The Best backup light?

Duncan S

New member
Spookily enough, just been at the Hunters Lodge (Mendip) having exactly the same conversation.
The universal answer seems to be eBay from China.

The big question (for me) is battery life
Some of the units have fantastic light output, but don't last long (1hr max I've observed in other cavers using their bright backup lights); I'd like a bit longer before everything turns dark.
It all seems a compromise.

The end result of my conversation occurred when a cave diver went out to his car and brought back a 'spare' unit he got from China and doesn't need; it's mine now - peachy! :)
If I get a link, I'll post it...
 

underground

Active member
Anecdote: I sent my daughter away for her week at Whitehall on a Saturday, with my q40 as her torch. 4 fresh alkaline batteries. Picked her up on the Thursday due to illness, and the teachers asked me 'what are these batteries?' - it has one of Biff's drop in modules in it, none of them could work out how to turn it off, so it'd been lit Saturday night to Thursday night on that one set of b&m bargains batteries. Teachers had used it as a reading light all week. I left it on and it was finally out on Saturday night. 7 days of proper light.

Take from that what you will

 

martinm

New member
Petzl Tikka XP is what I use. It's got 3 brightness levels and even on the lowest you could easily get out of a cave. Lasts for days. There are probably newer & better models available now though. I've had mine a few  years, I use it while camping too...
 

cap n chris

Well-known member
WELCOME to the Forum, AliRoll!  :)

Petzl Tikka, Pixa or similar should be ideal. It should be a good quality robust waterproof/water resistant light that can be unquestionably relied upon to function in the cave; it should not be a "second best" piece of kit or something from a boot sale, hedgerow etc..

A spare light is arguably best worn around your neck in case you need it in a hurry (i.e. main light failure half way through an exposed traverse), hence one with an elasticated strap is more suitable (see above). Furthermore, the most likely deployment of your backup light is to "save the day" when one of your fellow caving lame duck team members turns up late with half their kit missing and with a totally flat main light, or even missing altogether, so a Tikka/Pixa is an effortless solution.

No longer a fan of helmet mounted lamps (see above) because in addition a) they make you look like a wanna-be cave diver, especially if you have a "matching pair" like a Dalek, b) if your chin strap fails on a pitch you'll lose all your lights at the same time when the helmet falls off, c) in narrow stuff it compromises your ability to turn your head, d) the spare gets scuffed up and looks worn out years before it's even had much of a useful working life.

Prior to EVERY trip check your backup has fully charged batteries and is working.  (y)
 

underground

Active member
Chris, I understand your 'chin strap failure' rationale, but who gives a monkey's about what either the self or the light looks like?
 

GT

New member
We've been using these with groups (kids in mines) for the last 8-9 years. Supper robust (as you'd expect from Peli) and provide around 8hrs at 55 lumen with 3 AAA batteries. They come with both a rubber and fabric strap, so you can either wear it around your head (or neck) or on the helmet with the rubber band as it grabs to the helmet very well. For around ?30 they come in a lot cheaper than most Petzl lamps.

Down side is you need a philips head screw driver to take the batteries out. Peli have a few other headlamps which have a flip open front (so easier to switch out the batteries) and are brighter, but have a reduced burn time.

Make a great back up light, and small enough to pop in your pocket (fits fine in the little arm pocket on a Warmback) although if you keep it in the chest pocket you can end up wearing a hole in your oversuit when crawling.

(http://www.totalaccessonline.co.uk/Products/Helmets-Lighting-and-Footwear/Headlamps/Peli-2690Z0-Zone-0-ATEX-HeadsUP-Lite-LED-Headtorch?gclid=CjwKEAiAjNemBRCgp_vymcvVym0SJACRp_UZYEw6ZANimDVNvlmu3Ce9WOMmMIjSpt-53_9kdPt7ARoCl1_w_wcB)
 

royfellows

Well-known member
Fenix E11
About as big as your finger and takes a single AA battery, I wear mine on the side of my helmet where I want it.
I think about ?17 off eBay. Enough light to get out of anywhere.

I had a free torch from one of my HK suppliers, bearing the dreaded "Ukltrafire" brand I expected junk, it wasn't. Very bright and actually waterproof believe it or not. Only issue was every time I turned it on it was flash, flash, flash, so rather than chucking it up a wall I put one of my own drivers in.
I converted a few for friends but I don't want to bother with any more.
My recommendation is the Fenix.
 

AliRoll

Member
Cheers everyone, after reading your replies i'll probably get a Fenix E11/E12 as i already have Petzl tikka but don't really trust it underground.
Thanks for all the quick responses
 

cap n chris

Well-known member
underground said:
Chris, I understand your 'chin strap failure' rationale, but who gives a monkey's about what either the self or the light looks like?

Fully agree for nearly all caving but the exception is photography and/or filming.
 

damo8604

New member
I use a pixa and leave it round the neck so that it's easily accessable for all the reasons Chris gave.
 

Fulk

Well-known member
Fenix E11

Ditto; I have one secured to my helmet with a couple of cable ties (in my opinion, better than rubber bands). It's tiny, doesn't weigh much but will light up even quite big passages.
 
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