Optical lab me a torch

Amp34 said:
TBH I think some of you are going over the top with torch suggestions.

I would look at either Innova (link above) or LED-Lenser, both make excellent LED torches which are light, compact, can be carried anywhere and have good battery life without compromising on the output.

The X5 is a good torch for what you are looking for. I personally have a LED-Lenser V2 Aviator. It has 5 white LED's and a red one you can use seperatly. Its a superb torch, I have used it as a makeshift spotlight on my bike when cycling in the dark, thats how bright it is. It cost £35 so is pretty much on your budget too. :)

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Best bet is to go to somewher like Blacks or Cotswold outdoor and have a look at torches there, stay clear of Millets as they don't really have anything of quality in them. :o
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:) I have a similar torch to that except mines black and has one ultra bright LED, its a beast isn't it?. I just mentioned surefire as they are supposed to be good but i don't like the lithium batteries in them, id rather my torched used normal AA or AAA like the lenser. If the OP wants a top notch torch then get the LED Lenser, its fair dear though but its the best torch Ive ever owned.
 
Not too bad a torch although I would hate to see the battery life of that though. 5 minutes anyone? :p
 
Very slightly over budget but...

Get a Maglite Mini AA, then buy youself a Terralux Ministar 2 bulb kit for it. This add's a Luxeon LED to the Maglite which increases battery life and vastly increases brightness. We are talking 50 lumin output which isn't bad for the size of the torch, plus one handy feature you get is the light focus.

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=682

Also if you really want you can add a button to the end of it.

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=1071

Then to be perfect you would want to get some good batteries for it. I would suggest some Vapextech rechargable AA's. £5.10 gets you 4 2700mAh cells which will make it last forever on 1 charge.

http://www.vapextech.co.uk/acatalog/High_Power_Consumer_Batteries.html
 
Locrian said:
Some of you are really, really scary people

I just wanted you to know that :p
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;)

Especially as I look like i have liver disease. :eek:

90 minutes isnt too bad if your in SF or the army and change batteries every time but for an average civvy it would be a killer. I dont think people realise just how much power luxeon torches suck and how often they need to change the batteries. :p
 
I bought a "3 Watt Luxeon" torch on Ebay a while back, and whilst it's a nice torch and plenty bright enough, I am 99% sure the LED is not actualy a Luxeon (at least it looks nothing like the LED in the very nice solid aluminium 1 watt Luxeon torch I bought in a high street electronics shop).
 
Amp34 said:
;)

Especially as I look like i have liver disease. :eek:

90 minutes isnt too bad if your in SF or the army and change batteries every time but for an average civvy it would be a killer.
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the 90 minutes estimate is for when it's on full power. A 'civvy' would rarely need it that bright, so it would last considerably longer.
 
When I went to Bradford recently, my mate took me on a 'Ripper' tour, a nice trek along and through some of the dark alleys where the Yorkshire Ripper dispatched of some of his poor victims.

Sorry, what was the question?
 
Some decent suggestions, but nothing I'd class as a 'daily carry' size. If you want a usable torch which you can keep with you at all times, I can recommend the ARC AAA flashlight.

http://www.arcflashlight.com/

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/arc_aaa-p.htm

(Listed as a 'benchmark' product).

Same size as a Maglite Solitaire, but FAR more powerful and beautifully built. Had mine for over a year acting as a keyfob and it still looks new and works perfectly, despite jangling around in my pocket with my keys every day.

Most Maglites are overrated - only one worth having in the current range IMO is the expensive but excellent rechargable unit which comes with a halogen lamp. The rest don't perform that well. However I believe they'll be releasing LED-based torches soon, which should be far better.

Edit: by the looks of it the LED Maglites are available now, as both upgrades and complete units.
 
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Going to use this thread for my own good - or at least try to.

What's the difference/s between krypton and halogen lights? Does krypton offer better brightness than halogen?
 
rlm said:
I do a lot of walking in the dark, usually through some very unlit areas, at present I only have a tiny LED keyring torch that isn't much use really. I'm looking for something with a decent battery life (multiple LED maybe?) and would also like it to be a easily carryable weight so I can take it whenever I want. It needs to be fairly bright becuase as I mentioned some of the areas I walk have no light at all.

I wouldnt even know where to start, so I'm just wondering if others here already have something that might fit the bill, or know of any suggestions as to what I should get. Budget is upto around £30.

Thanks.
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Petzl torches (imo one of the best makes)...forget a hand torch. I do night walking its awesome but a trip or slight fall and you got one hand to stabilise your fall, hence why I bought one. Provided good vision in rain and fog as well. I did a lot of research into this as am an outdoor gear fanatic. So this for my budget (and yours) I suggest the one I have specced you here :) (maybe worth looking for a better price on the net though).

I got one of these Petzl Tikka XP
 
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Many torches might use LEDs now, but some will give dissapointing battery life. The good ones use a switch mode boost convertor/DC : DC convertor. This sucks the last ounce of juice from any given battery and gives consistent brightness over the battery lafe rather than fading slowly and becoming useless relatively quickly.

The convertor gives a constant say 4v from the 3v batteries, and as the battery voltage drops to even 1.2v or so, you still get 4v output, taking more current at the input as the battery voltage drops (it is the same system, though opposite configuration, of a computer PSU; converting the voltage up at lower current rather than the voltage down but at higher currents)
 
Spacky said:
Petzl torches (imo one of the best makes)...forget a hand torch. I do night walking its awesome but a trip or slight fall and you got one hand to stabilise your fall, hence why I bought one. Provided good vision in rain and fog as well. I did a lot of research into this as am an outdoor gear fanatic. So this for my budget (and yours) I suggest the one I have specced you here :) (maybe worth looking for a better price on the net though).

I got one of these Petzl Tikka XP
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If you want a head torch and can afford it (£50+), I would recommend the Princeton Tec Apex. We purchased a couple at work to use when cleaning out our water tanks.
 
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