Recommend me an LED torch

[kawakid]

I've a dog, not the dog in my avatar (he's no longer around), which I walk for 1.5 hours each day.

From April - October I have no need for a torch. But at this time of year I rely on one.

I've previously used a 3D Maglite, which had a normal bulb. It worked okay, but I was constantly charging batteries.

About 2 years ago, I bought a cheap 2D torch from Tesco's for about £15. This has been okay, but is now going, the light flickers and sometimes turns off.

I've seen another post on this forum regarding batteries, I use these https://www.rechargableaa.co.uk/2010/11/2-x-lloytron-d-3000-mah-rechargeable-batteries-3000mah-14-08/

I don't want anything less than a 2D LED, I do have a 3AAA LED Duracel that I carry as a spare (I walk through local woods, when there's no moon it is very dark).

Can someone make a recommendation. I'm not really interested in being able to illuminate a tree 100 metres a way, I am more interested in a wide "splatter" so I can see everything around me.

I am willing to spend up to £60

Thanks
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I've a twin and a 4.

[stinkwheel]

Any of the petzl head torches would do the trick.
Like this one:
https://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/headlamps/compact-tikka-2/tikka-core

Rechargeable Lithium ion battery pack, 120 hour battery life on lower power. Also takes AAA batteries.

I have the cheaper version of this (just uses AAA batteries, no Li-ION) and it is very good.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Gone]

I used to use a cheap multi-LED headlight when I had a dog, cost was under a tenner (in Euros) and they last forever with 2 or 3 AA cells. Much better than having to hold/drop/find/pick up a torch.

[Neorion]

saw a couple of dogs with headlights on the other night, good for seeing where they are if the go off wandering.
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VFR FI 2000- Shiney Red Thing
"some things man was never meant to know, for everything else there's Google"

[defblade]

You really don't need D-cells for LED torches.

Simplest way would be to get an LED replacement bulb for your maglite. Much as I hate to say it (not a maglite fan), they're pretty good.

Otherwise, Fenix torches give an excellent quality/cost ratio; as do 4sevens' lastest bunch (quarks and prions). £49 for a quark123 will be pretty much all the torch you ever need - although you'll have to change battery type to cr123s (also available in rechargable; or just over a quid each from 7dayshop. They last ages.)

Try https://www.flashaholics.co.uk/

Or if you don't want ultimate performance, dealextreme have about 500 torches to chose from - you'll be happy with pretty much anything with a cree in the front; chose what sort of batteries you like. I've just had a few torches from there to look at, all running on 1 x cr123 or 1 x AA; all with adjustable focus from flood to spot. They were all OK (the cr123s are brighter than the AAs as you've got 3.7v against 1.5v.... this would change with a bigger torch with more alkaline batteries to up the voltage) and all tiny to slip in pocket/bag. And each one about $10.... which is peanuts All these torches would be fine for non-torchaholics
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[cagiva gezzer]

LED Lenser get my vote now. This V6 (3 x AAA) is brighter then my 2D maglite and has a much better spread

Don't discount the smaller ones.
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"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[Simple]

I have an exposure joy stick RRp £165, can be had fpr £130,

I also have two Dealextreme P7 LED torches, £14 plus rechargable batteries

I also have a Tesco LED torch, £10

I rank them as they are listed with the exposure coming, it's light, very powerful a genuine 240 lumens with a burn time of 3 hours on full whack. I use mine for mountain biking, dog walking and being out in the dark in general.

I won mine, and when I got it I thought oo sell it for a quick buck, but it really is something else! two of my friends now have them and paid £120 from (I think) leisure lakes bikes.

As a budget second the deal extreme lights are robust, he batteried only last for an hour but they're so cheap you just have a few in your pocket.

Both the Joystick and DX torches have adjustable outputs so you dont blind yourself when reading a sign for example.

I've had a number of headtorches from £5 to £35 and they've all not lasted a winter. I also have a maglite and I dont rate that either.

Deal extreme torches:
https://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.p7%20led

exposure website
https://www.exposurelights.com/
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Insta - FemFeral

[herulach]

If you actually want it for walking, get a zebralight H501 80 lumens of pure flood from a single aa eneloop. Genuinely excellent for walking and close up tasklighting then you genuinely won't get a better light for the purpose. It is severly lacking in throw though.

My everyday light is a zebralight SC30w, enough power to light up the back garden for an hour, or navigate in low light for about 20 days. Power output from the AA (sc50) is similar, but with less runtime (provided you use good rechargeables). For comparison purposes, level 5 on my sc30 is very similar in output (if not a little brighter) to a 3D mag for 2 hours runtime and it fits comfortably in your pocket.

You also can't go wrong with 4sevens.com, basically anything on there is decent, just pick the battery combination, size & price you want.

Whatever you get, make sure you get decent batteries. sanyo eneloop (or sony cycle energy, uniross hybrio etc) AA batteries, or AW for Lions.

If you only want one light to do everything, get one of these:
https://www.zebralight.com/SC51-Flashlight-AA-200Lm_p_43.html
a 4 pack of sanyo eneloops (asda) and a decent multi channel battery charger, I use this one:
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6152
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YBR 125>FZS600

[Charlie]

I have the same torch that Stinkwheel has (the none rechargeable one), it is my second one after I miss placed my first

Good torches and I'd recommend them
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[defblade]

[kawakid]

Thanks for all the posts.

I do already have a head lamp, but I don't like it for walking (quite good for working on the bike).

The problem I have with the AAA torches is how small they are. ( I carry a duracel 3AAA one for emergencies and it's just too small to use as a main torch, especially with my big hands and now wearing gloves).

I am quite supprised about all the AA and AAA torches to be honest, it's something I didn't know about.

I suppose i'm looking for something at least 20cm long, it has to be fully waterproof and i'd like something that would last 11 hours without charge (That's about a full week walking the dog).
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I've a twin and a 4.

[defblade]

[Finglonga]

Trouble is Maglites are the bottom of the torch tree now, there are 200% better torches for a tenth of the cost of a Mag even with a LED conversion.

Even my old out of date Inova T4 still out performs the current Maglites.

The old man just got one of these , Ledlenser and is pleased with it. There are some good deals for them at the moment.

Depends how much you want to spend.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Bikeless]

I bought the conversion kit for my AA maglite,about £30(+ maglite) all in for the switch and 3 LED bit.Then walked into Asda and found a 9 LED,3AAA torch for £3 which is amazing,so bright.

[Finglonga]

[herulach]

Malkoff is a good idea if you like the MAG form factor. Your other option is something like a fenix TK40 (well over twice your budget, a bit less from the US but it's big enough to get pulled by customs)

11 hours is a lot from one set of batteries, my 3 xp-e mag will just about manage it on a medium output, as would the 1 LED Malkoff's/teralux type dropins with good (8/10ah) NiMh D Cells.
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YBR 125>FZS600

[Mister James]

[herulach]

[Finglonga]

This is handy to see how good you new torch will be ..... clicky
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[defblade]

[kawakid]

Went for the LED Lenser P7 in the end.

It's small but it's a very good torch. Batteries don't seem to last long though. Perhaps 6 days. (At 1.5 hours per day). Not on full all the time, mostly on the dim setting.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[chris-red]

As an aside, I have an LED flashy strobe thing on my dog, a small attachment to here collar that flashes red white and blue, makes it alot easier to see where she is.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[StevenF]

[panrider_uk]

You convinced me - I've just ordered one

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel