Head torch showdown
- Thread starter Stuart f
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Bmblbzzz
Thru Hiker
Thinking about it a bit more though, if I'm carrying a charger, I might as well go straight for USB charging. In practice, for this particular use case I wouldn't be carrying a charger, so I either need to remember to charge regularly at home or go for a format that's commonly available in the kind of places that are open at night, which basically means 24-hour petrol stations. (joy(!)) And that points to AAs. I don't think 18650s are commonly available in that sort of place?
But for longer trips and anything in the wilds of noroadia, both those chargers look pretty interesting.
But for longer trips and anything in the wilds of noroadia, both those chargers look pretty interesting.
If this is to leave and forget until you need it, lithium cells are the way forward. Lithium aa, aaas or CR123. They last a long time and don’t need to be checked on. If you want to use it in an emergency you don’t want to faff with buying more batteries or having to recharge. Non lithium primaries are pretty good but lithium’s are lighter, last longer and aren’t as impacted by the cold
Bmblbzzz
Thru Hiker
Good idea, thanks. Just to check, you mean something like these: https://www.batterystation.co.uk/battery-types/lithium-batteries/aa-lithium-batteries.html
Battery technology is continually improving (thank goodness!) and I'm not really up with the differences between lithium and lithium-ion. Similar names don't help! (I know li-ion is what's inside a phone or laptop for instance, but they seem to get used in torches too. I think?)
Battery technology is continually improving (thank goodness!) and I'm not really up with the differences between lithium and lithium-ion. Similar names don't help! (I know li-ion is what's inside a phone or laptop for instance, but they seem to get used in torches too. I think?)
Whiteburn
Thru Hiker
They'll work....I tend to only buy the Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA for outdoor use (in my H52W) as they store for a long time, pack more power than Alkaline cells & are more tolerant to low temps...…….more expensive though.
Li-ion cells like the 18650 (18dia * 65 long) which fit in the H600W pack 2 - 3 times more energy than a single Lithium cell.
Bmblbzzz
Thru Hiker
My H53w arrived today, which is at least a day quicker than I was expecting, especially at this time of year. Only had a short indoor play with it so far, but it seems bright enough – and dim enough! Compared to the kaput Silva, it is significantly smaller, feels much more solidly made and is perhaps marginally heavier but nothing really in it.
The array of sub-modes could get confusing, and as for programming it... certainly not today, quite likely not ever! I do like that by long-pressing (quite a short long-press really) it can be turned on in low mode, and that the low mode is really quite dim. I can't tell any difference between the set sub-modes in high, perhaps this will be apparent when outdoors.
I was confused for an instant by the two o-rings that came with it. Then I realized they're spares. Good!
The array of sub-modes could get confusing, and as for programming it... certainly not today, quite likely not ever! I do like that by long-pressing (quite a short long-press really) it can be turned on in low mode, and that the low mode is really quite dim. I can't tell any difference between the set sub-modes in high, perhaps this will be apparent when outdoors.
I was confused for an instant by the two o-rings that came with it. Then I realized they're spares. Good!
Bmblbzzz
Thru Hiker
I'm not pleased with Sainsbury's though. Sainsbury's? What have they to do with head torches? Well, having found the lithium batteries £5.75 for a set of 4, I googled further and found the same pack for £5 at Sainsbury's. So why pay postage and an extra 75p? Went to Sainsbury's and they had them... for £7. 
So they join a long list of people who advertise things incorrectly (top of the list being Evans Cycles, who advertise things at just a bit cheaper than the competition, then when you click on it "This item is no longer available." 
)
So they join a long list of people who advertise things incorrectly (top of the list being Evans Cycles, who advertise things at just a bit cheaper than the competition, then when you click on it "This item is no longer available." )
Whiteburn
Thru Hiker
Most folk take to unscrewing the cap 1/2 a turn to stop inadvertent operation.
Bmblbzzz
Thru Hiker
Perhaps especially sensible because if it was inadvertently on dim in daylight, you probably wouldn't notice it.
Having compared the beam to the surviving Silva (though I can't remember if the other was the same), I prefer the Silva's beam. It's not that it's brighter (though it is, but also much bulkier, runs off two AAs in a back-of-the-head box) but the beam is more distributed and better shaped. The Zebralight's beam is just what it says, a torch beam, conical with a small, bright hot spot. I prefer a wider beam. But a less good beam on a working torch beats a better beam on a broken torch!
