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My friend needs a present for her husband.
I have suggested either of the above as there is not a man alive who wouldn't want to see a long way away or in the dark.
She reckons he wouldn't.
Who's right?
Yep, agreed.
Night vision ftw. I am not a peeping Tom btw
You are.
But I have 4 pairs of decent binoculars and god knows how many torches, so I'm biased.
A proper torch is a good investment. I got a small Led Lenser torch a few years ago for xmas and it's awesome.
Torches are a bit passé with cell phones. Get binoculars. Or a monocular.
I think I'm with the wife. Assuming the point of binoculars is to observe ladies getting undressed then a telescope on a tripod would be better? Even better, a rifle with a scope! Mot for shooting ladies, but just to have. A torch? Meh, eyeballs are better assuming his are ok. A few minutes acclimatisation and you're all good. Until some cretin comes along with a 12k lumens head torch and blinds you.
Dunno
Head torch ftw!
But a compact monocular is handy to have if he's someone who's and about walking, but not a bird watcher wanting bins hanging from your neck.
Budget?
A decent torch is a handy thing to have. I have a couple of keyring torches the size of my pinkie which throw out more light than my old 3x D-cell Maglight (even with the LED upgrade).
I'm a fan of Olight and Led Lenser.
Telescope with Lazer pointing device.
I got my brother in law a 4xD cell maglite, TBH I dont think its ever been used, he's not the out doorsey type.
I'd suggest a smaller LED maglite, Rechargeable if the budget allows.
Or the Mag-Tec version.
Speaking as the owner of at least three, Maglites are crap. Their USP is "it's just a torch, officer" after you've brained someone with one.
Torches are a bit passé with cell phones.
They're really not. A mobile is enough to find the lock on the door or at a push something shiny after you've dropped it. A torch is many times more useful.
Torches are practical things and so I classify as "tool" and not present material (unless requested). Binoculars are for passing time (unless you are a lookout or ranger), so definitely nearer to "gift" material.
Torches are rubbish unless they go on your head.
Binoculars only useful if you want to look for wildlife, celestial objects, sports happening a long way off, or targets of some kind.
I hate gear for the sake of gear, rather than serving a purpose, even a leisure one.
If your friend needs present advice for her own husband then I doubt a torch or binoculars will save their marriage, surely she knows him and what he likes/wants
Thermal. He'll thank her. Pulsar Axion monocular :o)
I wouldn't thank anyone for either. Maybe I'm just not man enough.
Davenport is correct, buy him a thermal ,possibly merino. Then he can turn the heating down over the winter,better still,buy them both a BIG slipper* each
*#thebigyin
Neither
Beer is the correct answer
Is there a man alive who doesn't already own a torch and binoculars if they need a torch or binoculars?
I think that’s the crux. If you want then you have them. Although of course she should know.
I think as LED torches came in they were a good bet but those days have gone
I think a large supply of favourite booze is a good present
Torches are a bit passé with cell phones.
You could not be more wrong. Especially the world of head torches.
I would also add lamps to the torches category, the magnetic ones are useful on cars. A nice big powerful one on a tripod is excellent for working in the dark. Two, one on each side is best.
telescope on a tripod would be better? Even better, a rifle with a scope! Mot for
One handed operation?
One thing i would say is that the view through some decent binoculars, to someone who's never had any, will likely be more impressive, by a factor of a lot, than the brightness of even the gucciest of torches.
Good bins can change your life.
Torches are rubbish unless they go on your head.
Do you carry a headtorch all the time? For practical walking purposes I agree but for a handy incidental use then something on a keyring is better.
I would also add lamps to the torches category,
Not a bad shout actually, if he owns cordless tools then a lamp for his chosen system would be a good bet.
telescope on a tripod would be better
Otherwise known as a spotter scope. Definitely something they would already own if interested. Does he have a tache?
This thread appears to be populated mostly by people who have never looked through a decent pair of binoculars.
Those that have done so, pity you.
Oh I have, the different between my FIL's Bushnells and my Lidl specials is stark. Trouble is that in order to get really good optics you need to spend really good money which, if its someone that otherwise wouldn't use them, seems a bit "novelty present".
I'd appreciate something with nice old Japanese optics, your average punter less so.
For most applications a spotting scope is better than bins. Only one set of optics, so for the same money they are higher quality. Also no diopter adjustment, which seems to be a completely alien concept to most people I see using binoculars.
To answer the original question - she's right.
Unless someone actually wants a torch or some binoculars, buying either as a present for then seems like really odd thing to do. You might as well buy then some skis, or an impact wrench.
I’m with his wife on this one. Difficult to give a proper answer though without knowing what the guy is in to. I’d have little use for either and they’d end up chucked in a drawer or sold on.
Agree with you.
How about a pocket telescope?
We have various mid range binoculars in our house.
My dad is really keen birder. He has a pair of zeiss that would cost well north of a grand to replace. They are better than ours but it’s not night and day. Well certainly not in the centre. The edges are way better but you have to know to look. Dad is no sortin spotting scope fan. They are harder to align, slower to use, harder to transport etc.
SAVE money on expensive binoculars by simply standing closer to the object you wish to view.
- Viz tOp tIpS
Problem actually solved, an RC Hoonicorn so he can drift it round Tescos while she’s deciding which lettuce to buy: -
https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/1345886?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmdGYBhDRARIsABmSEeNxew9ClJixL_vMTWb0kDQaygDnoIQY7oLbTNjKRl7af-uAcUaH54oaAqOpEALw_wcB
Dad is no sortin spotting scope fan. They are harder to align, slower to use, harder to transport etc.
Huh? They are exactly like using, setting up, and transporting half a set of binoculars. Obviously if you by a huge one it will be as difficult to use as an equally huge set of binoculars.
