[Closed] I want a torch

I picked up a 3D cell LED maglite at Costco for £28, with a 2AA one in the pack too a few weeks ago.

(doesnt appear to be fully regulated or owt, but its bright as you'd like, bombproof and has a good beam pattern!)

Although really if you want brighter than a bright thing for running dogs...

http://www.cluson.co.uk/productsMain.aspx?CI_ID=5

How good a torch do you want? I bought this Dealextreme MTE torch 2 years back for biking (this will be it's third winter), it's as bright as the magicshine bike unit but obviously a torch. I keep it in the car otherwise, as it's ace, yes the flashing modes are annoying but the 3 low/med/high make it very useable. It's been used for biking in all sorts of crap weather, so I'd suggest it was very rugged & reliable, and the batteries seem to last a good 2hrs (originally 1.5) on full beam & have not died with age. Throughly recommended but maybe slightly overkill @ around 500-600 lumens.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16500 - MTE M3-2 Cree MC-E 8-Mode LED Flashlight
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.05790 - TrustFire Protected 18650 Lithium Battery (2500mAh 2-Pack Blue)
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.06105 - Digital Li-Ion 18650 Battery Charger
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.02709 - Universal UK Travel Power Adapter Plug

Clulites are very powerful, but by christ you've soon had enough of carrying them.

I'd go for some sort of LED special that runs off rechargeable lithiums. Candlepowerforums is the place to ask about these things.

The thing is, if you get a lamp with a massive throw for finding dogs off in the dark, it won't actually be that much cop for walking about with. If you get one with a broad beam, it'll be good for walking about, but no cop for finding dogs off in the distance. I don't know how many decent focusable LED torches are around - the optics are different to old incandescent bulbs.

Might sound daft, but have you thought of attaching lights to the dogs - maybe the sort joggers etc. use? A really poxy little lamp is visible from miles away, whereas my experience of looking for our dogs with a torch suggests it's a bit needle in a haystack 😆

Flashing LED collar works well with our dog (who is all black too!).

Anyone got/used a Lenser P7? Seems like a good, fairly compact torch with 200 lumens. Not keen on the Chinese made imports everyone is buying.

This will throw a decent spot of light 200m. I use it as a (slightly heavy) head torch on murky nights on the bike.

http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix-tk11-r5.html

Not keen on the Chinese made imports everyone is buying.

I reckon most things will be chinese made imports

The issue for me with DealExtreme is that you need a BSc in Torchology to have any idea if you're buying a decent torch or not.

tron - true as you say, it seems an Electronics degree appears to be needed to get these running properly.

Just want something that works - got a couple of Tesco AA crees and a nice looking but not very powerful Ring one. Wouldn't mind something with a bit more oomph but that doesn't weigh tonnes and can be stuck in a pocket.

At the moment the Lenser P7 seems to be the only one that fits the biil.

+1 for Fenix, I've got the TK11 that I use as a head torch (so nice and light). I'm never out at night for that long so just run it on the high setting which is plenty bright.

It's built like a tank and come with spare for the stuff that is likley to wear out (the rubber buttons and o-rings). Only drawback I've found though is that there's too much of a drop between high and low. As I say though if you're out for <2hrs not a problem.

+1 for fenix i got one recently - rk11 the 285 lumen torch - and so far am very impressed with the quality and brightness. 200metre range, they are also used for hunting (although I am not suggesting you hunt your dog, that would'nt be very nice)

sorry - TK11

If you've lost it, arguably, you are hunting it!

Surf-Mat - I've got the LED Lenser Police Tech Focus Torch and the quality of it is great, as is the brightness.

I got one for her indoors for her job, but was so impressed with it I got myself one to use as a helmet mounted light....but in reality it isn't quite bright enough so it's now 'just' used as a torch.
The quality of it is great, although the people on the CandlePower forums tend to rubbish LED Lenser, as they don't use constant current driver's in their torches, just a resistor (as I understand it).

I did notice the LED Lenser P7, which puts out a claimed 200 lumens. It has a push-pull focus mechanism to allow spot or flood beam. For use as a torch, I reckon it would be very good, but am not convinced by the battery life - 200 lumens from 3AAA batteries...!
Amazon do it for a good price, if you are thinking of getting one.

For the OP, I reckon one of those illuminated collars, combined with a decent LED torch should do the job...

