Bright Torch for night-time walkies?

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MikeAqua

7773 posts

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#1791024 29-May-2017 12:03

I have or rather had a torch I really like made by company called Tovatec.

Mine used CR123 but they make lithium rechargeable ones too.

Solid alloy billet body (adonised).

Light, with confy grip and a lanyard - could use it for self defence if you had to

Comfy grip

Double sealed thread

No hole for the switch (external slide with internal reed switch).

Very bright and long range (>100m)

Lasted 9 years being beaten up in the boat/kayak etc etc.

Stolen a couple of weeks ago.

Mike

geekIT

2417 posts

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#1791235 29-May-2017 16:52

richms: You made some good points about possible fishhooks with 18650 batteries. Think I might steer clear.

mdf: No luck with the power tool\torch option. Neither of my drill brands (B&W, Einhell) offer an optional torch. Anyway, the batteries weigh almost as much as me :-)

timmmay: I'm kinda leaning to that flashlight of yours. Certainly to one that uses AA rechargeables - I have a bunch of Eneloops and charger to match. I'm thinking now - maybe one of those Lumintop flashlights and one or two (for general use, plus night walks) of the Domini USB charge units suggested by 1eStar.

Good calls, everyone, much thanks :-)

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

richms

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#1791322 29-May-2017 18:49

See if the einhell is the same as the newer ozito tools at bunnings. They look very similar, but not sure if they have done a black+decker/stanley/dewalt and made them different enough to not fit or not. There is a light in the ozito range.

Richard rich.ms

Geektastic

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#1791605 30-May-2017 10:52

If you want the ultimate price/quality match, I can highly recommend a small boutique maker in the US called Gene Malkhoff.

Malkhoff Devices flashlights are pretty much hand made in the USA, fully potted and flawlessly finished. Yet for example this one is US$105 and you'll get 15% off your first order just for signing up to their mailing list. Quite honestly, MD lights are Rolls Royce quality at Volkswagen prices.

Why have cheap Chinese junk when you can have this quality for not that much?

geekIT

2417 posts

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#1791665 30-May-2017 11:49

richms: Thanks but even if the Ozito light accepted my Einhell battery, it'd be too heavy for comfort. Around 200g for the torch plus 400g for the battery.

Geektastic: I agree the product looks to be quality, but it's well over the affordability limit for this pensioner. The link shows the item to be $NZ149, and I guess there'd be freight on top of that. The accountant would have a fit if I told her I wanted to spend all of our $150-fortnightly disposable income on one torch :-)

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

1eStar

1604 posts

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#1792419 31-May-2017 15:58

On second thoughts, I think I actually got my torch from dx.com , you'll see it's identical but the brand is different...

http://www.dx.com/p/s-size-usb-rechargeable-3-mode-zooming-flashlight-black-456821

geekIT

2417 posts

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#1805815 23-Jun-2017 18:25

Just about to make a choice so I've just been reviewing all the good tips you guys provided.

Question: A lot of online ads quote light outputs (from 3 x AAA batteries or 1 x 18650), amazing lumen numbers like 4000, 5000, 6000, and even one I just spotted on EBay - 10,000LM!

Are these figures actually possible?

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

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jonathan18

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#1805818 23-Jun-2017 18:41

I'm sure I was told to be sceptical about the claims on these sites when I also sought feedback on torches here on GZ last year.

In the end, given the use you'll be putting this to, most torches will be completely adequate. Given you're talking about ones with 3xAAA or a single lithium they're probably similar to the ones I ended up buying and have been discussed above. I can't imagine why I'd ever need anything brighter for a general torch. These types of torches are damn cheap so it's not like you'll lose a lot anyway.

And don't forget you'll be using them in public, and something too bright can be annoying to others. I was out walking the other morning and wondered why a motorbike was driving on the footpath blinding me with its light, only to discover it was a fellow walker with a@#£@ bright torch.

timmmay

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#1805819 23-Jun-2017 18:41

geekIT:

Just about to make a choice so I've just been reviewing all the good tips you guys provided.

