2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

I'm after a new torch, but a quick search on eBay has returned thousands of results, and I've no idea how many lumens is a good amount..?

I'm just after a small LED CREE type torch that takes either AA or AAA batteries / has ability to focus / metal casing / bright as possible for about £20..

I ordered one from HK (eBay) a few years ago, which was a bargain, but I think its time to upgrade..

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

It's a shame you want a focusing one really as all the best ones don't have this feature, usually due to waterproofing standards.

If you're set on the focus idea the led lenser would do I guess. Only reason I don't like them is lack of regulation.

So many better lights out there though.. Jetbeam, sunwayman, 4sevens, armytek, thrunite etc.

I'm a bit of a torch lover lol.

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

I got a Snap on one from Costco for £15, here is one on ebay. They are pretty bright but not as bright as my dewalt flourescent lamp.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SNAP-ON-SN...item43ac81a666

SiPie

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001...dir_mdp_mobile

Got both the p3 and p7. P3 well under your budget but IIRC it's around 12 lumens compared to 200 for the p7 at £40, best to stretch IMHO

Both excellent but agree with ^

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Actually just had a thought.. Go into b&q, they do a range of cree lights in there. There's a 2xAA light which can focus, about £20, only about 120lumens though.

I've got a few AA lights, I use a jetbeam BA20 for work every day. It's 2xAA and puts out 270 lumens! Not bad money really http://www.jet-beam.co.uk/BA20/BA20.html

Then get yourself some Sanyo eneloop AA's and a charger and you're good to go.

Just don't get hooked on buying them and ending up with about 30 high power lights in a month lol

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

Cheers for the replies..

I don't really need a focus, just thought it may be handy.. If the torch is bright enough however, I suppose it wouldn't be necessary..

Are any of the torches on DealExtreme worth a go ? I have some bike lights from there that are very bright!

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

They are generally poorly made replicas of decent makes like mentioned above.

You could go onto 4sevens USA website or going gear USA website and they deliver here no problem. 4sevens do free delivery from USA and come in a week or so. You can also get 10% off codes. I've bought loads from USA and never been charged import duty.

That jetbeam ba20 I linked is pretty decent for an AA light.

It depends what you want from it?

It's amazing how many people don't know what's out there (obviously you do) but 99% of the population think a maglite is the daddy whereas my aaa keychain light would blow a 4xD cell maglite away! If you look on YouTube there's a guy does excellent reviews, Marshall from going gear. He actually uses a 4d maglite in every video to compare to everything.

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

Cheers, I'll have a look..

I was just looking at my bike lights and they are apparently 900 lumens.. (sounds like a lot to me, but they are bloody bright)

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

What do they run on, 18650 batteries? There's certainly some amazing lights out there. I've got a few cheaper ones including some '800 lumen' Chinese copies but it's like anything, a cheap 1000 lumen no namer is probably a genuine 500 lumens. There's two ways to measure and the cheaper manufacturers show ratings at the emmiter, most manufacturers go for out the front lumens which is a lower number in comparison.

If your bike lights run on 18650 batteries then you could get a torch that takes those.

Cheaper lights are fine for what they are but the real difference lies in reliability and regulation. The better lights have better drivers, usually more efficient and will drive the led at a constant level rather than an ever decreasing dim like cheaper non regulated lights. The cheaper ones don't usually last with drops too well. The soldering is usually bad and comes away and the led wont be heat sunk well leading it to have a short life. Also the cheaper lights seem to run very blue emmiters so not very colour realistic.

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

The bike lights are powered by a large Li-Ion pack that straps to the frame... They are dedicated bike lights rather than a torch with a mount.

Cheers for your advice.. I'll try to wade through the crap and get something ordered later on today. My existing (cheap copy) style torch has been great for the price, however struggles to illuminate anything over about 50m away... If I can find a brighter version of that, it would be ideal.. I use the torch for work, so it will get quite a hard life... I just don't really want to spend much on something that will potentially get lost, smashed or nicked whilst at work.

Jamz3k

my missus bought me this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Exper...8459415&sr=8-1
and this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-61770...1&sr=1-1-spell

both have done the job!

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

This looks like my existing torch.. FYI

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200-Lumens...item19b5f9714a

lozgti1

My photon freedom on my keys is great

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

I'm after something a bit bigger, as it will be used to search wide open spaces..

jonc

I have Fenix PD20 Q5 and is small enough to fit on my keyring. Goes up to 190 lumens regulated output which means the light doesn't dim as the battery drains.

lozgti1

Look on Heinnie Haynes website

Excellent stuff on there.Loads of 'proper' torches

Oh,and brilliant delivery service

bottlesofbecks

Got this http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/...x?id=164878126 about two years ago not missed a beat and at the price no complaints from me

Jaybird-UK

A bit pricey, but this is my usual use torch http://www.amazon.co.uk/MTE-M3-2I-XM...476370&sr=1-20

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Just bought from Costco two LED Maglites, 1 is 2*AA and the other takes 3 (biggies - D's?) , both for £30.