Does the TK11 come with rechargeable CR123 batteries then? Do they provide a charger for them? Do the 18650 batteries add much more run-time?

you want one of these .

the worlds longest throwing led torch and probably the most expensive too

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Avoid any torch that runs off AAAs is my advice. The AAA has about a third of the capacity of an AA, for not that much of a space saving.

I think an 18650 is roughly AA sized - the name is based on the dimensions - 18mm x 65mm. So you'd expect it to pack a bit more in than a 123, which I think is about half the size of an AA. Been a while since I used a CR123 though.

well i bought mine from the photon shop in wales (over the phone) and they threw in a pair of 123's. the 123's are not rechargable though.

i wanted to buy the re-chargeables (as you say 18650) + charger as anyway so forked out for those also. not sure about the run time, but the brightness certainly didnt seem drastically different between the 2...

i would recommend the photon shop by the way, all items were delivered next day from my over the phone on friday afternoon order, although they are not the cheapest around obviously.

(some of my bad grammer now corrected)

Troutie - LOL! WTF is that?! WW2 searchlight?!

Flebby - cheers.

Trout - That should be renamed the x-files torch - they always had a ridiculous pencil beam cutting through the dry ice.
I guess it's useful if it's paired with an equally high powered rifle scope.

I really rate the Fenix PD30 R2 - decent torch and Fenix quality is excellent. I use mine as a helmet light too.

I considered the LED Lenser but was put off by the lack of regulation so as the batteries run down so does the output.

Also use an ITP A6 Polestar - 6 x AA powered beast putting out a very floody 700 lumens on high. This light is great for lighting up large areas but still has enough throw for your purposes. They can be found for about £55 in the UK and come with a decent belt holster too.

For the basics of how torches work, Dans Data has some good info in the reviews. Really you want a regulated lamp and lithium batteries so that you get constant light output.

The best torches have a sort of limp home mode when the batteries are nearly dead - otherwise you very quickly go from nice and bright to no light at all.

Flashing dog collars work well. I use one for walking a friends dog that isn't trained too well.

warning geek content
it this http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=270118

but its a long post

yes as a rifle light it would be awesome
paddy the dog loves it as the rabbits stay still long enough for him to give chase still hasnt caught one but has fun trying .

have shone it on the underbelly of a plane questimated at 2000 feet .

Anyone else find a forum dedicated to torches slightly odd/amusing?!

Yep I do but not as amusing as me reading them and buying one of the beasts.

Thanks all, for the comments.

I don't have a degree in physics, and O level was a long time back, so a lot of what's been said about regulated this, lithium that makes only minimal impact.

18650, CR123 batteries....I'd rather use AA or perhaps C or D cells, so that I can always chuck in spare set if/when the rechargeables fail. Unless other batteries are noticeably better, obviously.

A bit of trawling has brought up the Fenix LD20 Premium Q5 - worth it, or is there something better which is in the same size and price range?

There are some real belters here
http://www.4sevens.com/

the quark and quark mini are excelent

18650, CR123 batteries....I'd rather use AA or perhaps C or D cells, so that I can always chuck in spare set if/when the rechargeables fail.

Some torches will take 18650s and AAs - dimensionally, they're quite similar. Rechargeable lithiums are the way to go though - any decent LED torch will burn through standard AA batteries like crazy and cost you a fortune to run. The issue is that alkaline batteries can't supply the current needed.

I've got a Fenix LD20 Q5, works fine, plenty bright enough. I usually only use it on medium power for walking etc. Lasts a few hours on NiMH AAs.

Note there's now a Fenix LD20 R4, which is a newer version and a bit brighter (the Photon Shop have them).

Who makes good 18650 batteries and chargers then? Most ebay hits seems to be Ultrafires from Hong Kong.

Smudge has some in stock now

Now if I knew who Smudge was, I'd be doing well......

He does indeed! Thanks Troutie.