Question: A lot of online ads quote light outputs (from 3 x AAA batteries or 1 x 18650), amazing lumen numbers like 4000, 5000, 6000, and even one I just spotted on EBay - 10,000LM!

Are these figures actually possible?

Possible? Yes. Probably. No.

richms

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#1805946 24-Jun-2017 02:37

geekIT:

Just about to make a choice so I've just been reviewing all the good tips you guys provided.

Question: A lot of online ads quote light outputs (from 3 x AAA batteries or 1 x 18650), amazing lumen numbers like 4000, 5000, 6000, and even one I just spotted on EBay - 10,000LM!

Are these figures actually possible?

Not with the runtimes they also claim.

10000 lumens at a generous 100 lumen per watt would be 100 watts. - 3.6v makes that 30ish amps. So a 3Ah cell would be under a 10C load which would give a few mins of runtime if you were lucky.

they will be 3 watts or so with a generous BS factor applied when writing the specs.

Richard rich.ms

minimoke

750 posts

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#1806349 25-Jun-2017 12:17

During the Chch earthquakes I went through torches (ive lost count how many) with a few main problems. Light while on battery didn't last long. Light not adjustable, rechargeable flat when needed, broke when fell off shelf, light not very bright, light didnt spot very far.

So after a lot of real world trial and error I have finally settled on one torch and I wont go to another. Led Lenser P14. Great spot light adjustable to wide beam. Great battery life, rugged and beyond everything else reliable! Its not rechargeable - i keep spare batteries which is a much more reliable strategy than relying on power.

Love it so much I also have a Led Lenser SEO7r Head lamp for those times I want to be hands free - use this all the time on my night runs around the park.

minimoke

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1806351 25-Jun-2017 12:24

geekIT:

Just about to make a choice so I've just been reviewing all the good tips you guys provided.

Question: A lot of online ads quote light outputs (from 3 x AAA batteries or 1 x 18650), amazing lumen numbers like 4000, 5000, 6000, and even one I just spotted on EBay - 10,000LM!

Are these figures actually possible?

My SEO 75 is rated 220 lumens. It is really bright and probably one of the ones Johnathon18 hates above ( I make sure I dont shine it in peoples eyes!). It is plenty bright enough and I cant imagine 4,000 - must be an aircraft landing light and 10,000 woudl be a laser spotting the moon.

timmmay

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#1806372 25-Jun-2017 13:14

I had an LED Lenser torch. It failed just outside the guarantee period.

Athlonite

1828 posts

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#1806416 25-Jun-2017 15:08

jpoc:

I like this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Big-Promotion-Ultra-Bright-CREE-XML-T6-3800Lumens-cree-led-Torch-Zoomable-LED-Flashlight-For-3xAAA/32497214896.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.JMRigv

It is bright and will work with three AAA cells - rechargeable ones are fine.

Very bright. Stupidly bright even. Adjustable beam spread. Seems very sturdy and well made. I have two and they have survived in a mix of rucksacks, manbags, pockets and car boots.

They also work with 18650 lithium cells.

There are loads for sale on AliX from around US$7 for just a torch up to US$15 for a torch with a couple of 18650 cells and a charger. You can also get longer ones that will take two 18650 cells.

Did I mention that they are stupidly bright?

that torch is lucky to be 900 Lumins at best trust me I own one and no way in hell is it 3800 Lumins but it will do the job and they do last longer on high if using the 18650 Li ion batteries also don't believe any mAH rating over 3600mAH as they're just fake

Athlonite

1828 posts

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#1806418 25-Jun-2017 15:12

geekIT:

Just about to make a choice so I've just been reviewing all the good tips you guys provided.

Question: A lot of online ads quote light outputs (from 3 x AAA batteries or 1 x 18650), amazing lumen numbers like 4000, 5000, 6000, and even one I just spotted on EBay - 10,000LM!

Are these figures actually possible?

they'll be more like 200 300 350 do not believe the crap they say on AliX about the supposed Lumin count of these torches it is all just total garbage

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