I've never seen a spotting scope that wasn't tripod mounted and utterly useless otherwise. Are you talking about a monocular?
FWIW I'm talking about one of these:
But as usual this is all moot as the correct answers were given above.
Torches are rubbish unless they go on your head.
Just not true. I’ve got both, in fact I’ve got two headtorches, and loads of other types of torch, and I’ve yet to see a headtorch you can carry on a keyring, or small enough to easily carry in a trouser pocket, plus it’s often better to have oblique lighting rather than direct lighting.
You could not be more wrong. Especially the world of head torches.
Head torches are different, but to my mind at least they're a bit geeky and would make a pretty weird gift unless someone specifically asked for one. And I stand by my original comment - a proper torch is definitely more powerful than the little one on your phone, but which one do you have on you all the time? I use the phone torch quite regularly, but I can't remember an occasion when I've thought to myself I really needed something with a bit more oomph.
Mine is on my keys, it gets used all the time. I have a torch in my pocket more often than a phone.
I've got 7 million bike lights, would have no need for a torch. Would rarely (or never) use binoculars.
Torch guru's, is this good value?
Torch guru’s, is this good value?
Nothing is good value if it says Maglite anywhere on it.
A proper torch is a good investment.
that used to be the case before LEDs and rechargeable batteries but it really isn't any more. Torches have got better and better and cheaper and cheaper. https://nebotools.co.uk/ stuff is well made and something equivalent to that maglite is probably about £10 on eBay.
for a cyclist if you want a good handheld torch then surely it's an Exposure Joystick (but wow they're expensive now)
Thanks folks,
I'll avoid Maglite and look at Olite or Led Lenser.
Re: bins these are absolute beaut's for the price (8 x 42) - https://www.at-infocus.co.uk/product/hawke-endurance-ed/
for a cyclist if you want a good handheld torch then surely it’s an Exposure Joystick
Or anything by Moon
I occasionally need to go in people's lofts for work. There is a certain age of client, probably those who remember the 1970s and the associated power cuts, who are desperate to lend me the massive maglight (that lives at all times by their bed) when they see the small exposure Joystick or chillitech headtorch I pull out... until I turn them on.
I always take my diablo on holiday.
We've just come back from Mustique which is full of the world's rich and famous. They have cocktail night at the Cotton house and the walk back to your buggy is in the dark.
Lord whatisname lights the way the torch on his iPhone.
I break out the diablo and even though I own several million pound less than everyone else on the island.....for that 2 minute walk I was king of the ****ing world.
I got my brother in law a 4xD cell maglite, TBH I dont think its ever been used, he’s not the out doorsey type.
Really struggling with the notion that an outdoorsy type would use a 4D Maglite. Can't think of anything further from the truth really.
Heavy and cumbersome- check
Unwieldy to use - check
Prevents you doing any outdoor sport involving two hands - check
In 40 years of climbing, rambling, kayaking, skiing, surfing, cycling I don't think I've ever seen anyone use a 4D Maglite
There is a certain age of client, probably those who remember the 1970s and the associated power cuts, who are desperate to lend me the massive maglight (that lives at all times by their bed) when they see the small exposure Joystick or chillitech headtorch I pull out… until I turn them on.
Do they pay extra for that or is in part of the service?
Torches are rubbish unless they go on your head
This.
Do you carry a headtorch all the time? For practical walking purposes I agree but for a handy incidental use then something on a keyring is better.
Why would I carry a torch around for handy incidental use? If I need a torch then I take one, if I don't then I don't carry one. I don't carry a coffee machine or a kettle around on my keyring either, and I need them much more often.
Head torches are different, but to my mind at least they’re a bit geeky and would make a pretty weird gift
What! Compared to a pair of binoculars! You cannot be serious.
Torch guru’s, is this good value?
No. Its a triumph of marketing over substance. It doesn't even have the Maglite's normal benefit of being able to club to death angry grizzly bears.
The 4d mag lite is a legal weapon for bouncers isn’t it? That’s always been it’s only purpose.
Why would I carry a torch around for handy incidental use? If I need a torch then I take one, if I don’t then I don’t carry one. I don’t carry a coffee machine or a kettle around on my keyring either, and I need them much more often.
Yup
Why would I carry a torch around for handy incidental use? If I need a torch then I take one, if I don’t then I don’t carry one. I don’t carry a coffee machine or a kettle around on my keyring either, and I need them much more often.
Uh, for handy incidental use? It's like carrying a pen, or tissues, or a penknife. I can't remember the last time I was sat in a pub and someone said "oh shit, quick, has anyone got a coffee machine?"
It happens about as often as someone in the pub asks me if I have a torch, to be fair.
No-one's ever dropped anything under the table in a dimly-lit pub, then?
Oh yeah, sure. Luckily I have a torch function on my phone...
I remember the last time I was sat in a pub and someone said “Oh. Shit quick! Has anyone got tissue”
@ayjaydoubleyou I hear you. My dad (in his 80s) keeps the colossal 4R25-battery-powered torch next to the back door, that dimly hints at the way to the garage if the battery's not running out. I pulled out the tiny Nitecore TIP SE keyring torch from my coat pocket and it was practically a floodlight in comparison.
Oh yeah, sure. Luckily I have a torch function on my phone…
That's fair enough, of course. For me it's just convenience, it's simpler and quicker to fish an actual mini torch out of my pocket than start messing about unlocking a phone and wading through menus. The output and throw are considerably better than the crappy flash on my phone. But there's no reason why I couldn't use my phone if I didn't have a torch with me. I could do the same if I wanted to know the time but I still (usually) wear a watch.