Reply With QuoteThis one is a beast
https://www.heinnie.com/nitecore-tm9...RoCJl8QAvD_BwE
I know it has been discussed before, but I couldn’t find anything recent, and I know we have some enthusiastic people on here.
We are going on a holiday to www.singdean.co.uk with our two, very lovely, dogs.
We need a good torch as it is a very remote location. Want something very bright, good distance but ideally not £300 as I seem to have found lots are....any ideas ?
Jon
This one is a beast
https://www.heinnie.com/nitecore-tm9...RoCJl8QAvD_BwE
Whichever model from Fenix fits your needs and budget.
F.T.F.A.
I own THIS Fenix PD35 and it's superb. I did have it's predecessor that was gifted to a nephew. Nice and small but hugely powerful with 4 power settings to suit all needs.
I have an Olight Striker - small but all I need for walking the dog in the dark. Best all-round torch I own. Not sure that it is still available but the Olight tactical looks much the same. One thing to note, there weren't many reductions from RRP when I checked the other day on Amazon. There may well be good reductions as autumn nears.
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Basically this. I have loads of torches. I tend to buy some every few years when LED technology has progressed significantly, then lose interest for a few years. The only ones that are consistently excellent are Fenix and Zebralight (the latter being outstanding if you can find the one you want in stock and don't mind the rather complex & confusing - but fast when you get used to it - interface).Originally Posted by magirus
Something I would recommend considering aside from general brightness is the tint (warm white, neutral or cool white) and CRI. Most of the really bright ones are cool white with very low CRI, which tends to make everything look blue/green. Whereas a good neutral white with high CRI won't have quite the as high a lumen figure, but it'll be a lot easier to see things. Of course if you care about things like absolute maximum throw distance or that sort of thing, then it gets a bit more specialised.
Of course if you don't care at all about optical quality then you can't go far wrong with a Sipik SK68 for under a fiver.
I’ve been using the Olight S1R Baton II for a year and it’s very handy and ridiculously bright for its size.
For longer trips I would get the larger size Olight Seeker 2 Pro Compact EDC torch.
https://www.olightstore.uk/olight-se...lue-black.html
I'd second this. The Seeker 2 Pro is a terrific piece of kit.
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
I'm honestly surprised there are always so many Olight recommendations in threads like these. It's probably because they go on sale a lot, so they get popular with people without much experience with other middle-tier or higher-end torches. In my experience, you get a much better value for money from Fenix every time. Better build quality, better optics, better everything basically.
I've currently got a couple of Olights: a Javelot M3X-UT which is a beast, but not exactly "good" in the general sense (the beam tint is horrible, but this is a deliberate trade-off for insane throw) and a polished steel limited edition whose model number I forget. That one looks really cool, which is the only reason I kept it, but the beam is horrible (and has no reason to be so bad, especially in a high-end LE torch like that). I keep that as an ornament basically, as it's pretty crap as a torch - I've got £10 Chinese cheapies with a better beam. I've had a couple of others Olights in the past, which I've either sent straight back, or given away.
Basically their high-end stuff is OK, but unless it's heavily discounted it's kinda like a £100 Olight is about the same as you'd get from a £60 Fenix, except the Fenix will still be better made & more likely to still be working in 10 years.
The two Olights I have now were bought at extremely heavy discounts - under 50% RRP. I still don't feel they were particularly amazing VFM, but each has something unique to offer and that's somewhat important when you end up with a collection of torches. I definitely wouldn't choose them for a single, everyday torch.
If I could only have one it would definitely be a Zebralight - probably an SC5w (to avoid the hassle & associated dangers of lithium ion; easier to share batteries with other things). Although probably not for absolute reliability, as their electronics are complex and hence, more likely to fail regardless of build quality. A SC5w + an AA-powered Fenix as a backup would be perfect.
What about nitecore then ? The one i have seems on par with Fenix in price and quality
I find Nitecore variable - some excellent & punch above their weight, some are not so great. Fenix are more consistent, so in general I'd trust them more for reliability.
I’ve got a lot of lights from a variety of manufacturers including Surefire, Nitecore, Fenix, Olight, Thrunite and Zebralight.
I like Olight, I’ve never had any issues with them and the quality is great. I do tend to go for their higher end lights though.
The only light I’ve ever had an issue with was a Nitecore which stopped working after a week, the dealer replaced it and it has been fine since.
James.
What are you planning to use it for? Humans night vision is quite good as it is, but a simple ledlenser T7M will do you at about £65. If you want to light the place up like a football stadium that’s a different kettle of fish.
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Tactical torches do look the part, but as with knives, I have found the choice bewildering and have come to mistrust the marketing in its various guises.
Thankfully I find my Petzl headtorch to be more useful than any hand held alternative. But then it really isn't at all sexy.
Quality product with longevity and dependable support seems to be so elusive.
I bought a LED Lenser P7 a few years ago, only 220 lumens, newer ones are more powerful, but it does all I need it to do. About £40 if I remember rightly.
https://www.olightstore.uk/h2r-cw.html
This is a brilliant little torch. I use it for camping and working on the car. So versatile with the 90 degree angle you can hook it on the pocket of your shirt.
