Head torch opinions
- Thread starter Keris82
- Start date
cavemanmike
Well-known member
www.carbi.com
Look like good lamps
Look like good lamps
I have a fenix and have had for 3 years. Brilliant light cant fault it but I decided to upgrade and was suggested elspeleo terra. big mistake had problems from day one and had a replacement lamp and still problems. Cant fault there customer service as have been offered a refund. So I'm looking for a reliable upgrade around the the same money that can produce anything from 1100-1300 lumens. Any suggestions
Madness
New member
Why are people fixated on needing a high amount of lumens? Obviously the amount of lumens you need depends on the passage you're negotiating, but in reality you really don't need more than say 400 lumens the majority of the time.
My main setting for general caving is 150-160 lumens in a wide angle beam. Occasionally I'll switch to 300+ lumens of narrower beam. If I know I'm going somewhere that is big I'll take my 5000 lumen hand held.
My main setting for general caving is 150-160 lumens in a wide angle beam. Occasionally I'll switch to 300+ lumens of narrower beam. If I know I'm going somewhere that is big I'll take my 5000 lumen hand held.
andrewmcleod
Well-known member
I like to look at the ceiling 
royfellows
Well-known member
Madness said:
I am underground on my own most of the time, and in mines at that. I started exploring slate mines on my own, hence the quest for more light. Powerful torches never appealed to me because I wanted it on my head leaving both hands free. In the company of others I find it quite different as I have the benefit of other peoples light. However, large chambers still appeal even if I am with others.
For the past few years though, I seem to have spent most of my time working underground. In this case light weight is what I want. Max output is collateral, and seldom used.
Not always a good idea; I remember going back to Oxlow Caverns after an absence of many tears, and being appalled by the state of the ceiling in (I think) West Chamber; with our good modern lights we could see how unstable it was, whereas with the crappy old lamps we used to use we were unaware of the hanging death . . . 'ignorance is bliss', eh?
(By the way, I have a Fenix HP 55 that has never given me the sort of trouble described above.)
Mike Hopley
New member
Madness said:
Over Easter, I forgot my helmet on the way to Juniper Gulf and hired one from Inglesport. It came with a Petzl Pixa 2. I was amazed how comfortable it was to have so little weight on my head. It's only 80 lumens on the high setting, and most of the time I used the low setting of 20 lumens to save batteries. 20 lumens was dimmer than I'd prefer, but still perfectly usable.
For the last 10--15 years, "the best" caving lamps have been widely considered to be the brightest and most expensive. These lights have basically copied Scurions. They have a visibly (perhaps ostentatiously!) robust design, with metal bodies and battery boxes. They mostly use expensive custom batteries.
I think we're starting to see a change in that. For example, American cavers seem to be using Zebralights a lot, which are light, cheap, and use standard batteries. The Carbi light looks interesting. I like the idea of a flood beam that fills all your peripheral vision.
I suspect most cavers (including me) will still want a reasonably bright light, but we'll start to see more interest in other factors. How much does it weigh on the head? Does it have a warm/neutral light? How wide is the flood? How much would it cost to buy enough batteries for an entire expedition, and not even worry about recharging?
I don't understand why cavers think anything made of plastic is flimsy. The Pixa headlamps, for example, have been specifically designed for robustness in professional use. See Petzl's video, where they "crush" the light with an 80 kg weight (jump to 40 seconds in):
Pixa headlamp video
royfellows
Well-known member
Mike Hopley said:
Not the issue, Steyr AUG assault rifle made of high impact plastic, as are a lot of modern car components, camera and other stuff. Issue for lamps is Heat Conductivity = Zero
Aluminium lamps can be light in weight. Stenlight 125 grams, Rude Nora (latest) A remarkable 110 grams, dont know he has done it!, and my Dragon is 130 grams
Mike Hopley
New member
royfellows said:
Presumably those weights do not include batteries, or even the battery box? Still good regardless.
Not saying "metal is a bad material for lamp casings" at all, but I'm guessing we'll see lighter designs being used more over the next decade, with a compromise on how much sustained light they can put out.
cavemanmike
Well-known member
Hi Keris
I don't know why you are bothering with all the cheap/middle range options.
You have decided to go caving so invest in something like a scurion.
You are only young so if you cave for the next 15 years it works out good value for money.
Just saying 😉😉
I don't know why you are bothering with all the cheap/middle range options.
You have decided to go caving so invest in something like a scurion.
You are only young so if you cave for the next 15 years it works out good value for money.
Just saying 😉😉
