Let there be light - a thread for lights and lanterns
- Thread starter el manana
- Start date
Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat
Section Hiker
The reviews saved me from indulgence and I bought another mk1 while they're still available.
Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat
Section Hiker
I've been using the latest incarnation of the Petzl Nao. 'RL'
I have a Love/Hate relationship with Reactive lamps, but. So far, I'm impressed. It reacts smoother than my old reactiv. Battery seems to be doing well.
Comfortable and feels well balanced. (even though it's not)
Good shadow scaring close proximaty beam. Distant Spot is pretty broad and some that like long and tight throwers may not like it.
Best of All for me, is the ability to run it from a powerbank by using a USB c female, female cable. Gives me The benefits of removing weight from my head, keeping the battery warm and bonus burn time.
Sadly, they haven't increased the Water resistance.
Charlie83
Thru Hiker
Milk Tray man has let himself go
Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat
Section Hiker
The main things that put me off are the charge port being at the side. Potentially more chance of water ingress when using it with an external power source. The red light on the original, is one of the best, if not the best red light I've used for real-time navigation. I've used it extensively for navigation and it works well for me to be able to move confidently on semi technical trails.
If they'd kept the cree bulb on the new model... I'd even slightly more tempted.
I've hard on the use of the original, work, house, and hill. The mount has never been an issue, but after a couple of years use, I did have a button failure of the white light. It still works, but I have to use a small nail /pen nib to activate it. This in turn makes it useless for hill use.
Nitecore NU40 announced:
flashlight.nitecore.com
It's a lower spec (& presumably cheaper) version of the NU43.
I have the NU43. Not used extensively as yet. But impressed so far. Seems very competitively priced. I normally don't like built-in batteries but at least this series used high quality 18650's which gives me more confidence than propriety built in batteries (which have failed on me in the past).
NITECORE NU40 — High Performance Lightweight USB-C Rechargeable Headlamp Is Released Now
It's a lower spec (& presumably cheaper) version of the NU43.
I have the NU43. Not used extensively as yet. But impressed so far. Seems very competitively priced. I normally don't like built-in batteries but at least this series used high quality 18650's which gives me more confidence than propriety built in batteries (which have failed on me in the past).
Alf Outdoors
F.K.A tarptent
I have used the Petzl Bindi for several years and thought it was the bees knees, but always wondered what the NU25 gen one was like, so eventually I got one...And I was so impressed with it that I don't use the Petzl Bindi for camping anymore...I like some of what they have done with the Gen 2, but I don't like how it seems to only have one red light setting now, or the addition of a floodlight, when a single main beam would have made it lighter, simpler to opporate and made the battery last even longer. I like the swap to USB-C, but as it only saves 1/2 hour of charging time over the Micro USB socket on the original, and 30 mins can go in a blink of an eye when your having fun outdoors, I personally don't see it as something that would make me want to buy it...So I will stick with my Gen 1 for now.
turkeyphant
Section Hiker
Lost my headtorch last week 
Is there anywhere to buy an OG NU25 any more other than second hand?
Is there anywhere to buy an OG NU25 any more other than second hand?
tallest of pauls
Section Hiker
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/recha...vouac-500-usb/_/R-p-307266?mc=8559672&c=WHITE
Been using one of these for over a year. Pretty good for the price.
(I have no affiliation with decathlon)
Been using one of these for over a year. Pretty good for the price.
(I have no affiliation with decathlon)
Any suggestions for a dual purpose light to use as a headtorch when camping but also when cycling?
I'm about to start a new commute on a totally unlit off road path, a former railway turned into a cycling and walking route through south Manchester. I'll be on it for around 20 minutes each way. I'll need enough light to see where I'm going but I don't want to blind people coming the other way.
I'm about to start a new commute on a totally unlit off road path, a former railway turned into a cycling and walking route through south Manchester. I'll be on it for around 20 minutes each way. I'll need enough light to see where I'm going but I don't want to blind people coming the other way.
old-skool-lite
Thru Hiker
The Petzl Bindi has an optional bar mount. Not tried it though. I prefer light on bars unless riding more techy stuff - then it would be light on bars & helmet. Oncoming cyclists with headtorches are a PITA.
I ride further than 20 mins in pitch black in winter on disused railway & manage easily with a cheap modest lumen Aldi set. They're a backup to my expensive Exposure lights if I forget to charge them. A 1000lm is good if the wind is up though to spot tree debris in plenty of time (& deer!).
I ride further than 20 mins in pitch black in winter on disused railway & manage easily with a cheap modest lumen Aldi set. They're a backup to my expensive Exposure lights if I forget to charge them. A 1000lm is good if the wind is up though to spot tree debris in plenty of time (& deer!).
Nitecore NU43 announced ("world's lightest" 18650 powered headlamp...)
NU43
EDIT - though I prefer 18650 powered headlamps for winter, this one has a build-in 18650
Yeah, I have a Fenix H50R which has a replaceable rechargeable battery that's smaller than a 18650. My next one will probably be 18650-based for the extra juice.
I'm not sure why you would make a head torch with a 18650 and then seal it in. The whole benefit of going with a standardized battery form is to make it replaceable I would think.
Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat
Section Hiker
I've been using this quite happily since the release. Wipes the floor with my old fenix hm65r-tNitecore NU43 announced ("world's lightest" 18650 powered headlamp...)
NU43
EDIT - though I prefer 18650 powered headlamps for winter, this one has a build-in 18650
I'm not a cyclist but the problem is that to cycle safely in the dark on an unlit route you're going to need a lot of light spread over a wide area. This means big and heavy (and will blind people).
For typical camp use you don't need much light, it doesn't need to last a long time, and it can be a narrow field.
So the headlamp to cover cycling would be significantly bigger and heavier than the one you'd need for camp use. Ideally buy two I suppose unless you don't care about weight.
Run_Hike_Meat_Repeat
Section Hiker
Not so.
Plenty of light, compact and powerful lamps for running, hiking that work for cycling, fast, slow, on or off roadm
Many have auto dim for oncoming lights from cars or adapt to surroundings.
old-skool-lite
Thru Hiker
Aye - no need to be heavy for bike. But relatively - say compared to a 34g Bindi a 1000 lumen headtorch is likely to weigh about 4-5 times more.
Last winter I bought a 185g Petzl NAO 750 Lumen in a charity auction & wore that on my bike helmet, only switched on for the offroad pitch black parts of my ride. Now sold, so back to my Exposures for this winter.
Last winter I bought a 185g Petzl NAO 750 Lumen in a charity auction & wore that on my bike helmet, only switched on for the offroad pitch black parts of my ride. Now sold, so back to my Exposures for this winter.
I think we're talking semantics.
For example the Nitecore NU-25 might be the most popular recommendation for backpacking / camping but I don't believe it's a good choice for night cycling because not enough light and not wide enough spread.
random_watcher
Trail Blazer
Petzl do a bike mount that fits most of their standard sized headtorchs (Tikka, Tikkina, Actik) which might be worth a look?