D

Simon C

Just bought the other 1/2 one of these, for £30 I'm very impressed, and I'm a Surefire fan!

http://www.heinnie.com/Flashlights/F.../p-97-403-5763

my94wrx

iTrader: (4)

i have had one of these for over a year, was a bit more than the price listed but very happy with it i bought some rechargables from maplins, but im shocked how long the batteries last compared to normal torches, a friend has a lenser and this in my opinion is better for battery life and distance.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/l...ndex_28573.htm

Simon K

HI all,

Great thread. I currently have a couple of maglites, not the real big thick one, next one down that takes about 4 C size batteries. Normally filument bulb. Getting a bit old now, so am looking at a new LED torch.

I liked a couple of the examples about, the £58 looked good, but dear. How do you measure whats a good or bad led torch ?? How do the maglite led torches compare ? Stil la good make ??

I would like a nice bright, torch, as power as I can get, thats reliable and good battery life if its just left alone, I suppose if it was a phone, its standby time. £40 budget.

SBK

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

Cree Trustfire for me - brilliant. 230 lumens. Seemed quite a bit better than the Lenser (lost) it replaced. Cheaper too. That was 12 months ago and no complaints yet

jonc

If you want mega bright with long range, go for a HID flashlight. It's the closest you'll get to holding a light saber!! There are also LED kits to convert existing Maglites from filament to LED, I did this with my 2xAAA mini maglite, much brighter that before.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Do you know what batteries you want to use?

Most high end torches use li-ion batteries, 18650 being the most common (basically what laptop battery packs have inside)

Li-ion require special chargers and respect for charging and use.

I do have one of these for sale (with the 26650 batt and charger, boxed as new, never carried just tested) 4sevens Maelstrom S12. Puts out a proper 800 lumens. A lot of cheap torches quote big numbers but come nowhere near! Interesting to show what a proper little light can do against a huge, old tech light, like a 4 D cell maglite. Comparison near end starts at 4:50min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19G6b...e_gdata_player

I want more than £40 though!

One of the best bargain torches that's got some decent poke is the olight i6 paladin. Genuine 420 lumens. You can get it delivered from USA for $58 so prob about £40? It takes 1 x 18650 or 2x cr123 batteries. The 18650's are obviously rechargeable but the cr123's are lithium non rechargeable, available here (although costly)

My recommendation would be the i6 and go on eBay and get some senybor, redilast or Panasonic18650 batts and a charger. It's about the cheapest way for a quality setup.

Here's the i6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC75S...e_gdata_player

You can get a '1000 lumen' led light off eBay with 2 trustfire batts and a charger for about £15 BUT the light will be cheap and it'll show, it'll be more like 300 lumens and the batteries are usually dangerous or will seriously under perform. Peel the label off cheap 18650 batteries and you'll find they are reclaimed laptop cells with the tabs ground off.

You get what you pay for!

CharlySkunkWeed

iTrader: (7)

would you be able to use a "head torch" ?

Got one like this for work (electrician) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XMS11HEAD-...Cree-Headlight and was impressed with this 3 CREE SMD . http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XMS11HEAD-...item43abf98ff3

Weather proof , focus adjustable , 1/2 bright - Full bright - Flash. Mine was £10 at local builders supply , but the cheepest on Ebay is nearer £11.

Best torch of any kind i ever had , if i found one as a normal torch i would buy that too !

14N-FR

iTrader: (3)

I work offshore and swear by my LED Lenser torches. They have stood up to a barrage of abuse from me (dropped from heights, submerged in oil and water and have outlasted every other torch I have owned) and I find they for the price they have a great light and can easily be focused or wide angled at the pull of the torch head.

Anything LED Lenser will be an excellent choice.

scoobeenut

I have an LED Lenser P7 which is a good torch and you can go from wide angle to spot beam easily, but my best torch by far is my Fenix TK12 R5 its a small torch but on full power puts out something like 270 lumens. Also use a Petzl head torch at work brilliant for hands free working.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

I use a petzl tikka 2 at work but could do with something a bit brighter. *Going to try a zebralight next I think, maybe h51, 200 lumens out of a single AA cell is pretty impressive.

thesyn

I have had a Fenix P3D for several years. 240 lumens from 2 cr123 batteries, has been completely reliable.