"Who makes good 18650 batteries and chargers then? "

photon shop have them. the batteries say 'surefire' on them.

edit: the 18650's are 'Trustfires', my mistake

Smudge ace battery guy for all you replacement batteries

www dot mtbbatteries dot co dot uk

the worlds longest throwing led torch

Not that you actually NEED a torch to walk a dog ( whistles are cheap and dog training is just a bit of time) but what Zippy said

Yes aracer but is that actually a torch?!

dont think there is a trainer on earth who could stop a terrier when its off after a rabbit they go deaf

so the torch is a good way to find them in the undergrowth its the eyes you see first

There are some real belters here
http://www.4sevens.com/

the quark and quark mini are excelent

I recently got a LED lenser P7 from Blacks for £30 (also included a P3). Impressed with the torch (seems better than my Hope Vision 1) and the focus would be ideal for dog walking - like others have said though, I don't think run time will be very good on high (output on low isn't great) but I got a 12pk of 1000mAh AAA for £10 from Maplin so I'll see how it goes.

I have a Lenser P7 and one of the DealExtreme 900 Lumen jobs. Lenser on the lid and DealExtreme on the handlebars. The Lenser is totally outclassed when it comes to power and usefullness on the bike, but the lenser is far better build quality and neater.
For wlaking the dog, the lenser would be fine.

Maplins are doing what looks like a rebranded DX torch -

£30.00

160 lumen torch
2 off rechargeable batteries
Charger

I now sell high quality 18650 protected cells in the 2.4Ah capacity & also 2 cell chargers to go with them.

Beware on DX as they are not all the claimed capacity and are mainly 1.8Ah cells.
See [url= http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29031 ][b]Here[/b][/url]
The Title is for 2500mAh, the cells have 2400mAh written on them and the bit of writing to the right of the picture says the exact capacity is actually 1800mAh 😕 Go figure that out

2nd the MTE p7 for size and power.
I lent mine to Dezb for dog walking tests and his dog is black. He was able to keep her in sight for alot longer than with a AA Tesco torch.
Not too heavy and over an hour run time on a mix of medium and high.
Also pocket sized and take an 18650, so carrying a spare and changing over very easy, takes 10 secs or so. Around £19 from DX give or take.

Got the Fenix TK11 R5 (latest 285 lumen one) and I'm VERY impressed.

Yes it's a bit pricey but the power it kicks out is amazing! Also very compact which I like - shorter than a Tesco AA Cree but slightly stubbier.

Factor in costs for a 18650 battery and charger as the non rechargeables that come with it are a bit pants.

Cost me £85 in total (including two spare 18650s and charger) but well worth it IMO. I reckon it'll last many years.

great choice 😉

Cost me £85 in total (including two spare 18650s and charger) but well worth it IMO. I reckon it'll last many years.

I'd end up losing it 😆

I've been doing some investigation and now have some questions:

Torchwise I am thinking of getting the

-[url= http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=297_402&products_id=2322 ]Quark AA2 Neutral[/url]
-[url= http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=297_355&products_id=2423 ]Quark AA2 Mini[/url]
- [url= http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=291124 ]Zebralight SC51[/url]

All seem to have advantages. The AA2 Neutral has a nice 'natural' colour beam and bright output, but is a bit big. The AA2 Mini is nice and slim, but not the brightest output andthe Zebralight is ridiculously small and bright, but I think it does not have much throw. Does anyone have any suggestions which of these might be best if supplementing a bar light?

ordered one of those tactical quark jobbies with a warm led, I found the cold colours although brighter don't seem to give good definition of shadows

sick of the dx torches getting temperamental when I'm on a fast tricky bit

the guy at 4sevens reckons that it should take plenty of abuse from being rattled around on the bars

we'll see when it arrives

I've got a Fenix LD20 I bought a few weeks ago that I'm not using- just like this:

http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk/page23.htm

- it's in excellent condition and I've still got the box and accessories

£35 posted if you are interested

I have already ordered the quark one, thanks anyway

Steve, YGM

just received my quark torch

15 friggin quid customs and handling charges! 👿

Might sound daft, but have you thought of attaching lights to the dogs - maybe the sort joggers etc. use? A really poxy little lamp is visible from miles away, whereas my experience of looking for our dogs with a torch suggests it's a bit needle in a haystack

I tried lights on the dog, but she shakes herself too much and broke them on a regular basis. She now wears a dog buff, complete with scotchlite over her house collar, and her harness has some smaller reflectives adorning it. Even with a really poxy LED torch they throw back enough light for me to keep tabs on her in the woods, and the torch is enough to scoop the poop.

For sheer out torching the neighbours though it is a D cell maglite. Only gripe is weight, and that it has blown a couple of bulbs in it's time.