Petzl Vario

[Space Kadet]

Hello,

Has anyone bought or used one of them new Petzl Vario lights?  The look good but are they all show and no go?

 

[potholer]

Having just 4 output levels (fixed power/beam blend combinations) in total for something so expensive does seem odd (rather like a 'high power Pixa3'), but I suppose it might be to some people's tastes.

 

[simonsays]

At 310 quid that's getting on for scurion money.  I think you can get a scurion basic for about 350 ish.

 

[Mike Hopley]

Supposedly the special thing about the Vario is a near-180 degree flood that evenly fills your vision -- i.e. you get full peripheral vision, rather than a cone with a central hotspot. I don't think any other caving light does this. This could be a killer feature or a gimmick; you can't know which without trying it.

I have its ancestor, the original Ultra, and it's a good light -- but too expensive. If you want something "programmable" then the Ultra lights are unsuitable. On the other hand, there's something to be said for simplicity too.

The Vario looks like a much better caving light than its predecessors, but similarly expensive. And like most mega-lights, battery lock-in means that it's now the only affordable upgrade available to me...

 

[potholer]

They're actually claiming to have invented flood in a caving headlight?

 

[simonsays]

Actually, at 310 quid its more than the scurion basic!

A 700 lumen basic can be had for 305.

 

[paul]

Supposedly the special thing about the Vario is a near-180 degree flood that evenly fills your vision -- i.e. you get full peripheral vision, rather than a cone with a central hotspot. I don't think any other caving light does this. This could be a killer feature or a gimmick; you can't know which without trying it.

The Scurion (which I have) and I'm pretty sure the Rude Nora as well, do have the near-180 degree flood, which is what persuaded me to buy one several years ago.

 

[IanWalker]

Supposedly the special thing about the Vario is a near-180 degree flood that evenly fills your vision -- i.e. you get full peripheral vision, rather than a cone with a central hotspot. I don't think any other caving light does this.

carbide?

 

[Mike Hopley]

The Scurion (which I have) and I'm pretty sure the Rude Nora as well, do have the near-180 degree flood, which is what persuaded me to buy one several years ago.

Interesting; I've been caving with people who have Scurions or Noras, and I never noticed this quality -- but I've never had a chance to try the lights myself.

This would pretty much remove the only selling point of Petzl's Vario.

carbide?

Indeed. Shame there aren't more lamps with a warmer carbide-like colour, too!

 

[Pete K]

Add a warm white LED upgrade to a Scurion.

 

[jarvist]

This would pretty much remove the only selling point of Petzl's Vario.

My Bisun (then called a Mig light) had 180 degree flood in 2004.

I can't believe people would cave off lights that don't have this feature... at least anywhere you do any crawling / rift work, I get a headache if I leave my spot on too brightly in tight bits.

 

[Space Kadet]

Hmm, I think I will just stick to my Duo and Pixa for now.  All that power is great for big cave passage but near useless in tight crawley stuff.

 

[paul]

Ah, but the Scurion and Rude Nora, etc have multiple power levels. I've done plenty of tight, crawly stuff with my Scurion. It's nice to have the extra light for the bigger stuff though.

 

[Damo]

I currently own a El Speleo and I'm really impressed with It. Cost ?290 with postage.

 

[Fulk]

Ain't it funny how we all differ? Jarvist says:

My Bisun (then called a Mig light) had 180 degree flood in 2004.

I can't believe people would cave off lights that don't have this feature

I use a Fenix HP 11, which has a bright spot with a diffuse surround; at about 2 m, the spot has a diameter of ~35 cm, while the outer ring has a diameter of ~2.2 m (equivalent to an angle of view of~60 degrees) . . . but I find this perfect in big passages, chambers, crawls . . .