Thread: What is a good torch?

Originally Posted by Sleepy

I really like my headlamp type torch. I’ve always thought they were a gimmick but very handy for working - hands free - under the bonnet and camping etc. Mine’s only a cheap Chinese one but I’m thinking of purchasing a better quality version.

I thought they were a gimmick too, at first.
I had a cheap Chinese headlamp for years, but when I recently tried a new good quality one I could'nt believe how good they are. LED's have come a long way in a few years. I was reluctant to spend the $89 each, but it was well worth it. The one I have is a Black Diamond 'Spot'. It has a single spot beam or a tripple spread and 3 different brightness levels on each. My wife and I use them heaps when we're camping. We bought them at Anaconda, they have a large range.

You still can't go past Surefire, I have the Z3 Combat with the l.e.d head, best I've ever had.
Not cheap but ruggered and ahead of anything the Chinese could ever make. ( All I need now is the H&K submachine gun to go with it)
And I also have a Petzl For when I need both hands.

Just on the surefires. I own one. Excellent torch. But Dullbird I think it was has said previously that they found them to be trouble. I can't remember the actual issues, I have a feeling they just stopped working and someone else backed it up. They have found the wolf eyes much better.

Originally Posted by PAT303

So with the wolf eye's thats the one to buy?.BM Kal when are you in town?. Pat

I'll be up there this weekend Pat - flying up Friday evening and back down here Monday morning. I'll PM you my mobile no. if you want to catch up.

It looks like a shoot out between wolf eye's,fenix or surefire.At the least I will LED my maglight. Pat

Pat,
The Maglites are great, but do chew the batteries. The solution to this is to get a 12 rechargeable maglite. Comes with cradle and can be mounted in many places. Recharges when placed in the cradles. About $200 and is now available in LED. They also do hard and soft mounts for these.
A better version is the Pelican 8050 series made in high impact ABS plastic. They make great torches and you can also get intrinsically safe versions which we use for confined space / hazmat etc where explosive atmospheres or contaminants may be present. Have a look at their on line Catalogue. Mercury Fire in Kalgoorlie should be able to get them for you. If not FRSA in Perth will (who we deal with) talk to Dave or Greg and they will help you. Just let them know I refered you (Craig from Ravy). Both have websites.
Haedlamps are also great, the cheap ones suffice but dont last that long. The Petzl and Pelicans are great.
I carry a avriety in the car and usually at least one for each of the family.
Cheers
Craig

I've had a Surefire torch for over ten years now at work, it's been used almost every night of the week for that time. I replaced the standard batteries with the rechargeable one a few years back due to the constant use. Light output is second to none and ruggedness is brilliant. I've dropped mine dozens of times and I've only changed bulbs once, but that was to upgrade from the standard 65 lumen lamp to the optional 120 lumen one
I haven't yet upgraded mine to LED, but plan to shortly.

We also use a streamlight ultrastinger rechargeable torch in the work car and it gets abused pretty badly. It puts out a little more light than the standard Surefire but has gone through 3 bulbs ($5 ea) in 4 years. Like I said though, it gets pretty abused and has held up well.

Can certainly vouch for petzl headlamps too, my LED one lasted me a number of fire seasons on my RAFT helmet before I managed to misplace it earlier this year

Another torch I can give kudos to is the UKE brand. I use them in the fire brigade, attached to both my structural helmet and bushfire helmet. Intrinsically safe and very easy to use with great light output, mine has survived a few knarly house fires over the years

I like the idea about rechargeable batteries,I thought that if I could get one that plugs into the ciggy lighter it would be the best.The quality of the top line ones is brilliant. Pat