X1 and find it works great it also means you have a hand held and a head torch in one unit(most head torches are to fiddly to use as hand held)which cuts down on the amount of kit you have to carry.

http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=28&product_id=61

Did not realise, you could use that headband for other torches. Really, really, really want an Inova T1, so this might be the way to finally give in and get one.

+1 on the Myo XP. I use mine for night wanders and any night "hands free" work. It has the huge advantage of taking AA batteries. I'm trying to ensure all my field gear takes the same batteries and given AAs are what both my pocket camera and radio use, plus they are the most widely available batteries, it works for me. I love the diffuser / beam option on the XP and, as Jon says, its very, very bright. Not the lightest but worth the extra few ounces in my book

Red

I will not buy anything now that does not use aa or aaa. I have a charger for them, and am looking into a solar panel to go with it. Thing that drives me nuts is trying to get front bike lights that take either.
 
Did not realise, you could use that headband for other torches. Really, really, really want an Inova T1, so this might be the way to finally give in and get one.


Might I suggest a Fenix instead of the Inova. I have a ton of Inova's, but the Fenix has adjustable levels of light and if you are going to be doing things up close, like you would use a headlamp for, you will be thankful for the lower settings.
 
I did a lot of trying before buying and i've gone for the Tikka Plus. I considered the XP and the Myo. I found the Myo excellent but a little cumbersome for camp use and the XP was very nice, but did not need the filters etc so i plumped for the 'Plus which may not be as bright as the Myo and not have the beam adjustment of the XP but it was cheaper and ticked all my requirement box's:D .

Think about what you are going to use it for as well as your budget. The myo may be too much for a camp situation, matbe not. The Plus may not be man enough for a night excursion, maybe it is. Do you need coloured filters? Do you need an adjustable beam? or do you just want something to pull out of your bag and stick on your head so you can find your way around camp / bivvy / hammock?

If you have access to the 1st edition of the Bushcraft UK magazine there is an interesting review of the Tikka XP, but there are a few people on this site who have given you the benefit of their experience.
 
Might I suggest a Fenix instead of the Inova. I have a ton of Inova's, but the Fenix has adjustable levels of light and if you are going to be doing things up close, like you would use a headlamp for, you will be thankful for the lower settings.

I want the Inova T1, for general use and carry, but I think you have a point there about it not being ajustable enough for head torch use.

Have looked at the Fenix range, but it does not have the features that make the T1 an ideal EDC torch(There I think I managed, very carefully, to stay in the rules of the board), but if there is an Fenix model that you would recommend.

I would still go to your local Aldi etc, and buy one of the cheap ones, first. If you have not used head torches before they can bug you. It also will help you decided what you want from an expensive one. My aldi special has everything I want but filters. I just cannot see the point at the moment of paying 10 times the price for that one feature.
 
I want the Inova T1, for general use and carry, but I think you have a point there about it not being ajustable enough for head torch use.

Have looked at the Fenix range, but it does not have the features that make the T1 an ideal EDC torch(There I think I managed, very carefully, to stay in the rules of the board), but if there is an Fenix model that you would recommend.

I would still go to your local Aldi etc, and buy one of the cheap ones, first. If you have not used head torches before they can bug you. It also will help you decided what you want from an expensive one. My aldi special has everything I want but filters. I just cannot see the point at the moment of paying 10 times the price for that one feature.



The T1 gives you a bright 85 lumens for about 2 1/2 hours. [Note: I used to take an Inova XO3 as my outdoor light of choice (along with my Tikka XP) until I replaced it with a Surefire G2. The incandescent just gives a longer throw outside.]

The Fenix P3D gives you 9 lumens for 65 hours up to 160 lumens for under 2 hours. It is about the same diameter as the T1 and I think it takes two batteries versus one for the T1 (I think).

If you are only going to take one light, you might want to consider the more versatile one. Both Fenix and Inova lights are very robust. I have more lights from both brands that I care to admit to. Both are great. I started with the Inova's and have switched to the Fenix's because they have been just as good quality, but brighter and more versatile with the different settings.

But my preference for hiking and camping is still the Petzl Tikka XP along with a Surefire G2. I am actually thinking of getting yet another Fenix. You guessed it, the P3D. I figure if I am going to take a back up to the G2, I might as well get one that uses the same batteries as the G2 as well as my Miox Purifier.

The XP (with the diffuser in place) is what gets used the most. The G2 is for looking farther afield or for trying to chase away the occasional unruly animal. I don't care what the Surefire ads say, it didn't work on the pig from our last camping trip. I blasted it in the eyes from point blank range (3-5 feet) and it didn't run off. It only ran away when I lunged at it. Maybe the strobe on the P3D might have worked better? I have never used the strobe on my Fenix's before and that might be the only thing I might use it for.

Good luck on your choice. It is a personal one and will depend on what you are planning to do and how you want to do it.
 
My choice is a Tikka Plus with a princeton tec "pilot" attached to the headband for back up use. The pilot is handy for close up work when a different angle is needed.
 
But my preference for hiking and camping is still the Petzl Tikka XP along with a Surefire G2. I am actually thinking of getting yet another Fenix. You guessed it, the P3D. I figure if I am going to take a back up to the G2, I might as well get one that uses the same batteries as the G2 as well as my Miox Purifier.

Thats the big problem I think. I want to keep all my batteries to AA or AAA, I sort of accept that my mobile, and PDA(GPS) are going to be different. I think the reason that I have not given in on the T1, is that there are other options that use those batteries. I like the look of Fenix L1D, Dexlight, or just going for the 1 or 2 watt Maglight converstion.

I found this headtourch which looks really interesting, http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/se1whlt-b.shtml#.shtml

Good luck on your choice. It is a personal one and will depend on what you are planning to do and how you want to do it.

I need to sit down and decide what uses are most important. I think the maglight converstion is going to win, because for the price I can have three or four.
 

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