Errr....I recommend Olight because I happen to like them. I have five, ranging in price from 40-175gbp (discounted) and I gave my opinion, based on my experience. I read your post with interest - I may even try a Fenix at some point because of it. But that doesn't mean that Olight don't work for me and don't rate a mention.
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Thanks for all of input guys, I will look some of them up over the next few days.
To answer the question above it is mainly dog walking, but sometimes in very rural, very dark Scotland.
For raw power I do like Olights, for all round usefulness I prefer Led Lenser or Petzl for head torches.
I use mine for search and rescue and normally carry a couple in my kit at any one time.
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I have a couple of Fenix torches, both CR123 powered, which is probably why I like the rechargeable Olights so much.
It's always worth keeping an eye on Olight's website, and pouncing on special offers when they arise. As I said earlier, I'm very impressed with my Seeker 2 Pro.
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
Olights next sale is the 24th August
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Of course not. The thing that surprises me is that every time this topic comes up - not just in this thread - there just seem to be a disproportionate number of recommendations for Olight, considering that, in my experience, they are just a bit "meh" compared to other options available at the same price.
I don't find it surprising that any one person would like Olight, as every light has its unique characteristics and everyone will have their preferences. It's just odd that there aren't the same number of people recommending Sunwayman or Armytek or FourSevens or Eagtac, for example. All of whom make some excellent torches.
Zebralight are maybe a bit niche and Surefire are really expensive, so I can understand those not getting as much attention, but the prevalence of Olight just seems like a bit of a statistical anomaly.
I’m in agreement with you regarding Olight, I have two, purchased them based on reading the forum. Have to admit they are cheaper models but I’m disappointed with them both, no better than cheap stuff I’ve purchased on amazon.
My introduction to Olight came from a recommendation on this forum - so perhaps it's a self-perpetuating phenomenon :) Once I bought one, the others followed without looking further afield...
My main issue with them is that each of them has a different charging system, so I have to make sure I keep the right charger in the relevant box to avoid confusion. And each of them has a different mechanism for turning on/off and setting the output levels (whether a separate switch for on/off or press and hold to turn on, press quickly to turn on, press and hold to scroll through levels, quick press to change levels etc) But if you only have one model, these minor irritations disappear.
I've just looked at the Surefire torches (prices = gulp!) but if my Olights start to fail, I will give one a go.
ATB
Jon
Last edited by JonRA; 10th August 2020 at 08:14.
Genuine question, so don't flame me!
For The OP's requirement of a torch for his holiday, are LED Lenser, Olight or Fenix functionally any better than a handful of cheap torches from eBay?
Also, good call on the head torch.
Yes this is frustrating, I have six Olights, three are rechargeable and all three have a different charging system. I tend to just use an Xtar VC4 to charge them as I use it for my other lights. You do have to be careful with the Olight propitiatory batteries though as they have the + and - on the same end!
All six have the same UI though (click to switch on, hold to cycle through modes) and I bought them over an 8 year period between 2011 and last year.
Candle Power Forums is an excellent place to learn about lights, there is a huge amount of info on there and great reviews.
James.
Not really, what you get from half decent torches is a good amount of light. My normal one has an output of 400 lumens, my head torch (black diamond storm) is 375 and I use one or the other most nights with the head torch I get a fixed beam but can use my hands, with the other I can change it from narrow to wide depending on whether I’m looking for something close or far away. Most of the functions I will never use. Personally I go for things that take AAA battery’s and just buy 100 Duracell pro from 7dayshop which lasts me a year.
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Fenix for me as well. Fabulous torches and built to last, I own 4 of them of various sizes.
I run all of mine with Eneloop rechargeable batteries and a charge the batteries with a decent charger. I would 100% buy Fenix again if any were to fail.
OP- there’s a great Fenix on SC right now which would tick your boxes perfectly!
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Something that hasn't been discussed much is the various different options for batteries. That PD35 will run on CR123A batteries (camera batteries) but they can be pretty expensive. If you want rechargeable then you can use 18650 cells with your own charger, but you should be aware of the dangers associated with these cells and treat them with care. That means not leaving them charging unattended, having a properly insulated storage case so there's no chance of accidental shorting and making sure you have a voltmeter so you can check for things like over-discharge before charging. They can explode and/or leak poisonous gas if treated improperly, especially the cheap ones you're likely to find on eBay.
Personally I'd recommend most people stick with something that'll run on Eneloops (rechargeable AAs). While it won't be as bright as lithium ion, it's a lot safer. One reason Olight might be quite popular is that they have no-hassle lithium ion torches with the charger built in. These are going to be a lot simpler and safer than 18650s if you want something really bright (and without the cost and eco-unfriendliness of CR123s) but personally I'd tend to go for 18650 and understand how to handle them safely rather than rely on potentially not the best charging circuitry that comes built in to some torches (although I'd definitely trust an actual brand like Olight over any cheap rechargeable thing you might find on eBay which is very likely not safe at all).
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