What head torch??

[Swallow]

I just got the Alpkit as they are rated by everyone I have met and they are only about 12-15£. So I can't comment on the battery life.

The alpkit uses Red and Green LEDs rather than filters which I am told makes a difference as it produces a more true red or green light. I took red and green light as being essential becuase they don't mess up your night vision (or at least only so little it is not noticeable), the alpkit also has a red tail-light so people can follow you in the dark.

The only thing I don't like about it is that when using the LEDs, rather than the big light, it goes to white (rather than red or green) first, so I have pass through the white (the one I don't want) to get to the other two. Having said that it may just be a case of getting double click mastered when switching it on.

 

[Silverback 1]

Alpkit Gamma now ordered, many thanks folks, for £15 inc delivery and Duracell batteries it has got to be a winner.

 

[EdS]

Hope Vision One may main users for night walking etc.

The Gamma is a good little torch but I've found the Petzl Tikka Plus to be a better general torch. The Gamma will not take rechargable batteries while the Tikka will.

 

[Bigfoot]

Deleted post

 

[Teepee]

Petzl Tikka series for me. They just keep taking abuse and battery life is excellent at 80+ hours on the 3 AA's. (don't believe the battery life on any of them, they're all optimistic)

I'm just about to buy a new headtorch as I've lost my Petzl Tikka 2 . I'll be getting the Petzl Myo this time as it runs on AA's and I carry spare AA's for my gps anyway. The Myo has a regulated power source and doesn't get dimmer as the batteries run out.

 

[Chrisj]

The Gamma will not take rechargable batteries while the Tikka will.

What was the trouble you had with rechargables in the Gamma? Mine runs quite nicely on them.

 

[Nonsuch]

Another vote for the Gamma. Amazing. Still on my original set of batteries!

 

[Vulpes]

+1 on the Petzl Tactikka plus, even though it's out of your price range. It's easily the most economical light I have and the adapt kit is very handy indeed. I've also had the old generations of Duo and Zipka - both solid, reliable lights. The variable light outputs that they have really helps when you want to do some close up tasks. You can get the Tikka range in most walking shops - even in the very useless of the useless, a.k.a Millets, so you should be able to find a really good deal on them. I wouldn't buy any other brand of head torch now. Like most head torches though, they're bad on throw, so I carry something with more of a piercing beam too.

 

[EdS]

rechargables freid the LEDs - spoke to Alpkit who very nicely repalced it but said they don't work with rechargables

 

[Silverback 1]

Update:-

Now awaiting the arrival of 2 head torches as after placing an order for the Alpkit Gamma i found a thread on BB for a brand new Fenix HL20 (£25inc delivery) that runs off a single AA battery (think it will take rechargables as well but i will stand corrected) so i could not resist and bought it, will get back here after a full field test of both torches.
Thanks again for your advice chaps.

 

[Lasse]

rechargables freid the LEDs - spoke to Alpkit who very nicely repalced it but said they don't work with rechargables

Which type rechargeable battery were you using?
My Gamma works great with Sanyo Eneloops, which are low self discharge NiMH rechargeable batteries. (+1)
On their site they write "Gamma has not been designed to work with lithium batteries (rechargeable)." but not every rechargeable is of the lithium type. I wouldn't even consider using the light if it was non-rechargeable only.

 

[Silverback 1]

Which type rechargeable battery were you using?
My Gamma works great with Sanyo Eneloops, which are low self discharge NiMH rechargeable batteries. (+1)
On their site they write "Gamma has not been designed to work with lithium batteries (rechargeable)." but not every rechargeable is of the lithium type. I wouldn't even consider using the light if it was non-rechargeable only.

Thanks for the info, always a bonus if you can use rechargeables in your lighting kit.

 

[Bowlander]

I use 7day shop rechargeable batteries in my alpkit and petzl, they last ages with 30 mins use daily.

 

[Silverback 1]

Both torches are now at the ranch and looking forward to trying them out.
Everything you folks have said about the Gamma is spot on, unbelievable kit and spec for price, lightweight and great features and OK build quality, you just have to be careful with the 'Twist and pull' operation on the battery compartment as i would imagine these would break easily without due care.

The Fenix HL 20 looks like a good buy as well, it's a fair bit brighter than the Gamma and runs off 1XAAA battery and takes rechargeables, but it was £10 more than the Gamma and i think i got it for well below RRP, you can't have enough toys!

 

[Adze]

A bit late I know... but I bought one of these a little while back:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SK410337.html

I scared the living daylights out of a neighbour with it the first night I'd had it as she'd not long watched Close Encounters and a 3W Cree LED chucking 160 lumens through her net curtains at 1am caused a nasty flashback! At 100 yards with the collimation turned to max it projects a 10 foot square BRIGHT image of the LED and turned to min and pointed at the ceiling it lights a 20 x 14 foot living room well enough to read by across the room.

Damned good value for a tenner plus VAT IMHO.

 

[Silverclaws]

A second hand Petzl Myolite 2, old bulb technology and three LEDS, so the best of both worlds as the Bulb side of the thing carries spare bulbs.

 

[Pignut]

Just to add something, my Alpkit Gamma gave up the ghost............ Was good whilst it worked though

 

[Squidders]

Tikka XP for me. Had one for a few years, it isn't too bad on batteries and can be bright when you need it.

 

[youngbushcrafter]

while the alpkit headtorch is good but i prefer getting a very good handheld light (checkout fenix, klarus, 4sevens etc) and use it with the fenix headband

 

[Chrisj]

rechargables freid the LEDs - spoke to Alpkit who very nicely repalced it but said they don't work with rechargables

I didn't buy mine it was a pressie so I didn't know that they weren't supposed to work with rechargables. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.