Having compared the beam to the surviving Silva (though I can't remember if the other was the same), I prefer the Silva's beam. It's not that it's brighter (though it is, but also much bulkier, runs off two AAs in a back-of-the-head box) but the beam is more distributed and better shaped. The Zebralight's beam is just what it says, a torch beam, conical with a small, bright hot spot. I prefer a wider beam. But a less good beam on a working torch beats a better beam on a broken torch!
Whiteburn
Thru Hiker
I find the H53W beam a good compromise between spot for seeing where you're going & generally lighting for close-up. Zebralight do produce the H53 with a flood beam, frosted glass, but then you lose the throw.
Various forums have DYI diffusers which may be of interested; from simple opaque sticky tape/ bottle caps solutions right through to fully engineered flip down diffusers.
Bmblbzzz
Thru Hiker
Finally got to use it on Saturday. Not the greatest need for it really, as there was so much low cloud cover that reflected light from nearby towns lit everything up. Nice non-blueish colour. Reasonably wide beam. Definitely bright! Light and comfy to wear. But it reminded me of one problem (with all head torches): the beam reflecting back into your eyes from clouds of condensed breath!
Nevis
Thru Hiker
Completely understand Ben
Odd for a person having some many torches, but i also really like the dark
It's great on a clear crisp night laying back and staring out at the universe
For me when moving i do tend to have more than my fair share of tumbles when using torches on low mode, on higher modes not so much
The terrain is really really rocky here though, if i was on smoother paths i could get away with much lower outputs
So it's really down to where we all walk and what we prefer
Old pic and i've posted it a few times, but no stumbling on this hike
Great thing with modern torches is, you can have that retina burning turbo mode and still have great usable low modes as well, it's win win
Gixer, which torch are you using in this pic? If it is you that is?
K
EM-Chiseller
Thru Hiker
I used my zeb for a night hike last week up Riggindale... Performed great and the full power mode was great for illuminating the mass of rock ahead that I wish I hadn't seen lol. Most times I managed on medium low and used medium high for technical bits on the decsents. The high mode was great for when I couldn't see the trail on scrambly bits.
Not Sure if this video will work here?
https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqX1z7XnLv
Not Sure if this video will work here?
https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqX1z7XnLv
Balagan
Thru Hiker
One word of advice: beware of using this affectionate diminutive nickname for your headlamp in the presence of people familiar with Arabic, classical or North-African. I nearly spit out my coffee all over the keyboard.
Michael_x
Section Hiker
One word of advice: beware of using this affectionate diminutive nickname for your headlamp in the presence of people familiar with Arabic, classical or North-African. I nearly spit out my coffee all over the keyboard.
https://freekorea.us/2010/02/05/your-arabic-word-of-the-day-zeb/
Nevis
Thru Hiker
gixer
Thru Hiker
Which one are you using in the forest pic?
k
Both i think and Bella was wearing a Nite Ize LED collar
Bmblbzzz
Thru Hiker
I've caught an infectious little bug. Treklitemia lumenitis, commonly known as "headtorch gadget pox". At the end of February – actually just before the start of its rather vague month-long delivery window – a Fenix HM23 arrived to join my Zebralight H53w. Although the Zebra is significantly brighter, I actually prefer the Fenix; it's simpler to operate, having only three levels and no sub-modes, easier to understand for my branez and to not think about "maybe I want a different level". Both seem solidly made but light. Plan is for the Zebra to stay in the bike's saddlebag and the Fenix to be for everything else, but obviously all plans and uses are currently on hold...
What surprised me about the Fenix is the instructions regarding batteries. Rechargeable Li-ion is banned, primary lithium is cautioned against and recommended is rechargeable Ni-MH. Which is great for me cos I've got lots of them. I'm still using up the alkaline battery it came with though.
What surprised me about the Fenix is the instructions regarding batteries. Rechargeable Li-ion is banned, primary lithium is cautioned against and recommended is rechargeable Ni-MH. Which is great for me cos I've got lots of them. I'm still using up the alkaline battery it came with though.
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